I’m still out in California.  I’m taking a red eye tonight back to NYC then on to Burlington tomorrow morning. I’m really beat. Right now I’m at my good friend Rafe’s house near Stanford. Rafe is one of the very few folks I’ve managed to keep in touch with rom college. He’s a math professor at Stanford.. actually he’s becoming the department head. His friend Ted, a math prof from U of GA  is here visiting too.. I knew Ted when he taught at MIT. We were just realizing that the three of us have each stayed in the same job for more than 30 years .. I don’t think we’re the norm. It’s fun to reconnect with old friend like this.. Reminded me of Dylan’s ‘Tangled up in Blues.’

So now i'm goin' back again
I got to get to her somehow
All the people we used to know
They're an illusion to me now.
Some are mathematicians
Some are carpenters wives
Don't know how it all got started
I don't know what they're doin' with their lives.
But me i'm still on the road
Headin' for another joint
We always did feel the same
We just saw it from a different point of view
Tangled up in blue.  

 
Today was pretty chill.. I had a phone meeting from 7-8, a run from 8-9ish.. I ran again with my buddy Modest (long O as in mow-dest) .. Turns out that he’s camera shy and does not want his face shown on this blog. I aim to please.. so here are some pictures from this morning’s run.

Ok.. so her’s Modest.. he says we look like Santa and his elf.. what’s with this ‘Santa’ thing ?

  We got back in time for the stat of our 3 hour meeting at the hotel.. fun but hard.. then another phone meeting..

After that.. I checked out of the hotel and went up to Palo Alto to see Rafe. It was a a perfect day.. sunny and dry.. we went out to a park on the bay and took a beautiful walk.. We talked mostly about our families. I really needed the time with him after the weeks busy meetings.  I found I was bale to put words around lots of things I’d been trying to work out for several weeks about relating to Max and Gage.. why I write this blog.. what I’m going to do with my life.. etc.. There’s such great value in talking to old friends who know you well.

I now read memorial plaques wherever I go.. they’re everywhere, really.. This one really struck me.

Rafe looking professorial

   After that we came back, met Ted and cooked a great dinner.

Rafe’s scary sideboard

I’m just about to head back to airport for my flight back I wanted to get this posted before I go.. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone.. I’ll only get to see Diane for a half hour before she heads off to Omega.. My folks are coming up this weekend which should be fun…

   OK.. time to go..  Wish me safe travels Sam…

Love to  all..

-me