Pioneer Days and Cool

My brother Peter invented a character called Jerkamiah.  I don't know who is funnier the character or Peter doing the character.  One of the stories Jerkamiah tells is of the Pioneers and why they were called the Pioneers.  If I remember it right it's because they were always leaving and all Jerkamiah could see were the
"Pi-ron-reers".  If you ever get an opportunity to see Peter perform Jerkamiah, make sure he tells the ant/bear story.

Let me preface...This is what I remember.
When I was little, my Grandma Chapman lived in a big old house by Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.  There were great big trees that shaded the house.  One July 24th, we were all getting ready to go to the great big Salt Lake July 24th Parade.  It was cool and shady in the house.  I didn't feel well so Grandma got me some alka-seltzer.  This being my first experience, I watch the tablets bubble and when I drank it down, it was terrible, then I threw up and felt better.  I remember laying on Grandma's couch with the shade from the trees on me and being cool. 

I remember being with Mom's family at Liberty Park, playing baseball with Uncle Steven and having the big trees shade us. Food on the picnic tables with table cloths, lots of cousins.

Speaking of cousins we used to play in Grandma's attic.  There was an old Victrola record player, the kind you wind up with lots of records.  I always wondered why the records were so thick.  Rachael would always play with Mike.  I loved it up there.  There was a big window at the end, and the dappled sunlight lit the attic.

One time I was staying with Grandma and I along with my cousins decided to climb a chain link fence to play in the boat...which we weren't supposed to do.  I put my right had up on the top prong and sliced by palm open.  Aunt Gail took me into the bathroom and sat me on the tub with the water running to wash all the blood off.  I don't remember crying a lot although I'm sure I did.  But I do remember watching all the blood getting washed off.  It was cool.  12 stitches later and a lolly pop for being brave I was taken back to Grandma's.  About two weeks later Dad took out my stitches with an old timer knife, underneath the shade tree in the front yard of our Springville home.

In writing the post, un-be-know'nst- to me, a  common theme appeared; trees, shade and being cool.  What does it all mean?

Doing Something Good

Doing something good never felt as bad...I tried to help out a friend and this friend wouldn't let me.  It seems I insulted this friend by offering....Am I mad? Sad? Confused?  Well it is not about me, it is about this friend.  My the Lord bless this friend and give this friend the help that is needed!  And may I be forgiven for how I felt afterwords.

Mothers Day Musings

I'm filled with appreciation for my Mother.  She is the Mother of seven children and all in all we turned out ok.  She is the Grandmother to 23 and the Great Grandmother to 4.5. She had at least 5 miscarriages.  She didn't work until the 7th child was in school.  She taught us to work hard for the things we wanted.

I loved to swim, and in order to get a family swimming pass we all had to earn $5.00 towards it.  I had to clean the shelves in the fruit room.  Besides being in the basement, it was dark and full of unknown crawley things.  If I wanted to go swimming that summer I had to do my part.  I remember finally getting it done but especially scrubbing off the grape jelly that had leaked out of the bottles was the hardest.

Thoughts

A week ago it snowed, and it snowed this morning...I love seeing the pink blossoms of the trees peeking through the snow. It makes me wish my hand could paint or draw or photograph what I see..somehow to portray the feelings these beautiful works of God invoke in me.

When my daffodils finally started warming up to peek their little heads out, it was with a lot of trepidation, like they knew of the coming snow. But they kept at it, and at times did a group hug to stay warm, braving the snow that bowed their little heads, almost to the ground at times, then lifting their heads to the sun and following it all day long. I love my daffodils....It makes the winter worth it.

I know you can see this analogy coming...

My kids are like the daffodils...

Charlie-Marie is bowed by the snow at this point...being 18 a senior and 3 weeks of school left is excruciating...Trying to shake the snow off but having to wait for the sun or wind to come along and help...but still lifting her head to find the sunshine and get things moving.

Ryan is following the sun, finding his way, initiating the group hugs and becoming quite the man....He is a very spiritial man.

Michael is doing all the shaking and moving.....Enjoy the Michael that IS.

I can't wait to see how each of my children blossom!

OK tell me about my Shoes or Is it my Glasses?

My deer sweet mother has had another stroke! I feel lucky that it doesn't affect her body as much as her brain. And for all of those that might think I'm insensitive, it is hard to watch Mom try to find her words, or not understand, but so funny what she comes up with. If you saw or spoke to Uncle Brent after his stroke, you would be very grateful that Mom's just affect her brain.

So Mom washed her phone. Since I know all about the phone Becky wanted me to see what I could do. It was about 0800 and Mom wasn't really with it yet. When I asked her where her phone was, she looked at me with a blank expression. After I came back from looking for the phone, I asked her again if she knew where her phone was. This time she pointed to her nose. After three times, she got frustrated with with me, took off her glasses and said they are right here. At about the same time, I located her phone. I said, "Mom, those are your glasses, this is your telephone." She looked at her glasses like OH that's what those are. Oh what a difference four days makes.

Monday afternoon when I was there ordering a new phone for her, I explained what I was doing. When I was done and went back into her room, she said "so tell me about my shoes?" Mom it's your telephone and I've ordered you a new one. It should be here tomorrow." "oh," said Mom "So I'm getting a new pajama top." Yeah Mom.... I Love YA!

Christmas is comming...REALLY????

For the first time in a VERY VERY LOOOONNNNGGGG time, I didn't realize how quickly Christmas would be HERE! I was working out with my PT and she made the comment 'So I don't think you want to spend Christmas Eve with Me, so could we just work out once next week?'. Which started the "as shopper(s) rush..." I am usually done the day after Thanksgiving. Even Clint mentioned to co-workers that I hadn't done anything. My least favorite things..

1- Driving in traffic
2- Dealing with stupid people in traffic
3- Having to drive in parking lot traffic with stupid people

And that is not even at Christmas time.

Well I'm happy to announce Christmas has been purchased, the Tree is up, decorated (after not very happily throwing every light string in the garbage and buying new lights)the porch railing is lighted and the ginger bread house is all but done.

My favorite things at Christmas....

1-Putting up the Nativity set that Dad had made for us many many years ago.
2-Sitting in a newly cleaned Living Room enjoying the lights on the newly decorated Christmas tree.
3-Having the table set all pretty for Christmas Eve Dinner and remembering Dad reading the Christmas Story from Luke..
4-Having Clint carry on the tradition.

Merry Christmas! 2009

FiGhtIng 101

Never...Never...Never assume you know more than your teenager. Oh and never assume they will listen to you! Always be aware they know more than you do. The End