Sacre bleu, it has been a long time

'Allo Simon and belated 'appy birthday

Comme ça, chér colleague? Eet 'as been a tres, tres long time since we have spoken, no? I remember with great fondness those thoughtful days in California



and when we travelled to New York



when we were younger, but much water has flowed down the Seine since then, eh? I am filled with what the French call a certain "I don't know what" when I write to reconnect with you from so far away. Alor, eet is a shame that we cannot be together anymore but I just wanted you to know that I am well and have started a new life elsewhere.

Quelle journeé au bas de la terre, things are going well but people here are always trying to hang corks from me, I just don't understand why:



Be well and remember (as I can never forget) that we'll always have Hawaii! As you know, this was the first time I was how do you say ... lei'd.



Au revoir, chér Simon ... enjoy the next 50 years!

More photos of Simon as a kid

Simon and sister Frances (blonde hair, Frances?!) enjoying the beach

At the English seaside. Left to right: brother Paul (look at that hair!), father Hugh, Simon

Beloved Cousin Once Removed

Can one call someone beloved if they are once removed? I liked your father a whole lot. And you are only once removed from him. He tried to teach me how to smoke when I was 17, but it didn't work. And at one time you tried to teach my mother how to cook spaghetti. That didn't work either. I appologize for her reaction to that lesson.

On the theme of elder generations, I so much appreciated your concern and attention to my parents in their old age. They were very fond of you and thought of you as a grandson, maybe even as a son. They enjoyed your company in Saranac Lake and also on Martha's Vineyard. And we did also, here in Boulder, as well as at Vail (and at the airport in Hawaii!). I hope it won't be too long before you repeat those visits to us. You're are officially invited. Not that you need an invitation. All of you.

We wish you a happy 50th birthday (a bit late, sorry) and hope you have 50 more and enjoy them in good health and happiness. You have a beautiful home and an even more beautiful and charming wife and daughter, and an interesting, adventurous and productive career. I hope such blessings follow you all the way.

With love from Maria (and Jesse)

Simon's growing up?!

When I first came to Stanford, Simon was still a wild, crazy, and sometimes dare I say it, naked (or so I heard, and in the spirit of a roast, am not questioning my sources) young chap who just turned 40.  During the next 5 years at Stanford, I had a "positive" influence on the pompous Brit, but I still didn't fully tame him.  Several months ago, I started a brief correspondence with Simon.  It became clear to me that Mary and Emma subdued him further.  But I think this will do it.  Simon turns 50.  Welcome to adulthood Simon!

During my 2nd year in the Stanford Ph.D. program, my RAM filled up and I remember having a difficult time keeping classwork in long-term memory from that point forward.  Unfortunately, there are many things I have forgotten about my time at Stanford.  However, from what I recall, I enjoyed many times with Simon and the Crusties.  It was especially nice seeing Simon stand up in a crowd and say what needed to be said, even though it may have been the unpopular thing to do.  "Brave", "honorable", and "honest" are three of Simon's great characteristics.  He expects a lot of himself, and I hope he continues to live up to these expectations during his post 50 years.  

Simon, I'm going to give you the same advice that you gave me after my grueling Ph.D. dissertation.  "Now work harder!".  

Best regards Simon.

kris

More pictures to laugh at

I wanted to add one more image of Simon with a drink in his hand, this one with a twist - our favorite field commander, Yizhaq, enjoying the moment in the background. I'm still recovering from my defense, during which Simon employed all of his afore-mentioned interrogation techniques, so I have nothing witty to add. I will post one more image though, of Simon on-board a boat in Lake Shala in Ethiopia. The supposedly intrepid explorer appeared rather nervous, but I can't remember if this was the time I was driving the boat (which would explain everything), or if it was the time he was headed to the middle of the lake in a boat packed full of explosives. In any case, when I did go out in the boat, he forced me to beg, borrow, and steal hats and long-sleeved shirts from every random person around because I was not properly suited for the outing (I ended up looking like him by the time he was done and I have censored those images for my dignity's sake). Happy birthday - 50 seems like a big day, so enjoy it. Katie

Lucky, lucky bastard (said in "Life of Brian"-speak)

For the few of us that partied with Mary before Simon came along, it just didn't make sense. This bearded, spectacled, British geophysicist professor gets together with if-you're-not-drinking-a-drinky-drink-right-now-you're-about-to-be-forced-to-Mary Leech. I only knew Simon as my Seismic Acquisition professor who loved to throw seismic acquisition terms at blinding speed at the class and then quickly throw on the brakes and then ask me, "and 2+1 is...yes, yes, well?" And, I'd say, "3?". And, thinking that I NOW understood all of the other British mumbling before his question, he'd continue his barrage of fast-talking geophysical crap.

Then, you get these two people together??? WHAT?? Obviously, I didn't know Mary like I thought I knew Mary (who did?). And because I respected Mary, I knew there must have been much more to Simon than geophysics. As we all know, if turned out perfectly. Simon still continues on with his geophysical crap, but now as a devoted father who has his ego battered on a daily basis by his loving wife. (Although it's been a few years since I hung out with them, I assume the Leech household is still a model for all of us living the Wife Knows Best mantra.) All the best to the both of you, and may Emma grow up to be just like Mary so he can be kept in check by both of them.

Congratulations Simon, you lucky, lucky bastard.
Todd G.

Maybe it's the accent...

Believe it or not, when I first met Simon I was really intimidated by him. As a prospective student at Stanford, I briefly chatted with him. Instead of the usual small talk, he asked me very direct questions about my interests and intentions for the future. I was distressed when my answers did not seem to be satisfactory. I walked away questioning my future, and I was intimidated by the obviously superior intellect. Who knows... maybe it was just the sophisticated British accent.

I took classes and seminars from Simon. I watched as student after student squirmed under the barrage of questions from him. Not just questions, but really really good questions. Insightful questions. The kind you desperately wish that you had thought of yourself.

The most embarrassing moment (for me) came during one his lectures: as he was making a point about interpreting seismic data, he suddenly looked at me and said something like, "what's 100/10?" Although I realized that this was the easiest question ever, I froze like a deer in headlights. I was supposed to shout out the answer to verify that I was, in fact, following the lecture. Instead I melted into my chair.

On a recent field trip, I saw the other side. In addition to being a strong-minded professor, he is also warm, funny, thoughtful, and devoted to his family. I learned that when he asks assertive questions, it's because he just wants to KNOW. I really like talking to Simon, and his awesome wife Mary. Plus, once you've seen a guy play with Barbies, it's hard to find him intimidating. Happy birthday Professor Klemperer!