{"id":1317,"date":"2022-12-24T03:51:48","date_gmt":"2022-12-24T03:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vandyphikeia.com\/?page_id=1317"},"modified":"2026-01-06T02:19:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T02:19:39","slug":"christmas2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vandyphikeia.com\/index.php\/christmas2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Letter 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpcp\"><strong>Before accessing this post content,you need to follow these security.<\/strong><ul><li>Loggedin Security.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2025 Christmas LetterDownload PDF Tom Bailey With the decline of COVID, it was time for Hunter and me to start traveling again. In the Spring we visited Nashville twice, spending considerable quality time with the Noels and JV, who\u00a0are each doing quite well. As Kothe has reported, we also met up with the Hubbards and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Tom Bailey<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"mailto:tbailey@bpslaw.com\">tbailey@bpslaw.com<\/a><br \/>914-961-3210<\/p><p>We live in Bronxville, NY, just north of NYC.\u00a0 While I am winding down my career as an Intellectual Lawyer, Hunter is still revving up her active racket sports calendar.\u00a0 We have two sons in their late twenties, Chris, who lives 80 miles away in Clinton, CT, and Woody, who is a Design Engineer in the energy sector in Denver.\u00a0 Woody is also a world class mountain climber.\u00a0 We joined him in 2016 on his final ascent of the \u201cSeven Summits\u201d (the highest mountain on each of the continents) which was Mount Koszciusko, Australia.\u00a0 Our happiest times have been many outdoor adventures we\u2019ve shared as a family\u2026basically wherever we can find a museum for Chris, a place to enjoy a \u201cWoody hike,\u201d and a sidewalk caf\u00e9 with a glass of wine for all of us!<\/p><p>I was unable to attend the Phikeia Reunion as we were traveling in Portugal last June.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>This year we have spent two weeks hiking in Switzerland with both boys, and I have been to Nashville several times to work with Gene Shanks and George Mudter to establish the Pat Patrick Music Fund in honor of our late close friend. I have also read just over 40 books during the past 12 months, about 10 fewer than Hunter.<\/p><p>Next up is a return to the Cinque Terre fishing villages in Italy with our son Chris, then a tour of Machu Picchu and the Galapagos in late September. I will be retiring by the end of the year, if not before.\u00a0 Hope to see everyone under Kirkland Tower or around the \u201cnot-Phi house\u201d at the Vanderbilt 50<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Reunion in 2019!\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>David Beavers<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"mailto:david@thebeavers.net\"><span>david@thebeavers.net<\/span><\/a><br \/>615-364-2737<\/p><p>Considering next book topic.\u00a0 Turned 70.\u00a0 18th grandchild!\u00a0 Too much travel, not slowing down.<\/p><p>Travel is half family, half biz, just too much. All very meaningful to me, but I enjoy HOME and my back porch. We are at our beach house in Seagrove Beach in the panhandle this week--first time since December.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>Jimmy Webb's younger brother, Billy Webb, died recently at 64. Heart attack. Billy had battled cancer for years, and you know about his son, Vann, who died of leukemia while at Vanderbilt. His daughter, Neel, is best friends with my step daughter. The church was packed, chairs in the aisles. A much-loved man.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><\/strong><strong>Chuck Billings<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"mailto:ckbgretna@hotmail.com\"><span>ckbgretna@hotmail.com<\/span><\/a><br \/>504-366-9707<\/p><p>I was truly upset to have missed the Reunion with my fellow Phikeias. What I missed the most was to see how \"old\" everybody, except me, looks, and to reminisce and replay lots of our good times together.<\/p><p>My surgeries and follow-up physical therapy thankfully all went well. I'm running out of joints to replace, so will have to find other medical excuses to use in the future to get out of things (Ha!).<\/p><p>Two of my three sons now live here in New Orleans, so the focus of life is even more\u00a0so family, and especially grandchildren. I suspect I share that with many of you. I still work and see patients 4 and a half days a week. I'm giving thought to cutting down a bit further as soon as I can talk my wife into cutting down her QVC viewing hours so we can afford to. \u00a0We are very active in our church, St. Joseph, which is just a half block from our house. I usher weekly while Kathy serves as a Eucharistic minister.<\/p><p>I have also been active in the recently failed attempt to save and preserve four historic monuments here in New Orleans. The city's mayor in a misguided effort to promote inclusion and tolerance and diversity (to use his catchwords) in our city has sown more strife and exclusion and intolerance than has been seen here since post-Civil War Reconstruction. Sadly, these historic works of art got tagged with the \"racist\" and \"white supremacy\" labels that made even objecting to their removal awkward for many of us\u00a0who of course did not want (nor deserve) those epithets.<\/p><p>It has been a painful and emotionally draining fight, which as of today (5\/19\/17) is over as the last, Robert E. Lee, comes down. On the bright side, at least I had the good sense to pledge Phi at VU. If I had been a KA, losing General Lee would likely have put me in the Coronary Care Unit.<\/p><p>Anyway, life goes on, and I have much to be thankful for.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>George Bosworth<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"mailto:georgboz@aol.com\"><span>georgboz@aol.com<\/span><\/a><br \/>706-368-9468<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>George reports that they\u2019ve had so many storms recently in GA that his TV, computer and phone service have been disrupted.\u00a0 \u201cI feel like I\u2019m living in the early 1900\u2019s,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cWe haven\u2019t done much this last year, but we are going on a cruise to Bermuda the last week in May.\u201d\u00a0 George continues to be Chairman of the local hospital board.\u00a0 \u201cEverything is running like clockwork,\u201d he said.\u00a0 When asked about grandkids he said:\u00a0<\/p><p>\u201cI have no new grandchildren that I know of.\u201d\u00a0 He is spending a lot of time with his grandkids these days: \u201cSomething I think I share with most of our Phikeia brothers.\u201d<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Rick Bryant<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:orvil@rcn.com\"><span>orvil@rcn.com<\/span><\/a><br \/>\r\n610-905-1452<\/p><p>After our 50th, I went back to Easton and completed my divorce. I then headed out for a cross country trip in an RV. Was visiting a friend in rural VA and had just returned from a trip to Spain when I had to make an emergency trip to the hospital for a twisted intestine. Spent 9 days in the hospital, but recovery was quick.<\/p><p>Continued journey, but made unexpected detour in North GA where I bought a mountain cabin about 2 hours north of Atlanta. Have spent the last two months fixing it up.<\/p><p>In mid-May, I flew out to San Antonio to pick up the RV again to continue the cross-country journey.\u00a0 There were several side trips along the way to visit Holmes, Kibler, Miller and Dimit.\u00a0 All this catching up was precipitated by the 50th Reunion.<\/p><p><u><\/u><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>John Carloss<br \/>\r\n<\/strong>713-562-6142<\/p><p>I had a wonderful phone conversation with John Carloss, my Reunion roommate.\u00a0 Aren\u2019t all conversations with John wonderful?\u00a0 I think so.<\/p><p>Unfortunately, John\u2019s update suggests that this has been a disturbing year for him.\u00a0 First of all, and most importantly, he has developed some health problems.\u00a0 He\u2019s been to the emergency room twice in the last year with \u201cheart issues.\u201d\u00a0 Healthy his whole life, right now John is in a monitoring mode, which has him \u201con edge\u201d as he describes it.\u00a0 Secondly, John reached 70 this year, and, due to a mandatory retirement clause, he was forced to retire from his business.<\/p><p>But, he reported proudly about the continued achievements of this children.\u00a0 For example, one of his four daughters was, for some unknown reason, not accepted by Vanderbilt (a situation John shares with a few other Phikeia brothers).\u00a0 Now out of college, she is part of the Gates Foundation, doing some great things for the world.<\/p><p>John has dropped off the Internet and e-mail, but he does carry a mobile phone, so he can still be reached.\u00a0 You can call him at 713-562-6142.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><br \/><\/strong><strong>J.V. Crockett<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:jvcrockett@corbettcrockett.com\"><span>jvcrockett@corbettcrockett.com<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\r\n615-386-3600<\/p><p>I am in the process of retiring. Anyone who\u2019s been to Nashville in the last few years knows how popping this town is, which translates to a crazy busy work load for a real estate lawyer like me. I\u2019ve been eyeing retirement for a few years and decided the time has come to hang it up. Last May, my law partner and I moved from our palatial suites on West End Avenue to modest executive suites in Green Hills. This was the first step in our process of winding down. I\u2019ve been turning away business, referring work to other lawyers, and finishing up the matters that I have been involved with. I\u2019m looking forward to a new life of leisure. Ha! Guess I\u2019ll have to take up golf.<\/p><p>I\u2019m staying active. I\u2019ve had to cut way back on biking but have taken tennis back up. Last winter I took my usual ski trips to Jackson Hole (January) and Sun Valley (February). Couldn\u2019t work in a third! Or fourth for that matter. Both places had record snow this year. At last count, Jackson Hole had received over 650 \u201c(54+ feet) of snow this year. We had good dumps at both ski areas prior to and during our visits. For a number of years, I\u2019ve been a co-owner of a 25\u2019 sailboat that\u2019s docked on Percy Priest Lake. My co-owner has health issues and I plan to buy him out. The boat has been neglected, so I\u2019ll be spending some time getting it in shape and sailing this summer.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>David Dimit<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:daviddimit@msn.com\"><span>daviddimit@msn.com<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\r\n314-420-1908<\/p><p>David was unable to attend our Reunion last year due to cataract surgery.\u00a0 He reports that it was successful: \u201cNow I can see the line on my putts, I just can\u2019t putt it there,\u201d he said.\u00a0 David started a new job this last year.\u00a0 He has switched from insurance to selling pipe.\u00a0 He says three of his best customers are in the Dothan, AL area and they all know Espy.\u00a0 \u201cIn spite of that, they are still buying from me,\u201d he said.<\/p><p>David is spending a lot of time with his grandkids who also live in St. Louis, they are ages 4 and 2. \u201cTell everyone I\u2019m also spending a lot of time with my wife in bed,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cYou probably should also add that we are spending that time watching <em>Game of Thrones, <\/em>we love that series.\u201d<\/p><p>He says the highlight of the year was a surprise visit from Rick Bryant.\u00a0 \u201cWe were included on Rick\u2019s USA tour,\u201d said David.\u00a0 \u201cWe were happy to provide a few nights respite for Rick from his RV.\u201d<\/p><p>Finally, David shared his unique approach to retirement planning: \u201cI\u2019m in a group of 10 people playing the lottery each week,\u201d he said, \u201cyou never know!\u201d<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Chip Dudley<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:chip@i-bankonline.com\"><span>chip@i-bankonline.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>901-452-7948<\/p><p>Most important event is the birth of my second grandson on May 15th. On top of that my daughter Katherine and her husband are moving back to Memphis with my two granddaughters. So, by August, I will have all four of my grandchildren living in Memphis. Tricia and I are thrilled.<\/p><p>Other than that, I am still running the bank with my business partner Susan.\u00a0 I went fishing in Alaska, pheasant hunting in South Dakota, duck hunting in Arkansas, dove shooting in Mississippi and played some golf in Memphis.<\/p><p>Just had my physical and the docs say I am in good health. Tricia and I still love each other.<br \/> <br \/> Who in Washington knows how to govern? Both side of the aisle suck. We need a rat court!<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Bill Espy<br \/>\r\n<\/strong>334-798-0379<\/p><p>Bill called me with his update.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t do computers,\u201d he said, \u201cI don\u2019t even speak the language.\u201d\u00a0 But, what Bill does speak is forestry and wildlife management.<\/p><p>He has spent the last year continuing to work his property in Dothan.\u00a0 You may recall that Bill had an ablation procedure on his heart a few months before our Reunion.\u00a0 \u201cNow I do Red Neck Cardio,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThe more outside work I do, the better I feel.\u00a0 I often work from early in the morning to late at night.<\/p><p>An almost seven-year drought has taken a toll on his trees.\u00a0 This past year Bill spent a great deal of time cutting out dead and dying timber.\u00a0 He purchased a large saw and he\u2019s been using the lumber for siding on his remodeled family cottage near Panama City, Florida and also for a new cabin he\u2019s building in Alabama.<\/p><p>And, as if that weren\u2019t enough, he spent a lot of time this year negotiating with some folks who are re-working old bauxite mining sites.\u00a0 Bill has a couple old sites on his property and plans to have these re-worked in the coming year.\u00a0 (According to Wikipedia, Bauxite is found in clay soil and is a key ingredient in aluminum.)\u00a0 So, it may be that the soil on Bill\u2019s property is as valuable as the trees.<\/p><p>While many of us are facing retirement, perhaps even wondering what to do next, Bill says: \u201cI have a job for life.\u00a0 I love growing things.\u201d\u00a0 Bill certainly sounded like a happy camper.\u00a0<\/p><p>He and his wife, Veda, send their best wishes to everyone.<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Jerry Faerber<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:jerry.faerber@wellsgargoadvisors.com\"><span>jerry.faerber@wellsfargoadvisors.com<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\r\n865-560-2619<\/p><p>Jerry, our stock broker extraordinaire who lives in the Knoxville area, reports in that: \u201cnothing of significance has happened in our lives in the past year. We are just joyfully living one day at a time.\u201d\u00a0 In response to a follow-up question about travel, Jerry says that he and his wife, Peggy, are spending some time just north of Charleston, SC at Wild Dunes and Isle of Palms.\u00a0<\/p><p>Jerry wishes everyone \u201cbest regards.\u201d<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><br \/><br \/>Kevin Grady<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:kevin.grady@alston.com\"><span>kevin.grady@alston.com<\/span><\/a> <br \/>\r\n404-875-1575<\/p><p>In July, Mary Beth and I attended my nephew's wedding in Brooklyn. We were able to attend a performance of Hamilton, which was even more fabulous than we anticipated. I told people that watching the play was like watching a baseball player hit a grand slam homerun every time he came to the plate during a game. On the downside, we stayed at the Union Hotel in Brooklyn for a couple of days at the suggestion of the Millennial bride and groom. This was the absolute worst hotel I have ever stayed in. If you want to know how bad, look up the Union Hotel in Trip Advisor and look for my review, titled: \"Even Henry David Thoreau Would Have Wanted More.\"<\/p><p>In January, Mary Beth and I spent two weeks in Paris to celebrate our 40th anniversary (one year late because of Mary Beth's heart operation last year), celebrate my 69th birthday, and avoid being in the U.S. when Trump was sworn in as President. We had a great time.<\/p><p>The biggest event happened last month when Martin and Maggie informed us that they were expecting a son to be born likely in early November. Martin said, \"Dad, the Grady name will live on.\" Mary Beth is trying to decide what her new name should be, and she has friends trying to come up with a suitable appellation. I think I'll just have the boy refer to me as \"Mr. Grandfather Grady,\" which he should ultimately warm up to.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><br \/>Dan Hagaman<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:dan@faceepitaph.com\"><span>dan@faceepitaph.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>423-667-0314<\/p><p>This is very timely.\u00a0 Only a day or so ago I was remembering how great the Phikiea Reunion was and what an exceptional group of men we are all privileged to be associated with.<\/p><p>A year ago I was newly married and also having lots of pain in my neck and shoulder which severely limited activities. In October 2016 I underwent minimally invasive cervical spinal surgery at Georgetown University Hospital.\u00a0 It was successful and, after six months of rehab, I am now nearly as good as new, feeling well and active again.<\/p><p>The marriage is going well. Wish she had come along 40 years ago.\u00a0<\/p><p>Finally purchased a new turboprop airplane and am enjoying the freedom it offers.\u00a0<\/p><p>Hope all is well with the Phikeias!<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Chip Hall<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:cohplantation@aol.com\"><span>cohplantation@aol.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>843-860-3432<\/p><p>I cannot believe it has been a year since our wonderful Reunion.<\/p><p>Most of our spare time since then has been spent cleaning up behind hurricane Matthew in South Carolina and a short time later the two storm systems that came through south Georgia. The tornados wrecked my dad\u2019s house and my sister\u2019s house located a mile apart. Big pines through the roofs. For all the mess that was made, there was fortunately not too much injury to people. Things look much better now.<\/p><p>Other than that I have enjoyed watching the presidential election. More fun than football. It has been so exciting that Betsy has threatened to leave me because of my bumpkin views.\u00a0 All is well, we are glad to be here\u2026.and still have great memories of all of you.<br \/><br \/><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Joe Holliday<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:jhholliday3@msn.com\"><span>jhholliday3@msn.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>203-637-7780<\/p><p>A bunch of folks who grew up in Nashville organized a 70th Birthday Bash on 4\/22, for everybody who turned\/will turn 70 this year. I flew down and stayed with Crockett.<\/p><p>About 400 attended the Saturday night party, which was a hoot. But the best event was a lunch on Saturday that a couple of ladies arranged for those of us who were in grammar school together! Over half the class was there, which is pretty good considering some are no longer on this earth.<br \/><br \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Cal Holmes<br \/>\r\n<\/strong>Cal:    \u00a0\u00a0 <u>holmeslawfirm1@earthlink.net<\/u>        \u00a0 770-545-1496\u00a0<br \/>\r\nSilver:    \u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"mailto:silver341p@gmail.com\"><span>silver341p@gmail.com<\/span><\/a>                    \u00a0 770-546-2078<\/p><p>I've continued mostly the same. Part time legal mediations; otherwise retired. Went out west with Silver again last September.\u00a0 Having great fun with children Amy and Joe, their spouses plus five grandchildren in Rome (18 miles away).\u00a0 Daughter Genny visits us with her husband Scott fairly often.\u00a0 Silver and I are going to Boston area soon to visit them; as Amy and I did early last September.<\/p><p>Did my annual backpacking\/camping\/fishing trip into the Smokies earlier in May. Got together with Bryant, saw his new place in north Georgia mountains. Took him to Murphy, NC and introduced him to fly fishing for trout. He loved it. Good thing since he has a trout stream in his back yard. Bryant also visited us in Cedartown on his way west to Texas.\u00a0 I\u2019d love to see more brothers.<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Al Hubbard<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:ahubbard@ea-companies.com\"><span>ahubbard@ea-companies.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>317-257-8927<\/p><p>Supported Jeb Bush until he withdrew.\u00a0 Spent 2 weeks in Bhutan with 2 other couples hiking, learning about Buddhism, and enjoying the beautiful country.\u00a0 Sold a lighting fixture business and bought a camper van rental business.\u00a0 Skied a lot this winter.\u00a0 Now have all 3 kids in Denver which is very convenient.\u00a0 That is about it. \u00a0<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>John Hughes<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:johnhughes@centurytel.net\"><span>johnhughes@centurytel.net<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>406-862-7280<\/p><p>Here's a summary of what I did since the Reunion:<\/p><p>(1) Had a wonderful visit from my three sons and their families. We hiked, boated, rode the alpine slides on Big Mountain, took a wild whitewater raft trip down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, shot 22s at the rifle range, and shot 1000s of BBs in our side yard.<\/p><p>(2) Spent a week in Colorado, visiting my sister, Nancy, and her husband, Chuck, at their cabin near South Fork, Colorado, in the San Juan Mountains. We rafted, hiked, shot skeet, fished, and shot 1000s of BBs (my grandsons cannot get enough of this). While there, I visited with one of P&R Publishing's authors in a near-by town to discuss his next book project.<\/p><p>(3) Hiked the Iceberg Lake Trail and the Grinnell Glacier Trail in Glacier National Park with my sister, Nancy. Extremely scenic. We stayed two nights at the beautiful\u00a0Many Glacier Hotel.<\/p><p>(4) Hunted deer and antelope on the high plains of central Montana. Beautiful country. The hunting trip seemed to revolve around talk radio (pre-election commentary), George Strait, coffee, and English pipe tobacco.<\/p><p>(5) Attended the Evangelical Theological Society meeting in San Antonio (George Strait's hometown). Met with many interesting authors. Did not see George.<\/p><p>(6) Skied Big Mountain, here in Whitefish (-4 degrees the first day I skied) on a regular basis. (The mountain received 407 inches of snow during ski season!) Skied in Vail with my five Denver grandsons and their dad, John. In Vail, my oldest grandson, Jack (12), had a freak chairlift accident, fell twenty feet to the snow, broke the radius and humerus in his right arm, cracked two ribs, and was in the Vail hospital for three nights and four days. The same surgeon who repaired Lindsey Vonn's broken arm this past November operated on Jack, who is completely OK now, thank God.<\/p><p>(7) Worked like crazy on the numerous book projects I am managing. A recent book, John Frame's <em>A History of Western Philosophy and Theology<\/em>, won the Evangelical Christian Publisher's 2017 Gold Medallion Award in the Bible Reference Books category. This is the highest honor a book can receive in Christian publishing.<\/p><p>(8) Flew last week to Orlando to speak at John Frame's retirement ceremonies at Reformed Theological Seminary and to present his award to him. We had a wonderful visit.<\/p><p>(9) Am preparing with Claire to take care of John's twin boys, Matthew and David (7), in early June, here in Whitefish, for nine days, while John and Amy are in Spain. Prayers appreciated!<\/p><p>(10) Enjoyed all the neighborhood wildlife: spring bear in my next-door-neighbor's side yard, wild turkeys, pheasant, mallards, deer galore, and a pair of snowshoe hares across the street. I watched and photographed the hares over a two-week period as their fur changed from all white to 98% brown; it was amazing!<\/p><p>(11) I listen to \"our music\" all the time, usually while taking my afternoon walk.<\/p><p>(12) Trekked in the foothills of the Himalayas. Did not spot any Yetis.<\/p><p>(13) Biked the length of the Great Wall of China. Trump would love it.<\/p><p>(14) Placed second in the GatorFest Alligator Wrestling Competition. Nasty creatures.<\/p><p>(15) Scaled Mont Blanc. Chilly!<\/p><p>It's possible that (12) through (15) may not be true :)<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Jim Irvin<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:jim@fireflyvodka.com\"><span>jim@fireflyvodka.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>843-559-6867<\/p><p>I am still in disbelief that we pledged over 50 years ago. What a SUPER Reunion we had.\u00a0 This last year Firefly released two new vodkas (Lemon and Great Fruit) in SC only, but maybe the USA next year. We are releasing some straight bbourbon this coming September along with two gins.<\/p><p>The big news is that we have purchased several acres in North Charleston as the new site for our distillery, a 2,500-seat entertainment arena, a restaurant and gift shop.\u00a0 We\u2019ve had 40,000 visitors a year at our current location.\u00a0 We\u2019re expecting up to 150,000 in our new location.\u00a0 Our projected opening is summer 2018.<\/p><p>I keep finding reasons to get up and going!<br \/><br \/><br \/><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Clint Kibler<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:fmkibler@att.net\"><span>fmkibler@att.net<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>404-233-0761<\/p><p>Our past year has been fairly docile. \u00a0Anne and I had a nice week at a hotel on the west coast of Mexico. \u00a0I have been on a couple bone fishing trips to the Bahamas. \u00a0I had a great trout fishing trip to Patagonia. \u00a0<\/p><p>I have developed a much greater respect for what it takes to raise my 3 grandchildren because my daughter and son-in-law left them with us for 6 days. The first night (a school night) I was with the 11-year-old at his baseball game until 9:20. \u00a0There was some sort of athletic event almost every school night and 4 on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. \u00a0My oldest daughter manages one of Coke's water brands that is headquartered in NYC and her office is being moved back to Atlanta, so we are having lots of phone calls about whether to move back to Atlanta or find a new job in Manhattan.<\/p><p>I had lunch with Rick a couple of months ago as he passed thru town on his way to new adventures in the West. \u00a0Can't wait to read or hear about how that\u2019s going. That's about it for us as Anne continues to tolerate the 70-year-old version of the kinder, gentler Phikeia that she married.<\/p><p><strong><\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Jim Kothe<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:jrkothe@aol.com\"><span>jrkothe@aol.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>704-339-0565<\/p><p>Our 50th Phikeia Reunion was such an all-consuming experience for me, you\u2019d think I\u2019d have been done with such events\u2026but the celebrations have just kept happening.\u00a0<\/p><p>In October, I was out in the SF Bay Area visiting my two grandkids (only 16 more to go to catch Beavers!) and I was able to attend a reunion of people who have worked in brand management at The Clorox Company (headquartered in Oakland).\u00a0 Like a fraternity, we share a common bond, in this case, of working at different times on the same household packaged goods (e.g. Clorox bleach, 409 spray cleaner, Liquid-plumr drain opener).\u00a0 I came away with a great photo of my first boss, his boss and me all together.<\/p><p>In early December, Bev and I had dinner with Betsy and Chip Hall in Beaufort, SC.\u00a0 We both have second homes in \u201cthe Low Country\u201d of SC.\u00a0 Chip said that he was picking up the tab because \u201cit\u2019s my 69th birthday.\u201d\u00a0 No wonder Chip has always looked so much better than the rest of us\u2026it turns out he\u2019s a whole year younger!<\/p><p>In late December we had a large family gathering for Christmas and my 70th birthday at our place in SC.\u00a0 I told my grandkids we were celebrating the birthdays \u201cof Jesus and Jim.\u201d\u00a0 It was a very special and grand time with all the people I love.<\/p><p>Then, this April, Bev had her 50th high school reunion in Sheffield, AL.\u00a0 In addition to the obligatory visit to the high school, we also toured two recording studios that were featured in the documentary film \u201cMuscle Shoals.\u201d\u00a0 If you are looking for a good movie on Netflix, I recommend it to you.\u00a0 Just about everybody has recorded in these studios, from Aretha Franklin to the Rolling Stones.<\/p><p>It\u2019s been a wonderful year of celebrating life and most importantly, the friends and loved ones that make life worth living!<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Brook Lathram<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:brooklathram@comcast.net\"><span>brooklathram@comcast.net<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>901-484-1645<\/p><p>I have neither been anywhere nor done anything of interest, unless you want to include finishing Trollope's <em>Barchester Chronicles<\/em> or undergoing an inguinal surgery repair one week ago (May 8). Advice from JBL: Don't do vigorous twisting and jumping on a mini-trampoline. You're too damned old for such foolishness.<\/p><p>My beautiful - and frisky - 4 1\/2-year-old half-Japanese granddaughter is coming to visit for several months, and I am trying my best to mend as quickly as possible.\u00a0<\/p><p><strong><\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Les McCormick<\/strong><\/p><p>A life-long architect who was living in Asheville, NC, Les had said he was unable to come to the Reunion due to his health, but he did not let on to the seriousness of his condition. Sadly, Les died on June 3, 2016, just days before our gathering.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Bob Miller<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:rmiller@farris-law.com\"><span>rmiller@farris-law.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>901-454-5929<\/p><p>Still practicing law and the only thing I have to report is that I have now entered my 8<sup>th<\/sup> decade.\u00a0 Both Rick and Cal have visited since our Reunion.\u00a0<\/p><p><strong><\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Lee Noel<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:leefnoeltn@aol.com\"><span>leefnoeltn@aol.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>615-259-2929<\/p><p>The past year has flown by as I have handed off more of my business to my son Lee.<\/p><p>Also, Emily is almost recovered from knee replacement surgery and is back tending to our 3-month-old granddaughter.\u00a0 What an amazing thing she is to us.\u00a0 It has been a good year.\u00a0<br \/><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Jay Popp<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:jpoppjr@gmail.com\"><span>jpoppjr@gmail.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>803-782-0428<\/p><p>Let's see...what has happened since last year? Well, I am still working, still traveling as much as ever, and I'm not sure when the end is in sight. We have had another grandchild which is exciting. Our son Jason and his wife Leigh welcomed their daughter Winn to the world a couple of months ago. We have only seen her once but have a visit planned to Atlanta in a couple of weeks.\u00a0<\/p><p>We are finishing building a house and hope to move in next month. It has been lots of work - so many decisions to make - but we are having fun with it. We are extremely fortunate to have a great builder, architect, and decorator - without them we would be totally lost.\u00a0<\/p><p>We just started a trip to Peru. I am leading a delegation of gastroenterologists and we will visit health care facilities and interact with Peruvian physicians. I've done this many times before and it has been great fun. We have planned a trip to the Amazon followed by the Galapagos once we complete the medical part of the trip.\u00a0<\/p><p>I once again am so grateful to have had the experience of our 50th Reunion. My only regret is that I haven't seen any of the brothers since we all gathered almost a year ago. Time just passes by too quickly.\u00a0<br \/><br \/><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Ron Reddin<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:ronreddin12@gmail.com\"><span>ronreddin12@gmail.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>901-258-3408<\/p><p>The right hand is healing slowly. Nerve damage has limited my feeling and strength which has an 85% probably of recovery over a 2-year period. My life at this point consists of travel, golf, grandkids (5), and managing some medical office property which I own. Susan and I also work with some nonprofit organizations which keeps our days full and never boring. I hope that I will get another reunion opportunity and my health cooperates. At our age, nothing can be taken for granted and the attitude of invincibility is long gone. Hope everyone is in good health.<br \/><br \/><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Allan Ruleman<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"mailto:aruleman@bellsouth.net\"><span>aruleman@bellsouth.net<\/span><\/a><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">901-299-6287<\/p><p>Lois and I have joined a very energetic Christ Methodist Church that is helping put life in perspective. I've been slowing work and will be fully retired in June.\u00a0 We're ecstatic!\u00a0 I'll probably volunteer some at the Church Health Center with Lois whose been working there for years.\u00a0\u00a0 This year we were frequently chasing our 3 grandkids in Evergreen. CO.\u00a0 Harry,12, competing in piano; Kaia, 8, in gymnastics; and Caleb, 6, in T-ball.<\/p><p>It was great being with all the Phi\u2019s, I can't believe it's been a year. It's great to be a Phi!<br \/><br \/><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Bill Singletary<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:wsingletarymd@aol.com\"><span>wsingletarymd@aol.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>610-649-7470<\/p><p>Over the past year I've been enjoying my Phi Jukebox.\u00a0 It\u2019s really wonderful!<\/p><p>At the top of my list of activities has been the rehabilitation of my back which has been going very well but requiring hours of daily exercise as well as physical therapy and acupuncture and a few medical procedures but thankfully, no surgery. I'm nearly back to normal and will resume kayaking at our place on the bay at the Delaware shore Memorial Day weekend. Have been limited in my travel but have made a few trips to New York which have included two presentations there regarding my recent autism paper which has been extremely well received. Now getting started on new writing related to autism and further developing these ideas.<\/p><p>I've been fortunate enough to be continuing in my full-time practice of child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and psychoanalysis and, hopefully, won't have to slow down in the foreseeable future.<\/p><p>My wife, Suzanne, and son, John, are both doing well and are both moving forward with their work and creative activities. We all have a lot to be thankful for.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Bill Snow<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:wsnow9@bellsouth.net\"><span>wsnow9@bellsouth.net<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>561-393-6512<\/p><p>Perhaps I mentioned at the Reunion we were planning on going to \"Burning Man\" near Reno, NV. \u00a0\u00a0Burning Man is a Woodstock for adults in the desert. \u00a0We were going to go with our sons and their girlfriends, however, we could not get everyone to agree on the plans. \u00a0We all got as far as LA and then everyone went separate directions. \u00a0My youngest son Chad did go to Burning Man, my oldest son Billy went to Hawaii, and we traveled around California. \u00a0So much for a family vacation together<br \/><br \/> We explored the high desert areas this time, Joshua Forest National Park, Calico old gold mine, Manzanar, another national site that was a Japanese internment camp during WWII.\u00a0 In Tahachapi we did glider sail plane rides, and in LA went to Hunting Gardens and Pasadena and the Rose Bowl.<br \/> <br \/> Earlier in the summer we met up with 5 other couples (Scouting friends from High School and wives) in Baltimore and went to Annapolis and Washington DC. \u00a0One couple lives in DC and arranged a canoe trip on the Potomac River where we saw the Lincoln Memorial from the river. Also saw some sites in DC, the general tourist spots, i.e. Capital Building, the engraving of the money, National Library Declaration of Independence, 9\/11 memorial at the Pentagon, etc. Many of the things I did in middle school with my parents.<br \/> <br \/> Our older son got married over Christmas in Lake Tahoe with a small private wedding outdoors in the snow. \u00a0It was a scene out of \u201cDoctor Zhivago.\u201d<br \/> <br \/> Still working doing engineering. \u00a0Still semi-active with the Boy Scouts where I put on an annual Eagle Scout banquet for all the new Eagle Scouts and some of the older Eagles our age attend. \u00a0We call them the Bald Eagles. \u00a0About 15 years ago I set up an Eagle Scout Scholarship Fund where we give out several Scholarship each year at the banquet.<br \/> <br \/> Have been active in my Model A Ford club where we tour around the area to different sites on weekends with my 1929 Roadster. \u00a0Last week we toured to the Juno Marine Center that rehabilitates loggerhead turtles.<\/p><p><strong><u><\/u><\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Pat Woods<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:patrick47777@gmail.com\"><span>patrick47777@gmail.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>707-923-9363<\/p><p>Our longest distance Phikeia, Pat Woods, who hails from Garberville, CA, called with a joyful report.\u00a0 He and his wife, Gayna, have a wonderful rhythm to each year, and this last year was no exception.\u00a0 They make an annual visit to Hawaii in the late fall, return home for Christmas (\u201cand all the football\u201d), and then they spend most of February\/March down in Mexico.\u00a0 They\u2019ve been going to the same place there for around 35 years.\u00a0 \u201cIt has a real sense of community,\u201d said Pat.<\/p><p>Now he has returned home to manage his vegetable garden for the summer, but this is no small garden.\u00a0 He said he has 36 tomato plants with 16 different varieties, beans, and you name it.\u00a0 They have taken \u201cfarm to table\u201d to a new level.\u00a0 \u201cWe eat pretty healthy,\u201d he said.<\/p><p>Pat and Gayna spend a lot of time with their three grandkids who live 10 minutes down the road.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>TC Woods<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:teebone6161@aol.com\"><span>teebone6161@aol.com<br \/>\r\n<\/span><\/a>305-667-9912<\/p><p>Spent some time at the cottage on Lake Michigan last summer.\u00a0Took our seemingly annual cruise to the Caribbean\u00a0in November. Went to Ireland for about three weeks this April. Drove with another couple almost\u00a01800 miles. Saw some absolutely gorgeous countryside and seascapes, played a little golf, met some lovely people, and attempted to complete my comparative study of\u00a0local Irish\u00a0whiskies.<\/p><p>Otherwise, still trying to play golf several times a week without much improvement in my game.\u00a0 Did have my second hole in one this winter. The golfers will understand the predicament\u00a0which\u00a0this causes\u00a0in having to admit how much more club you had to use (as we get older) than with the first one.<\/p><p>Trust all are well and thriving.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1317","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vandyphikeia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vandyphikeia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vandyphikeia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vandyphikeia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vandyphikeia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1317"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/vandyphikeia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1807,"href":"https:\/\/vandyphikeia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1317\/revisions\/1807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vandyphikeia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}