Beneath the Wraps

          It was the third week of Church for the ward I ’ m in.  My sister Kayla said her ward had returned last month – or possibly in July.  She said that the members will attend every other week in order to allow social distancing.  I think that ’ s great that there are that many in attendance as the last time I had gone to her ward the attendance seemed even less than what this ward has been – a lot of empty pews and much social distancing – even before it was a thing.           Wearing a mask can be bothersome, but it ’ s not a tremendous sacrifice on my part nor am I too proud to wear one.  I appreciate surgeons and dentists wearing masks, all the frontline workers required to wear a mask all day.  Surely if they can do it for 4 – 10 hour shifts, a few minutes to a few hours shouldn ’ t be a big deal for me.  The mask is not the problem.  It ’ s not being able to connect in the way that we ...

        I seem to be on an emotional kick since my psychology class started last week.   I've dealt with a lot of emotions the last couple of months - so have many members of my family and Jeanie's family as well.         Jeanie is the late wife of my eldest son.   She passed in June and Biff stayed with his in-laws until November 1 or just the end of October.   Biff has experienced a lot of loneliness, some anger, not always positive emotion during his lifetime. He's most happy at the gym.   Working out gives him motivation.         Jeanie was protective of him much of the time, but not always.  Often there would be meds or demons that would interfere with her thinking.  Sometimes she was nasty and would kick Biff out of the house and would not allow him to see Ali.  Many of us envisioned a repeat of Roland's choices.      ...

(Pineapple Members, 2016)             Some people are blessed with learning from others' examples.   Unfortunately it seems there are more who just don't get it and have to figure out things for themselves.   Still there are some who go through trials and still appear to be clueless.   Allow me to share an example.             When I was a youth, I remember seeing ads in the classified section inviting youth to earn money picking pineapples in Hawaii.   The ad itself was marketed in such a clever way that youth believed not only would they be earning money, but would have an opportunity to tour Hawaii as well.   I remember a bunch of Patrick's friends decided to fill out applications and asked him to join them as well.   My brother, Patrick, has always been logical and decided he would wait a year.   If things worked out among his friends, surely they'd want to return. ...