Greetings from Pamela Carpenter Henry in Barnesville, Ga. I believe that news of my class is almost extinct, so here is an item to revive it a little. I attended the Norfolk Division in 1939-1941, the WW II years, and enjoyed the tutelage of Miss Cherry Nottingham for French, Dr. William Akers for Spanish, Lewis Webb (who coaxed me through trig), Mr. Gregory and Dr. Gray (and cigar stubs!) for English, Miss Margaret Holman for phys ed. and Mr. McLellan for history.

I also have memories of beginning biology (not my talent), and so much more - the friends and social doings such as Tri Kappa and the Beta Pi Mu honor society chartering.

I went on to Westhampton College, University of Richmond, for an English major with Spanish minor, followed by a summer in Mexico City at the Escuela de Verano (summer school). I quickly knew that teaching high school was not for me. For several years I worked for the Navy Department as a position classification analyst at NOB Norfolk, with temporary duty in New Orleans and Chicago. Back again in Norfolk, I resumed my studies of classical piano and took on a few pupils.

All the while I hostessed at the USO and proudly earned my pin for 50 hours on the dance floor. At the Union Jack Club for British seamen on Sunday afternoons, I learned to pour tea their way - milk first or tea first? The commissioned officers' historic downtown hospitality house also graced afternoons or evenings. On Tuesday evenings I rehearsed and danced (ballet) with the Navy Y Troupers for music and dance performances at military installations within a 35-mile radius of Norfolk.

At a church cookout I met a man who asked to take me home that evening and eventually gave me a home the remainder of his life. In September 1946, I married Lt. j.g. George T. Henry, USN Medical Corps. He had come to Norfolk for his medical internship after graduation from Emory University in Atlanta.

As medical officer doing facility inspections at the U.S. Naval Air Station, he "enforced" himself, despite friendly warnings, into sea duty on a Navy tanker for several round-the-world tours to and from the Persian Gulf area. ("Watch out, Doc, or they'll send you to Siberia!")

When discharged from active duty, he completed several years' residency at DePaul Hospital in surgery, gynecology and obstetrics. In 1951 we moved to Barnesville, Ga., where his burgeoning medical practice involved all phases of his training. In 1989, he retired for health reasons and passed away in 1992.

Our nine living (of 10) children are now all grown and flown, giving us grandchildren (30 to date) and two great-grandchildren (and counting). Nowadays my greeting cards are computer-created, for obvious reasons.

I am grateful for near-perfect health and enjoy the outdoors on our large rolling, wooded acreage. I have been a church organist for many years and am active in the local Auxiliary of Gideons International. I have traveled twice to Kenya and to Cameroon in Africa to visit a daughter's family who serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Last August I attended a grandson's wedding in Fortaleza, Brazil. Finally, I have learned how to "pack light."

I hope to see news from others I knew at the Norfolk Division. Let's hear it!

- Pamela Carpenter Henry '41, Barnesville, Ga.

Editor's note: The Alumni Association recently resumed publication of its newsletter for Norfolk Division alumni, the High Hat. Letters may be e-mailed to the newsletter at cackiss@odu.edu, or mailed to: Office of Alumni Relations, Old Dominion University, Suite 1500 Webb University Center, Norfolk, Va. 23529.