CONTACTS
SUBJECTS
Pat is Ill
0403 -
0403 - ..
0404 - Summary/Objective
0405 -
040501 - Follow up
040503 - ..
040504 - Drove to funeral for Pat in Palo Alto, and afterwards we visited with
040505 - the family at Mike's home in Los Gatos. This was a marvelous family
040506 - visit, which Pat would have greatly enjoyed.
040507 -
040508 - [On 921203 sent notes to Aunt Peggy, Uncle Jim, and to Mother
040509 - Lillian. ref SDS 5 0000]
040511 - ..
040512 - [On 961112 Aunt Dorothy's funeral. ref SDS 7 0000]
040514 - ..
040515 - [On 970307 Uncle Roy's funeral. ref SDS 8 0000.]
040517 - ..
040518 - [On 990108 Stephanie's funeral. ref SDS 9 9792]
040519 -
040521 - ..
0406 -
0407 -
0408 - Prologue
0409 -
040901 - I called Alta Mesa (415 493 1041), and confirmed Mike's directions.
040902 - The person who answered gave the following alternate route, from
040903 - Mike's directions, ref SDS 1 line 040507.
040904 -
040905 - Cross over Page Mill and then we are on Arastedero, and stay on
040906 - it for about 2 miles, and we will run into the cemetery. I
040907 - asked how going South on Arastedero can result in getting to
040908 - the cemetery, which I had understood was North of Page Mill,
040909 - per ref SDS 1 line 040507, and was told that Arastedero winds
040910 - around and intersects Foothill Expressway.
040912 - ..
040913 - These directions turned out to be correct, except in supporting the
040914 - misunderstanding that the cemetery is North of Page Mill. Initial-
040915 - ly, I tried to follow the directions received this morning, but when
040916 - the route turned East and went South under the Freeway, we turned
040917 - around and came back to Page Mill, because my understanding was that
040918 - the cemetery was West and North of the Freeway, ref SDS 1 line
040919 - 040507.
040921 - ..
040922 - We then turned left on Page Mill, and went West until we passed the
040923 - Palo Alto Hills Country Club. We turned around and went back to
040924 - Arastedero, and turned left, because my understanding was that the
040925 - cemetery was North of Page Mill. About 2 miles out, we asked some
040926 - workmen on the roadway, how to get to Alta Mesa. They advised it is
040927 - South and East of the Page Mill Road, Highway 280 Intersection.
040929 - ..
040930 - This resulted in our arriving about 10 minutes after the 1 pm start of
040931 - the service. I can just hear Pat now, asking...
040932 -
040933 - "Well, what happened, Rod? We can't have a dollar waiting on
040934 - a dime."
040936 - ..
040937 - I really expected to hear those very words when we arrived. Yet I
040938 - know that he was pleased that some of his intellectual progeny is
040939 - reflected in the harmony and promise of POIMS:
040940 -
040941 - To do better in the future, we must struggle to understand
040942 - connections of the past.
040944 - ..
040945 - Thus, passing a simple question through a new prism creates a powerful
040946 - enjoinder to discover new knowledge and ideas.
040948 - ..
040949 - And so, in fond memory of Patrick H Welch, we continue the voyage to
040950 - discover "understanding," by setting out with some care...
040952 - ..
040953 - What happened today...
040954 -
040955 -
040956 -
040958 - ..
0410 -
0411 -
0412 - Weather
0413 -
041301 - It rained throughout the day, which we really need after years of
041302 - drought, but the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds for
041303 - the brief period of the memorial service. It somehow seemed fitting
041304 - for the sun to shine on this small assemblage of warriors -- here
041305 - today, Uncle Jim, Uncle Roy, Uncle Ray -- who stood tall through World
041306 - War and Cold War, as a new generation assumes the mantle of power and
041307 - responsibility. Hopefully we too will learn in time that it is only
041308 - eternal vigilence to eternal verities that carries us forward to a new
041309 - dawn.
041310 -
041311 - [On 921222 received letter from Uncle Jim. ref SDS 6 0000]
041313 - ..
041314 - [On 990108 at Stephanie's funeral, gave a book to Uncle Jim on the
041315 - contribution that he and his generation made to the nation for
041316 - such a long and troubled time. ref SDS 9 3876]
041318 - ..
0414 -
0415 -
0416 - Funeral
0417 -
041701 - The pastor was making some fine remarks when we arrived. Then Rita
041702 - gave a beautiful eulogy, interposing some poetry that described what
041703 - Pat was all about. Mike spoke for about 10 minutes relating some
041704 - anecdotes illustrating his Father's character and deep sense of
041705 - family. Mike's explanation of his Dad's sense of humor, was especially
041706 - apt and touching. After Mike spoke, I offered a few comments on the
041707 - business side of Pat.
041709 - ..
041710 - There was then a closing prayer; everyone visited for about 10 minutes
041711 - or so, then we all drove to Mike and Janet's home in Los Gatos.
041712 - Before leaving, Mike Morgan who worked for Pat years ago, introduced
041713 - himself and spoke fondly of those days. I believe he is related to
041714 - Peg somehow, and I appreciated that he remembered me.
041716 - ..
041717 - Jimmy Welch and his family followed Millie and I, and we followed
041718 - Larry, Candy and Peg, although Mike had handed out directions which
041719 - were very clear. The directions were printed on a memorial to Pat,
041720 - which showed him in his standard pensive pose.
041721 -
041723 - ..
0418 -
0419 -
0420 - Family Gathering
0421 -
042101 - It was tremendously uplifting to visit with so many of the family all
042102 - at once, and whom I have not seen for 10 years or more, and many of
042103 - whom Millie had not met.
042105 - ..
042106 - I had not seen Jimmy Welch and his family for perhaps 15 years. He
042107 - has recently retired after 20 years in the Air Force. I explained a
042108 - bit about SDS and POIMS, to him and Uncle Jim. We also touched
042109 - briefly on the implications of the new administration trying to
042110 - convert the military into a bastion of political correctness. Uncle
042111 - Jim and Aunt Barbara look very well. We did not get a chance to
042112 - discuss their next expedition, but it will surely be to some exciting
042113 - and exotic place. Actually, now that I think about it, I believe Aunt
042114 - Barbara mentioned a pending trip to India. We'll be looking for a
042115 - postcard.
042117 - ..
042118 - Uncle Ray looked well despite recent heart surgery. Aunt Ruth was the
042119 - bulwark of the event, keeping up with the dishwashing chores -- after
042120 - most everyone had left, Janet remarked how helpful this was. Uncle
042121 - Ray as usual was a source of energy and magnetism. It was fun to hear
042122 - him expound on how much his golf game has improved as a result of
042123 - having to slow down due heart surgery. This should be written up in
042124 - management journals on how to make the most of every situation.
042125 - Evidently they are planning on moving, or have moved, back to
042126 - California.
042128 - ..
042129 - Rita looked terrific. She explained some of how she put together her
042130 - remarks for Pat. We remembered one of those rare occasions when her
042131 - family visited us while we were living on Stevens Creek road, at the
042132 - Parish place (probably about 1960 - 61). "Us kids" had spirited our-
042133 - selves away to a "fort" we had built, when suddenly Pat came climbing
042134 - through the secret hatch to join in. That was a fond image of both
042135 - Pat and Peg, adults with a twinkle in the eye for the mischief of a
042136 - child, and willingness to share their time. I mentioned
042137 - disappointment not having the opportunity to tell Pat, before it was
042138 - too late, of the special meaning he had brought into my life. Rita
042139 - was kind in assuring that a lifetime of experiences tells more than
042140 - mere words, and I suppose that is true.
042142 - ..
042143 - Had a nice discussion with Karen. She is just starting a new
042144 - assignment, marketing publication services to prepare legal briefs and
042145 - exhibits. She was thankful her new employers were understanding in
042146 - permitting the necessary time for helping with the difficulties of the
042147 - past few weeks, and is now eager to take on a new challenge. Her
042148 - friend, Steven is from Chicago and did some wrestling in high school
042149 - and college, so we traded a few war stories about making weight. I
042150 - share his observation that the discipline of wrestling turns out to be
042151 - helpful in dealing with the great variety of life's offerings.
042153 - ..
042154 - It was great fun as usual to visit with Peggy and her sisters. Ruth
042155 - had not forgotten our days helping Pat at the office, when we had to
042156 - join forces to wither his hard charging style at that time. I got
042157 - into a little trouble when Uncle Jim asked me about a beautiful young
042158 - woman, who had earlier introduced herself as Ruth's daughter. I said
042159 - it seemed difficult to believe she could be Ruth's daughter because
042160 - she looked to be about 18 or 19, and Ruth who looks about 40, is
042161 - really about 50. Turned out Ruth's daughter must use the same Oil of
042162 - Olay, as her Momma. I think they live in Rocklin, and so Millie and
042163 - I promised to try to stop in soon.
042165 - ..
042166 - Candy and Larry looked great; thinking about another horse riding
042167 - vacation, but not fully settled. I asked them to remember us on their
042168 - next sojourn to SF when they stay in a trailer park. Candy said they
042169 - have not done that the past few years, but promised to look us up the
042170 - next time they stay in the City. Actually, I should have mentioned
042171 - that we have an "extra" place in the Golden Gateway now, which they
042172 - (and anyone in the Family) can use for a weekend from time to time.
042173 - Mike and Janet who share our fondness for Square One, should keep this
042174 - in mind.
042176 - ..
042177 - I really enjoyed the chance to look back with Peggy over the turbulent
042178 - terrain of the "Rod and Pat" evolving catharsis. Whether playing
042179 - golf, working on the job, in the office, taking after dinner walks at
042180 - the cabin, shooting baskets, sharing political ideals and exploring
042181 - differences, playing Scrabble, starting me in the business, helping
042182 - again upon returning from Vietnam, again in Sacramento, again after
042183 - Welch v State, and on and on -- Pat and Peg together have been a
042184 - source of strength and nurture, that lives on for me, as for others.
042186 - ..
042187 - Of all the many things I would like to accomplish, one nearest the top
042188 - is to have the chance to light the way for others, as they have for
042189 - me. Peggy knows all of this, from the many times she was left to
042190 - repair the sails torn by raging winds of hope, conflict and renewal,
042191 - as Pat and I struggled to find a common course toward shared values.
042192 - But it was good to tell her, and to hear her recall visiting us years
042193 - ago in Cupertino, when she and Lillian would go "shopping" (bar
042194 - hopping??), while Pat and my Dad talked for hours and hours about
042195 - politics or shop or whatever. Some of the more intriguing and heated
042196 - discussions I recall from those early days were about the most
042197 - efficient ways to hang a door! If anything, these men were proud
042198 - craftsmen, who honorably extended the legacy of their forebears.
042200 - ..
042201 - After most everyone left, Millie and I had a chance to get an inside
042202 - look at education circa 1992, thanks to Janet's willingness to share
042203 - some observations about her work. If we can somehow find a way to
042204 - keep people like her and Mike engaged in the process, there is a good
042205 - chance that more of the good things will continue in this arena. I
042206 - mentioned to Mike and Janet my deep appreciation, which I am sure they
042207 - have heard many times from those they have touched, for certain of my
042208 - teachers who passed along the light, the power and joy of learning.
042209 - Doubtless in the daily work of teaching and managing today's vastly
042210 - complex school activities there can be times when the weight of
042211 - responsibility and the fight for adequate resources, make it difficult
042212 - to keep in focus that young minds are being molded in the image of
042213 - enduring ideals and character. I would be remiss not to mention my
042214 - father and mother (Lillian), who helped in many ways for me to acquire
042215 - a love of knowledge and ideas. Obviously, many things are needed to
042216 - get good results; but, today, I was reminded how wonderful it is that
042217 - the Welch family is contributing in this way.
042219 - ..
042220 - Perhaps it is, then, that the legacy of our Father's to insist on
042221 - excellence in crafting wood, and stone and steel, has been passed to
042222 - their sons to strive for excellence in crafting the materials of a new
042223 - age, knowledge and ideas.
042225 - ..
042226 - Obviously, the highwater mark of the day, was the energy and vision of
042227 - the new generation coming along. There were more than I could keep up
042228 - with. Candy and Larry's daughter and grandson were there. Larry's
042229 - son was there, Ruth's daughter and granddaughter were there. Mike and
042230 - Janet have several children who seem to be married, and a son as big
042231 - as a tree who soon will be moving through the path of adulthood, as
042232 - will Jimmy's son, who looks so much like his Grandfather. Everyone
042233 - remarked on the happiness of bringing this group together, and
042234 - wondered about doing so again. From the vitality of the next
042235 - generation it appears there are many births, marriages and occasions
042236 - like today for coming together to mourn, yet, as well, to celebrate
042237 - the bounty of a generous life. It all reminded me of those wonderful
042238 - days not so long ago when we were all going to Grandmother's house
042239 - seems like every weekend. I think Pat would have liked that.
042240 -
042241 -
042243 - ..
0423 -
0424 -
0425 - Visit with Bob and Drisc.
0426 -
042601 - Driving home, Millie suggested we stop to visit her brother, Bob and
042602 - his wife, Drisc who live in Sunnyvale. This was unannounced, but
042603 - turned out well. It gave Millie a chance to recall with her brother,
042604 - deep feelings about their father and their family growing up in
042605 - Chicago, no doubt stirred by the funeral this afternoon. Bob was able
042606 - to bring out events surrounding the passing of their father which he
042607 - knew from personal involvement, that Millie had not previously known.
042608 - While they retain bad feelings about aspects of that period, it was
042609 - good to express them together.
042611 - ..
042612 - Bob also explained a new found interest he has in Forestry, and some
042613 - of the issues eminating from the ecological movement. After careful
042614 - consideration, we managed to find some common ground on "clear cut"
042615 - harvesting policy.
042616 -
042617 -
042618 -
042619 -
042620 -
042621 -
042622 -
042623 -
042624 -
0427 -