Sero, sed serio

Dear Brian,

Please accept my late but sincere thanks for making me feel so welcome in Pinehurst when I visited in September.  The opening reception and the deeply engaged audience for the Wrench Lecture were a great pleasure. During my visit, I learned far more than I taught thanks to the opportunities you gave me to talk with your branch members. Your interest in Shakespeare and your commitment to keeping his plays and poems alive through your support of the Shakespeare recitation competition were visible everywhere.  I feel certain Shakespeare would feel even more grateful than I do for the work you put into allowing local students and their teachers to connect with him.

At each of my earlier stops on the Wrench Lecture tour, I heard the same refrain at every meal:  “You may think this is good, but wait until you get to Pinehurst!”  They were right.  The dinner at Lisi was fabulous, and the dinnertime conversation was even better!

We had our first snow this week here in western New York, so I am happy to have memories of the warmth of Pinehurst to bring good cheer.  Please give the branch my best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving, and a joyous 2026!

                                                                                    Very truly yours,

                                                                                    Catherine Loomis