Editor's Note

Ellen Ryder

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”

Can’t argue with Henry James on this particular opinion. Especially today. As I write, in mid-May, it’s another New England spring that never quite behaved as it should. Joggers this morning wore gloves and graduating seniors have shivered through a cold and rainy Cape Week.
But as you hold this issue in your hands, summer will at last be here. For James, of course, it’s not just about the lovely sound of those two words. “Summer afternoon” is also about shared experience and having a precious commodity: time.

Summer afternoons on Mount St. James are relatively quiet. That doesn’t mean O’Kane or Hart or St. Joseph Chapel or any corner of campus is bolted shut. Behind-the-scenes preparations are in high gear for the August arrival of the Class of 2012. Faculty-student research teams are at work in labs and classrooms. Admissions officers conduct tours and hold special advisory sessions for high school students. Construction of the new science complex continues full speed ahead. Weddings, sports camps, conferences, and other events bring visitors every day.

The campus is especially stunning now. Those of us fortunate enough to spend summer here confess to a twinge of guilt about this. Most students (and most of you, dear readers!) do not have the opportunity to enjoy the season at a registered arboretum. So, we asked writer James Dempsey to look into the design and history of our 174-acre hillside campus and how its legacy is kept alive (Page 22).

Summer’s gifts also include time to celebrate traditions and connect with community. Rebecca Smith ’99 writes that Jerry Colbert ’64 (Page 16), producer of Washington’s Fourth of July concert, may be a national example of this connectedness. As Colbert says: “For an hour and a half we unite the country in this celebratory moment where everyone is in a joyous mood.”

After a fast-paced academic year, it’s also time to catch our breath, plan for the next year, and—yes—try to squeeze in a restorative summer afternoon. Our staff in Public Affairs will be embarking on vacation travel both nearby (Nova Scotia, Cape Cod, Maine) and even a little farther afield (Yellowstone, Greece, Ireland) … spending time with family and friends camping, blueberry picking, hitting the road for kids’ baseball tournaments … and, of course, catching up on reading.

If you’re looking for suggestions for your summer reading, check out the titles by members of the Holy Cross community in Booknotes (Page 40). Congratulations are in order to HCM editor Jack O’Connell ’81, who published his fifth novel, The Resurrectionist (Algonquin), to exceptionally strong reviews. Maybe you caught him at one of the stops on his national book tour. After traveling to 13 cities in 16 days for readings and signings, Jack is looking forward to not getting on a plane this summer.

Even with the extra minutes of daylight, summer hurtles by. Responsibilities can conspire to keep us from truly enjoying the sun shining through trees or fully experiencing moments rich with music, celebration and community. We can’t give you more time to enjoy your afternoons this summer, but hope these pages connect you with some of what we share as members of the Holy Cross community—no matter what the season.

Ellen Ryder