Beneath the Wraps

  I left Oregon on November 15 th and went to Salt Lake to assist my son and his wife with their family.   I returned on December 5 th .   In that time I had seen four different airports and airplanes.   I went by way of Alaska Airlines which I like and have had a positive experience with in the past.   My first flight was from Eugene to Seattle.   We chose to go through Eugene rather than Medford as the price was almost 200 dollar difference.   We had made a dry run the day prior just to see if we could find it first before attempting to do so in the dark. Check in was not so bad.   An agent took my printed paperwork and issued me a boarding pass. My carry-on bag was pulled aside as I forgot to remove my kindle.   It didn’t seem like a big deal.   I think that was the most comfortable of all the planes – though the one from Salt Lake to Seattle was not bad as the plane was not full.   But the plane from Seattle to Salt Lake ...

            We have been trying to find a dog sitter to care for Bonnie at the end of this month.   Roland has been wanting to see the boys and had planned to do so by himself but Jai (aka Jenna) has spring break coming up and so thought we could all go.   But that would only give us a week.   Perhaps it would be better for Roland to go by himself?          Taking Bonnie for walks lately has been quite bothersome on my part.   I do not have Jenna ’ s strength.   She ’ s broken from her leash/collar four times now – the last two were very hurtful.   I sliced my middle finger on my left hand when she tore out of her collar to bark at the dogs on the corner.   And then on Valentine ’ s Day my right thumb got damaged when she tore loose (this time in a harness) and chased a dog into somebody ’ s house.   Needless to say the tenant was NOT happy – and I don ’ t blame her.   ...

             I remember walking with the boys and then with Jenna when we lived in Kearns.   I walked with Jenna to the bus stop and to the school from the bus stop and returned to the bus stop and walked between.   I did a lot of walking.             Even when we lived on the rental property in Myrtle Creek Jenna and I walked nearly every day.   I go with her now when she is walking Bonnie and I have never felt so worn out.   Bonnie always sounds like I feel – exhausted and panting.   Maybe she’s not.   She’s overweight so I think the walk is stressful – especially because she always seems like she’s in a hurry.   She needs to pace herself.             I preferred the walks in Utah and around Neal and Riverside or Millsite park.   I no longer enjoy climbing – which is what we are doing each time we “...

                It was quite dark yesterday morning even between 7:00 and 7:30.   I was able to drive myself to work yesterday as my shift didn’t start until 8:30 and the elements had lightened by then.   I thought that Roland might have to drive me today as my shift started an hour earlier, and probably would have had him take me in if I hadn’t gone with him at 6:00 this morning when he dropped Jenna off at the church.   The darkest part of the commute was getting out of my neighborhood onto the main drag.               I had given myself 20 minutes for a 6 minute drive and so I had plenty of time.   Yesterday I was in the detention room (or in-school- suspension  as it is called at that particular school) but today I had crosswalk duty which I have only done at that school one time before.     ...

I take Highness for a walk He’s notorious for wanting attention after we have all gone to bed I want to wear him out I’m already worn out Roland and I are on the couch watching Shark Tank I suggest we finish watching in our room He let’s the dog out just before he comes into the bedroom to join me “What are you doing letting the dog out?!” I think. Now one of us will have to get back out of bed to let him in. I can’t remember which one of us received that honor. I am asleep I missed the end of Shark Tank I actually don’t remember turning on the TV maybe Roland did It’s 2:00 in the morning when I can hear Highness whining “Go lay down!” I say Sometimes that works Highness ignores me and continues whining.   I let him outside. I have two pillows in my hand. I sit on the couch in a reclined position. I don’t know how long I have slept when I hear Highness bark again. He has stayed out longer...

I don’t know when mom became an avid walker or how many years she and Pam Sanders had walked together practically every weekday morning.   I know that Corey was still in high school and driving because many times mom and Pam would end their walk at the high school and take the car.             Once, as they were leaving the parking lot, a security officer from the high school pulled them over to see their ID – wondering why the car was being driven off the high school grounds during school hours.   I guess he figured out that they weren’t high school students. They laughed about the experience of being pulled over and stopped by a diner on their way home.               The girl behind the counter started to ring up their order.   I don’t know what they ordered, but evidently it was available at a senior price.   Neither one of them were ...

                  When I was very young (like in first and second grade) my cousins lived not far from Highland High School and Sugarhouse Park.   Aunt Fern and mom would often take us to Sugarhouse Park as it was so near by.   Problem was that the trees were not mature (as they were not much larger than us kids) and thus the park did not provide much (if any) in the way of shade.            Sugar House seemed to be an older area overall, but it seemed the park was fairly new.   I vaguely remember a playground.   My cousins and I must have spent time rolling down the hill – although I haven’t run across any photos of us at that particular park.            I wonder if the main objective for our moms was to take us to the park was to wear us down.   I wonder if it bac...

She seemed fascinated with the toilet.  I thought she’d train early.  She didn’t. She took off after she turned one.  How cool to move herself with her feet, to go from room to room.  To explore.                                                        She collected balls and rocks. Whenever we’d go out walking she would climb on fire hydrants and pick up anything she found in her path.  She loved roly-polys.  They resembled small balls.  She did attempt to put one in her mouth.                                             She collected whatever she could carry. She started preschool when she was thr...