Smoke is Drowning out the Mist

 

Up this morning at 2:15.

Returned to bed.

Hot.

Got up.

Opened a window.

Started to play games

on my kindle.

Sneezing

eyes itching

I realize that the

skies must be filled

with smoke.

Shut the window.

Went back to bed.

Reminiscing

 

               I feel obligated to write something.

  I do have things to share. 

            It’s just a matter of getting them out. 

Richard is never going to allow for me

to travel again as I have been home for

three and a half days and

  I’m still in a coma. 

There were several pictures taken.

I smile at what I see. 

But still feel in a stupor. 

Some photos we took out of tradition.  

 

Do I need to explain?

Unpacking and Mounds of Laundry

 Last week Jai and I boarded a bus via 

Salt Lake City.  That is a post in itself.

I have to wake up first.  That may take a 

few days.  Skies seemed to be clear when

we left, but were greeted by a red sun and

burnt trees when we returned through Glide

last night. 

The sun could not be seen in the photos that we took and thus had to borrow from another pic

Today I will be unpacking and doing laundry 

and waking up hopefully.

Struggling to Belong

           I have heard the music from “Dear Evan Hansen” for a couple of years at least.  Loved the soundtrack.  Did not fully connect the dots of what I was listening to – or hearing rather.  I suppose if I had really listened I would have figured out the plot.  But I thought the story was something different than what it is.  Jaime and I recently watched the movie. Although we both really liked it we were somewhat disappointed that “Does Anybody Have a Map?”  had been cut from the movie as it seemed like a crucial force for the introduction of the characters.

          I had heard Ben Platt’s voice for the first time during the start of the pandemic as he had performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in the presentation of Saturday Night Seder – which I still love and am grateful for having access to rewatch it on YouTube.  I absolutely love Ben Platt’s voice.  I love the music of  “Dear Evan Hansen” and the story line. 

          We all struggle to belong.  We are labeled as outcast and popular.  We may perceive some people as “having it easy” though they may have just as many struggles trying to stay ahead or “putting on a show” for others more than themselves.

          There is one scene that stands out when Evan is having a conversation with a popular girl who refers to him as “people like us.”

          Evan responds, “People like us?  Yes, right, because we have so much in common.” 

          Even the most popular person can share something in common with one who may see himself as invisible for the way he is treated (see here for conversation) if only we would take the time to learn about  one another and not continue labeling ourselves.  Everybody needs to see this movie and apply it to ourselves.

Look at the Sky

 On Thursday night it rained

not a heavy rain but enough

to change the mood of the sky.

Jaime and I took Bonnie for a walk yesterday.

The colors were brilliant all throughout the day.

I took this picture through my window just as the sun was

getting ready to set

I never reset the date on the camera; it really was taken yesterday

Provide a Collar with Information

           I don’t know how many times there have been dogs that have wandered into our yard.  Somebody’s pets at that.  Some have had collars.  Two had even come with names.  Only one had come with a phone number.  Weird thing was it was for the animal shelter in Roseburg.  I personally would not be thrilled to have to drive up all the way to Roseburg to fetch Bonnie for instance knowing that she had been found in my neighborhood in Myrtle Creek.  But we do have tags attached to Bonnie’s collar.  One of them has her name and a phone number that will contact her owner. Duke did not even have a collar on him when he showed up in our yard.

          Whenever lost pets wander into our yard we will try to keep them there and pray for the owner to come find it before Richard calls animal control – which is always his solution.  But Jaime and I said to give the owners a chance to find him first and hung out on the porch with Duke. 

          Jaime had tried a variety of names and were both in awe when he seemed to respond to “Duke”.  We allowed Bonnie to come out and make friends with Duke before we decided that we should find an old collar and take Duke on a walk in search for his owner.  Just after Jaime attached the leash to the collar we saw an orange car and called to the driver and passenger “are you looking for a dog?”

          They were and called to Duke and took him away.  Jaime asked if they would please include identification on their dog.  We will call the owners if we know who to call.

First Names

          Today a sister had asked why we call each other Sister so-and-so and not address first names.  I understood her question.  There are some sisters who have such beautiful names that are often lost in the shuffle when they are addressed by their last name. I do think that you get used to addressing a person one way and may have a hard time making your mind remember to call them something else.  (For instance for years you may have been calling the neighbor lady Mrs. Loren twenty years later you are expected to call her Amanda.  Huh?)

According to this site, the title “Brother” or “Sister” is a sign of respect which I understand but I do not think of calling a person by first name is a sign of disrespect.  It is more intimate and familiar.  I like hearing people called by their first names.  But I do get the respect of the title just as addressing Bishop (name) President (name) and so forth.

One sister commented that sometimes we don’t know the names of those we are addressing and may address an individual “Sister” while introducing ourselves. Or “Sister, remind me of your name” which seems to happen more often than not.    LDS Living offers these two ideas. 

         I am okay with either “Karen” or “Sister Rivera”.  Either is acceptable and I’m not offended if addressed by the other. Jaime would rather not be referred to as “Sister Rivera”.  Fair.  I also had a problem when I was addressed by my maiden name. I personally would have rather been called “Karen” than “Sister Fehr”. Sister Fehr was my grandmother and not my 21 year old self (or however old).  I hadn’t looked at it as a sign of respect.  For me, personally, the title felt somewhat intimidating – as though I had graduated from being a youth to having one foot in the grave. 

As Jaime and I were talking she told me she understands the respect thing. She most often addresses her uncles as Uncle Todd, Uncle Steven, Uncle Robert and so forth. But she is still using their first names and not Uncle Glad, Uncle Fehr and Uncle Rivera (that would be weird).  I have always used first names for grandmas to separate them from their parents.  (Grandma Greenwood, Grandma Fehr, Grandma Mary, Grandma Helen, Grandma Gerrie, Grandma Aurelia, Grandma Lucy . . . .)

I did have one bishop who had a three syllable Polish name which wasn’t all that difficult to pronounce but the entire time he was serving was addressed as “Bishop Joe” – Joe being his first name.  I served a ward in Virginia where all the members were addressed by Brother and Sister First Name rather than last name.  I really liked that.  First names means “friend” in my opinion.