In the Blink of an Eye

I had made a purchase at Dollar General the other day.  The cashier asked if I would like a bag.  I had momentarily forgotten about the single –use-plastic ban that had been ordered just over a year ago. 

 

https://www.wastedive.com/news/oregon-governor

-signs-laws-banning-plastic-bags-straws/558262/

Dollar General gave out yellow bags before the end of 2019.  Recyclable gray ones were ordered.  They are not as appealing to the eye – nor do they fold over to line the trash can properly.  But they are definitely sturdier.  Five or ten cents per bag is still less than a state tax would be. 

 

I get why it was ordered.  There are so many people who are concerned about the environment and will properly dispose of trash.  There are just as many who are careless – some who just let things fall where they land and don’t bother with disposal.  Sometimes the litter is accidental – like when the wind blows and carries said item away.  I honestly have seen more masks littering the parking lots and streets than I have plastic bags or straws.  But I’ve had firsthand experience with the plastic bag issues.

Newborns are placed in car seats that face the rear of the car.  Today there are periscopes and cameras to check on the child but is still not made available to all who have children. If that did indeed exist sixteen years ago when Jenna was in that kind of car seat, it wouldn’t have been affordable to us as I imagine with many others who have children.

I had run some errands and had allowed the front windows down far enough to create a circulation but not so far down that it would affect Jenna – at least not directly.  Evidently there was enough air to blow a plastic bag onto her face.  She wasn’t harmed, thank goodness, but could have been if the car ride had been longer.

Plastics pollute more than just the ocean. I know some people felt inconvenienced and all too many seem to be upset with Kate Brown and some of her choices.  But then COVID hit and I don’t think a lot of people even considered the plastic ban as COVID is still a hot topic and thus everything in 2020 seemed to center around the disease or fire conditions and placing those that had become homeless due to the elements. 

There are still so many who seem to have it out for Kate Brown and the decisions that were made.  She had run under the democratic party but it was my understanding that it was the Republican party (or at least some of those who had been represented or claimed to be Republican) had campaigned to keep her on – though her name was not on the last ballot and so I don’t know what that was all about.

It’s not like any politician has had a course in how to handle a worldwide pandemic.  I have no issues with Kate Brown or her policies.  I think she is doing the best she can for the welfare of most everybody involved.  I would not have her job for anything.

The Bear

 Here is a less than flattering poem I had written about a substitute teacher that I had only heard about but had never encountered until my junior year.  She reminded me of a school marm from the turn of the century - and I don't mean this century.  Subs have it hard because there is always at least one student who acts up and ruins it for the rest of the class.   Today's feature:

The Bear

If you painted her last name

You’d have a picture of a “Bear”

Or the ancient braud herself

The decrepit lady with blue hair   

 

We see the old grouch

Come back year after year

Why, this lady is so old

She went to school with Shakespeare

 

She was born to be a teacher

She knew that from the start

And after years of teaching

She bought a genuine handcart.   

 

She taught [near] little reservoirs

And on the Mississippi plain

One of her students was Samuel Clemens

Know to us a Mark Twain.

 

When she came to Jordon District

Not knowing how we’d feel

She traded in her ragged handcart

For a second-hand automobile

 

She never had a date

Nor did she ever kiss

Nor did she ever get proposed to

For her name is still “Miss”

 

But if we’re nice to her

She’ll be nice to us

But if we’re obnoxious

She’ll put up a fuss

 

Jordon School district had problems

Added on, we could tell

When the old lady came here

With a name that fit her well.

 

The Worth of Souls

 I came across this poem in between paying bills and studying the Doctrine and Covenants:

Trash is a collection

of once possessed [items]:

 

The doll

who used to stand proud

and amazed everybody 

is now worth nothing

because its face is cracked

 

The sports shoes

 that won every game

has a hole

allowing the big toe to come through

 

The flower pot

that contained some of the

prettiest flowers

is now broken in two.

 

None of these are worthless

unless you

let them be

 

I imagine it was written in 1979 or 1980.  I hadn't given it a title at the time, but did give it a title on the 17th of this month.  I call it Self-Worth.

Where Shall We Go?

           Roland has to take his vacation days or lose them.  He keeps on asking when and where we shall go.  He has a desire to go to North Carolina to see his mom who was supposed to come see us in May of last year – but because of the pandemic wasn’t sent.

          There’s still a pandemic.  We are not in the clear.  It was announced this morning that while some counties have advanced from extreme to high risk, other counties have been set back – ours for example.  We were at extreme and went to high risk but have been told that we are entering extreme again.

          I remember when we were told that the state would reopen in phases.  There would be four phases.  I don’t know of any county in the state who has gone beyond phase two.  I don’t wish for it to sound like I’m living in fear.  I think there’s a difference between fear and being cautious.  Roland will say that he needs to get the vaccine and then he will turn around and ask if we want to go bowling.  I refuse to go bowling during the pandemic.  Heck, I won’t even get into a public pool right now.  How my body has missed that during the summer.

          Before we went to New York last summer, we prayed about our decision.  Opportunities had changed.  Same thing today.  I told Roland that even if we book something we don’t know how things will be in three or four weeks.  We don’t know how they will change tomorrow.  It’s good to make plans – but as there are so many “if” factors right now.  Not only is there a pandemic but several states are experiencing tremendous weather conditions. 

I suggested we just stay around here.  It would be fun to see more of this state and parts of Washington.  Again, we have no guarantees that we would be able to find lodging.  Even so, could we trust it?  How many layoffs have resulted due to the pandemic?  I don’t think traveling at this time is a good idea.  I don’t think all the uncertainties would amount for a great vacation – and yet I am an adventurous.  I always retell situations of the unplanned and perhaps disastrous. 

Roland gave me a scenario of another who is older and Roland asked if he wasn’t worried about COVID to which he received the response, “I can’t stop living.”

I don’t think of the COVID in that same regard – certainly I want to live my life – but not at the expense of my family or my religious beliefs.  God sent plagues to His children in Biblical times.  He tested them. I feel like by going on vacation, by going bowling, by engaging in activities the way that I did before, I am failing the greater test.  I may survive my encounters.  I may have the time of my life.  But what greater blessings will I have missed by giving in?  Even the church itself has not reached phase four.  Who am I that I am better than that?

COVID is still a problem.  It hasn’t gone away.  We know people who have tested positive for COVID.  We know of many who have been hospitalized.  Some people just seem more tolerant somehow while others still have not accepted that all of this is real and that we must proceed with caution. We have a picture of ourselves with Joh's mom in our house when they dropped by 2 and a half years ago.  She passed away because of COVID.   

I am so grateful to President Biden and his messages of hope and encouragement.  Sometimes when I watch or listen to him, he looks and sounds like a general authority.  There is compassion in his voice that we have not had for the last four years.  How different things might have been if we had had a leader who set an example for us to begin with.

Reflection written February 19, 2021

 

Back in the days before Google

– possibly before Travel Agencies

– I don’t know. 

It hadn’t dawned on either of us

to find a travel agency.  I

 don’t recall what grade I was in

– I’m guessing fourth. 

 

The students had been assigned to

make posters of any state of his

or her own choosing. 

I had narrowed my selections down to

Hawaii, Alaska and Colorado. 

 

My mom helped me with the wording and

addressing the envelopes. 

I think we sent my plea to the capital city at

each address. 

We probably had to go to

the library to look it up

– though I don’t know where exactly. 

The internet did not

exist at that time.

I believe I had introduced myself as

a student at East Midvale Elementary in

Midvale, Utah and I was

hoping to get some information for

an assignment I was doing. 

The state of Hawaii was first to respond.

I received brochures so many pictures to

go along with my inquiries. 

I finished my poster several weeks before

the due date. 

 

With only one week left before

our due date (I think we had

been told five or six weeks in advance)

I heard from Alaska. 

Not quite as many pictures but

enough to make another poster. 

I asked if I could make another and

was given permission for extra credit.

 

Two months after the due date I

received a lone pamphlet from Colorado. 

No included pictures.  What’s up with that? 

The state of Colorado shares a

border with Utah. 

I would think their response would have

come a lot quicker. 

I was most unimpressed.

 

Over the years I decided

Colorado meant delay. 

It didn’t matter the service. 

Mail, bus lines, airline connections or

what have you. 

There was ALWAYS

a delay. 

I personally had not viewed

a single exception.

I don’t know what the status is today.

It seems so long ago since

I sent anything or traveled myself

through Colorado.

Pretty state. 

Always ran late in my mind.

A Very Small Piece of Yellowstone Park

We still have not watched the video of my family in Yellowstone . Perhaps I will find more triggers when I go through the tape. The following was written at the end of 1979 

 

Minerva Springs

 

A dream of candy mountains,

drooping like melted wax on a huge candle  

different colors

poured into a [blender]

all cremated

and layered

Hot tubs on each giant ice berg stack

It looks as if the snow miser lives there

But the interior decorator is Mr. Heat.

to view more pics of Mammoth Springs see here

my original wording for blender was Osterizer as that is what I had always called it.  Our blender was made by the Oster company.

What Was God Thinking Calling Me?

             I had called to the RS presidency on September 8, 2019.  Two months into my calling I was called to the position of second counselor. By the time 2020 had started we were told that we would need to call a few sisters for a humanitarian committee though we did not have the final details of how it would be handled – activities would be held every other month by the activities committee and we would do service projects the other months and the humanitarian committee would provide the details.

Sisters were called and set apart.  The last four were set apart on March 8, 2020.  The committee never met in person.  No events were planned.  We were told that Church would no longer operate in person.  President Nelson had given that instruction before the stay-at-home order had been given.  We did not return to Church until ten months later.  Meanwhile, many sisters from both committees have been given other callings.  Our humanitarian committee is pretty much dissolved.  We have not returned to activities among any organization except for the youth who have been meeting since December I think.   

    Last week we returned to the two meeting schedule on Sunday. We don’t know how our activities will fit in at this time or if we will go forward with the humanitarian committee.  Perhaps the only purpose for our calling them was so that when the pandemic first went into effect they were able to make masks to meet the needs of those that didn’t have.

I remember admiring those that had been called to serve the young women in the last ward I had attended while living in Salt Lake.  We lived in a largely geriatric populated ward (Over 75% of all members were over the age of 70) and did not have many active youth.  In fact, I remembered only one boy being present on Sunday – though I think the girls may have gotten a bigger turn out for the Wednesday night activity than did the boys.  Sundays were sparse.  And yet, the presidency diligently planned their lessons and showed up to the classroom just in case. 

There were a few weeks that they had the opportunity to teach visitors or the new move-ins that we had for only a few months.  They loved their girls and rallied around those who were less active.  I don’t know how much they got out of their calling or if they questioned it – but it made a great impression on me.

It’s not our place to question why the Lord would give one a calling when surely there seems to be another who is more qualified or provide a calling that might be viewed as worthless.  No calling is worthless.  Each is needed no matter what the position.  I know some wards have struggled at fulfilling all the necessary callings while other wards seem to make up callings.  They are all inspired.  Oh, sure – there have been some called out of desperation rather than inspiration – but that doesn’t make it less important.  How blessed each of us is that we do have the opportunity to serve.  Even if it may seem pointless at times or if it is for such a short time that you wonder what the purpose was.  There is a purpose.  I think it’s something each of us still need to learn.

Memories of Hawaii

 I had gone to Hawaii with my paternal grandmother after I had graduated high school in 1980.  These two poems were written sometime afterward - I'm guessing that same year.

Banya

 

Twisted hands

move slowly

outstretched

and wrapped

around

each other

tied

and embraced

forming

a trunk

 

My Hat

 

Everyone admired

the pile of grass

I bought 

Originality

and personality

is what

I’ve got

I put it

       on my head

so everyone

would know

It says a lot

about me

everywhere I go

Friendship and Promises Triggers

             As I have gone through my box of poems I am finding more triggered memories.  One of my poems tells about a friendship that I had encountered with an elderly woman who lived five doors down from my maternal grandparents.  They all lived in the same apartment building in San Francisco.  I guess she was lonely and my grandpa asked if I would write to her.  I still remember her first and last name – although I have no idea or remember how to spell her last name but do remember how to pronounce it.

There was one simple poem about promises and under the poem I’d written a note about different promises I had made and kept.  One promise was to a friend who I called “Annie”;  I told her that I would take her to the musical “Annie” if it was ever playing downtown or at the University. 

I don’t recall the exact year.  I was thinking it was in the late 70’s.  Annie won Tony awards in 1977 so it would have had to been several years later.  There was a national tour in 1981 and so perhaps that was the year my mom and I had gone downtown to purchase five tickets for the Broadway musical.  (I know it was before the release of the pathetic 1981 film production) We paid cash. I remember having counted the tickets at least twice while we were downtown.  Five.  We counted five both times.  After we returned home my mom took them out her purse and there were six!  I think we called Capitol Theatre to let them know of the error but because we had paid cash we were told there wasn’t a way for the extra ticket to be verified.  Okay.  Cool.  We invited my grandma to use the remaining ticket.  We watched from the balcony and I remember being fascinated by how the scenery got pulled onto the stage and pulled off again. All of us loved the play.  It was worth the amount I had spent.

Valentine Tribute Technology

        I watched the latest episode of This Is Us aired on NBC.  This year the creators have included today’s invents – meaning the pandemic and restrictions thus the story lines include the mask and real life circumstances at the hospital.

https://www.nbc.com/this-is-us/episodes

The show starts out with the introduction of two new characters – Nasir and Ester – both immigrants to a new country in 1963. Who could this couple possibly be?  What in the world did it have to do with the Pearsons (the family members that are the main subjects of the show)?  Meanwhile the present focuses on family members who are either in the hospital or on the phone via video chat with those in the hospital.  

The next time we see Ester and Nasir they are married.  We don’t know how long they courted or were married or how many children they will have.  We know there is at least one toward the end of the show when Nasir is late coming home and Ester seems upset with him as he promised that he would be home at a certain time.  She asks him to talk to her as if she were their four-year-old son. 

There is a scene where the camera is taken off Ester and Nasir and Manual and Rebecca are the subject. I suddenly decided that Ester and Nasir must be his parents and perhaps they will bringing them more into focus.  But I was wrong.  Ester and Nasir Ahmed are real live people and not just a story line.  Nasir Ahmed’s vision is what connected the story into modern day.  He was interested in technology and creating a device with pictures so that in the future we would not only be able to make phone calls and hear the other person, but we would be able to see the other person.

It was a “wow” moment.  It was such a lovely tribute and I am so impressed that this moment of inspiration has been weaved into the story line as the cast members (as well as ourselves) are able to visit with one another through this great device that was thought up many years before. It has made a great impression not only for what Nasir Ahmed did for all of us but that it was captured in this television show and provides a sense of light in a time that has been too dark for so many.  Thank you Ahmed and thank you to those involved with This Is Us for presenting this experience to us in such a creative way. 

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a35539211/who-is-nasir-ahmed-esther-true-story/

For more information see here and here e.g.

I don't know if the story was meant as a Valentine's gift for Ester and Nasir - what a cool tribute.

Have I Got a Treat for You!

                 As I have been reading the scriptures I wondered where I had misplaced my personal scripture blessing.  I used to look at it often but realized I probably haven’t looked at it since we have lived in Oregon.  It isn’t where I thought it was.

        I found some “artifacts” and a letter addressed to my posterity about the contents of my pink ammo can.  What possessed me to paint it pink?  I don’t even like pink.  But at the time I didn’t appreciate the drab green although I think I prefer it to the pink that appears to be older than it is. 

        The note was written September 6, 1988.  I claimed that I had left a camera cassette which isn’t there but there is a VHS and the contents are the same as what is descrbed for the Minolta.  I suppose I could include another camera cassette but with different moments . . .

        The VHS tape includes recordings of a ventriloquist act featuring Ron Lucas.  It had been recorded off the Disney Channel.  Next was our family vacation to Yellowstone Park.  We saw more of the park than we usually do.  We returned home less than a week before the fires (here) 

I set the tape aside in hopes that Jenna and Roland will be willing to watch it with me. 

        My letter also indicated that there were two floppy discs.  I found only one – almost the same size as the one Matthew Broderick holds in this clip from the movie “War Games”.  

The caption indicates the contents are of my journal.  Perhaps.  Good luck finding a Brothers Word Processor from that decade or some other device to read it on.  My descriptions don’t even make sense to me.  I’m certain they will mean less to my posterity should they ever have the opportunity to go through it (well, Jenna has seen the contents – or some of them anyway).

          I have disc negatives of probably every picture I ever took with the short lived disc camera.  And a mountain of poems.  No expression magazine but homework/class assignments from 1979 and others I had jotted down.  What a joy that will be to go through. 

There are two collector pins not even mentioned – Clairol and Mary Tyler Moore.  Wow.  How’s that for a finder?

I also made the claim to a set of cassette tapes that contain contents of my mission. They were not in the can but I am 75% certain that I brought them to Oregon with me.  If not, they got pushed back in a closet in West Valley never to be seen again.  Too bad.  If I do come across them, I will include them with the memorabilia. 

I said I had included some kind of camera?  No camera but did find two flash bulbs.  Oh if only American Pickers would stop buy.  Laugh out Loud.  It’s actually quite pathetic.

But I do have poems.  Lots and lots of poems.  And I will share many of them throughout time.  Don’t you feel honored?

 As I didn’t find what I was searching for, I turned to some other ammo cans that kept natural color.  In one I found several photos.  Two had been taken of the sisters serving in Roanoke during September/October 1984 and March 1985.  I also found this picture that Sunny had created for all of her sisters 

and this one of me from my mission when I first arrived in Roanoke