Her Enduring Influence

There is no end to my eternal wife’s loving influence on our family, friends, and this older man.  At age 18 my neighbor, Kay Hinckley, had served a three-year mission in Canada.  She was an officer at East High School, held a job at the University of Utah, and enjoyed a calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Outgoing Kay had unforgettable, positive influence on her amazing circles of friends, family, neighbors, and strangers.  Being the youngest of eight children, she helped her parents stay young (sometimes adding to their gray hairs).  A life filled with adventure!

Also a returned missionary, I was years older than Kay, but years behind her socially and in other ways.  However, she must have seen potential in me for improvement when we started dating as classmates in Music Appreciation at the “U”.  I was privileged to experience Kay’s love for life and her love for all that God offers to His children.  Her students in English classes were blessed by that, many continuing to be so inspired.  Sister Cannon also made long-lasting impressions where we served in the Michigan Detroit Mission.  The lives of our five children clearly reflect their mother’s positive influence.  And Kay’s beauty, famously with her engaging smile, also has me … “let me count the ways” .… forever falling in love.  

When the personal history of Kay Hinckley Cannon is written, a main theme throughout will be her loving, enduring influence on us all.  It will be a history influenced by Kay … with no end. 

Spanish Copies

Speeding up and slowing down — I see improvement in both when reading a Spanish copy of the Book of Mormon, an ancient record Joseph Smith translated by the gift and power of God.  Having read the book in English many times since my youth, I find the Spanish easy to understand now as I pick up the pace.  However, slowing down is more important to me in my old age, so I can receive new impressions about repeated truths and take precious moments to ponder.  Slowing down also helps me look up unfamiliar words and increase my vocabulary.  In particular, my study of Spanish verb conjugations in Argentina continues to pay back.  And just like that, it came to pass (y así aconteció); I am grateful (estoy agradecido).

Reading magazines published in Spanish by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also helps me learn and retain.  (The pictures are still my favorite part.)  And I see more bilingual, English-Spanish signage and printed material everywhere — educational for me and helpful for the Hispanic population of Ogden.  (My iPhone photo album set apart for that is filling up.)

I love the language — even better when combined with a little fast food.

Recalling Radio

In my early youth, a regular was Mother’s KWHO classical radio, especially Saturday afternoon Metropolitan Opera.  Great music had a lasting influence on me.  Around age 10, I recall hearing Patti Page (1927-2013) on our kitchen radio — probably Dad’s musical preference.  In 7th grade I was lucky to have my own radio to hear Nat King Cole (1919-1965) sing “Stardust”.  (Guess I was a romantic type at that young age.)  My bedtime view of the big-city lights combined with that 1927 song (Cole first recorded in 1956) formed a special memory.  I was also blessed with a solar-powered transistor radio my father gave me, which worked well at poolside while studying for school — seriously.

Country western music played a role in a favorite sales job, where my young boss kept us workers going all day with his radio station.  He must have known the customers liked it.  I learned the value of diversity in music tastes.  My medium-size Sony boombox served me for many years of recording radio to cassette tape, even with a broken antenna.  (We’ve come a long way since then.)  Years later I enjoyed a driving job (525 miles per day) with Sirius XM satellite-based radio … and got paid by the hour for listening to music and talk.

What was your favorite device or program?  And how is your playlist this year?

Classical 89 (a BYU radio station) on the Internet has been a great comfort to me, especially when I hear music my best friend Kay & I studied together for our class at the “U”.  Now using Bluetooth headphone, I also hear that uplifting music with fun commentary on WQXR New York and WRCJ Detroit radio stations.  I love how it purely cancels traffic and neighbor noise without my talking to a smart speaker.  Lastly, a bit of KSL NewsRadio talk once a week is always informative.  As I recall, radio never disappeared into history — it’s alive and well.

Peaceable Walk

Walking with my sweetheart Kay on sands of Cannon Beach, Oregon; sight & sounds of surf.

The Sacred Grove, New York, alone with Kay. 

Finding peace with Kay and our son Quinn at Ogden Botanical Gardens.

Strolling Ogden temple grounds with neighbors. 

Fun with Katie and kids on mountain hikes; “life elevated” on Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

Walks with young families in Kanab red rock and Prescott National Forest.

The apartment halls and nearby McKay-Dee Hospital campus with Norma (92-year-old power walker), our friend since 2004 at Colonial Court.

Ogden City’s Glasmann Pond with my friend Jay (95) and Misha, the young Engage Life Coordinator who has gone on to different employment, sad to say.  (Missing her!)

Legacy Gold Medal Mile, as if alone — not really.

Walking peaceably with nature, family, and friends — good for the body, heart, mind, and spirit.  Always grateful to God for His creation and other blessings … with love.

Let personal peace prevail.