Atmospheric Post

Some days I stop in wonder as enormous clouds dominate the sky over our Wasatch Mountains.  Storm clouds are most welcome in the current drought.  Some other days the wildfire haze is so bad the mountains disappear, and we are advised to stay indoors if we can’t stay healthy when breathing toxic air.  I have marveled as the sun turns bright orange in mid-day.

Last Monday, Classical 89 (BYU) radio described “an atmospheric piece” to be played.  I forget the title, but remember it created a mood that was nostalgic and romantic, matching the second definition of the word.  (Language of love hits home with Kay & me.)

What’s in your Cloud?

Rich writing re. Pioneer Trek

My 2nd-great-grandmother, Mary Ann Phelps Rich, recalled “the western trek”:

My husband [Charles C. Rich] fitted up his wagons and teams and we left Winter Quarters in June, 1847; he having been placed in charge of a company of one hundred wagons. We traveled to the Elkhorn River, here we had to wait until all had crossed the river, as we crossed on rafts, and Mr. Rich had to wait until they all got over so he could tie the raft and bring the rope with him. There was one young man by the name of Weatherby, who was killed by the Indians while we were here, he died in our tent.

We traveled two abreast the whole distance of the Platt[e] River, for greater safety. There were thousands of buffalo on every side, which the men would kill, so we had plenty of meat. There were also hundreds of Indians to be seen at frequent intervals all the time we were traveling up the Platt[e] River.

— Autobiography of Mary Ann Phelps Rich

found on history.churchofjesuschrist.org

Great-grandfather George Q. Cannon and siblings were also in that 2nd company led by Charles C. Rich.  My family and I are grateful for our pioneer heritage.  We honor the women, men, and children who endured the trek west “with faith in every footstep”.

Profound Effect of Time

Having finished scanning (digitizing) my sweetheart Kay’s Treasures of Truth (both heavy albums thru summer of 1970), I pause to ponder ... what it all means to our five children and me.

In her book Writing Your Life, Lou Stanek teaches, “Time has a profound effect on our emotions, understanding, and writing style.”  For example, she suggests a look back after seven years allows greater perspective than writing your feelings immediately after a car accident or family death.  (Nevertheless, my journal writing around the time of Kay’s passing is a precious link to remind me of God’s mercy and miracles since then.)

Encouraging the reader to find ideas for creating a memoir or novel, Stanek hits home with, “If you haven’t noticed the stories lurking in the family photograph album, you haven’t been paying attention.”  In my race to scan pictures, programs, and letters, I take short breaks to read and share, but fail to notice many lurking stories.  However, it is fun to see photos and names of Kay’s many boyfriends (and girlfriends, of course).  Oh, how love and time affect us both.  I could write a book!

Time of Our Life

Yesterday a sweet, older neighbor couple asked me why family came here on Friday, and why I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, since my wife Kay (in their view) is not with me.  So, I explained why she celebrates on the other side, being close by, patient with me, and happy with our marriage thus far.  How can I not rejoice along with her?  As we know, true love is eternal.

(In summary, for the record:)

To provide heavenly entertainment, a Bountiful friend brought one of her talented daughters and the family’s vintage harp to our social room.  Neighbors were also invited.  Everyone loved the classical and sacred music, which included one of the teenager’s own compositions.  Our gifted daughter-in-law played Primary songs on the baby grand during a break, especially for Kay.  Our son surprised us with gorgeous yellow roses and an assortment of “Mom’s favorite snacks” for me to enjoy, knowing I don’t cook.  Ice cream sandwiches were my surprisingly creative contribution.  The restaurant dinner that followed was casual with no hurry or cleanup to burden us.

Last night, Kay’s siblings and their spouses celebrated our 50th in Holladay, Utah.  (Gratefully, I always feel like a member of her loving family.)  The dinner was superb, and their tributes warmed our heart.  In my assigned, five-minute talk with a focus on music, I described our 51 years of dating and marriage.  It was a trip with precious memories, and we knew it was Kay who made us all smile.  Homemade lemon ice cream, their family tradition, was icing on the cake.  How sweet it is — the time of our life!

Bountiful Summer

Where I live, as in Ogden, practically everything I need is within a short walk to enjoy warm summer sun or rain.  I simply jog through parking lots for groceries and take a little sidewalk to church.  Unlike our beloved downtown Ogden, the civilized traffic on the main road I rarely approach in Bountiful sounds to me like ocean surf, recalling summers with my sweetheart Kay at Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast.  The occasional demon driver punctuating the dream is understandable, as every city has one and tolerates him.  (Unlike surf, the intrusive noise pains my sensitive ears and soul in an otherwise serene summer.  However, I do miss the thrilling sound of fighter jets near Hill AFB.  God bless America!)

Typical of the Intermountain West, Bountiful is thankfully back to normal this summer, if you know what I mean.  Handshakes and hugs are not uncommon, few folks are fearful, and we see each other smile.  Neighbors in my senior community now eagerly gather every Monday for Music Evening.  This week we were entertained by the awesome Old Time Combo and refreshed by frozen fruit bars — just imagine.  South Davis Senior Activity Center (nice new name for our Golden Years Center) has the friendliest staff and again provides healthy dinners at 11:44 AM as they did in the good old days.  Our public library is conveniently located next door.  Also adjacent to the fun senior center is the impressive Bountiful Veterans Park, dedicated November 11, 2020 — especially inspiring at night with lights.

A clear view of the temple on the mountain above reminds us of everlasting life and loved ones who have passed to the other side.  I thank God for my peaceful Bountiful home and for our Kay at work in her heavenly home ... with love.

Phenomenal Families

In my opinion (and my sweetheart Kay agrees), our five children and their families are phenomenal (“very remarkable; extraordinary.”)  Having been born of and raised by amazing parents, our 23 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren are phenomena (“remarkable persons ...”)

A phenomenon can be a fact that is unexplainable or in question.  However, in this case (families), it stands to divine reason: God’s children who come to Earth are “trailing clouds of glory” and are blessed with special gifts.  Loving parents help them develop those God-given gifts, which in turn bless the lives of others.  (William Wordsworth, a gifted Romantic poet, was inspired.)

Two weeks before giving birth to a child, who was preparing for “this big event”, my young wife Kay wrote in her journal, “I hope this baby will be a sweet spirit and a real blessing in our home ...”  That hope was and is certainly realized.  There is no end ...

Backyard with a wild side

My wife Kay hand-wrote in her personal journal 9/18/1980: “... the biggest news!  We moved!  ...  One evening, after Ned and [realtor] Wayne Pope [Avenues barber who gave Russell Nelson’s son his first haircut] had been looking, Ned came home very excited and wanted me to see another [near] Holladay home.  9:30 PM ... we loaded the [3] kids in the car and went tearing out there.  ...  I was immediately impressed with the spaciousness and openness of the main floor, deck and huge back yard [with a wild perimeter, in our view] ...  The next day was Sunday ...  Mom and Dad were immediately impressed with the same features ... and back yard.  ...”

Our home on H St sold quickly for 3 times our purchase price, and we bought the home in East Mill Creek, north of Holladay.  “The kids started school there on Aug. 25th”, a week before we moved — rough few days for Kay.  Soon after the move, little friends on the block were running “all over the neighborhood and through our house and backyard all the time.  It’s quite a dramatic change for us.  Our boys love it, though.”  ...

“For Halloween, we let our boys invite all their new friends over for a party and [wild backyard] spider web hunt.  To our amazement, 25 kids showed up!  A couple of them weren’t even invited.”  Afterward we realized it was too much.  “The kids were all so hyper and hard to control, but in general it was fun, and I’m glad we did it ...” in our home and backyard with a wild side.