Celebrating Bill!!

Amanda planned and executed a surprise birthday party for my brother Bill. Turned out he wanted turkey for dinner - said if he'd known Amanda was going to invite everyone, he'd have said he wanted barbecue. But it was a great dinner even if we were a little crowded. Besides, that's the name of the game for a Clayton event - most of us felt right at home!!

It was fun to see Erik, who said he hadn't been to California since 2007. Noah came too, Mary, Donna, Mom, Debbie, Alyssa, her friend Teri, Billy, and of course Amanada, Josh, Zander, Michaela, and Claire.

The little kids "posing" for me. Michaela said hers was a "princess pose!" (I'm not sure if I'm spelling her name right either, so forgive me if I'm wrong!!)

My haggard smile might indicate what the first week of school was like!!

The birthday boy and Mom!!

Bill had requested Apple Spice Cake - a big hit.

Some who came encountered some tough holiday traffic, but Dad and I sailed in. A nice way to spend a Friday night.

Reflecting on a life

Dad flew up to Orem early this a.m. with Grandma Terrill for Bill's funeral. Just got a text message that they are on their way home from the airport now.

I'm sure he will have some great stories to tell - whatever else you might say about Uncle Bill, he led a pretty interesting life!!

(For the uninitiated, Bill was captured by the Japanese during WW II, and managed to escape. He was helped by Chairman Mao - before he was the Chairman though!!)

News:

I hate to break in on the celebration of Harry and Dawn's anniversary, but Dad got a call late last night that his Uncle Bill - Grandma's "little" brother - died last night. He had fallen and broken his hip. The surgery was successful, but he later died. We have no other details at the moment.