Knee high

by the fourth of July

We hear from our corn geneticist neighbor that this doesn't apply to corn any longer here (it better be much higher than your knee!) but we were pleased to see that our own little corn is more than knee high!

Happy Birthday Peter!

Phil - 5/3/1942 to 5/24/2006

Happy Birthday today Dad.

You'd be pretty excited by all the changes around here. Your granddaughter Froglette has your smile and I think of you whenever we get her to break out into a big, gummy grin. There's still some chance that she has the Alice gene too - her eyes are awfully blue and her hair is coming in much lighter. We go for walks most afternoons when we get home from school and I tell her little stories about home. We saw a black and orange caterpillar a few weeks ago and I got to tell her the story of the caterpillars! I was laughing so hard remembering that story.

I'm also almost done with coursework for my PhD. I promised you I would - and although for a time I wasn't sure I could do it - I'm getting closer and closer. You'd still be a bit puzzled I imagine, but what I'm doing now would be so much easier to explain! And I think it would be clear how much I enjoy what I'm doing.

Froglette and I will be home for a bit in July to see everyone. Except you of course. I miss you all the time. We're all taking care of each other - I think you'd be proud of what me, Mom and Sis have managed. We're a strong trio. And now there are four women who share your name.

I love you.

Stephen Hawking and my dad

With the news today that Stephen Hawking, the great physist, has been hospitalized, I had an immediate recollection of my experience listening to Stephen Hawking speak.

I was a fairly nerdy young teen/girl... prone to fantasy and wild escapism. I think my dad, an engineer by both profession and personality, often wondered what to do with me and how we were to connect. My Christmas present from my dad one year, a special present just from him to me, was a pair of tickets to see Stephen Hawking downtown. I remember that the tickets were in an envelope on the tree rather than wrapped as a traditional present.

We went off to see the lecture, and it was so cool. I was there with my dad and he didn't know much about this topic (advanced physics and black holes) either. We were both learning something new. I was one of few women (and likely the only girl) in the audience. I remember being mesmerized by the talk, by Stephen Hawking's voice (computer synthesized) and the fact that he took questions and laboriously typed out answers during an intermission between the talk and the Q and A period. I remember an assistant changing the overhead transparencies he used to demonstrate different aspects (remember overhead transparencies!).

After the talk, we went to a diner with some of dad's friends and had pie and ice cream and talked. I remember these men talking with me as if I was a full member of the discussion, rather than a kid. It was so great taking part in this conversation and talking with this grown ups about this exciting talk. 

I didn't get much mileage out of this at school, attending a science talk not being a particularly "cool" thing to do. But I remember this fondly. I feel so fortunate to have had a dad so interested in spending special time with me.

I cherish these special times I was able to have with my dad. I hope that Stephen Hawking can safely recover and return to giving his great talks, writing his books, and inspiring new teens.