Beutelsbach from the Burg, 1960
So how did Stanford in Germany change my life? As predicted, my senior year was intense with only physics and math courses. It was scary but also exhilarating and well worth the work.
I worked at the High Energy Physics Laboratory as a summer student, then went to graduate school at the University of California San Diego for one semester. At the time the physics department was in La Jolla, down by the beach so you could hear the surf from our classrooms and body surf at lunchtime.
It was a gorgeous location (I dreamed about it for years afterwards), but I decided I didn’t want to spend the next gazillion years (gazillion meaning one or more) in school, so I quit, rented a room in Palo Alto, and got a job in Mountain View so I could save some money and travel some more.
While working I picked up computer programming and fell in love with Fortran and scientific programming. It was a perfect match for someone like me who loves to solve problems. I also started going with Andy and we took walks in some of the redwood parks, went to the ocean, went camping in Big Sur, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe, went to a lot of British comedies that were plentiful at the time, etc. Plenty of warm memories there too.
We decided we would get married after Andy finished his Ph.D., which happened in August, 1964, and then go traveling for a while. We had each saved about $4000 and were going to go around the world before we settled down.
Andy had three job offers, a postgrad position at Harvard, a teaching position at Cornell, and a 13-month position in Orsay, France. The French had just built a new accelerator there and wanted expertise from the U.S. to help get it started. Harvard didn’t appeal (big city), so Andy accepted the Cornell offer with the understanding he wouldn’t start until January, 1966. He took the Orsay (small village a half hour by train from Paris) offer because it would give us a home base for traveling around Europe on weekends and holidays. We would just come back the long way.
So that’s what we did. We spent about $4K traveling around Europe and the other $4K coming back to the states via Palestine, Egypt, East Africa, India, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand. We came back to the U.S. mainland via Hawaii and visited our folks in California and Montana before traveling on to our new life in Ithaca, NY. It was a great decision. The U.S. dollar went a long way then and the places we visited weren’t nearly as crowded as they would be now.
Needless to say, it was a lot more fun than staying in graduate school. I could easily have gone back while we were at Cornell. I was working for a physical chemist in the Chemistry Department and I audited some excellent physics/physical chemistry classes. But I also audited courses in history, one of my great loves, and decided to stick with programming and broadening my horizons. Plus we had Kaitlin after about three years. It was a good choice.
February 13, 2022
I have really enjoyed reading your history! I wish more bloggers would do this. You guys have had a really adventurous life!
I too wish more bloggers would do it.
We didn’t do too badly for a couple of nerds. 😀
wow. what a delightful and interesting replay of yours and Andy’s earlier years.
the memories alone must be fabulous. like reading a wonderful novel that you are starring in yourselves! I’m so glad you’re sharing it with us! XO
Thanks. 🙂
Outstanding life & lifestyle!!
Thanks. 🙂
You sure did pack a lot of adventure into your life. It’s been interesting to read about all the things you did.
Thanks. 🙂
What an interesting life you’ve had!
Thanks. 🙂
Whatever our age, we mostly had interesting lives – but we often don’t imagine anyone would be interested, especially in the past! Because sometimes it doesn’t appear to shape the current “me” … like ships passing in the night.
I agree with Ginny, I wish more people would share their stories.
What a lot you have packed into your life! It has been so much fun to read about.
Thanks. 🙂
wow on that 8 thousand dollars. I shudder to think what a trip like that would cost these days. I can tell you made all the right decisions and got the great position plus time to travel and have it finaced by working. you did indeed make the right choices
We were lucky to have been born at the right time.
Wowzer! I was hoping to hear more of your and Andy’s beginnings — and you didn’t disappoint. Loved every word, and I’m just sorry it (your post) had to stop.
Thanks. 🙂
WOW!!!! What a life you have led. I hope it’s not a sin to be envious!!! I have traveled very, very little in my lifetime…for one reason or another. I have always felt from reading your blog that you must be a very interesting person. And a smart one too:)
Thanks. 🙂