Our sixth year of retirement in Wilmington, NC continues to find us in good health with many volunteer activities.  Every Wednesday finds us welcoming 2 ½ year old grandaughter Josie into our house and we are all excited about the upcoming birth of her baby sister in January.

With gas prices sky high, we skipped our trip north in July for the NC mountains.  Stopped by Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville and saw the beautifully restored girl’s dorm and the Playhouse in the mist of their busy season.  Hard to believe I directed my first musical, Carousel, there 40 years ago next summer.  If you performed there you might find your picture on their website!

My only onstage work this year was as Professor Marvel, a Poppy, the Emerald City Guard, and a Winkie in The Wizard of Oz. The flying by ZFX was spectacular!  Karen chaired her third annual Back Door Kitchen Tour in October for the Residents of Old Wilmington and was the Treasurer of the Wilmington Women’s Club.  I’m President of the W Lions Club.

In October, we were invited to the reopening of Aycock Auditorium.  After a wonderful dinner at Alumni House (also renovated), where we saw Herman Middleton, Marian Smith, and Barry Schwartz, we got our first view of Aycock’s fantastic renovation.  Lily Tomlin’s performance made me laugh so much my face hurt and afterwards we descended the new staircase (located in the lobby where the restrooms formerly stood) to a new large public space for receptions in Aycock basement!  There I was shown a plague announcing that a theatre seat had been purchased in my honor by Camilla Millican Samuelson, MFA in Child Drama.  I was overwhelmed! Camilla was there for me to thank her personally and it was great to see Newton Neely for whom she had also provided the honor of a seat!  I can’t wait to get back to Greensboro and tour Aycock from top to bottom!  As we left Aycock I got a late night glimpse of the new sculpture on the pedestal in front of Taylor Building.  WOW!

Thanks to Scot Copeland for sharing information of the renovated spaces at the Nashville Children’s Theatre and we always enjoy hearing from you!

Karen and I hope 2009 brings improved health to Marsha Paludan and Tom Humphrey and we send wishes for much happiness to all!