Beneath the Wraps

            Bill and Kayla had planned on spending spring break with Bill's parents who live in St. George.   Their house gets quite packed with visitors when the entire family comes to visit.   They have five children and I think at least 5X that amount in grandchildren.   Bill had planned on getting the family a trailer tent to add to their comfort of an overly squished house.   But, evidently, Bill's parents either forgot or found another opportunity and booked for a cruise - that same weekend!           I don't know how long before spring break Kayla had contacted me to see if they could make their spring break getaway with us in Oregon.   What a fantastic birthday gift for Jenna!   I decided to keep it a secret - knowing they would have to leave before her actual birthday but would be spending time with us close enough (Jenna turns 14 today; the fam...

                As mentioned in this post ,   I thought Highway 140 was quite beautiful at some parts and quite scary at others.   The idea of a 50 foot drop and no guard rails is rather creepy.   But that is the way Roland wanted to go - and he was driving.                 I thought 140 seemed scarier driving north than it did driving south - which is ironic, as the drop is on the south/west side.   The drive didn't seem quite as long, either.   But Denise and I had taken I5 through Medford because she wanted to see the temple.   I just   had Roland go by way of Highway 138 to Highway 97 where you can choose to go north up through Bend and over through Boise, or you can drive down south to Lake View and Winnemucca.                   The Nevada route ...

My mom brought her Saturn SL1 brand new.  Corey, Kayla and my mom all had Saturns.  I took a picture of them - each standing by his or her car.  They took it to Saturn.  I don't know what Saturn did with it.       Roland and I had borrowed my mom's car on more than one occasion to go to Arizona.  It was just more reliable than anything we ever owned - except for the Saturn Ion we had for less than two years.  I think we have taken that to Arizona as well.       Saturn used to send reminders to their cliental to let them know that it was time for their car to be serviced.  My mom took hers in (or had Corey take it in) to be serviced each year, until they went out of business.       After we put my mom into assisted living, Roland and I asked if we could buy mom's car.  We didn't know it came with a personality - that it was somehow possessed.   ...

        I don't recall how many vacations we may have taken when somebody in the car called, "Are we there yet?"         I give my parents credit for livening up the journey for us - allowing us to enjoy the traveling part - well, as much as can be expected.  Our car problems were never a part of the plan - in fact it actually deferred us more than once.  After a while, though we still couldn't plan for whatever car problem might occur, we learned to roll with the punches.  No family vacation was complete without car problems and/or rain.         I wasn't able to go to Yellowstone with my family the year that car broke down 18 miles outside of Pocatello, Idaho. My mom and sister left my brother, Corey, and my dad in the car while attempting to walk to the next town on foot.  Back in the day when we just had road maps to go by.  No GPSs to l...

         My mom had a Ford Escort – which seemed to be a good little car overall.   I don’t remember having had to take it to the mechanic on a regular basis.   It did have its little quirks, but nothing major.   Not that I’m aware of anyway.          Not that we ever wanted to, but we couldn’t drive over 70.   The car would shake and vibrate as if ready to explode. We learned that by accident when on a stretch of highway that seemed to have no traffic. I was often surprised when it didn’t fall apart on us.          When going to get gas, mom wanted someone with her. The small door that closes over the gas cap had to be opened from the car – but it would stick.   Having someone push open the door while someone pulled the lever behind the steering wheel made it easier than stretching one’s body while pulling the leve...

All throughout my married life there have been only two times in which we’ve had extra money.  Both times were actually in December – the year before Jenna turned one, and the year that Jenna had turned two. We’d gone to a lot of used rental cars – loans aren’t made.  They want cash up front.  And seven years ago we just happened to have it. (Well, almost seven years)  We purchased a 2002 Buick Century.  And it has been a tremendously great car – mostly due to prayer, I believe. When I had the car inspected for the 2011 renewal, I really thought that it would be the last time.  And yet it passed inspection last year.  The Lord knew that I needed it to drive to my mom’s and run errands – though I do remember Jenna and I having bussed it on occasion.  I don’t like to drive.  I don’t know that I’ve ever enjoyed it. I do like the control that one has with personal transportation – so long as the car or truck is working.  Having ...

          I am usually not pressed for time – but on those few days that I do need to leave – well, those are the days my mom would like me to stay.  And it would be all well and good if I actually lived closer – or with her.  But I don’t.           We’re down to one functional car – and even that has been questionable.            Since Roland works late on Wednesdays, he drove the car in and so I borrowed my son’s car in order to get out to mom’s.  Talk about nerve racking.                     First off, it has a quirkiness to it that anybody but Biff might not get – and the fact that other people have trouble turning on the ignition is actually a great feature in Biff’s opinion.  I was just about to give up, when I actually got it to turn....

There are several variations of what may come to one’s mind when visualizing his or her perception of a hero.  There are comic book heroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, or even Word Girl . Many people have benefitted from the heroic actions of the police, firefighters, soldiers, etc.  It is the uniformed men or women whom they see as heroes.  And they are, and deserve to be recognized.                     There are “heroes” who do it for the glory – just to be recognized as heroes.  And there are the silent heroes who work behind the scenes, who don’t ask for recognition, many who would prefer not to bask in the glory.  These are the true heroes.           Roland is one of those heroes.  He does things out of nature – not because he’s seeking a reward or glory.  He just does things because th...