Same Name, Different Style

Have you ever had your mind (or heart) set on a specific food or dish – which you have had several times – only to have your server put something entirely different in front of your face.  Well, perhaps not entirely different, but noticeably different.  The name is the same, but the taste and appearance is off.

Take corn bread for instance.  Here in the west it is light and yellow and fluffy.  It crumbles as you eat it and has a sweetness to it – even before you drench it in gooey honey.  It is delicious.

When I was on my mission and had learned from one of the sisters that we’d be having corn bread with our dinner, I got excited (as it had been a while since I had it)  I didn’t dislike the flat and heavy white no-sweet-to-it-whatsoever southern version of corn bread – but I must say I was disappointed.  I think adding honey to that particular batch would have tasted gross.

There are many of varieties of food that have the same name.  Here are some examples:

Biscuits with Gravy and Scones with Honey-Butter

This morning Roland made biscuits with sausage gravy.  Biscuits and Gravy had been a morning staple for those who lived where I served my mission – at least my first area.  I recall a conversation (after we pointed out to her that biscuits and gravy in the west was not that common.)

She said that she couldn’t even imagine life without biscuits and gravy.  We said that someone in the west missing biscuits and gravy would be as easy to imagine as for her to imagine life without scones.

What?!

“What are scones?”

“Exactly. That’s how much we would miss biscuits with gravy”

Because scones was such a foreign concept to the members of my first area, my companion decided it would be fun to introduce several of them to our idea of wonderful.

Several members were invited to the bishop’s home where my companion (though I think we had made the initial dough at the dinky trailer where we had lived) fried up scones and put me in charge of the honey-butter.  I stirred the honey and butter together.  Big deal.  It was my companion who had done the majority of work.

I don’t think the members were all too impressed with scones.  I didn’t hear anybody say anything about the scone itself.  Several praised me on my wonderful honey-butter (as though I had slaved all day over it;  actually that part of the world seemed big into apple butter – which is not near as sweet as the honey)  It is the only time I remember having scones on my mission.

Thank You for the Prayers

I suppose I should have waited for Pamela to call back before I created that last post.  She had told me that she’d be going out of town.  I didn’t think of that until after I left the message.  I had tried to contact Scarlet when I thought that Pamela was out of town.  (Perhaps it’s Scarlet who is out of town?)

Pamela returned my call and will be helping me on Super Saturday rather than at the Appreciation Dinner.  I still had not gotten a hold of Scarlett, but sent another email to ignore my first.  But for some reason I had entered the wrong phone number and so I turned the computer on in order to look up the correct number.

Before the computer warmed up, my cell phone rang.  It was Sharon – another sister in my ward – offering to teach a class on making popcorn balls.  Seriously!  Super Saturday is looking like it might be super after all.  Thank you to my readers who took the time to pray for me.  Appreciate the miracle.  It’s going to be great!

Murphy is More Opposed to Super Saturday than I am

If anything can go wrong,

it will

– Murphy’s Law

Okay,

this post may be a bit long

and a bit drawn out

especially if I put it

in verse style. 

You don’t have to read it.

Just after we moved

to West Valley and 

attended church,

I was called to be

on the committee for 
the activities for 
the Relief Society. 

Kristen was the activities’ director 
(or enrichment hostess

or homemaking guide

or whatever they called it then)

I was grateful to be

and enjoyed my calling

on the committee

but not as the chief.

It couldn’t have been more

than five months (or so it felt)

before Kristen was called to be

the primary president

and Loretta was handed the reigns of 
RS activity director. 

She did not seem to

want a committee. 

I thought she was bananas.

When Loretta moved

out of the ward,

Hannah was asked to do the calling.   
Enthusiastic Hannah who

always puts such excitement

into no matter what position

she is called to

and always serves with a genuine and powerful smile. 

She actually reminds me a lot of

my sister-in-law, Sunny,

who always radiates positiveness.

I didn’t think

anyone could ever fill her shoes – just as I didn’t think

anyone could fill Super Ruby’s shoes

(who at the time

was serving as Relief Society President)

but most callings

(at least that’s been my observation

in this ward) don’t last

more than a couple of years

(leadership positions would be the exception)

Meanwhile Kristen

(the same one who had been called

to primary president)

was returned to Relief Society

– this time as RS president.

Hannah had actually worn many hats

all at the same time (or so it seemed)

and was released a while later

to fulfill other callings. 

Pamela’s calling was short lived

or so it seems. 

She was called to be a primary worker. 

She is currently enjoying

the coveted positon of teaching

the class in which my daughter

is the only female member

in attendance. 

And guess who got called

to be RS activity chief

after Pamela left?

What was the Lord thinking

to call me to that position? 

What’s more, why did I agree?

Pamela appeared

to be quite organized

as she handed me a binder

full of information

that I could use or change

at my discretion. 

Kristen asked if I wanted

a large committee. 

Heck, yes. 

How many sisters could we call?  

I wanted at least one representative

of every age

and personality.  

I think we ended up with twelve. 

We’ve never held a meeting

with more than six (well eight

with me and Scarlett – who is

the enrichment/activity/homemaking counselor 
– whatever her title is. 

Heck.  I don’t even know my own title)

So the first thing on the agenda

is Super Saturday (I believe) 

which I so don’t care about. 

Actually there have been scads of activites

that I haven’t cared about. 

I usually to the enrichment/activity nights for

the association and not for

the activity itself. 

It hasn’t mattered which ward

I’ve been in. 

I have never stayed for

an entire Super Saturday.

And in this case

Murphy wants to take over

– has from the start. 

Stupid Murphy.

Kristen conducted the first meeting

as I appeared clueless on

what the word “conduct” even meant. 

She wrote down ideas and

outlines on the board. 

She has always had the appearance

of being greatly organized. 

Some of the members on my committee

took great notes. 

One actually took a picture

of the board. 

I was still in a trans. 

After I returned home,

I realized I had done absolutely nothing. 

I had not written anything. 

That’s not good.

I should be released.

Our Super Saturday was set

for August I believe,

but we hadn’t advertised,

nor did we ever

have a large audience to advertise to.

Summer seemed unproductive. 

Church attendance was down

all the way around. 

Good time to travel,

I guess.

I changed Super Saturday to September. 

Or tried to.  T

turned out not to be a good month

 for my instructors.

We had four activities to choose from

– I think. 

Pamela would teach sisters

to sew really cute pot holders,

Kim had her blocks

that seemed to be quite popular

at the last Super Saturday.

I was going to do

a recycling demonstration

and Tina had offered to teach flowers

or else we would frost cakes or cookies? 

Perhaps that was a suggestion for another activity? 

But nobody could do it in September. 

Change date again? 

or cancel all together? 

I wish I had just cancelled. 

I didn’t realize that Janice

(one of my committee members

who had come to just our first meeting)

had made arrangements to have

her niece speak that month.

Meanwhile I planned a 
different activity for September – 
one in which we would get 
to know one another.   
We pulled it off.   
Those who attended 
said they enjoyed.   
Super Saturday may not have 
the same results.  
For here is the latest catastrophe:

Yesterday I receive an invitation

to attend a luncheon

given by the wives of the stake presidency

to the wives of the bishoprics

the Bishopric Wives Appreciation Luncheon. 

Guess when it is? 

The same day scheduled as Super Saturday. 

I’d really like to go to it. 

But that’s not the worse of it. 

Pamela is one of the people to RSVP

– she can’t do the luncheon

and teach on Super Saturday. 

Right now I cannot get a hold of her.

Guess I’ll be emailing Scarlett. 

I have a feeling it’s going

to be a chain of reaction thing

that will affect Kim

one way or the other. 

Or perhaps all the sisters who signed up.

Would it be possible to change it again?

I should be released.

“Birthday Surprises” Review

Johanna Hurwitz edited the book “Birthday Surprises” found in the juvenile literature section in the library.  Easy reading and highly entertaining.  I think Jenna will enjoy it.

Johanna Hurwitz had asked ten children’s authors to come up with a story involving a child celebrating his or her birthday; several presents and a beautifully decorated box that’s empty.  I LOVED it.  I loved the creativity.  I loved how different each story was.

Pam Conrad wrote quite a touching story about a man in a rest home who’s about to celebrate his 100^th birthday and is worried about what his sister will do when she shows up for the party.

His great great grandson listens to the details of a memory of the last time he had seen his sister and his gift (or lack thereof) and how his predictions were so different from what had really taken place.  The only story that brought tears to my eyes.

Ellen Conford’s story was hilarious.  A girl (Diane) writes in her journal about her party and her friends and one girl in particular, Tracy – her frenemy (she doesn’t call her that – but that’s how it reads) and how much Tracy is at fault when it seems pretty clear to the reader that it is Diane who is clueless as she writes about whatever is “not” bothering her.

I really enjoyed the poem written by Karla Kuskin and the creative imagination on the part of the receiver and what genuine happiness.  I like the imaginative ending.

Johanna Hurwitz also brings a humorous piece of her own – written in the form of several letters to and from the “Nature Wonder & Company”, the parents of an unhappy birthday boy, and the birthday boy himself. 

I found each story to be very clever and enjoyed each for different reasons.  I loved this book!  I hope Jenna loves it as well. 

Great Reads for Girls: Mother/Daughter Book Group

During the summer Jenna kept on hounding me, “When is the next reading club?”

Not until September.

I LOVE the line-up of books we get to read this year.  I’ve actually read half of them already.

Our first meeting was  last night.  We had checked the book out just the week before.  Fortunately for us, it was easy reading and we had finished the book on Tuesday morning. 

I was happy as we read that what we read had historical truth – meaning the book “Riding Freedom’  I did not realize until just before the last two chapters that Pam Munoz Ryan had written this historical fiction about Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst  or one-eyed Charley –

Charlotte was an orphan who lived at a poorhouse along with several other orphans – all male.  Charlotte was needed in the kitchen and those in charge made certain that there would never be an opportunity for her to be adopted.  When Charlotte’s best friend, Hayden, is adopted, she decides to run away.

The story takes place in the mid 1800’s when women didn’t travel alone and were not given the right to vote among other things.  Charlotte disguised herself as a boy and worked like a boy and eventually would pass herself off as the greatest stage driver and vote as a man. 

After the story is an account of the real Charlotte or Charles Darkey Parkhurst – which is the name she used on the registrar to vote – over 50 years before women were allowed to vote.  It was not discovered until after her death that she was indeed female.

Next month’s book is ‘The Great Ivan” – which we’ve already read.  You can read some of my review on this post. 

Roosevelts had Secrets; not Cool Kids

   

            I love hearing Jenna sing.  Often I am surprised to hear her sing along with songs that I have never even heard before.  One of those is the catchy “Cool Kids” by Echosmith.  Here is just one video with lyrics.

            As we were walking to school yesterday, she was not only singing the song, but made comments as well – how she and her friend Paul wish they were “cool kids”.  She was spending her recess with Paul and another boy who recently ditched them for his sports and Paul actually has safety patrol duty and so Jenna often feels alone.  She does have friends at Vantanna.  I KNOW she has friends.

            It’s not like her first school when she really was among the more popular kids at her school – in fact still is popular at her first school – which is funny; she hasn’t attended that school for over five years now. 

Popularity is not necessarily the greatest thing.  I had told her that before we moved.  What a devastating blow it’s been to her since we moved to West Valley.  Though she continues to seek friends, she is often a loner.

            I too, was a loner at school.  There were times I wish I hadn’t been treated like I was invisible, but I didn’t necessarily wish to give up my individualism in order to fit in. I did suppose that being treated as though I didn’t exist was better than being bullied.  I have often wondered what it is that makes “cool kids” cool and why they have such a following.

            I reminded Jenna that school popularity (or lack thereof) does not necessarily define who you will turn out to be.  I told her that there are many celebrities and historical figures that had been mistreated who still came to make a name for themselves.  Often times the result has had a positive effect or influence on many others.  There are also a number of “popular” kids that don’t know how to face the adult world once school has ended.

            Currently I am involved in watching the PBS series: “Roosevelts/An Intimate History”  Both Theodore and Franklin were bullied and teased in their youth.  They were not well liked.  And look at what an influence they had on the country that they served.  

 

            Eleanor had quite a difficult childhood and was verbally abused by her mother and not well accepted by her mother-in-law who seemed to have this insecure hold upon her son – casting Eleanor to the shadows at best.  I believe that Eleanor Roosevelt is the most quoted of any other first lady in American history.

            They had hard lives.  They had many secrets.  They kept their private lives private – tried to anyway.  Theodore went on to be the youngest president (though JFK was not much older) that we’ve ever had.  FDR served more years than any other president.  Both made considerable accomplishments – and contributions.  Not that their lives were ever what some might view as “sunshine and roses” but they did touch many other lives in a positive way.  Not everyone – but many.

            I think it’s great when we can turn our hardships to someone’s advantage (if not our own) and create positive things or examples of overcoming and becoming.  I think it’s great when “cool kids” are positive and friendly and don’t exclude.  I hope that Jenna will grow and stay herself and still be accepted.  We each have talents that make us cool.  Even though others may not recognize the “coolness” I hope she recognizes it in herself.

94 in Death Valley

I so love this time of the year

In the morning just before the sun rises

At night – just as the sun is setting.

The weather is fair.  I like the cool air.

But the sun beats down in between.

It shouldn’t be this warm hot in September

I think it feels like Baker or Death Valley, California. 

I suppose that would be a slight exaggeration.

94 degrees might be considered cool for Death Valley

 

I remember one year my family was on our way to Bakersfield, California to see Corey in a play

We stopped off in Baker to get a bite to eat

The air was hot.  Unbearably hot. And dry. 

It was said the temperature was 117.

Patrick had gone into the men’s restroom to remove his shirt and douse it in water.  What a great idea!  I went to the women’s restroom and did the same. 

Our shirts were dry before we got back in the car.

 

Baker boasts to have the world’s tallest thermometer.  It is 134 feet tall.

The height represents the ground breaking Fahrenheit temperature of Death Valley’s hottest day. 

On the thermometer are the words: “Baker ca Gateway to Death Valley”

Corey had taken a picture back in the day before everybody had digital

He didn’t realize the word Valley had been cut off but posted his picture anyway

He thought it amusing and shared his photo

Baker ca Gateway to Death

Walking from the bus stop to the school and then back again is like walking through Death (or to Death – not the way I want to go)

I Be Chasing Shadows

I notice that when Jenna and I walk to school in the morning, the sun casts long shadows ahead of us.  Our shadows are tall and thin.  My morning shadow is not fat like I am.  People that know me now would never guess that I had once been mistaken for being anorexic.

Jenna wishes she could touch the shadow, jump on top and hold it down or something – but knows that when she moves her shadow will too.  She knows she will never catch it.

I smile when I think about the animated series “Peep” which featured an episode about the three friends following their shadows.  Their destination is to visit the island located in the west.  They start their journey in the morning when their shadows are long. 

By noon they are tired and their shadows seem to have disappeared.  The three decide to take a nap under a tree and hope to find their shadows when they awake.  They do.

Not realizing the sun has cast their shadows into the opposite direction, they continue following their shadows back to where they started.  They don’t understand as they had followed their shadows the entire time. 

As they turn around to look at where they’d been, they notice the most amazing sunset.  The wisest of the three points out that even though they may not have found what they had set out for, they could still appreciate their journey and the unexpected result.

I like that philosophy.