Beneath the Wraps

            It's now been a week since we flew out of Salt Lake City.  After we landed we went to find our luggage.   Portland is a nice airport.   Portland must have been a connecting stop for most passengers as there weren’t many people standing at the carousel to claim luggage, nor were there many pieces coming out.             Every time I wait for luggage, I think of one time when I had gone to the San Francisco airport and stood behind a crowd of people surrounding the luggage carousel but in no way could get near enough to collect my luggage.             As I saw one piece make its way around I loudly asked, “Could someone toss me that light blue bag?”              I soon realized that I had made a wrong word...

            We had asked Tony and Rochelle to house sit – not that our house needed sitting, but because we wanted them to have time to themselves and we thought that would give them the opportunity.             After they arrived, we watched Walt Disney’s Into the Woods .   I was quite surprised when Ester joined me in the recliner.   She didn’t watch the entire movie, but she was in the recliner long enough for pictures.               Roland slept on the couch and I slept on the recliner while Tony and Rochelle took Ester in our room.   My, she was loud.   Enthusiastic.   Not even close to sleepy.   I don’t know what her parents did to hush her.             I don’t know why I woke up just before 4:00. ...

         For spring break this year, we decided that we would go to Oregon.   I was excited to get away from Utah and to a state where I could breathe.   Jenna was sad not to be in Utah for her birthday, but built up an excitement to go. Roland has needed a vacation and was happy just to get away.   But none of us were as excited about going to Oregon as Beth.          Beth Goldberg and Roland were in their high school band together.   Roland was interested in dating Beth, but the feeling was not mutual.   She liked Roland as a friend, but didn’t wish for anything more.   (I personally think she may have just had higher standards) After forty years they had reconnected through facebook.            Beth travels a lot – or so it seems.   She had remarried and was looking to move from West Virginia to Oregon. ...

I remember watching a documentary with my mom in 1991.   It was called Age 7 in America.   At least I think that’s what it was called.   I don’t know who’s responsible for making it.   It looks like it may have been created by Christopher Quinn patterned after an idea done in Britain?   I don’t even recall which network sponsored the program.   Quinn (who also narrated the film) told us that the plan was to follow a number of children from different backgrounds and upbringings and interview them every seven years. I remember looking for “Age 14 in America” but not finding it.   I don’t know what prompted me to look it up on YouTube this year – but I did find it.   Age 7, age 14 and age 21 (thank you Orletta Crichlow) and watched Up 21and was really quite impressed. Years ago, when my mom and I had been watching, there were three girls wearing school uniforms.   As they were being interviewed, the one in the middle...

We did not have much of a winter this year.   I’m quite grateful, actually.   At least for now.   It was good to take the bus in nice weather and not have to trudge through the snow during the time when we’re walking. We had 5 – 8 hours of snow on the 3 rd – though I suppose those who live closer to the mountains or even in the mountains may have experienced more. The snow fell hard and didn’t let up until after five feet or so, and then it let up.   Meanwhile I lost my bus pass.   I figured whoever picked it up needed it more than I did. I chose not to purchase another pass.   Though I had only gotten three fares out of the first – I figured we could save thirty dollars if I just paid the fare each day.   Still expensive.   But as of Monday I’ll have a car again.   Still not comfortable with driving – but the sun is starting to warm and I don’t wish to wait in the blazing sun after school. It will be nice to wait a...

I remember hearing a story about a child visiting grandparents – noticing that “grandma” is much taller than “grandpa”.   One day the child asks why grandma had married when there was such an obvious height difference.   The grandma responds with, “Your grandpa and I fell in love sitting down, and by the time we stood up, it was too late.” Often there are people look for a partner in which to share a life.   Sometimes they base their interests on appearance or personality.   And then there are others who develop a love without even trying.   And sometimes the situation may seem challenging if acted upon – some may accept the challenges while others choose not to go there due to an orthodox view of race or religion.   Others may accept the challenges that they face and try to make a go at it.   Sometimes the constant battles will make a couple stronger.   Sometimes it ends up tearing them apart. Recently I watched a movie called ...

I am currently taking a family history class through the Church because Roland wants to take the class but can't always be there and so has asked me to come with him in the event that he has to miss a class. Yesterday we shared memories of our ancestors.  I had known from the beginning that I would need to come up with something.  And I have written down thoughts here and there - but nothing major about anyway.  I finally ended up sharing three stories that mom had shared about herself and a family member's name.  Of course once the class was over, I have been able to come up with some other memories.  Here is one:      My mom has never had a great sense of direction – at least since I’ve known her.   Sometimes she would forget small things and exaggerate about things like, “having to drive around the world” when it had taken her longer to get to places than anticipated.      When she first was...

It’s been an awesome winter Yesterday we had a storm Didn't last long, but now the air is dry.  I Haven’t had the sinus pain Breathing’s been nice Until the Last few days My throat is closing The only way to clear it Is to make an unattractive noise I drawing the attention To myself But if I don’t make those sounds I can’t breathe Why when it snows Is there less precipitation in the air? I am not a scientist.   I don’t understand Why the air is so dry.

I was looking for some photo pages the last week.   As I was searching, I came across a scrapbook that Jenna and I created together – or started to anyway. A neighbor who had three daughters of her own had actually given the album to us.   I don’t know if it was something she intended to fill up eventually and life just got in the way, or if she just really wasn’t interested in that kind of thing – or why it had been in her possession in the first place. I don’t even know how old the album is.   There is a copyright from Lansdowne Publishing.   It was first published in 1997 than in 1998.   The book itself is written and compiled by Deborah Nixon.   Designed and Photographed by Robyn Latimer.   Beautifully illustrated and very thoughtful.   It’s called  Mother’s Memories For my Daughter.   I let Jenna pick out all the pictures that she wanted to use.   As I'd written do...

Winslow Press started the creation of a series called “Dear Mr. President” – I think a wonderful introduction.   I love the five books that were made.   I wish there was more.   I don’t know why it was discontinued – or so it seems.   Winslow Press doesn’t seem to offer publication later than 2002 (that I could see) and it doesn’t appear the site has been updated since May 2009.     Perhaps Winslow Press is one of many businesses that has had to file bankruptcy in the last decade and a half.   The three books I will focus on most are: Theodore Roosevelt: letters from a young coal miner by Jennifer Armstrong, Abraham Lincoln: letters from a slave girl by Andrea Davis Pinkney , and Franklin D. Roosevelt: letters from a mill town girl by Winthrop, Elizabeth. Though the Letters are fictionalized, information provided in the correspondence is based upon meticulous research.   I like how Winslow press refers ...