Beneath the Wraps

I don’t know when the boys had lost touch with their mother’s family. Roland supposedly had her number on file, and the boys would constantly ask, “When can we see Aunt Judy again?” I figured it should be up to Roland to provide the number, put in the phone call, make an effort to get in touch. It took me two years to realize that if the boys were going to get in touch with Aunt Judy, they would have to come up with another source. I knew we wouldn’t find her under her maiden name and asked them one night to provide me with the first and last name of her husband and then we would look her up. I was surprised that there was only one Van Ball in Layton. I called Judy and introduced myself and learned that her father’s funeral had taken place only three days prior. She took down our name and address and sent out three programs (one for each boy). Even though the family had been out of touch, the three missing grandsons had still been named as honorary pallbearers. ...

            I remember how I enjoyed watching fireworks when I was younger.   I remember lighting sparklers with my dad and dancing around the yard.   Fireworks were reserved for July 4 th (anniversary of our nation) and July 24 th (anniversary of our state) and gradually that turned into weekends.   Here in our part of west Valley, the fireworks happen EVERY SINGLE DAY IN JULY – or at least from the 3 rd to the 27 th .   Jenna’s enthusiasm shines for each holiday.   She’d been nagging Roland for some time to get fireworks whenever we pass firework stands or displays.      Somewhere along the way (and I’m not really certain when) I outgrew the thrill of fireworks.   I get headaches from the smoke.   I have a hard time breathing when I am outside.   I’m no longer a night owl and thus not very fun parent.   But we try.   Jenna often feels bumm...

Kayla was not feeling well yesterday. In addition to being pregnant she had symptoms of a virus or a flu. Jenna and I took her children over to the school to have lunch (I actually drove Kayla's car with expired plates) and then to visit a friend. That gave Kayla three hours alone. Our visit was quite brief with Kayla when we returned her kids and left for the bus. Jenna had even remembered to get her painting from last week. We were home for three hours when Kayla called us back. Bill took her to the hospital as she was having contractions and Jenna and I stayed with the kids. I thought we were headed for a rather long night with them, and then I heard the dogs barking and saw Bill's car in the driveway. The contractions and labor had been a false alarm. BJ did not come last night. I have given Kayla the option of leaving Jenna overnight. Usually Kayla has to think about it – but last night was a definite “yes”. She didn't even bat an ey...

            A week after Jenna’s first art class had finished, UTA had a problem when one of its trains derailed downtown.   The same train we would have been on had we still been commuting downtown. I guess it wasn’t just UTAs problem, but anyone driving that particular path downtown.   It appears that it was covered by all of the media during some point of day.   But I hadn’t heard about it until after 6:00 p.m.   I guess by then it had become “old news” and I didn’t know anything more about it until the following day when I typed “UTA derailment” on Google.               The Tribune article was the first one that I came across.   Comments can be submitted and read at the end of the article. Many hurtful comments were made toward UTA and thus UTA passengers, but just as many had come to the defense of UTA and those ...

Jenna has so many interests.   She enjoys dancing, singing, telling stories, arts & crafts, drawing pictures, coloring . . . Butterfly on a sunflower my Mothers’ Day gift this year          When I was younger, my mom had me enrolled in dance lessons, piano lessons, swim lessons . . . I wanted that for Jenna.   But we could never seem to afford much.          I did find an inexpensive dance class and tumbling class through the school district.   She saw it as an opportunity to socialize and didn’t take her dance seriously but did enjoy the tumbling part.            I had her in an inferior swim class.   She learned more about swimming when she was only a year old and the two of us took a class together.   I had also enrolled her in a theatre class as I figured there was dancing and si...

Since she learned to walk, Jenna has had a habit of touching things and picking up things and examining things and trying things on.   Each year her habit seems to get worse.   It doesn’t matter where – a neighbor’s house, a good friend’s room, the gift shop or store.   Each time we have told her to look with her eyes and not her hands.   With the latest incident, I would hope that she’s learned her lesson. She is always asking me or Roland to recount the story of “The Five Chines Brothers” until finally Roland just ordered the book so she could read it for herself.   The book came in and we dropped by Deseret Book on our way to the store to purchase groceries. Roland and Jenna went into the bookstore and returned in less than a minute with book in hand.   I wouldn’t have guessed that Jenna would have had enough time to touch and play – but she did.   It wasn’t until we were shopping and eating samples that she discovered ...

            Jenna had taken an art class last week. We’ve been taking TRAX of course.   It’s funny about that form of transportation.   Streetcars could be seen in downtown Salt Lake back in the late 30s.   I don’t know when the city decided to rip all the rail lines out.   So many changes have taken place through the years. For over half a century the streetcars and rails had been done away with in downtown Salt Lake. The garage that had been used to house the trolleys has since been turned into a shopping center. Meanwhile the rails have been re-dotting the Salt Lake map for the last two decades. Some existed from when the Union Pacific was built (I think) but most have been added by Utah Transit Authority. The Union Pacific Building gradually changed from cargo trains to Amtrax.   (I remember having gone to it a few times to meet my grandma) The building   is now the...

                         My shed is in disarray and I know that I have shorts in there somewhere.   I don’t know where.   I’ve been searching for a nice day in which to organize and dejunk (there are tons of items that really should be trashed)             I need a time that’s not too hot and not too cold.   Mornings are good – if I can find the ambition.   It usually takes me longer to wake up and by the time I get dressed and think of it, it is time for Jenna and I to leave.             She’s taking an art class downtown.   I’m always so hot between bus stops and the train.   The bus has been running late due to construction.   (Utah roads are ALWAYS under construction during the months that aren't winter) It ...

      A wish for my   dad and husband   on     Fathers’    Day   Here’s to all those           ties   -     my dad        always wanted           something             practical         like   socks .   I   thought giving socks   as   a   gift   was   very boring!   Even ties were boring.   And yet I managed to   give   him   at   least   one   every year.   When Jenna    and I were looking for a     gift to give to Roland,     I had suggested socks.          Jenna thought that          would be boring.   I ...