Need This Pink Slip to Get In

              Roland had to make a trip to Roseburg the other day.  Had to go to the VA hospital to have some work done.  Prior to COVID there had been more than one option to enter and exit the campus as the space is composed of more than one building.  But since COVID – there is one way in, one way out, and guards on watch to make certain the one way driving is enforced.  Also there are teams of health screeners to take one’s temperature before one is able to park.  If the driver or those entering any building doesn’t have a temperature is given a pink slip to prove that he or she has been scanned.    

I don’t know what becomes of those who do have a temperature or a cough or flare-up or anything that might become worse if not treated – I mean, wouldn’t they still have to get in?  Isn’t that why they came?

I just stay in the car and play on my kindle and so have not had my temperature taken or received a pink slip for myself.  I’m grateful that they are taking precautions.  I wish every business in the county would take precautions. Only 65% of Oregon is vaccinated.  Until more people accept this pandemic thing as REAL, it’s NOT going to go away.    

Come Follow Me Facebook Group

         Once a month, the church holds a sacrament meeting known as “fast and testimony meeting”.  This meeting is normally held at the first Sunday of the month.  The exceptions are just prior to or after General Conference.  Conferences take place the first weekend in April and October.  The ward I reside in has always done the testimony meeting the last Sunday in March and September.  This gives members of the congregation the opportunity of standing at the pulpit to express their understanding of the gospel and to share their testimonies.

        Yesterday’s meeting was quite powerful and the Spirit was delivered in such reverent manner.  I had worn a clean mask which was no longer clean as it was filled with moist emotion. It had started before the bishop had invited the congregation to come and speak.  The sacrament hymn was "I Stand All Amazed" (here) which I have memorized because my eyes are always to blurry to see the words.  It was awesome to partake of the Spirit.

        After I returned home I had checked my facebook account.  One of the memories that popped up was concerning a fast that was held last year – also before conference.  We had been asked to fast and pray about five specific things.  I reshared the post to two different groups that I’m a part of.  One of them was the “Come Follow Me” group that I have been a part of for less than a year now.

        When I checked my notifications this morning I noticed several comments had been left on my post.  One was a sincere question about the fast and several others left their comments in response to the question.  I have always appreciated being a part of the group. This morning I was especially grateful for the support it offers so many. I don’t feel the need to add to what has already been said. I am grateful for those who took the time to address the concern my first commenter had.

        Technology can often be frustrating.  It can invite evil but it can also invite good.  So impressed to have this technology that I can use for good.  I am so thankful to all of those involved.

At What Sacrifice? Or Whose?

         I recently learned that Brigham Young had told Ephraim Hanks to shave his face.  I have probably heard the story (here) several times but did not resonate like it does at present.  “Wear a mask”. How hard is that?  Few people enjoy being told what to do.  We all have our free agency.  Not everybody will wear a mask – or if they do, they will wear pretend masks or fail to cover both mouth and nose.

https://www.amazon.com/Mustache-Handmade-
Washable-Copyright-Protected/dp/B08DK461YP

        Ephraim Hanks had free agency.  He didn’t have to shave.  He chose to obey the council.  It’s not that he needed to prove anything to others or even God.  He had to prove to himself that he was willing to obey.  This act played a huge role with his ability to lead others. 

        This article reinforces that wearing a mask is showing Christ

like love.  We wear masks in order to protect others – even those that have received the vaccination.  Asking some people to get a vaccination shot is even worse than asking them to wear a mask.  Really?  What is the big deal? 

    According to several sources (here) we could have avoided prolonging the pandemic if we had all cared about one another in the first place rather than how uncomfortable it might make for ourselves.  I don’t mean to wish bad upon these self absorbed people but sometimes I think how would they like seeing a family member in need of surgery being operated upon by a team of unmasked surgeons?  Or have their dentists breathe into their mouths while working on them?  But too bad for all those unmasked surgeons and dentists. 

        My brother purchased a book called “Would You Rather” and each day he posts a question.  A recent one was “Would you rather to be able to control the elements or go back in time?”

        I have always questioned time travel.  It’s fun to watch in movies, but what would it change really?  Different outcomes?  Better?  Worse?  There are all kinds of scenarios.  The thing is going back in time to warn others about the pandemic will not change what is going on right now.  We were already warned.  We’ve been divided.  We’re at a civil or cold war with one another.  Even at church.  There are those who still refuse to follow the prophet. 

        How hard is it to wear a mask or shave?  How hard is it to look at the staff that is stretched before us?  

I don’t understand all the pride.  For what?  Things will only get worse before they get better.  Why is it so difficult for so many to see what is right before them?  Especially when it parallels with scriptures. 

Our current situation may not be exactly like Zion’s camp or the movement of the pioneers or picking up our tents to move even further into the wilderness and crossing the ocean into the unknown.  We put our faith in God that He really does have our best interest at hand.  I would rather follow God into the unknown as I know the He does know what’s ahead – even if I don’t. 

I have seen far too many westerns, sci-fis and other movies to recognize that human leadership is often faulty. Though not always, but often, bad things happen to those that follow – maybe not all of them, but a good number of them.  For example the movie Poseidon Adventure. 

https://www.cinemaessentials.com/2017/11/the-
poseidon-adventure-1972-review-gene-hackman.html

How many souls were lost?  Not all humans know what they’re doing.

        It’s mind boggling, too, that there are those who are still defending Trump.  I don’t trust a man who desecrates religion.  So many of his followers are portrayed as idiots.  I think there’s a difference between being ignorant and being stupid. Evidently I am surprised at the large amount of stupid people that exist.

        Still judging though I’m trying really hard not to.  Currently I am just shaking my head in disbelief.  I also pray a lot.

Swallowed Hills

 Each year after the smoke leaves 

the fog descends

and the hills seem to disappear 

as before

but the air is clean and moist

and breathable

Sweet Beautiful Rain

 

          It has rained

                     the last two mornings. 

Sweet Beautiful Rain. 

 

It has pounded over the skylight 

        and has woken me up.  

I don't mind.  

It's such a pleasant sound to my ears.

The rain has cleaned the air and

swallowed up the hills –

but in a positive way –          

unlike the smoke. 

I enjoy looking at the clouds. 

The elements are awesome

 

Brave or Stupid? I’m Going for the Latter

         Roland took a warehouse job with GREAT benefits – less than ten minutes away – but graveyards.  He had done that kind of work before.  He was doing that when I met him – graveyards. His body was younger and in better shape 20 years ago.  Just three days in seemed to take a toll on him and he quit.  Dang. 

He is now training for a sales job at a jewelry store.  Jewelry.  Sales.  Blech!  I was much more excited about the warehouse.  NOT excited about sales or jewelry.  But it’s his comfort zone.  To sell.  He seems excited about it I guess. 

He has felt the need for new clothes.  He has also wanted to purchase clothes for Jenna – who does enjoy shopping at the dollar store, discount stores and even second hand store.  But not for clothes.  A teenage girl who hates to go shopping.

Roland has taken Jenna by himself a few times, but neither one of them are good at finding items in her size.  That is probably what we hate most about shopping – finding cute things in smaller sizes but a limited choice in our own.  Three ugly dresses, shirts, pants or what have you.  This time Roland dragged me into it.  What we couldn’t find in the Big City of Roseburg we would surely find at the MALL in Medford.

After seven years of being away from the mall Jenna was quite thrilled with being there – especially to ride escalators.  What a dream, right?  The stores in Roseburg had not been crowded – especially the dressing rooms.  I was a bit put off that there was the option of trying on clothes when none was offered a year and a half ago when the pandemic had started in the U.S. and the cases were not as high in the state then as they are currently.

But then again we are a red county.  Citizens who vote republican and abuse their “freedoms” without understanding why we even have said freedoms.  I’ve seen more people wearing masks than not.  Thankfullly there are still some businesses who enforced the mask rules and at least one store had closed its dressing rooms.

I remember when the pandemic first happened and there was that  stay-at-home order and several businesses closed and the ones that remained open seemed to have a non-verbal “no touch” policy.  “If you touch the item, you buy the item – we cannot return it to the shelf”

Carts were wiped down for a time.  I don’t know that anyone does that anymore.  Even though we are required to wear masks the social distancing definitely not enforced.  I felt like I was being swallowed by the disease. 

I have been coughing though I don’t believe it’s a COVID cough – although after today I suppose that could be the case. However it didn’t start out that way.

The smoke comes and goes.  There were two days of sunshine and blue skies and yesterday I retrieved Bonnie’s leash and had opened the front door and saw the smoke descending over the hills and went back for my mask – not that it added great protection from the smoke but would help my breathing just a bit. 

I ended up not taking Bonnie out until later in the day when the hills reappeared and the sky was no longer murky. That was weird.  But it did leave a cough.  But there are a number of people who have COVID and I could have easily come in contact – especially today.  But neither Jenna or Roland are coughing and they venture out way more often than I do.

I should have several days of posts as I have had time to write.  The drive just hasn’t been there.  Even now.  But somehow I feel obligated to post something.  I need to come up with something profound and inspiring.  Still working on it.

One Man's Misfortune May Be Another's Form of Entertainment.

 One of the pigs got out of his/her yard and into ours.  Isn't the first time.  Could even be the same pig as last year.  I don't know.  It sounds as though they have been more trouble than what they're worth.  Neither one of these guys were particularly happy as it cost two hours of time they could have spent elsewhere.  

When you view these (some not great quality due to a dirty window) pay attention to the pigs in the background.  They seem intrigued.

not the most durable climbing shoes in my opinion

appears to be a standoff LOL

the details don't stand out so great in this
photo but the pig in the background does