The year passed very quickly. It was personally a good one, with wonderful friends, lots of music (playing and listening), travel, and an old friend (Davis) who has re- entered my life in a new and significant way. But the events of September 11 have cast their shadow. May the coming year be more peaceful and much more sane.

The year started, once again, in Jimena in southern Spain. It was a week of chamber music (with Jane's "Musical Passages"). By now I know a fairly large percent of the folks, so spending the new year with acquaintances and friends, playing music, in a place where oranges are growing on trees is quite wonderful. I'm still trying to learn how to count and keep a steady beat, but there's been progress over the past years.

Spain was immediately followed by a few days of escape to Asilah, Morocco, in the company of Jane, Shirley, and Marcia. We stayed in the medina, bought djalabas (hooded, long, traditional garments), and dubbed ourselves "The Monkettes". We actually were a piano quartet. Unfortunately all 4 of us didn't get to play together; Marcia passed away abruptly and unexpectedly in March. Jane, Shirley, and I did rendezvous at my apartment, to play music, be together, and relive our good memories.

Work has turned to Linux, which is a new operating system for me. I took a class in "Linux internals" up in Poughkeepsie that lasted about a week. This seems to be the extent of my IBM travel for the year, but it's nice when the away time is vacation! I've been growing more interested in Linux and various related additions and programs as time has gone by.

The next big excursion was to the Southwest. I wished to satisfy a yen to see the Anasazi sites and had determined to do this on my own if need be (after all, language wasn't a problem). But I was joined by Sheila (from college days) and Cynthia (we met while hiking in New Zealand and have managed to spend some vacation time each summer ever since). We looked and drove and hiked and gawked. Several spectacular sites, but Canon de Chelley and Arches top my list. Unless I think about it, and then there are other places I'd like to add. It had rained a couple of weeks before we arrived in late May, and we were assured that the New Mexico/Utah/Colorado/Arizona area was not usually as green as we found it to be. The trip was a bit over 2 weeks, and seemed short. The only downside was that I, once again, missed the performance of Tim's chorus.

The beginning of July found me at Colgate College in Hamilton, NY, where SummerTrios was held this year. It was piano player's heaven! I learned quite alot, and have made a start towards several new friendships. Perhaps the oddest coincidence was Mimi, another piano player, who lives about 4 blocks from me; we also entered college together. It appears that I may be able to help a little with some of the underlying administrative software, and I would very much enjoy that. Wherever it may lead.

I gave myself a birthday party on August 4th to celebrate all the friends, old and new, that made the 60 years go by so enjoyably albeit quickly. I stopped extending invitations in a big panic in that so many actually were around this summer, wondering how we'd all fit, but all seemed to go well despite the heat with the help of a new-to-me air conditioner.

My daughter Clare came to visit in the fall; it was just the two of us. We wandered around New York, dined with friends who now seem part of my family, and went back to Belvidere, Vermont. I hadn't been there for over 8 years, and it was goodness to be with all the Tallman's, and the grandmothers. I will do this again with a much shorter interval between visits.

Elaine, from London, stayed with me for a while. Always a pleasure and she is as welcome here as I feel welcome at her flat. The only problem is sleep: we stay up too late talking.

There were weekend trips to Atlanta (a first for me), Oswego, and Austin. I was there as a tourist, Davis was working: conference, violist, and conference with presentation. We enjoyed dinner with Clare, Jack and Ashley in Austin.

Thanksgiving was at North Andover this year, since Mildred moved away from Yorktown Heights. The return trip was through Brookline to play some sonatas with Susan, a flutist from Summertrios.

I'm looking forward to another Christmas dinner with my New York family, and am preparing, as best I can, repertoire for my third year in Jimena.

May the coming year be one of joy and peace, followed by many more of the same.