Beneath the Wraps

                 Richard had decided to buy me a 12 X 12 scrapbook with extra pages as I had enjoyed scrapbooking. This purchase was made at the time when we still lived in West Valley.  8 ½ by 11 always seemed more practical for me though I had made up four or five 12 X 12 scrapbook albums when I was single.  After I had married I had made a couple of pathetic attempts of scrapbooking in order to preserve the memories of my new instant family – but I had given that up after Jaime was born.  I didn ’ t have the room I needed.           Before we had even moved to West Valley Richard had given me a CD set to download to the computer. The program allowed me create scrapbook pages on the computer. No longer would I have to spread out photos and lay them out for placement and seek for stickers or die cuts to go with whatever themes.   I could see benefits for both. The pages I print from the computer...

                 Among the photos that Jai and I have gone though were several letters that evidently had come from my mom ’ s house. I have many memories from my past.  I remember a lot of details. I have mostly positive memories but there are a few that aren ’ t so pleasant.  For the most part I have succeeded at blocking out the bad memories. I thought I had been pretty good about keeping the pleasant ones but am learning it is only for up until a certain age – or so it seems.  I attended Ricks College from September 1981 to the end of April 1982. (Keep in mind that this is back in the day before personal computers, emails and social media.   Our communication was written correspondence and telephone calls – NOT cell phones, but phones that used dials and curly cords)       It appears I had written to my family at least three times a week.   I have few memories of my college days.   The le...

           I have created so many scrapbook pages – some by hand, probably more on the computer.  It ’ s not the same.  And I do like the tangible die cuts and stickers and perks of hand scrapbooking as opposed to the computer. The computer also has perks such as changing sizes to make it fit – though not as polished.  Especially over the years as the photos start to fade. Throwing away photos has always been hard for me but does seem necessary. I had packed away three small boxes of photos with the intent of sitting down with Jai to scrapbook though she has seldom been interested.   She enjoys talking about photos and strolling down memory lane – for a time at least.   I had cut shapes on some of the photos but did not have them in order.     Did not work out to my expectations however.   I think in the last 8 years I may have just added photos and never looked at them until yesterday. Many of the photos I had s...

            There was a time when Jaime was three and her sister Pamprin was visiting.   Pamprin laid out a coloring book so that she could color one page while Jaime colored the other – only Jaime wanted to color the same page as Pamprin.   It didn’t even matter which page.   When Pamprin switched sides or found new pictures, Jaime wanted to color the very same picture that her big sister was coloring. Pamprin reluctantly shared her space.  I think it made Jaime feel closer to her.           I was reminded of that memory this morning while working on a puzzle that Richard and I had started.   We had already rolled it up and put it away for another time.   My daughter-in-law, Claire asked if I would like to continue.   And so I set it up.   She started one side of the puzzle and I another.   After a while she abandoned her side and came to help me...

           I’ve been searching through flash drives in search for some misplaced memory pages I had designed for Jaime.   During my search I have come across scads of photos in which I see different pieces of furniture in the background. Steven on the lap of my grandpa Ralph          This couch for instance was reupholstered three different times.   This is how it looked as I was growing up.   The second makeover had similar flowers but in green and orange.   The final also had a green/orange theme but with birds.   It was my least favorite of the three. same couch in background - the final makeover          The painting above was removed when mom went into assisted living.   I heard that my niece had taken the couch.         There is this photo which my brother had posted to his wall and wrote memories about each of the items on the knickkna...

            As it has been over 50 days since our journey begin I don’t recall all the details.   Jaime took these pictures on the way to Modesto – or at our lodging.   We past lots of olive groves.

  I found the above photo on facebook with the caption that the most one might have seen in person from the above list is five.  I have been to eight.  Below I have posted memories and links to those places I have visited.   from this post Statue of Liberty – never been, but I have read countless books on the history of the statue and Ellis Island. Grand Canyon – went with my family when I was 12 or 13.   I don’t remember a whole lot from that trip.   But I do remember driving to the North Rim with my mom, sister and Grandma.   Some highlights are found in this post .  Walt Disney World – honestly don’t have the desire.   I’m content with Anaheim’s original Disneyland Zions – continues with same trip found on this post  Space Needle – my first time was in June 1982 (see this post ) It was probably seven years later when I met up with a friend in Seattle and had gone there with her   Hollywood Sign – I’m sure I had seen...

  If you could talk with only one person for the rest of your life, who would it be and why? I would pick my brother, Steven, though I am certain I would not be his first choice.   Steven is not only knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects, but we share so many of the same memories and feelings and values.   I miss him on so many levels.   I miss talking with him on a daily basis.   I miss his insight that was more instantaneous in person than now.   I miss his ability to understand me when it feels like nobody else does (husband included).   He ’ s my youngest brother and has been there for me for most of my adult life.   (We did have a falling out for a couple of years – but we ’ re good now) https://lattice.com/library/how-to-create-a-culture-that-encourages-communicati Talking with only one person would be hard however.  I would miss Jaime's voice and singing.  I would miss other friends as well.  I am happy that I don't ...

         Yesterday, while checking out my facebook memories, I was reminded that one of my nephews had been scheduled for baptism two years ago.  I thought it was strange that it would be two weeks into the month instead of at the beginning – but for whatever reason it was changed.  Gary ’ s baptism had been moved to the 7th and my oldest granddaughter were both baptized at the same time but in different wards.  I posted that it must have been changed due to revelation as that was the last baptism to be held for quite a while in 2020 due to the pandemic.         My sister left a comment about the craziness of it all and I asked if she had read our brother ’ s post about his mention of a cat they call “ Milagro ” and about his late mother-in-law who had gone into the hospital with COVID.   Yesterday he posted many of the details about the next six to eight weeks – the devastation felt, the passing, the f...

       When it first came out I remember being interested in seeing the TV series “ This is Us ” but did not start watching it until this year for whatever reason.  Normally I don ’ t enjoy constant flashbacks but have been intrigued with this series about three siblings who have become adults.  We see pieces of memories as they enter the world and grow up.  We see their parents struggles as well as their own.  It ’ s been interesting to watch as their characters are developed based on these memories that the audience members see only glimpses of. Each episode provides a recap of what memories were provided from previous episodes.  The first episode starts off with four different cast members reacting to birthday celebrations.   The first story shows a pregnant woman holding a cupcake while her husband (Jack, the birthday boy) waits for her on the bed.   Her water breaks and they rush to the hospital where the woman is expec...

As I was busying myself with posting my pictures to facebook, I was notified to view my memories.   It’s funny how so many of my memory posts have triggered thoughts for things that are happening this year.   On June 19 th it was the memory of four different albums I had posted from a trip we had taken back to Salt Lake in 2017.   We were staying at the house where we had once lived.   By then Randy and Carrie had moved in and made the house their own.   We were staying with them three years ago. no family members currently reside or have anything to do with this house A year and a half later we went for Christmas.   By then Randy and Carrie had moved to Eagle Mountain to a house larger than I thought was necessary.   I don’t guess they were planning on moving again so soon.   Randy had wanted us to stay with them, but it wasn’t a practical location for all of the family to meet – not that the hotel was.   That was probably more inconvenie...

          I remember my dad always salting his food when I was younger.   At times it seemed he was over-salting.             I remember one time he had asked for some popcorn.   Patrick and I put some in a bowl and added what we believed to be a generous amount of salt.   When we went into his room to see how he liked the popcorn, he said it could use more salt.   Patrick and I both dropped our mouths in disbelief.   So his next batch got an almost equal salt/popcorn ratio.   He said it was perfect.   Are you kidding me?   If I ever used salt on anything, it definitely NEEDED it.   I hate the taste of salt.           Now that I am older – even older than my dad – I find myself using salt more and more as I believe all my food is bland – and maybe it is.   Or maybe my lack of ...

          I went to the dentist yesterday so that he could fill/replace my tooth.   I was loaded up on Novocain – I think it affected my mental state.   I remember going to another dentist many years ago.   He was my very first dentist when I lived in Midvale.   He would ask patients if they wanted gas to help them relax or the walkman and maybe something else.   I wanted it all. How the right side of my mouth felt each time I tried to eat           I don’t know why when my mouth is getting worked on, I somehow feel so relaxed in the dentist chair.   I’m really not.   I could sense my body tension as I sat in the dentist chair yesterday, but in my mind, I thought I was relaxed.   Somehow my mind detaches from my physical body when I am in the dentist chair.           They had given me sunglasses to...

                 I would guess that I have been to Yellowstone Park at least 15 times.  I have mentioned it in ten posts and posted at least five pictures of my family over the years.  Yellowstone always feels brand new as it changes.  For the most part we found lodging in West Yellowstone and would just drive the west entrance to the park each day.  But there were at least four times we got lodging inside the park.           I couldn’t find any photos when it was just me and Patrick.   Kayla would have been a baby when this one was taken in 1976 This one is of me with Kayla probably 1978 or 1979 Corey and Kayla in 1982 My missionary farewell was in August and my grandma was in town from San Francisco.   We took both of my grandmas to Yellowstone park in 1984.   We stayed at Old Faithful Inn which we had never done before....