I’d Rather Be Wet By Rain Than Perspiration

               My Baby graduated high school last night. There were ten students representing the honors list.  If they had picked twelve – Jai would have been up front with them wearing golden sash.  Yet just having four year cords was pretty cool – again because she did not attend the school during 2020-2021.  But it sounded like a wasted year for all of them.

       Without meaning to, I had compared her graduation to my own and the HUGE differences between them.  The only similarity I saw was with the weather.  Both were overcast – though I don’t recall as much rain at my graduation as with hers. 

       She had called to ask if we would like to be seated in the very back so that I could lean against the wall or if we wanted to be the second row in front.  I was visualizing the bleachers and not three rows of chairs added to the front – which is still fine.  I would have rather been where I was than in the back which I would have had to climb – not only getting up but coming down.  I would have taken the coat I didn’t think I’d need in the bleachers but wished I had from where I was at.

 

June - a sign of umbrellas and parkas, right?

       So the differences – besides her graduating class being a sixth of the size – were in how the students were seated and returned to their seats.  Except for the honor students seated on the front row, they were seated alphabetically.  We had been seated according to height – except for the students in the very front row.  Shortest kids sat in front and crossed the stage last.  My graduating class started with the back row for students to walk across the stage. 

The staff passed out rolled up “diplomas” which were meant to appear like diplomas but were only paper saying congratulations blah, blah, blah . . . We did not return to our seats but continued walking passed those seated in the bleachers, up the stairs that led to the school.  Once inside we exchanged our robes for the real diploma  - or at least the case that held it.  I think our diplomas were mailed to us at a later date.  But that was a long time ago.

Last night there was a long lasting speech – too long.  I kept thinking “Don’t you remember what happened to William Henry Harris after he gave his long-winded speech? It cost him his life.”  Evidently Jai had been thinking the same thing.  I think that first speaker spoke longer than everyone else put together. 

The students that graduated last night would go behind the stage, walk across and then return to their seats.  But I suppose that’s easier to do with only 96 students as opposed to over 600.  They graduated June 3 while my graduation was at the end of May – I think a week before I turned 18. 

I wore a dress underneath my robe – though I didn’t see the point.  The robe was hot.  Shorts would have been more comfortable.  The students who graduated last night wore whatever.  Some were dressed nice with heels.  Others wore comfortable comfortable .  I saw one with exposed legs and sandals.  Awesome!  It sounded as if our diplomas would have been withheld from us if anyone in my graduating class dare think about wearing anything casual – let alone follow through.

Unlike the boring class of 1980, the students at Jaime’s school are encouraged to be silly and decorate their hats.  Jaime said she wasn’t planning on decorating (which surprised me – why would she not make her uniqueness shine through?) but ended up decorating after the button fell off her cap and she needed something to hold her tassel in place. Before I graduated one of the instructors was adamant about how the cap was to be worn.  It needs to be upright as though you are holding a glass of water on top.  DO NOT use bobby pins!  (And yet the staff – she included – were passing out bobby pins that night.  And yes they did look tacky.  At my high school, we just rented our robes.  They came in the school colors.  Green for boys, white for girls  (or whatever the school colors happened to be).  SUHS colors are black and gold, but all of the students wore black gowns which they purchased as renting wasn’t an option (perhaps it had been prior to covid?)

She has a busy day ahead of her today.  Attending various celebrations that others have planned. I am so happy that school was a positive experience for her unlike me.  I HATED school.  Wasn’t comfortable around the majority of my peers or had the circle of friends that she has been blessed with.

2020 -2021 School Year Does Not Count

 

         Cords are normally reserved for three and four year accomplishments – but there were many who received for just two and were credited for three.  Though Jai was credited for four we both know that she was only there in spirit during her junior year.  She did not attend a brick and mortar school in her junior year but was online with a charter school in a different district, different county.  And yet she received cords in both music and drama for her four year participation.  If she had pursuit her instrument in band, she could have received cords for that as well. 

    She could not take drama and choir that first year as they were at the same time. She wasn't able to sign up for an "all electives" year until this year.  It kind of makes me wonder how students receive many multiple colors when the electives option would have seemed limited in their lives just as much. Again, last year didn't count as it was an unusual year with COVID and masks.

         Though drama, band, and choir classes had been offered in 2020-2021 there were no performances.  The first concert to happen after almost two years took place during Jaime’s senior year.  Her instructor was so excited that they were able to perform.  They sang behind their masks.

         Jaime took her first drama class this year but has been performing each year that she has attended the high school.  Still active in the community theatre.  My baby graduates tonight and will be starting college in the fall.  She’ll be living an hour and a half away from us. 

         Jaime is awesome!!!

CBQ#684

 Have you ever broken or spilled something in someone else’s home?

My family had been asked to join Peggy’s family for the annual Bird pageant.  We were gathered in the living room where Peggy has displayed her many nativity sets for many years (but not as many as the pageant) and Peggy was digging through a box of BC looking clothes and passing them out to the children.

I had been experiencing dizzy spells and had lost my balance and knocked over a table that where one of the sets was displayed.  I think two of the pieces broke.  I think Peggy thought it was Jaime that had knocked the set over  but I told her that it wasn’t Jaime but it was me who had lost my balance.  I apologized and did feel bad as I wasn’t even able to replace the set that had come from another country.

not the actual set; I couldn't find one that I think I remember

Humanizing Gideon and Samson – in a nutshell

        I started watching clips of the Bible Project when I was teaching Valiants in primary.  I never shared the illustrations with the class though I am fascinated by the short videos.  The book of Judges (here) is referred to as disturbing – which it is – as we explore in this week’s reading of “Come Follow Me”.  As we are limited on time and to spare all the gore (and there is A LOT of it) it has been suggested to study only certain scriptures (which still contain gore, stupidity, arrogance, violence, murders, and so forth)

https://meetinggodinthemargin.com/2017/06/02/first-
reading-of-judges-11-12-jephthah-his-daughter/

       Chapter one gives us the account of the land of the twelve tribes – a recap if you will.  Where mortal corruption and child sacrifice is acceptable.  Chapter two gives the account of the cycle that each generation experiences starting with sin, oppression, repentance, deliverance and peace only to sart the cycle all over again but with a set of different judges (or delvers).  Some judges are mentioned by name.  Chapter three gives us a small account of a judge named Othniel followed by Ehud.  Chapter four gives us an account of Deborah and Barak and Jael. 

Chapter 5 sums up the accounts in poetic form.  The English Bible writes in poetry form which doesn’t seem so gruesome when compared to the rest of judges.  But it is not required as part of the reading.  So while all the judges thus far share chapters, Gideon has four chapters just by himself. We learn of humility and the ability to follow God’s plan and what miracles may come.  Weapons used?  Lanterns and horn blowing.  That was it.  It was a scare tactic that worked like a charm.  A somewhat gruesome charm – but that was on the Midinites.  Gideon and his people shed no blood. 

Gideon’s story reminds me so much of others that we have already read.  Called to serve but with reluctance reminds me of Moses and the Battle with horns – though not wall crumbling – does remind me of Joshua.  And faith almost like Abraham because even though he seems reluctant still abides. That covers chapters 6-8.  That is what we are expected to read or study.  Chapter 9 is not a part of the reading.  Gideon apparently becomes weak and turns to idolism.  That part reminds me of Aaron – giving in to the weakness of the children of Isreal.

We skipped over the three chapters that introduce Jephthah and go right into Samson.  Hollywood has made countless movies about Samson.  What an idiot.  That’s what I thought about him the first time I heard about him in primary.  Every four years I have found a new reason to dislike the dude.  I roll my eyes each time I hear his name.  But perhaps we need to learn about him to remind ourselves that the world is full of imperfect people – even leaders.

I am certain that Hollywood has taken liberties with every Bible story that is portrayed.  Though there was still a lot of violence (because let’s face it, an R rating Bible would still not do justice for many parts) I did appreciate how this 2018 version did try to incorporate humaneness into the Samson character who would sin, oppress, repent, become humble . . . well, to a degree.  

He started out trying to do the right thing but would give into temptation when he was bullied.  He would lash out and try putting others in their place . . . just went about it the wrong way.

I told Richard to focus more on Gideon and less on Samson – and to remember to teach the fourteen year old youth and not be focused so much on the lesson.  Incorporate a lot of prayer.  What do the class members need to learn – not what wild mistakes do we pick up from reading about all these clueless people?

So that’s my take on Judges in a nutshell.  Aren’t you glad you read this post?

I Can’t Believe I am 60 now

 Ever since Jaime was born, I knew that I would be 60 years of age at the time my baby graduates.  I am 60 today.  She graduates on Friday. Wow.

The weather has been perfect.  But my allergies have not been.  I haven’t enjoyed the day as much as I would like.  As of now, I don’t plan on attending church tomorrow.  Perhaps I shouldn’t have done so in the first place.  Perhaps I would be over this.  Perhaps.  I still don’t know for sure.

Richard did make a cake for my birthday.  Perhaps he shouldn't have as he has been really good with his diet until today. Jaime and I watched Soul.  I played a few games on the kindle.  Not much celebrating.  

Last Day

             It is Jaime’s official last day of school – though she does not graduate until June 3.  There is a mandatory graduation practice at noon – and she has a concert performance on the first.  So much for the last day.  I don’t think Jaime is ready to give it up.  As I had mentioned before, she only needed two class credits to graduate from SUHS – though she could have theoretically graduated from ORCA last year.  But she is making the most of her senior year and has been assisting instructors with some of the freshman classes.

            She had just turned 11 when we initially moved to Oregon in 2015.  Now look at her.  She’ll be starting college at SOU in the fall.  Sunrise, Sunset . . .

 

Allergies and Phlegm

 I must have fallen asleep with the fan on last Friday night, for when I woke up on Saturday (this was the week when Richard was out of town) I could feel a sore throat coming on. I needed to go to Church on Sunday. There was a training scheduled for the Relief Society. Perhaps I could just go to that and skip the other two meetings. But Jaime wanted to go to her meetings – even though Young Women’s had been on the agenda and she is not as comfortable with it as she is with Sunday School.

I had planned on asking the missionaries if they would be teaching but learned that the primary had been invited to the instructor’s class and asked the instructor if I could be in the class also. There were only three other students in attendance and so I was welcomed.

I had not enjoyed church. By the third hour (training) my head was throbbing and I had wished I had just remained at home. I did not feel like I had been trained and that the meeting had not been worth the effort on my part to be there. I felt crummy. But I had prayed about my decision to be there.

On Monday and Tuesday I took over-the-counter meds every four hours and slept most of the days. By Wednesday I was feeling better – though still groggy. The wind was blowing. I felt like I was in a trance.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-manage-spring-allergies/

I had learned that Richard had been sick also. I thought it had been allergies and I guess he did too. But perhaps it was really something else. I looked up the symptoms for the latest COVID cases and I had most of the symptoms – but I have had them before. I had not gotten the sinus infection that I felt was coming. That was good.

In 2020 and 2021 public health had set up stations all over the county so that one could be tested for COVID and later on receive a vaccination. I don’t see stations anymore. Appointments have to be made at various places. Walgreens will hand you the test to do yourself. Oh, as though I can purposely hold a stick in my nose for as long or as hard as required. I have learned that just because a test comes back either negative or positive does not make it accurate. My brother and sister-in-law thought that they had allergies but were tested positive for COVID. Could I have COVID? I have not made an appointment.

Yesterday evening I had an attack and sneezed and sneezed and my right eye had watered up. I KNOW that was allergy related. I think all of it is. I don’t know if I have COVID or not. There’s been a lot of stuff going around throughout the nation. Some of it may be COVID related but not all of it is. All three of us have been sick. Jaime stayed home from school only one day. She should not have gone the last two but is insistent and probably getting everybody else sick. It’s her last week. She already missed out on her last stake dance and isn’t willing to miss her last week of school.

Last night I dreamed that Bonnie had a rubber ball stuck in her mouth. Both she and the toy were whining and I had tried removing the ball but was unable to get a grip on it and was afraid that Bonnie would choke. I saw Richard and explained what was happening. He then attempted to assist with retrieving the ball. The noise from the ball and/or Bonnie’s mouth seemed to get louder. It woke me up. I realized the noise was not from Bonnie but from my husband who has been fighting his illness. There was nothing I could do about his wheezing and so I got up.  I was up for an hour before I returned to bed.  My sleeping habits are pathetic!

CBQ#412

 If you could talk with only one person for the rest of your life, who would it be and why?

I would pick my brother, Steven, though I am certain I would not be his first choice.  Steven is not only knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects, but we share so many of the same memories and feelings and values.  I miss him on so many levels.  I miss talking with him on a daily basis.  I miss his insight that was more instantaneous in person than now.  I miss his ability to understand me when it feels like nobody else does (husband included).  He’s my youngest brother and has been there for me for most of my adult life.  (We did have a falling out for a couple of years – but we’re good now)

https://lattice.com/library/how-to-create-a-culture-that-encourages-communicati

Talking with only one person would be hard however.  I would miss Jaime's voice and singing.  I would miss other friends as well.  I am happy that I don't have to make that decision for real.

CBQ#332

 Did you or someone you know ever talk a police officer out of writing a ticket?

Richard likes to share a memory of a time when his mother was driving.  She had been pulled over and did not know why.  The officer told her that she was being charged for speeding.

“In this old thing?” she asked and was serious.

The officer was laughing so hard that he did not issue her a citation but did give a warning.

CBQ#560

Which is greater, love of one’s parents, one’s children, one’s spouse, or one’s friend?

Love comes in various sizes and definitions.  Unfortunately we do not all define love the same way when it comes to relationships.  My initial response was the parents’ love toward their children but I know for a fact that not all “parents” feel the same way about their children that they would make the ultimate sacrifice for them – even if that means teaching them with “tough love” which is often harder on the parent than the child.

 Some people may have children but have absolutely no parenting skills or feel positive emotions toward their children.  Some people don’t know how as they were never taught themselves.  That goes the same for spouses.  Some will make small sacrifices for the other – such as cleaning the floor or ironing their shirts – it’s a sacrifice when one person does it not because of obligation but out of respect and love for the other. Of course those are just examples of small sacrifices.  Rallying around a person who has changed either mentally or physically due to an injury or aging - one spouse doting on the other.  I have seen several examples of that from both spouses and parents.

So many relationships start based on physical appearance or attraction. That doesn’t mean the relationship won’t turn into a strong love for one another.  I love Ben Wilcox explanations of love and affection found in this video.

 There are obviously different degrees of love.  Your love for your parents or children is not going to be the same as the love you have toward your spouse.  Nor is your love for pizza going to amount to what you may feel toward a person.  Hopefully your spouse is your best friend though you will have so many others that you can call friend.  You may love them all – but still different degrees of love toward each person.  Love is more than affection.  Love takes work on both sides.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/
feb/11/what-is-love-and-is-it-all-in-the-mind

CBQ#559

 What’s the best way to resist peer pressure?

I have never been one to give into peer pressure.  I spent far too much of my life feeling sad or discouraged.  I never had the confidence that I tried so hard to instill in Jaime.  She is good at avoiding negative peer pressure, but does seem to give in to positive peer pressure.  An example of that would be whenever she follows suit when youth in our ward tend to challenge one another to bear their testimonies every fast Sunday. 

Best way to resist?  Live for God and for yourself.  It doesn’t matter what your peers think. Peers should encourage not discourage. 

https://www.verywellfamily.com/negative-and-
positive-peer-pressure-differences-2606643

Home

 Richard did not return last night as planned.  He is currently somewhere in the sky or at an airport waiting to be flown.  He says he’ll be in at noon.  Theoretically I could go get him, but my car is currently with a couple who graciously said that they would go pick him up since I do not drive at night.

He has gone a few days without meds before and has been okay.  He has diabetes.  But he will be okay.  He is probably in better shape than either Jai or I right now.  She is staying home from school for the first time this year.  We won’t be going to the airport.  I am so grateful to the couple who have agreed to collect him.  I think it will be good for them to bond.