No Ideas of What Sparked That

 

Last night I dreamed of a modern day Robin Hood.  I don’t recall all of those that he helped except one.  A young mother was living in an abandoned building with her three young kids.  Robin Hood had used said building as a hang out in his daily routine.  He wasn’t expecting to see children.  He wasn’t prepared for their innocence or inviting him into conversation.  He stole a pillow from the only bed in the room and left a different way.  When he encountered the young mother he dropped the pillow and ran away.

The next day he carried two grocery bags to the outside of the room that contained the bed.  He knocked on the door and hid behind a pillar to watch the mother retrieve the two bags full of peanut butter, bread, jam and at least one butter knife, some napkins and small paper plates.

Later he brought two garbage bags filled with bedding and clothes.  Again he stood by and watched. He had never been a criminal but had been mischievous – and perhaps was being mischievous in a much different way.  He liked it.  He started doing good for others.  I don’t remember any details.  I thought it odd that I had dreamed it.  And perhaps just as odd that I'm sharing it.

Influence

 

My boys had a friend named Mike who would occasionally attend church with us.  He enjoyed being there.  It brought a sense of peace that was nowhere near his home life.  I don’t know what all evils existed but there was a point in time where Mike and his sister were sent to St. George (city in Southern Utah not to be confused with the European country)  to live with relatives.  I don’t know if it was ordered by the state or what exactly happened but they were gone for a couple of years.

While living in St. George Mike discovered a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and decided to attend there – I don’t know how often, but the results were quite positive.  When he moved back to Salt Lake he reunited with my boys and returned to our church for a while.  I remember one particular fast Sunday when he and each of my boys shared their testimonies.  It surprised me that Mike had been the instigator of getting them all up there.  I was touched by what he shared.

Mike was one of my facebook friends when we had moved from Kearns to West Valley. To the best of my knowledge Mike never did get baptized.  Unfortunately he stopped going to Church and picked up some of his dad’s bad habits.  His facebook posts became dark and disheartening.  After a while I lost track of him.  I hope that he returned to what once gave him stability. 

I hadn’t thought of Mike in years. But today I was reminded of the Mike had shared shortly after his visit to St. George.  It was a very uplifting testimony meeting today.

Now That’s What I Call a Celebration

           Beth Rankin passed away on September 14 of this year.  Her husband had made arrangements for a Memorial celebration which took place this last Saturday (Oct 25^th).  She is quite loved and respected by many.  Beth grew up in the Jewish faith and remained true to her Jewish legacy by never converting over to Christianity – at least by baptism.  Beth and Graham attended a Christian faithed church.  Her services were conducted at the Cooperative Ministries in McMinnville – where they had attended for the last twelve years from what I understand. Though she had been devout about attending services  She was quite adamant that everyone knew that she was Jewish.

          The services were beautiful full of tributes, memories and pleasure.  Beth has had a positive impact on just about everybody she meets.  I have mentioned Beth in at least ten posts – and unlike all the aliases I’ve given to most of my “characters” I have always referred to Beth and Graham by their actual names.  

Richard knows her from high school band.  I met her in August of 2013 after she and Richard reconnected through facebook.  She and Graham had been driving through Salt Lake City on their way to Oregon.  We all had lunch together at the Firehouse subs near Richard’s place of work and the hospital where my mom was a patient. We came out to Oregon for a visit and look for housing during Jaime’s spring break in 2015.  We moved to Oregon just a few months later. 

Beth lived in McMinnville and we’re in Myrtle Creek – about 180 miles apart. She had driven the three miles to help us settle in which Richard and I greatly appreciated. We didn’t often visit with one another in person but we had gone to McMinnville three times and she visited us three times. The last event we had planned was for a Passover that never took place as the year we had scheduled was 2020.  I’m sure the reader can guess how that turned out.

On three tables was a display of Beth’s handy work in the form of whatever she sewed, hand-crafted or organizations she was a part of.  There were signs that directed patrons to “take something that reminds you of Beth”.  Richard spotted a tote bag which reminded him on one she had made for Jaime when she was 11 years old – one which she picked out the fabric.  I remember Beth had posted it on facebook and gave credit to Jaime for coming up with the design.  Here is the bag she made for Jaime

 

and the bag that we retrieved from the memorial.  

 

Friends wore bright colors to celebrate.  Graham had given us the clarinet he had played when he was in high school.  At the service he played a recorder.  At the end of the service the congregation was asked to join the choir with this song.

 

It really was a fun celebration which I think honored Beth really well.  And a slide show with pictures of Beth and those she loved.  It was really beautiful.

Back on Track . . . perhaps . . .

 

          In addition to all the “Come Follow Me” videos that I watch each week, I also refer to the “Come Follow Me” page on facebook – not that I have ever read entirely through every post or comment made.  My brain is simple and not complex in understanding things like Isaiah or The Temple Pattern. But there have been gems worth digging for. 

          In the beginning many contributors would post links to their videos – which became a bit tiresome and seemed to distract for the purposes of the page.  There was a vote and contributors would be allowed to post their videos on Mondays . .  or something.  I actually lost sight.  Book of Mormon last year seemed to be monitored better than Doctrine and Covenants of this year.  Maybe not so much that way at the start of the year as . . . was it during the summer?

          A month ago one contributor posted: “What happened to this page? There are, like, five people posting 90% of the content, and the content is mainly reels.”

          It made me laugh as I had thought the very same thing.  I think there were seven comments made before an admin posted “Thank you for bringing problematic posts and comments to our attention”

Doesn’t appear that anything was done though with the death of President Nelson and conference the following week, it did seem understandable that there would be posts made not related to the Doctrine and Covenants or current study assignment..  Still a lot of shares not related to the topic at hand.  I get it.  It doesn’t upset me, but it did make me wonder if the page was even looked at by its creators – or if all the comments just seemed so out of control and the creators just stepped back and weren’t involved anymore.  I still wonder. 

Today the page appears to be back to normal.  Either way there are still gems to be had.  It’s just a matter of digging.

Up, Up and Away

 

Richard’s new guilty pleasure is Hulu’s “Inside Airport Lost and Found” which focuses on objects left behind.  When there is unclaimed luggage security is contacted to bring a dog to sniff the luggage.  The story unfold with an entire set unclaimed bags that had been setting in said destination for over ten minutes.  Ten minutes?

I recall returning home from my mission.  I don’t remember the airline – Continental I think.  I was the only sister missionary who was returning.  When we landed in Atlanta our connecting flight was just one gate over – but we had time to ride the shuttle and so got on it just for fun. The holdup happened in Denver as I recall.  I don’t remember the exact number of elders who were on the plane with me.  We had missed our connecting flight and had to be rescheduled or else the plane was running late or something.  One plane was overbooked.  They asked for volunteers to take another flight and were bribed with tickets for future plans.

I recall one elder wanting to take the opportunity and another counseling him not to since the tickets were arranged by the church and not the individual.  Turns out they wouldn’t have worked for said bribe anyway.

Meanwhile families had turned out to welcome back their missionaries.  This was back in 1986 when families could wait at the gates.  Mom said it appeared that the entire ward of someone had turned out.  When passengers started to disembark the crowd waited.  They waited and waited.  When the flight attendants followed by the pilots disembarked one of the family members who’d been anxiously waiting for his missionary turned to the crowd and implied that his son was some kind of jokester and we were all still aboard the plane.  But we were not. They had a LONG wait. 

My sister was hungry – everybody was hungry.  But Shelly was the only one willing to eat lentil soup which (at the time) was the least expensive thing on the menu.  People left.  How much longer would they have to wait around.  There were inquiries – where are the missionaries who should have arrived.  Some calls were made and some names were given.  I think there may have been six elders coming home – but I don’t know if all were by way of Salt Lake City.  Regardless, they had the names of whoever was supposed to arrive.  They had all the names of the elders but not the sister.  So of course my mom seemed to panic.  Where was I?

I arrived an hour and a half later with the number of missionaries headed to Utah.  My luggage didn’t seem to be on the carrousel so I told my family that we could go eat and just return for my luggage the next morning.  It was well over ten minutes.  Probably over twelve hours before I even called the airport to ask about the luggage. 

          I was asked about the color of my luggage.  Blue.  Like how many possible blue pieces could there be?  500?  1000.  I remember explaining to someone that I had come on Continental whatever number it was.  He said he remembered seeing it in the United terminal.  How?  What?  How could you possibly know those bags were mine out of the many pieces of luggage you much see each hour? but that I had initially been scheduled to fly United.  We all had.  But the elders’ luggage had been transferred to Continental.  Mine had remained with United which is why there wasn’t a record of me being on Continental. 

          I was grateful that I hadn’t stuck around to pick up my luggage with another 30 minute to how many hours later? I was impressed with the knowledge that this individual had regarding my luggage.  Perhaps it had been reported and that’s how he knew.  As I recall I did have to pick it up at the United unclaimed luggage and show proof that it was mine.  I hadn’t thought about that until just this very second.  Did the airport have dog security back then? 

Good-Bye My Electronic Friend

 

          On February first 2021 I

created a post about how I

felt that my first owned kindle

was giving out. 

Happy to say it lasted almost

four years later. 

Almost.  

            Loading puzzles became more of an

ordeal as the poor thing must have been exhausted.

           The kindle had not recognized the internet for

some time and I could only play games that were

left in the cloud.

Last week the battery was completely

dead and wouldn’t come back to life. 

Thank you for the many times we

had together. 

I will miss you. 

You led a good life.

Oh Dear . . . Not Going Your Way?

  

          He wanted to get rid of Tiktok.

I think it became more popular.

          He wanted (still wants I would imagine)

to take away Freedom of Speech 

from certain comedians by bullying networks

        But He didn't get his way.

Why did he not get the Noble Peace Price?

Who in the hell nominated him?

The same mindless people who elected him

in the first place.

Do they understand why the Noble Peace Price is awarded?

Recently I subscribed to a news-in-a-nutshell with included scripture

I need the uplift.

Everybody does.

Government Shutdown

 

          Today is Richard’s birthday. 

Jai had suggested that we drive to

the Redwoods today.  

Redwood National Park is only two and

a half hours from where we live. 

We figured the cost would be on

whatever we spent and gas and food. 

Only the weather forecast presents

more moisture than Richard would

care to deal with. 

Monday looks great but Jaime is

not able to go with us on Monday. 

Turns out we couldn’t have gone anyway

due to government shut down as all

national parks are closed. 

I don’t see them opening up real soon. 

Our country seems so corrupt. 

There is too much violence. 

Not just here but in the world. 

STOP!

Another Great Trip to the Dentist

 

          I am such a Big Baby about going to the dentist.  Nothing personal against the dentist or his assistance -  I just don’t like to be flat on my back as it is – and especially with my mouth open trying to breathe with tools in my mouth.

          I’ve felt fatigued the last few mornings and Richard wanted to run some errands today.  I figured riding in the car would put me further into a coma and so I took one of those energy shots to keep me awake.  Not only did it NOT keep me awake, but I think it interfered with the Novocain that the dentist gave me.  Thus I was more disoriented than I had been before we left the house.

          So the dentist lowers me down in the chair and I asked for a pillow so that I wouldn’t get a neck cramp – but that just invited him to lower me even more.  I understand the need for him to have me in that position so he can better see and work in my mouth – but for the most part I feel a little lake of saliva forming in my throuat and though I tried really hard to breathe through my nose I gagged.  I gagged at the pool of saliva and wished the suction would find it and remove it from my throat.

          I swear he used enough Novocain to knock out a large elephant. It felt like he poked me three times in the same exact area.  I was already numb from the first poke.  Why did he have to poke me again? So this is what is going through my head as my mouth was being prodded.

          “Ow, OW!  OW . . . Oh, my gosh that hurts!  If there weren’t tools in my mouth I’d probably scream.  But that would probably make my mouth more painful . . . what with risking the tools impairing me even more.

          “Ow.  OW.  Why are you prodding me in the same exact area where you have already poked?  What about the other side of my face.  OW.!  Holy cow!  The left side of my face is numb.  Why can I even feel that!  Ow”

          The assistant uses the suction cup and trickles of water.  I think she is doing a good job.  And I feel the dentist poking his pinchers into my gum again.

          “OW.  Holy Cow.  Are you kidding me?  What happens to the right side of my face?  My mouth already feels the size of a bouncy house.  My left side is numb – except where that pinch is.  OW!  Stop it already!  . . .”

          I am shaking.  Weird.  I don’t remember ever shaking in the dentist chair.  Half of my face is numb – even my left nostril.  I feel disoriented and they ask if I’m doing okay. 

          “No.  No I’m not doing okay.  I feel like I’m going to die.”

          They assured me that they would keep me alive.  That’s good.  I don’t particularly wish to die in a dentist chair.  I wasn’t quite in a coma, but felt myself slipping away.  Has Novocain ever made me tired before?  Why was I shaking?  It wasn’t until later that I decided it was the caffeine that was making me shake.  Guess that was a very unwise decision on my part.

          I was so dizzy when I left the dentist chair.  Good thing Richard was driving as I was in no condition to drive myself.  It took over four hours for the Novocain to finally wear down.  I can now drink a glass of water without dribbling.

Random Thoughts . . . very random

 

          All summer long I have been able to open the windows and allow fresh air to enter the house early each morning.  And this month has been great for early morning air – that is until recently.  Smokey skies since Saturday.  I don’t even know where the smoke is coming from.  There are three fires just below the California border. 

          Alexa tried to tell us it was the Bootleg fire – the biggest fire in the nation – in 2021.  I don’t think the smoke that lingers outside is from that fire. Emigration, perhaps.  But I don’t know.  I am currently not able to open the windows or door as I will start coughing.

          Watched Jimmy Kimmel’s return – suspended indefinitely but less than a week later . . . I had never seen his program before but am happy to see not only his return but the support for freedom of speech.  It’s the principle of the thing.  I am happy to learn that abc has not allowed the bullyism of some to pull the plug on one-sidedness.  Forget dictatorship. I support Jimmy Kimmel’s message and endorsement to continue.

          Pres. Nelson passed away Saturday night.  On Sunday a congregation gathered for a stake conference in Grand Blanc Michigan.  Another crazy shooter and arsonist upset the meeting.  Lives were lost and several others were injured.  We don’t know the motive or intention.  Did the individual specifically target the LDS church or an individual who happened to be there?  Freaky.  And no flags were flown at half mass for any of them.

          Signs of the times.  More reason to turn to the Lord.

Shortly after I posted the above, Richard and I went to Roseburg to pay a bill.  We were blessed with a rain which thus far has cleared out the smoke.  I have the window open once more.  And it is beautiful!

So Many Parallels

 

         Don’t try to catch a butterfly with a hammer, for gentleness brings results. - idiom

This year we have been reading the Doctrine and Covenants.  I remember learning much from it four years ago.  And this year I am learning more and have added a few more videos to my study. 

Recently I shared this poem on my facebook page –

 originally shared by Ben Wilcox in his Teaching With Power video.  He finished this week’s study with a thought about a hammer.  A hammer can be used to build but that same hammer may also tear down that which was built. 

That is the same thing with our thoughts, words, actions and so forth.  Take the topic of “freedom of speech” for example.  One man was recently assassinated while using his freedom of speech.  Another was suspended from his prime time position on television because of interpretation of that speech.  Both men offended others by what they said – but somehow the first (who I had never even heard of until he was murdered) had been justified – it was political.  The other was “in the wrong” according to the nation’s biggest baby ever.  His hammer has slammed against others well before 2016 – I just didn’t notice it until the end of 2015.  

My brother posted the following Noam Chomsky quote on his wall: “ If you don’t believe in freedom of speech for people you disagree with, you don’t believe in freedom of speech at all.”

In 1833 printing presses were destroyed.  Mobsters chased Mormons out of Jackson county.  There was contention and guidelines of how NOT to react but to ACT with kindness.  The law still applies.

May we all act with kindness and still defend our freedom of speech without fear.

Keepsake Scriptures

 

It’s been a year since I mentioned the scriptures 

that once belonged to my mom.  

The  binding is not in the best condition. 

There is a crack causing the cover to bend. 

But there is no way I can give it up. 

Mom marked what was important to her. 

She wrote notes to accompany her understanding. 

This is definitely a treasure to be handed down.

Unusable Apples

We misplaced our food dehydrator

and so Richard went and purchased another one. 

t is a better quality than the first. 

We had picked some apples from a yard we’ve gone to before.

He likes dry the apples or make apple pie. 

Apple pie.  Pie is really not my favorite dessert. 

I would rather have a cream pie than a fruit pie.

I don’t like most pie crusts.

Graham cracker crust is alright.

 So why not make apple crisp? 

Or apple cobbler? 

Or applesauce? 

Yes.  Let’s go for applesauce. 

I love homemade applesauce. 

 

He did make a zucchini and apple cake. 

That was interesting.

 

We had picked some grapes and plums – though

I don’t think they were really ready to be picked. 

They don’t taste ready. 

I cored and peeled the remainder of apples this morning. 

Half are in the compost, the other half

are in the freezer.

Summer Coming to an End

 

         Mornings lately have had an autumn feel to them.  It lasts until about ten o’clock and then it is a dreadful summer again.  Each morning we have been watering the plants.  It won’t be long until Mother Nature will take over with the watering and all the hill will be green and not just circles around the trees.

 

 

         As of now we have been eating zucchini, cherry tomatoes and peppers.  It may be another five years before we get a harvest from the grapes or the trees.  And I don’t know what is up with the blueberry bushes.  They’re bigger than at the start of the summer.  But I don’t think only nine blueberries is worth all the effort.

Summer Blessings

 

We have been quite blessed all summer as

there haven’t been any fires in Douglas County –

and we’re a BIG county.

I think we have had fires just about every year that

we’ve been here and

often get smoke from ALL directions. 

There was one day in June that we

sensed the smoke from the fires south of us –

probably California. 

No signs since until today. 

We’re thinking from the fires north of us. 

That is trippy. 

Wasn’t it just last night that I saw

the stars through the skylight? 

And now the skies are filled with haze –

nearly hiding the hills.  It’s been so hot. 

And when the wind blows it doesn’t offer the

cool breeze but an overly warm heat that

makes me feel like I’m in a dryer.

I didn’t say anything before because

I didn’t want to jinx it.

We have at least one more month before

the fires come to a rest.

Judging from the past.

Peculiar Taste

 

I think PEZ (originally short for Pfefferminz here) candies have got to be one of the most boring candies on the planet.  People buy them in order to collect the cool dispensers that release the dry powdery bricks of dull flavor.  I think the only reason why PEZ offers the dispensers is so U.S. citizens will buy them.  I don’t know how it works in other countries.  Apparently there are some citizens of other countries that thrive on the having the uninteresting flavor in their mouths. 

Recently Richard purchased a tin of candies that gave me the same initial vibe as the PEZ candy.  But instead of a cool dispenser, these candies come in a cool tin – which in my opinion is the only reason to buy them – not for the candy but for the tin.  The candy may have been slightly better than a PEZ (though it’s been YEARS so I don’t really KNOW) – this nameless candy had a tangy quality almost like a SweeTART mixed with soap. 

Last Year Perhaps

 

               It’s been ten years since we had been introduced to the Pear Orchard in Medford – and served once a year except for last.  I am so out of shape.  And the pears seemed to be tiny again this year.  But maybe not.  They won’t be through today and I am certain it will be announced that we have another opportunity.  Platform workers is what they are called.  Those who can scale the ladders and pick what can’t be reached from below.  Uh, no.  Not my calling.

               I remember one year when our RS pres. scaled the trees and threw down pears to be caught – which is probably a big “no-no” but really . . . how many volunteers can  climb ladders, fill their bags and then shimmy on down?  Not this girl.  That’s for sure.

               The pears which we pick in Medford are shipped to Shelly, Idaho for another cleaning and canning.  They are really good pears, too.  Overall I think canned pears are rather boring, but the ones the church cans are awesome.  In Salt Lake I was a recipient of eating canned product and in the last ten years we have picked.  If we ever move to Shelley I would have the opportunity to can the pears – but I don’t foresee that happening as I don’t believe we will ever move again.   Too much work – not just into the house but our yard as well. 

               We planted fruit trees that should be producing within the next five to seven years.  Will try to include pictures next post.

Dogs Feel No Shame

 

          Bonnie often snores when she sleeps. 

She is loud. 

She is fat. 

She does not get offended if we make fun of her.

Mostly I guess because she doesn’t understand.

But I wonder why we can’t respond as dogs do.

Why get caught up in the our insecurities –

embarrassed by loud snores

(even if it is the dogs)

or laughing at the noise,

calling the dog fat and

out of shape.

Dogs don’t feel the shame that humans often do.

Card Table Makeover

 

The other day the missionaries

came for dinner.

 I had no desire for cleaning the

back table and decided

we would have our dinner on the deck – which

probably was not a wise

move on my part – for the

back room would have been

so much cooler.

 

I washed the filthy card table that we

had left on the porch. 

I still felt the need for a tablecloth but

couldn’t find one and

thought the wind might blow

it around anyway.

 

I did not find a tablecloth – not in

any size but I did find

some contact paper.  

 

Problem solved. 

 

Cover the grime-stained table

with contact paper –

and the wind wouldn’t  blow it off.

Name That Tune

 Jaime learned about a "Name That Tune" game being held at Summerfest.  The person she had planned to go with cancelled on her - which was really not a surprise.  Though it was hot and I hadn't planned on going to the event myself, I volunteered to go with her.  I don't believe we scored any points during the first round, but were able to take 4 of 5 songs on the second round.  The other players were dismissed and we had the opportunity of playing the second round.  We got only two songs but each walked away with five dollars.  Not bad. I was planning on participating without a prize incentive.  Jaime was happy.  We might go see fireworks tonight.

Dear Diary

          I think someone may have been hacked on facebook who in turn tried to hack me.  I don’t know.  I was experiencing so much fatigue yesterday.  I wish I would have taken a screenshot but did not.  I saw who it was from and I think what the invitation was for and deleted automatically because of so many factors.

          So in my notifications I’m told that RAM has invited me to the Relief Society Page.  The page that I created?  Or is there a new one? And why would RAM create an RS page when he is a guy?  We are not even facebook friends.  And he is currently on vacation.  Why would he create a page and invite people in during his vacation?  I thought it said Relief Society.  Maybe it said something else?  Still – why would I want to join his page?  Was I singled out or were there others in the ward who received invites? 

 

          Okay.  Fatigue.  I think I post about it every year.  Weather change.  Always happens between Mothers’ Day and my birthday.  And then I am gone.  And I don’t come to until sometime in September.  But hey, I can breathe.  But my mind is in another dimension than the rest of me.  Is that where dementia comes from?  Not that I have dementia.  I don’t think of one who has dementia considers having dementia.  But I don’t know.  Next time someone tries to scam me over the phone I will tell them that I have dementia and that the people taking care of me won’t allow me access to my bank accounts or social security number or anything like that.  And that if they want to talk with them they should call them on their cell phone and then provide them with a number to the unified police or the FBI.  I wonder if they will call them to get my information?

 

          I just took an allergy pill.  That could be adding to my fatigue I guess.

First Time for Everything

                It’s hot.  So hot.  I asked Alexa to tell me the temperature in Las Vegas – it always makes me feel better that it’s cooler in Oregon than elsewhere.  And yet I remember being cold in Las Vegas when I was there in March this year.  COLD in LAS VEGAS.  Cold wind blowing.  I don’t even remember experiencing wind in Las Vegas before.

               Today’s first was at the dentist.  Yes, I am a little plastered out of my mind.  The heat does that to me.  Under normal circumstances I cry whenever I am in the dentist chair because I’m a dweeb.  I don’t have anything against the dentist per se – I just don’t like being in a laying down position with my mouth wide open and tools in my mouth and the need to swallow but can’t.

               Today I laughed – for the first time ever.  I laughed while in a dentist chair and not just because of this illustration

I laughed out loud because the dental hygienist was tickling my teeth or the gum area or whatever.  It tickled and I laughed.  I laughed several times.  I’m sure it was more out of being tired than being tickled.  But I laughed.  What an odd experience.

When the Wind Blows

 

 When the wind blows

trees dance and

things move –

some seem to make unpleasant noises

like someone is trying to

break into your house.

 

Sometimes the wind itself

makes an eerie noise as it blows.

When it is just a cool breeze the

wind feels nice

but it still seems to

send me into a coma. 

Naughty wind