Between Two Weathers

           Joseph Smith knelt in a grove of trees in fervent prayer and was visited by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  This is known as “the first vision” which took place in early spring 1820. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/the-first-vision-fe5db8d?lang=eng

According to the equinox the first day of spring begins at the end of March (usually 20 – 22 depending on the year I guess) and ends in June on the same numbered date.  My definition of spring includes blossoms on trees, buds starting to peek their heads out of stems promising to become flowers.

https://beneaththewraps.blogspot.com/2016/02/spring-arrived-early.html

 I have always seen spring as a promise of growth.  That means no snow, no wind and no darkness. Or so was my belief when I lived in Salt Lake.  I remember seeing the blossoms and buds appearing in February 2016 our first year in Oregon.  It is so different from Salt Lake. The grass is green from October to June. 

 

https://beneaththewraps.blogspot.com/2016/02/spring-arrived-early.html

There hasn’t been much in the way of snow though we’ve had days of bleakness, heavy rain, fog and winds.  There are signs of snow in the hills – but it doesn’t last.  Still, I have seen more signs of autumn this year than of spring – which should take place in six and a half weeks.  The grass is green in Oregon but buried beneath the snow in Palmyra.

It was probably 2 and a half months after the date of the first vision when my family visited Palmyra on June 14, 2020 so today would be closer to the date of the first vision than would our only visit.  There has been speculation that March 26, 1820 (here and here) was the actual date of the first vision – but it is only speculation.  Artists portray the first vision as happening in the cool green grass and doesn’t give the impression that the ground was still muddy with moisture left by the winter snow. 

https://bookofmormoncentral.org/blog/celebrating-the-restoration-
day-3-differences-and-similarities-in-the-first-vision-accounts

 And yet there appeared to be a lot of snow on the ground in Palmyra yesterday – not that I was able to go in person, but through the inspired technology I was able to attend a virtual tour offered for seminary teachers and their students.  The pictures I took look so much different than the ones I screenshot yesterday morning.  Of course not all of the locations are exactly the same.  

    I am also sharing some inside pictures that we were not able to see in June due to the pandemic.  A virtual tour would have looked differently then.  I think I appreciated it more yesterday than I may have in June though who can say for certain. 

angling the appearance of Father and Son

it isn't known exactly which part of the grove They appeared

one experience that was shared was about hiding 
the plates in the loft and an empty stone box below.
The empty box was found and the culprits smashed
the box and left.  They hadn't bother checking the loft

I never understood why those who claimed not to 
believe in the plates would try to find them

the focus was on the temple.  I did
not get a picture of the temple
when we'd gone in June

This fireplace is said to be one of 
many hiding places of the golden plates

yesterday

June 14, 2020

Randy and Carrie have moved back to Utah now.  The photographs we took are now distant memories.  It’s pretty likely we will not be returning to New York again.

Saying Good-bye

             I have been able leave the house a bit earlier in order to pick up Jenna from seminary.  I think there is a combination of morning light and glow from the snow in the hills.  I feel so fortunate that I was able to pick her up while the sky wasn’t showering us with moisture.  It did start raining pretty hard once we got out of Myrtle Creek and started our journey into Tri-City. 

            Roland and I had watched 60 minutes on Sunday.  The first story focused on the changes brought to us by the cornavirus and how “normal” is a thing of the past as many have lost loved ones and were unable to send off with a proper closure – especially in the beginning of the pandemic.  Millions of Americans have crossed to the other side and funerals seemed null or sparsely attended out of caution and often regulation.  It’s sad.

            My brother Corey has been in a slump and added these words from a song called the veil.  I have tried listening but cannot seem to locate through YouTube but he posted these words to his facebook wall:

 

Are you up there

Looking down here?

Can you see me

Looking for you?

Can you hear me

When I call you?

Do you soothe me

When I cry?

Do you hover

In the darkness

When I'm aching

Before morning,

Just to cradle

Me a little

And to get me

Through the night?

I never believed

In something so strange.

Sometimes I swear I hear

You calling my name.

If you're out there

And can hear me,

Perhaps we can do it this way.

I'm open

To anything

If this is the way it must stay.

We could travel

Forever

With the clouds and the stars in between.

If only I knew

You really were there,

I'd make it through all the time I've left here,

I'd learn how to walk

And to blaze a new trail

With me over here

And you beyond the veil.

Are you settled

In your new place?

Have you worked out

Your arrangements?

Is it like the

Things I've heard of,

Full of beauty

And serene?

We never did talk

Of these things when we meant to,

Never planned it would turn out this way.

If you're out there

And can see me,

Perhaps we can meet in between.

Leave a message,

I will find it.

I'll look when awake and in dreams.

And we'll travel

Forever

And ever like nothing has changed.

For when I know

You're really there,

I'll make it through all the time I've left here.

Just give me the secret

To blaze this new trail

With me over here

And you beyond the veil.

Me over here

And you beyond the veil.

Roland's 3rd Kindle

           A few years ago a friend of mine had given me her old kindle.  She said she wanted me to have it so that I could read or play games.  I brought it home and had Roland look at it and create an account for me.  He did so using his Amazon account.  Whenever I turned the kindle on it greeted me as Roland's kindle

Roland's kindle (though it's not)

 I wasn’t much for reading electronically, but did enjoy the games.  I mostly played word games. After a while I had played the games and turned to daily puzzles which I would download before I left the house.  That way I could play them while I was on my lunch break. 

          After a while the kindle decided to spaz on me and would claim it would recharge but then it give me the kindlefire sign and I couldn’t get past it.  I did nothing with it for a few weeks and Roland decided to restore the kindle – though I don’t know how – unless he could do it through his computer?

          I reloaded games, tried some new ones, and started from scratch.  Though it was the same kindle that I had used before, it greeted me with being Roland’s second kindle.  I continued to download daily puzzles before I left the house.  Even during the pandemic when I knew I wouldn’t be going anywhere.  I wanted to continue being in the habit so that when the pandemic finally came to an end ( I didn’t think we would still be struggling like we are after just one year that has felt more like 10)

          Just before Christmas Roland purchased a new kindle which he believed would be bigger, weigh less, and wouldn’t have to be charged as often.  He succeeded with the latter two but the new kindle that he got me for Christmas was a kindle paper white to read books and not play games.  I didn’t think it was a very good fit until just last month.  There are still several books that I would like to purchase as they really don’t cut it on kindle – nor can I mark them the way I would like or reference them in a way that I can with a tangible book.  But I do find I am enjoying being able to read and return without having to worry about shelf room that doesn’t exist in my house but does in the cloud.

 

Roland's 3rd kindle (but not really)

          My new kindle greets me as Roland’s third kindle – even though I have been the sole user of both kindles and I have read a lot more.  I continue to use both kindles – one as a book and one for playing games.

More Triggered Memories

 

            I have used the above picture in an earlier post.  My first post in February 2012 – the year I started my blog.  The post itself had nothing to do with the picture.  Let me relate what really happened and why Jenna is making this face.

            As I mentioned in a more recent post we used to walk everywhere – though Kearns offered more destinations than anything in West Valley or Myrtle Creek.  We did not walk to the library often as we had to cross a busy street, but Jenna had not taken a nap and would be in need of one and usually the walk to the library and back wore her out. 

            I would always hold Jenna’s hand when we were out on walks – especially when crossing streets – especially the busy one. She insisted on crossing 5400 on her own.  No way!  What kind of a mother would I be to allow my five year old cross 5400 by herself?!?  I forced her to hold my hand the return and may have even carried her across at one point.  What a brute, I know.  Anyway, she made that face because she was upset with me.

 

            Many times Jenna and I have taken walks that will trigger some kind of memory – for instance yesterday I posted about my first car.  The trigger happened when we first saw a Volkswagen Beetle.  It was the same shade of blue as the car the Gus drives in the TV series Psych.

http://imcdb.org/images/123/174.jpg 

         I told Jenna that it was a Beetle and when she started calling it a bug I told her that I thought the bug was bigger than the beetle – she thought I was joking about the names but shortly afterward a Volkswagen Bug came up the street as we were walking and I told her I used to have a Volkswagen Dasher.  I also shared a story about my sister Kayla who always seemed to have a fondness for the Volkswagen Bug and said she planned to buy one when she was old enough to drive (I think she was younger than 8 when this experience happened)

            My brother  and I planned to go to Trafalga Family Fun Center with a few friends.  I don’t remember how many went, but we had to take several cars in order to fit us all.  A friend picked me up in her Volkswagen Bug and we took Kayla with us.  I don’t remember all of what we did but do remember that miniature golf and bumper cars were offered in addition to water rides.  After we had returned home I remember telling mom what we did and she asked Kayla what her favorite part of the day had been. 

            “We got to ride in a bug!” she beamed proudly.  I had to explain that Janice had picked us up in her Volkswagen Bug.  I hadn’t thought about it as a highlight but it had been for Kayla.

 

            When we lived in Kearns I used to walk to the gas station near our house.  I would push Jenna in the stroller and go in to fill up my 32 ounce cup with soda.  Jenna always had her sippy cup which would sometimes need a refill – but I didn’t want to give her soda.  They had a watered down juice – I don’t even remember what it was.  I think it was Sobe some raspberry flavored liquid.  I saw it as a safe bet and would fill her cup half way and add some more water.  The gas station attendant never charged me for it but had always encouraged me to take it.  I’m guessing it wasn’t a good seller and he wanted to get rid of it.  

My First Car

          The first car that I had ever purchased was a used chocolate brown Volkswagen Dasher.  The only images I can find are of hatchbacks but I am certain that my car had a trunk.  I didn’t want a hatchback.  The saleman had tried selling me a Ford Pinto.  I did not want a Ford Pinto.  I did not care for the salesman’s tactic. I went and found another salesman.

not exact but think similar to what I had

          It was a cute little car, but NOT a spontaneous one.  I would have to warm the car up at least an hour before going anywhere.  I would let it warm up and allow the car to run for about five minutes and then I would have to give it an extra few minutes before I was seriously ready to go.  I don’t even know what year it was or how many years I had it.

           When I left for my mission, I allowed my brother Patrick to drive my car  - though I don’t know how often he used it – but I know he did use it.  Just before my mission ended a bird had flown into the grill and Patrick had asked a friend of ours to help him with the damage.  Replacing the grill cost more than Patrick could afford and so Dan made a temporary fix using wood as a temporary replacement.  It seemed to work at the time.  I’m sure it wouldn’t pass inspection however and I know it would be cause to pull over today. 

 

not exact but similar to how it looked

          My grandma had purchased a car for herself just before my mission.  It was a white Plymouth Duster which she didn’t drive often herself but had either me or her daughter drive it.  I remember driving her to a funeral of a kid whom neither one of us had known – but she had been friends with her mom and so had gone to support her.  One thing that I really do enjoy about most LDS funerals (or at least the ones I have been to) is even if you don’t know the person before the funeral, you will definitely know something before the funeral ends.  I like LDS funerals.  I like how they pay tribute to the life of the deceased.

 

tried to find a Plymouth Duster
without a background - no success

          After Grandma Helen died and the family was cleaning the house and marking her belongings it was decided that I would get her Plymouth Duster.  In time I understood why she never wanted to drive it herself – or why so much of the time I would just see small old ladies behind the steering wheel of this monster tank (I thought the Duster was huge).  It’s because nobody over 5’2” could feel comfortable driving.  My grandma was six feet tall - or close to. I’m 5’4”.  I could never wear a hat while driving as my head touched the ceiling as it was. 

 

          My brother, Corey, borrowed the Duster while going to school in Ephraim as he was in need of a car and I worked downtown and took the bus.  The best feature about that Plymouth Duster was that the heater worked – almost too well.  We’d have to turn on the defogger when it rained or was cold.  I remember I would always drive with one coat sleeve over my left arm as I had to have the window open.  The rest of me was still hot.

 

         

Weather Changes

 Jenna took these five pictures yesterday morning:

She took these three this morning

and I took these two 

Pandemic Hair

         

posted to my fb profile August 2020

12 hours after I washed my hair I realized that it was still wet.  It’s been over a year now since either Jenna or I had our hair cut.  Although I have attempted to cut mine myself (and if it comes out butchered  - oh well.  Who is really going to see it or know behind the mask who to criticize?  If they are really six feet apart from me as been suggested, I would not think they’d be able to see all the flaws anyway) 

While cutting is okay our hair really needs to be thinned out.  I haven’t a clue how to go about that one. The above picture was taken in August so our hair is much longer and thicker now – especially Jenna who has three ringlets hanging behind her when it is down – which isn’t very often.  Jenna and I wear our hair in pigtails for the most part.  I would much rather wrap each loop of the mask around a pigtail than have it pulling on my ear.

December 2020

I know there are hair salons and barbers who are currently open – but it doesn’t seem like a desire necessity as say toilet paper or food.  I don’t guess there was a high demand for Biblical characters to be running out to the barber or hair salon – if indeed those things really did exist.  And they survived.  I don’t expect the pandemic to last forever.  We will get our hair thinned out in God’s due time. Wish all people would feel that way.  Perhaps we would have this whole situation under control by now.  Maybe.

A Dog Goes To Church

 

            There are several times when we are leaving the house that Jenna and I will slip out the back door to avoid taking Bonnie with us.  It’s nothing against the dog – it’s usually just an inconvenience to take her when we’re just going to the store or the church.  I have taken Bonnie with me a few times when I picked Jenna up from seminary.  This morning I allowed Bonnie to come with me.

            Oh, that was a fun ride (not) as Bonnie whined for the most part.  Believing she had to relieve herself, I opened the back door as soon as I parked in the church parking lot.  She ran out and towards the building.  I could see her looking through the door.  Class was out and everyone was waiting for their rides.  I figured at least one of them would see Bonnie and Jaime would come out – which she did.  Only when she opened the door and came outside, Bonnie went inside.

            “People!  People!  I like people! Let me climb on top of you and lick your face.”

            Jenna rescued her seminary instructor whom Bonnie had decided to befriend.  We then took Bonnie to the dog part for just a few minutes so she could get whatever wildness inside of her out of the car – which I guess she did.  The return ride was so much better.

            We took Bonnie for a walk later on – or rather, Bonnie took Jenna and I followed – our usual routine.  Bonnie is still a sweet dog.

Kayla’s Birthday and Inaguration

 

          My brother Patrick has his birthday on St. Patrick’s Day.  It is always on St. Patrick’s Day regardless the day of the week.  St. Patrick’s Day is not a federal holiday in which some people are able to take the day off with pay.  It isn’t even seen as a holiday by many people though there are some who choose to celebrate the Irish heritage day.

          Kayla and I both have birthdays which may fall on a holiday weekend as both MLK day and Memorial Day have moved their celebrated day to Monday – or rather a day that follows the weekend and those who get paid for Federal holidays are able to take them off.  I think had mentioned in an earlier post how excited my mom said that Kayla was to be off on her birthday in 1986 – the first celebration of MLK – though it wasn’t nationally celebrated until 1995 (here) 

https://www.almanac.com/content/when-martin-luther-king-jr-day

        I was on my mission at the time and do not have any other recollection except that mom said that my sister thought it was a cool celebration as it gave her the day off from school.  Roland had the Monday off in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. though the holiday recognition is the 20^th (here) 

          In addition to MLK is the presidential inauguration every four years.  How terrible it was (and still is) for 2016 celebration.  Not a great way to start out her birthday – though only half of the nation was in mourning.  Of course each year was worse – especially the last one.  But this year is better.  So far it has seemed peaceful. 

EVERYBODY's President - not just a specific party

          Kayla sent me an email as I am not currently on facebook and so have not looked at what was sent through messenger – though she says it says the same thing.  The inauguration this year is surely an improvement over the last.  Kayla is 46 years old today.  Joe Biden is our 46^th president – well sort of.  Grover Cleveland served two terms in office which were not in a row.  He served as the 22 and 24 president.  #23 was Benjamin Harrison – grandson of William Henry Harrison – our 9^th president who served less than two months – if he even served at all . . . (here)

          WHH gave the nation’s longest inauguration speech in freezing weather.  He wasn’t dressed for it.  He caught pneumonia and died.  Nice weather on January 20^th seems rare.  There was one year Kayla and my mom had gone somewhere (probably to a birthday lunch) when neither of them were wearing coats.  Kayla said it was the first birthday she remembered not having needed a coat.

          Happy Birthday Kayla.  Joe Biden is going to make America great again.

When Did I Start Falling Apart?

            I remember walking with the boys and then with Jenna when we lived in Kearns.  I walked with Jenna to the bus stop and to the school from the bus stop and returned to the bus stop and walked between.  I did a lot of walking.

            Even when we lived on the rental property in Myrtle Creek Jenna and I walked nearly every day.  I go with her now when she is walking Bonnie and I have never felt so worn out.  Bonnie always sounds like I feel – exhausted and panting.  Maybe she’s not.  She’s overweight so I think the walk is stressful – especially because she always seems like she’s in a hurry.  She needs to pace herself.

            I preferred the walks in Utah and around Neal and Riverside or Millsite park.  I no longer enjoy climbing – which is what we are doing each time we “walk” because everything is hilly with more ups than downs.  

            I used to be in better shape.  Kayla and I used to go on hikes all the time.  I know she continued after she met Bill and now with her family.  I don’t get exhausted when I go out to the mailbox – or even on my return.  But I do find it more challenging to walk from the corner of our street back to our house for example.  I don’t think I snort like Bonnie does, but maybe.

            My favorite thirst quencher has ALWAYS been water.  I had worked myself up to drinking 3-5 quarts of water a day and gradually even more.  And then I got pregnant with Jenna and went through water withdrawl.

            It did not matter how quickly or slowly I drank the water – I would throw it up.  If I gulped it down or gently sipped it.  I drank because I was thirsty but I threw up a lot.  It wasn’t just the first trimester either.  IT WAS ALL NINE MONTHS!!!  Nine months of throwing up water and almost any kind of food I ate.  I could hold down dairy products and fish.  Nine months of less water which I tried to drink again, but never was able to complete my goal of more than three quarts until just lately.  I hope to get up to six.

            Jenna has always liked water too.  Even at a young age there were times that she just preferred it to anything else.  She drinks a lot of water – probably more than me.  Wish Roland would follow our example. 

Balancing

      I had written my last post as a free verse to make it seem more interesting, but I lost the vision of what I had intended. What had triggered my thought on climbing in the first place was watching Roland climb up the unstable ladder.  It looks unstable leaning in mushy ground.  He was fixing the porch light and connecting it to another stapling the cord in place.  I was awed at his ability to look up.

            I tend to lose my balance quite easily – especially if I am looking up.  I get dizzy when I am standing still on solid ground.  I think if I were climb a ladder now and looked up I would fall.  I have fallen at least twice because of whatever has made me dizzy.  I fell in my bedroom before we were married.  I don’t remember if I had even known Roland at the time. 

            My former neighbor Peggy had collected nativity scenes and would put them on display each year after I was married.  She had invited Jenna to play an angel in the Bird’s annual Christmas pageant.  She had brought home clothes for each cast member to wear and had opened the box in the room with the nativities.  I had fallen into one – I think one of the pieces may have broken.  I felt so bad – especially because I think Peggy thought Jenna had been responsible for the breakage.  But Jenna wasn’t even near enough the nativity that spilled over.  Nobody was except for me.  If someone else had been there, I may have fallen into them.

            I had an MRI in 2013.  The results did not prove anything about my brain activity.  Everything appeared normal.  The dizziness comes and goes.  Perhaps all the twirling I had done as a kid finally caught up with me.  I would spin and spin and never get tired of it.  Perhaps my brain was triggered somehow.

            I know old people who function quite well both mentally and physically.  I know young people who have been stricken either mentally or physically – sometimes both.  I think I fall into the category of the latter.  My dad was young when his body muscles were paralyzed by strokes.  Mom hadn’t even turned 70 yet when we learned she had dementia.  I don’t know if either are hereditary. I know I eat too much sugar.  I may have diabetes.  I would like to abstain from sugar for at least six weeks.  I heard that is how long it takes for the sugar to leave the system.