A Weekend in Palo Alto

Last Thursday, 24 February Uncle Stephen and I headed for Palo Alto to help celebrate Uncle Hank's 8oth birthday. Colette sent an invitation for an evening of really good music at the church, followed by birthday cake in the cultural hall. We couldn't resist and flew over for the event. Amy and Nicole secured tickets for our flight and Jeff drove us to the airport. We landed at Mineta San Jose International, which was recently expanded. It is a fantastic airport and an architectural highlight of the trip. We picked up a car, checked into our hotel, and spent the evening at 745 Christine Drive with the HDT Jr. family. We surprised Hank who did not know we were coming. Colette made soup and we were well-fed. Except for Rachel, who came with her little family to the Friday concert, none of the grandkids came, and several of the cousins were without spouses. It was a jolly and good-sized group, nonetheless.

Friday SKT and I spent the day with Hank while Colette and the kids got everything ready at the church for the evening celebration. After breakfast we three had a great walking tour of the neighborhood and particularly studied the Eichler houses in which Palo Alto abounds. (Eichler photos in the next post above this) We were to go out for lunch, but the Uncle-Hank frugality kicked in and he fed us left over pot roast instead: delicious. That afternoon SKT and I went to Oakland with him to pick up Marian at the airport. After that we took Hank to the hardware store to choose a birthday present, and since Tommy's studio warehouse was nearby Hank gave us a tour. That evening was the concert, which was really excellent. All their friends and neighbors attended and lingered late to visit and eat cake. I reconnected with Jim Welch who was a missionary to whom I taught Portuguese many years ago. He is a fantastic organist and was an important participant in Colette's program.

Saturday morning Stephen and I continued our architectural exploration, discovering hundreds of fantastic homes scattered through various neighborhoods in Palo Alto. It was exciting, but made me sad that we can't have that level of taste in our fair city. We hooked up with family again for the BYU/San Diego State basketball game. (I am a freak and can't watch.) After some snacking we headed to the Stanford campus with the group. We visited the Memorial Church, which is a fantastic building with exquisite details and beautiful stained-glass windows. We spent the last part of the afternoon in the Stanford Art Museum, where there was a fantastic photography show featuring wonderful work by Helen Levitt with whom I was previously unfamiliar. That evening the HDT Jr. family went to the church for a fundraiser supper and Stephen and I opted for a delicious dinner at the Fish Market instead.

Sunday we packed up, transfered to that great airport, and flew home without a hitch.

SKT, DAT, Nicole, and Amy in SLC

San Jose Mineta International Airport

745 Christine Drive

Nicole and Amy admiring the book Brad made for Hank

We surprised him

Hank, David, Stephen, Brad, and Brigham

Colette rehearsing her choir before the concert

Stephen reconnected with Jean Char Gong, his
second-grade teacher

Marian, Ann, Amy, Nicole, Michelle, Megan, Rachel, Denise, CGT
SKT, George, Brad, Hank, Brig, DAT, Brad
Cole and Drew

Hoover Tower at Stanford on a heavenly afternoon

The hostess and the birthday boy

Stanford Memorial Church

Stephen and Hank at the Stanford Museum

Since we were on the coast, we chose fresh fish: excellent

It was a great trip: good food, good company, great party, fun family time, tons of good art and architecture, and spectacularly beautiful cool weather.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.