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.

Hit and Miss

“The Score” program (Portland Oregon) on BYU radio this morning titled the episode about this past year’s main movies and their music, “Hit and Miss”.  I likened it to my hit-and-miss year — “sometimes successful and sometimes not.”  Maybe you can relate.  Nevertheless, I am grateful to God for another year of life with much success … in the strength of the Lord. 

Wishing you a prosperous and joyful New Year!!

Christmas Eve Reflection

A serious thought on this special day of rest — time for reflection.  The week before Christmas 2017, in Roseville Michigan, Sister Cannon and I were busy helping people.  So, we didn’t think about what to give each other.  Kay lovingly sent gifts to our children the previous week – always ahead of me in that regard.

(Posted Tuesday, December 19, 2017:)

As missionaries and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we do what we can to spread the good news of the gospel while assisting others with temporal needs.  As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we know He lives and is aware of people's needs, hopes, and desires.  It is our hope to follow His example of love this Christmas season and thereby experience a happier New Year!

Warm Blankets

We feel the winter cold here in northern Utah, as expected for our Christmas celebration.  I’m thinkin’ warm blankets at night when “the weather outside is frightful.”

Newborns deserve a warm welcome in any season.  I see swaddle blankets online, designed as security, wearable, adjustable, personalized, photo props, with matching hat, etc.  Baby has come a long way!  Our daughters and granddaughters could also talk about dolls. 

Did you or your child have a special “blankie” that was difficult to let go of?  On a larger scale, Kay’s mother made adorable quilts cherished by our youngsters.  I recall my 1970 Argentine red poncho served as a warm walking blanket in my youth.  (With all our moves, where did it go?)  My wife was grateful for the calming effect of heated blankets at Huntsman Hospital.  A bit of family history. 

Mary wrapped her baby Jesus in something warm, welcoming Him to earth life.  (The “swaddling clothes” were likely “long strips of cloth wrapped all around the baby.”  — BYU New Testament Commentary, by John Welch re. Luke 2:7)  In some respects, a simple, warm existence at that time.  In other ways, a bitter, cold world.  However, Christ came and grew to give us all the warmth of His redeeming love.  He overcame death for all mankind.  He lives!

Christmas Choirs Too

This one is for music lovers, with excerpts from a 2012 post.  As Christmas music has blessed my life, today's choir practice brought to mind some great choirs I’ve enjoyed in the past, and a heavenly choir I’ve read about, which blessed the scene of our Savior’s birth.  What are favorite choirs you sang in or listened to at Christmas time?

In 2012, my wife Kay liked this suggestion: East High School A Cappella Choir, which reminded me of Christmas performances I loved with my EHS choir directed by the legendary Lorraine Bowman.  Years later, Kay sang in that choir.  She could have also mentioned the Northridge High School choir our daughters sang in.  We enjoyed their 2012 concert (with orchestra) which ended with a thrilling rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah (1742) by Handel (1685-1759).  The annual concert always brought joy to us ... and certainly to the performers.

The jacket of a vinyl LP (with a 50-cent DI price tag) found in our basement “archive” lists the members of the Brigham Young University A Cappella Choir 1980.  I enjoy their Christmas music this month on BYU's Classical 89.  One album I am sure must exist would go with Kay’s CD, "Angel Voices -- Libera in Concert" recorded May 30 & 31, 2007, in a Netherlands cathedral.  I haven't heard their Christmas music, but it’s on my wish list.  The boys’ choir provides a heavenly listening experience that would lift anyone’s spirit this season.

There’s more I could add here, but this will do for a fast one.  Suffice it to say, “I’m crazy about choirs!”  So … Merry Christmas, and have a happy choir experience!

Another Tuesday

Today was temple work, Golden Corral feast, and a project: scanning contents of my wife Kay’s little box of wedding invitations, etc. we received since 1971, carefully organized … (hundreds!)  Treasures of family history and memories of dear friends.  (We both came from large families, and we moved a lot.)

Is this evidence of my OC digital hoarding?  I like to think it is preservation of valuable history, backed-up on “the cloud” while lightening my load. 

Something about Tuesdays … since September 2018, gets me going … with love.