Stanford Visit

My sister Amy wanted 1. me to see where they live on Stanford's campus and 2. someone to help her drive her two kids to Utah for the Clyde G. Smith family reunion and her high school reunion, so she bought me a ticket to Cali. Unfortunately, the cheapest tickets had a transfer in Long Beach, where the gate was changed three times and the plane was an hour late, but I didn't mind because after much debate I had caved and put three books in my shoulder bag and got through one and a half. I finished Note to Self (a collection of essays by women about hardship) and started on I Have Lived A Thousand Years (a true holocaust story). Also, I have to share that while I was reading with my sunglasses on because of the sunset blinding everyone, there was the following announcement made: "Excuse me, if your eyes are hurting from the bright light of the sun, it's because you left your sunglasses at the security check. Please come claim them." Ha ha.

After spending the night on Amy and Paul's enormous, white, wool couch, and saying goodbye to Paul, we read several books to Sadie and James.





Then we took the Margerite A-Line bus to the most famous part of Stanford.





We saw the cathedral and the languages building and went up a tower where we could the whole surrounding area and the organ-looking instrument that is used to play the bells on campus (I would love to try that thing. The guy said the keys are played with fists because they're heavy).








Then we went to Target to create a San Francisco-themed basket for the raffle at the family reunion. Amy stopped by another store to get So I Married An Axe Murderer, and I entertained the kids by yelling boo and grabbing their legs after hiding behind my book.

When we got back home, we made muffins and played in the toy-filled sandbox in the courtyard between all the married housing buildings,





which was followed by baths and the finishing up of the holocaust book (recommended).





Then Amy and Paul headed to a party.

The next morning, we got in the car and drove. I don't think any sane person would make a trip like that, but I'm not sane. I'm insanely blessed to have Amy, Paul, Sadie, and James, not to mention all the good books from the library. Thanks!