Make Believe to Reality

Last week Jenna and I watched a documentary called "Make Believe" a 2011 film from executive producers Ed Cunningham and Seth Gordon. "Make Believe" follows the growth of six teenagers who study tricks to become magicians. 

I copied the following quotes from this website.  When asked about studying magic, Collider received the following answers.

From Derek McKee: It’s hard for people to understand magicians because you can’t show them what you’ve been working on. They can’t relate to it. Most kids pick up magic for maybe two or three days and realize that it’s a lot of work, so they can’t really relate to working five hours a day on one trick

and Bill KOCH (who now uses his professional name Bill Cook):  Unless you’re into magic, you don’t understand it. The people that are into it for two weeks because they got a book from the library and bought a magic set, don’t realize that there’s theater involved, there’s scripting and there’s choreography. Standing on stage in front of people, if you pace or sway, you’ll make the audience dizzy. There is so much involved with just going out there and doing a stage illusion or a close-up trick. There’s choreography to walking around tables, so that the effect can manifest properly.

And while Jenna and I were impressed with each story on Krystyn Lambert, Bill Koch Siphiwe Fangase, Nkumbozo Nkonyana and Derek McKee, but the one that impressed us most was Hiroki Hara from a small village in Japan - where there is no cell phone or Internet service.  But Hiroki's family did have a VCR.  He had a recording of a magic show that he would watch over and over and study in slow motion and had taught himself how to do magic and would read books and magazine articles. 

All of the other five had some kind of mentor, but not Hiroki - he basically was alone with his studies and his decisions.  I believe he financed himself to come to the states to participate at the Magic Castle in California.

 

While we appreciated the talent of each of the performers and were intrigued by each of their journeys, we were most in awe of Hiroki - who I think is another great example of thinking positive and pursuing one's dreams.  I think they ought to have his story in Chicken Soup - and maybe they do.  I just haven't read it yet.

 

Positive Thinking.  Turning dreams into reality.  Entertaining is not an easy profession.  Nor is the time that is put into performing necessarily appreciated by those who are entertained.

I remember one time when my brother, Corey, was performing on stage, someone had asked him if he had a real job.  Well, yes.  Those who perform well put several hours into their performance.  Possibly more hours than attorneys may spend on any given case.  Performing IS definitely a real job - but most people can't relate to it being a real job.  But it is.

Thank you to all those who choose to entertain and devote so much of their time that we may appreciate the performance 

SALT

Salt will wake up the flavor 

in an otherwise dreary dish.  

Only a little bit is needed.  

Most recipes call for salt - 

but not a huge measurement.  

It almost seems

 irrelevant at times.  And yet 

that small amount is 

very much needed. 

  The smallest amount 

of ingredient is 

needed the most.  

If salt is left out, 

  the quality is lost.  

The taste is flat.  

The tongue is dulled.  

Salt uplifts.  

Isn't that weird?

             

  We depend on salt to 

melt ice on roads 

and sidewalks . Surely 

not the same salt that 

we use at the table, 

but perhaps the same salt 

we use to make ice cream.  

I find that fascinating that 

salt has that ability.  

Salt will also destroy snails 

the same way that kryptonite 

would destroy Superman.  

Perhaps not the same way.  

I have seen a snail 

shrivel up to death.  

I have never seen 

Superman shrivel.  

I saw a witch melt 

when Dorothy accidentally

 threw water at her in 

"The Wizard of Oz"

 Utah has a location 

called The Bonneville 

Salt Flats.

 It is Utah's racing track, 

I guess.  I don't know 

what the attraction is at 

speeding over salt.  It looks like snow.

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells us

that we are the Salt 

of the earth

We can give of ourselves

even if only in small measure

we don't want to be 

too aggressive and

overpower the dish

but instead, we want to

help wake up the flavor,

help melt away the frozenness

and use our power against evil.

SALT

Think Positive

        One of the gifts that I opened on Christmas was the Chicken Soup for the Soul "Positive Thinking"  stories full of reminders not to give up and to do whatever it takes.

        As I read I think of examples from my own life:

        Karyn was agoraphobic.  Her son had gone to a mission in Brazil and had developed feelings for a certain young lady.  After he had gone back to visit, he announced that he and this girl would be getting married and living in Brazil for a while.  Knowing that he needed some support from the family, he wanted his parents there, of course. Karyn and her husband had enough money for only one plane ticket. And because of her fears of dealing with crowds, it was decided that her husband would go.

        His job seemed to complicate the situation as far as the date was concerned.  It turned out that if he wanted to keep his job, he would not be able to fly to Brazil but said that his wife might be able to go.

        The reservations were changed so that they would be in her name, and she prayed.  She prayed long and hard.  It was a mighty challenge as she had to deal with the public at Salt Lake airport.  Imagine how terrified she was to fly into Brazil and face a more crowded airport and a more people than she could imagine.  Not to mention that the majority of people there would be speaking in a foreign tongue that she, herself, would not understand.

        She, of course, tells her story much better than I do.  I remember listening to her experience, fascinated with her determination.  I would have never guessed that she was agoraphobic - especially to the point which she expressed.  Now that's positive thinking.  I hate crowds but cannot fully relate to what she had to overcome.  What strength.  What admiration on my part.

        I wish I had all the details in order to accurately share Shauna's story.  There was a huge number of widows and shut-ins that I would go visit at least weekly.  I would go to uplift them - or at least that was my intention.  But I always saved Shauna for last or visit when I was the one who needed to be uplifted.    

        She kept records and journals that she didn't want anyone to look at until after she was gone.  She was such a great inspiration.  Her story needs to be told.  I had always thought that someone should interview her for an article in the Ensign Magazine or tell her story in any one of several  themed "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books.

        I had been told that Shauna had outlived her disease by 17 years.  I don't remember the name of the disease, but it seems to me that the tissues would swell to the point of choking out all of her other organs.  We were roughly the same age, and yet she was hooked up to oxygen while I was breathing on my own.  She remained active as long as her body would allow. 

        She had such a positive attitude and would always get dressed, because "only sick people wear pajamas all day"

        I was also told that she hadn't gone back to get her nursing degree until after she had been diagnosed.  She wanted to help people and make them feel better, and served others for as long as she was able.

        Laughter truly was the best medicine.  It was what kept her going - in addition to refusing to allow anyone or anything to take her down.

I also let the words to this song fill my mind each day.  I asked Jenna to color a sign that says: Daily Proverbs.  I change the thought every other day and try hard to apply the quotes to my life.  I really am trying to think positive.  

Creative Advertising

I hope everyone has the opportunity of watching this video

Whether it's true or not, I don't know.  But I think it's an awesome idea either way.

How wonderful it would be if those in the video are caught.

How great it is for those who were robbed to use the crime to their advantage and use footage to advertise their tacos.  They really do look delicious.  Will have to try when I get back that way again.

Happy New Year 2016

            I grew up with the idea that families got together on New Years to play games.  It would often start on New Year's Eve at somebody's house.  We'd play games and have cheese and crackers and chips and soda.  That was always the greatest part about the new year.
           Mom always took the tree down on New Year's Day.  It was sad. But I have carried out that tradition of taking the tree down on New Years.  What else would I do?

            Although there was one year when Jenna insisted we put the tree up right after Thanksgiving.  I took it down on the 26th because it had been up entirely too long.  I think because it was taking up space in our cracker box house and everything always felt so clumped together with no elbow room even when it wasn't Christmas. 

            I have often either cried on New Year's (or New Year's eve) or someone in the family has been sick (in my childhood it was usually me and/or Corey - sometimes Kayla.  Never Patrick - except maybe before Corey and Kayla came along.  I do think he may have missed out on things when he was a very little kid - but over the years it didn't seem like a germ would dare enter Patrick's body while Corey received well more than his share.)

            More often than not, New Year's events took place in the freezing cold - well perhaps not the event itself, but riding to the event - especially on New Year's Eve.  I heard that it was 20 in Utah yesterday.  I don't know how many family members were sick.  Kayla stayed home with her youngest, BJ.  Biff told me that everyone in his household was sick.

            We heard fireworks going off last night.  Jenna watched them through her window as she said it was too cold to stand outside and watch.  When the sun drops out of the sky (or rather when the earth rotates away from the sun) the temperature does drop.  Last night was below freezing.

           We have space for Christmas tree in the house we live at in Oregon.  I think I could have left it up for a few more months.  Maybe not.  We have taken it down and returned it to the shed.

  

            The last day of 2015 was quite beautiful in Oregon - or at least where I am.  I thought it felt warmer than 40 degrees and took several pictures outside.  Most I was not even wearing a jacket for. 

Dec 31 2015

            Today is just as beautiful.  A great way to start off the New Year.  I took even more pictures this morning.  I don't remember having seen frost in Oregon before.  It was beautiful.  Is beautiful.  I was still in my pajamas when I took these.

sunlight spilling through our house New Year 2016

beautiful day Jan 1, 2016

            The sun has melted down a bit, but those blades of grass and foliage on the trees that are shaded from the sun still had frost clear into the evening.  It's definitely the longest amount of time that I have seen the same frost.

Our First Christmas in Oregon

            We weren't able to get back to Utah for a lack of funds.  Airfare is way overpriced (even at a senior discount) and Roland didn't have the same amount of time to take off work as Jenna currently has for school.

            It snowed in several parts of Salt Lake.  My sister and one of my sons both reported that there had been an endless snowfall and probably three feet of snow - though one had reported that the streets had been clear.  How awesome that there are those who give up pieces of their Christmas to make things safer for others.

            We woke up to find snow on the ground the morning of Christmas Eve.  The sun shone itself out.  It was really a beautiful day.  Not too hot.  Not too cold.  The air was an invite and in turn invited us to go be a part of it.

            Mostly wet yesterday.  The snow was gone.  All that was left was cold air and soggy earth.  Today is definitely foggier than I have ever seen in Oregon.  Unlike Salt Lake fog, the air is still breathable - and probably good for my sinuses actually.

            Several gifts placed under the tree - many of them were total surprises for Jenna.  They would have all been surprises if I had had Roland move the box from Jeanie and Biff into our room and just put the gifts out for Christmas morning.  Jenna also knew about the gifts that Rochelle and Tony had sent - but she didn't know about the packages from a former neighbor or my sister and her family. 

            I filmed Christmas in order to document everything that Jenna might have overlooked.  Fortunately nothing did.  She showed excitement for each gift that was opened.  I was quite pleased with her positive attitude.

            At 5:00 we started dinner.  We were expecting the missionaries to come at 6:00.  We weren't expecting them to stay and play games with us.  That was really awesome!  I have missed playing games with my family members.  Jenna and I do our best, and sometimes Roland joins us - but for the most part the majority of games we have require at least four people.  Some of the games I hadn't even brought with us because I didn't think we could play them. 

            It was a great Christmas gift to play games with the Elders.  Jenna thoroughly enjoyed herself.  We each made this the best Christmas possible.  I am quite happy with the results.

message for holiday wishes

   

 

        It is important to remember that not everyone is looking forward to Christmas. Some people are not surrounded by large wonderful families. Some of us have problems during the holidays and are overcome with great sadness when we remember the loved ones who are not with us. For many it is their first Christmas without a particular loved one and many others lost loved ones at Christmas. And, many people have no one to spend these times with and are shadowed by loneliness.

         My uncle's family will have their first Christmas without him.  He was buried just before we moved to Oregon.  It is harder still for families who lose their loved ones during the holiday season - to always have that memory around the holidays. We have seen present neighbors and some that we left in Utah just recently pass away.  We have seen hardships and we have seen those who choose to move on and celebrate the holidays as they always have.

         I'd like to share the words which my brother posted to facebook and mirror his message to all of those who may be reading (and even those who don't) :  " I hope and pray whatever your belief system may be, wherever you are in life, whatever circumstances or challenges you may find yourself facing, that you may find peace, happiness, and fulfillment; that is my Christmas wish to all of you."