One Last Hoorah – at least until the Curse lifts

        I believe it was February 10 I had taken a personal day to be with my group of friends that I’ve been hanging out with for the last two or three years after the pool and once a month when the pool is closed.  We enjoy going to Soco and visiting outdoors but when it has gotten colder, we have gone to Good Dogs.  Our meetings have usually gone for less than two hours, but on the 10^th we were there for over three.

        Sue got in trouble – first with the owner as she had parked her car in front and it should be reserved for other customers.  Apparently her husband was not all that thrilled she had been gone so long.  They put me in charge of this month.  We were supposed to meet at lunch at a nearby place which offers Mexican food.  I thought this week would be good as I would be off during spring break.  We had no clue than that spring break would turn out not to be much of a break afterall (or perhaps too much of a break - depending on how it is viewed).

        Caroline really wished for the four of us to get together this month and had suggested a picnic at Millsite.  I was the only one willing and able as the other two are now housebound – and I think after today, we are too – which has been really hard for Jenna.  Facing the reality that her “sweet sixteen” will not be even close to what she had planned.  I know of at least one person who didn’t feel his plans were disrupted and is enjoying the opportunity of solitude – something that Jenna just doesn’t relate to.

        So Jenna and I met Caroline at an order-to-go where Caroline purchased a fish sandwich.  Jenna saw a friend in line and gave her a hug.  I joked that that was not socially acceptable and they resorted to elbow bumps.  Caroline was freaked at the amount of people and how closely they were standing to one another.  Jaime and I were scolded and kept our distance as Caroline waited for her sandwich. She had already made it clear that we would not be going in the same car and asked me to follow her. 

        There was tranquility to a degree as we sat at a table and ate our sandwiches and then Caroline showed us around and took us to the river – which by the way was gorgeous.  Except for the sounds of the occasional cars driving by, I felt secluded from the rest of the world.  It was an awesome place to be. 

Jenna took all of the photos; this one is of
a labyrinth.  Unfortunately could not capture all

We did not play checkers or even had any games.  It
may not have gone over well for Caroline to touch
game pieces that had not been sanitized each round

        After returning home, I have decided that perhaps we should not venture out of the house anymore until things return to normal - will there be a normal?  We have enough food and water supply to last several months should it come to that.  Right now our governor seems optimistic that schools will be opening April 28^th.  Meanwhile California and Washington have reported no more school for this school year.  I can’t imagine that things will be brighter for us in 5 weeks and not the rest of the west coast – or country – or world.

        I think this year is the most I have ever looked forward to general conference. April 4th and 5th.  Tune in.  Even if you are not of the LDS faith but are having issues with the pandemic - the broadcast will help calm you.  You'll see.

Weather Change at Every Exit

          Driving to Canyonville should only take 11 minutes according to Google.  Though I have arrived at the school in less than 20 minutes, I generally allow myself at least 30 minutes on the road and arrive to the school just a few minutes early which allows me time to store my belongings in the staff room.

          When I start to approach exit 101 and see I have plenty of time, I will take the ramp that leads to Stanley park and avoid the 99 exit.  Sometimes I have missed the exit and will take the off ramp at 98 – which is where the school is located just on the left hand side.  But it also requires turning left onto Main Street (which can get busy during certain hours) and make another left into the parking lot.  Google maps, the GPS and other sources will always have car exit 99 and drive through town. 

I left the house earlier than normal yesterday morning as Roland mentioned that it was cold and foggy.  I entered I5 at the 106 ramp, and it was foggy.  Three miles of thick fog.  I was focused on the broken white line until I got to 103.  I could see the fog was lifting.  It would have been nice if it had to have that for the rest of the drive.  Just as I neared exit 102 – the sun taunted me with its blinding rays.  Oh, please.  Slow the car down.  I can’t see. 

I had to get off exit 101 as I know I was going too slow for the freeway.  I like the drive when I feel like I am the only car.  However, it felt like the longest stretch of yesterday’s drive.  I finally arrived at Main Street and was able to turn without any problems.  Many of the drivers that use exit 99 – particularly the trucks, don’t seem to go beyond the truck stop or the casino.  The road I travel after exiting 101 brings me behind the casino on the left-hand side.  Then I make my way into town.

Whoa!  I had left the house much earlier than I thought.  Surely that’s what it was.  I can’t imagine I had been speeding during the fog and I know that I slowed down to barely moving once the sun glared in my eyes.  I played on my kindle for 20 minutes before walking up the hill to help monitor the first ten minutes of “before school starts” recess.  And then I went to class.

I had worn a jacket as some of the classrooms get really cold.  I think Canyonville School has the oldest building of the five that are in the district.  The ventilation says it is anyway.  In the morning I had my long green coat scarf and hat in addition to the jacket.  By lunchtime I had just my jacket – sometimes my hat – depending on whether I was standing in shadows or not.  Just before school let out, I had removed my light jacket.  The air had gone from 39 degrees to 63 within four hours.  That isn’t very nice.  I think the weather change needs to happen more gradually.

Volunteer to Payment

            This summer Jenna decided she would do some volunteer work at various places so that she could earn job recommendations for whenever the time should come for seeking actual employment.  Last year she had worked on stage at the theatre, but she hadn’t expected she would get paid for it.  The tips that were left were split among the cast members for their first show.  That was an unexpected bonus.  Jenna truly enjoys acting and was happy just to do that.

            On June 24 she had put in her time at the library – taking over my role as story lady.  Last week we went and picked blueberries – though not a lot.  We plan to return next week.

            It is three miles to get downtown from our house.  It is another five miles to the blueberry farm. I remember the farm had opened to the public the year that we moved in.  There had been a request for assistance with blueberry picking.  I thought the amount would perhaps be appealing to the youth as a summer job.  Evelyn said that is hard to find assistance.  As Jenna and I were driving home, inspiration hit me – perhaps she could volunteer to help pick blueberries.

            This morning I drove her out to the patch where she assisted with picking berries for about three hours.  Evelyn fed her and I came and picked her up, but will be returning her tonight after the temperatures have cooled down (the weather is no longer the wonderment I mentioned in my last post).  Evelyn is paying Jenna 50 cents a pound.  An added bonus and possibly even gas money. Evelyn also feeds her - which, in Jenna's case - seems more valuable than money.

            When we lived in West Valley, Jenna’s school was 2 miles away on straight roads.  It usually took us 20 minutes to get from our house to the school in Salt Lake Traffic.  It takes the same amount of time to get to the blueberry patch on windy roads and no to very little traffic.  Jaime is thrilled with her new summer job.

Dash #5 EMES & 40 school lunch

            I don’t remember the elementary school having a particular smell.  I remember the option of two ways to walk there on foot.  Seems like it may have been faster to walk up our street and over on third east and down than the safer way which we usually went – over 240 to 260 and came in behind the school. The playgrounds were behind the school.  

a really ROUGH map of my neighborhood

            Our desks had openings in the front.  They were wide enough to hold two plastic trays.  We called them tote trays.  It is where we put all of our school supplies.  We carried the trays each time we moved for math, reading, science, etc. according to whatever our learning level was.  If someone was absent, the desk could still hold my tray as well as that of the absent student.

            Before peanut allergies was a common thing I remember peas tasting like they’d been cooked in peanut butter.  I kid you not!  To this day I believe the peas at East Midvale Elementary School cafeteria were cooked in peanut butter or maybe a heavy peanut oil that tasted like peanut butter.  Now, I love peanut butter but I HATE peas and cooking them in peanut butter did not improve the taste.  I may hate peas more as a result.

            We had a cafeteria separate from the gym.  I don’t remember if there was a folding door that separated the cafeteria from the gym.  Maybe.  It would have made for more room for assemblies and programs.  The school offered many programs for parents to come and watch their students perform.  It felt like my parents had a lot more opportunities to watch programs than do the parents who have students in schools today.

            We had an old custodian by the name of Mr. Beckstead.  He wore green coveralls.  At least that is how I remember it.  Our lunch trays had compartments, I think two or three squares and a circle, and each compartment was for a different food item. When we were through eating lunch we had to take our lunch trays up to the garbage, but if the monitor was not satisfied with our eating habits, he/she would send us back to the lunch table to finish whatever we hadn’t touched.  Many of my peers would stuff unwanted food into the milk carton because the monitors never checked the cartons.

            When we were in the  5^th and 6^th grade we could help serve food.  In sixth grade, if a student’s grades were good enough and had the desire or were picked, they could work as a safety patrol monitor.  I remember students guiding other students across the street.  300 East is far too busy for a child to fulfill that duty.  It is done by an adult.  I don’t think as many schools offer safety patrol anymore.