Gryphons in Paris

I write from The Marais in Paris on the final dark, cold afternoon of the decade. Yes, it is dark because the sun sets early (17:03) in this northern latitude (48º 52' North) and it is cold because it is mid- winter. Duh!

Douglas Draper '90 joined us for the Christmas week, and on one of our long Paresian walks we came upon what I thought must be massive Gryphons. Thus the picture of Douglas and the faux Gryphon. I had the smarts to send the picture to Deb Hunt since she has a good collection of Gryphons in her library at school. Her learned explanation of the beast follows:

Bonjour John and Alison -

These creatures (from your pics) are a variation on the traditional gryphon. They're called Wyverns and were favorite heraldic devises of Napolean because such a creature - if it existed - would be able to rule the air, land AND sea. Right up the little Corsican's alley! Think how easy invading England would have been if only he had controlled the weather.

Well, we tried and, I guess, got close to the real thing. Who ever heard of a Wyvern?

Our final effort with Gryphons in Paris gets a little bizzare. Alison and I found a strange, slightly twisted and small Christmas tree that would fit nicely in the apartment. It was one we could carry home easily. We bought some minimal tree decorations and lights at the local department store, BHV, and set the little guy up a few days before Christmas. Can you find the real Gryphon in that picture?

We wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful New Year.

A visit with Susan Silverman Liautaud '81 in London

Alison and I are enjoying some vacation time in Paris this December, and we took advantage of the proximity to London to visit with Susan and her husband, Bernard. Alison was Susan's English teacher in the eleventh grade and remembers her as an engaging, curious and passionate student. The nascent friendship between student and teacher has grown over the years since Susan graduated in 1981, and it was a delight to see it rekindle over dinner at Il Vaporetto, a beautiful Italian restaurant, on Friday evening.

Susan is a scholar in the purest sense of the word; she recently completed a Ph.D. in economics from the London School of Economics. She is now applying her knowledge of the law, yes, she is an attorney, and economics to her work on non-profit boards on which she sits. One board of certain interest to the Crystal family is Woody Halsey's famous, School Year Abroad which was founded in 1964. Woody was the first "Head" of the Uplands School in 1977 when we went coeducational. Subsequently he migrated to the administration of SYA where he became Director and was most recently elevated to President of SYA. His incredible educational organization is in good hands with Susan on the Board!

Susan is an adroit multitasker: she runs a home, is raising five children, and makes time for her high energy husband, Bernard. Their eldest is applying to universities in Europe and the States, and their youngest is a just beginning the rigors of the British school system. We wish them all well and hope that one day they will return to the Bay Area where they will be closer to the Crystal family of friends and alumni .

Courtney and JT visit campus

I am happy to see more alums coming back for campus visits. Courtney Frisbie '83 and JT Horenstein '89 recently returned for visits.

Courtney's jaw dropped when we walked into the "new" Gryphon Center and, along with Dave Robertson, her coach, found her X-Country trophy and winning record (5.31 second mile while winning NCS Championships) that stood for 20 plus years. Oh yeah, she was a fast and furious runner who has yet to be beaten in our book! Nice work, Courtney, Crystal Springs and Uplands School Athlete of the year 1983.

I learned that JT danced professionally with Maggie in performances before he joined the CSUS class of '89. JT returned to offer an intensive two-day dance and choreography technique class for some of Maggie's advanced dancers.

In addition, he generously offered Maggie's dancers a scholarship to his dance studio in Los Angles; Edge Performing Arts Center. http://www.edgepac.com/the.center.htm. He and Maggie were watching for the dancer with the most desire to improve, and that lucky young dancer will enjoy and certainly benefit from JT's gift. Thanks, JT and welcome back.