Beneath the Wraps

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 ...

         You remember that nursery rhyme:                                  Hey, Diddle, Diddle          The Cat and the Fiddle           The Cow Jumped Over the Moon The verse ended with: The dish ran away with the Spoon As a child, I wondered What the Heck that whole thing even meant.   But especially the dish part and the spoon.   It was cute, I guess.   But crazy.   Surely inanimate objects cannot run away – but since I have been married, I have learned that they can. Most every spoon that has lived in our house(s) has been able to sprout legs and walk from room to room.   I had no clue that the majority of them would one day leave the house all together and ...

The weather the past few days have made for awesome biking weather, driving weather, walking weather . . . except for one thing.   There are some drivers who think they own the road and that the rules don’t apply to them.   They can drive as fast as they wish, as reckless as they wish and ain’t nobody in the path that is going to stop them.   Oh, whoops – there was.   Most of this could have been prevented.     I was at the front of the school yesterday – and have to walk a ways to the bus stop and make at least three transfers.   I make my first transfer at the college.   I decided to take the 41 in whatever direction came first.   The first one to come was going eastbound and then I made my final transfer to the 217 – which is the bus I normally take.   But there was a blockage that prevented both northbound and southbound traffic.   The bus had to turn back and take a long detour around that area.   I was at a ...

After my post yesterday, the rain fell off and on. When I left the house to go pick up Jenna, the sky was pouring down water from the sky.  POURING.  I had to return to the house for different shoes so my feet wouldn't get wet. I had grabbed Jenna's umbrella and coat as that morning we had both left the house with just sweatshirts and I knew she wouldn't be prepared.  The spine came out of her umbrella as I was putting it into my bag. Roland had forgotten his phone, but I can text him through an texting system that he set up through his computer at work.  I told him that it was pouring and asked if he could meet us at the school.  It would be an hour wait, but still.  Jenna and I are both okay with the rain, really.  But she is currently taking swim lessons, and I didn't know if the weather would interfere with the bus schedule running on time. When I exited the bus less than 20 minutes later, the sky was barely drizzling.  No one in Salt ...