Train of Thought

“What was I thinking?”  That could be exclamatory, like “how could I do something so stupid!”  Or it may be a case of losing my train of thought ... depending on the context.  At my old age, I tend to think it’s the latter.

looking for my train ...

found at the end of my thought

Along the way, I like to keep several trains of thought which have no end and are never lost. One is of the love our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ show to us. Another is all about Kay, my young bride, who has often saved me from losing it. I am grateful for daily reminders to keep thoughts on the right track ... with love.

Pioneer Days: Family History

Traditional events having been canceled, we can still have fun with family and area history on this Pioneer Day holiday in Utah.  My home city of Ogden celebrates Pioneer Days in a plural way (“containing several diverse elements”) including horse art and fireworks.  Popular parades and rodeos are pre-pandemic history here; ( I reviewed my photos of last year’s parade for fun).

I heard that KSL TV in Salt Lake City will recall the good old days by replaying video of Utah’s biggest 2019 parade this morning.  (The new normal: watching recorded history instead of current events.)

Crossing the Bridge

When facing the unknown, I have concluded sometimes, “We will cross that bridge when we come to it.”  Is that indecisiveness, procrastination, or faith in the future?  Or can it be all three?  (Rhetorical questions you’re not expected to answer.)

I often prefer not to cross a bridge before coming to it.  That may be viewed as failure to plan ahead or “the trait of irresolution; a lack of firmness of character or purpose”  — Vocabulary.com defines indecisiveness.  At the same time, I can have faith that when we come to the bridge, we will certainly be able to cross it ... with God’s help and guidance from the Spirit.  The life of my eternal companion Kay is a good example of facing the unknown and crossing bridges with faith; (at a young age, she married me!)  The pioneers, whom we celebrate this week, are also great examples; ( I wrote a book about one with faithful posterity).

I am grateful for bridges this year, to help us cross “over troubled water”.  Home-centered church is a blessing, especially when public gatherings are not possible.  Worldwide messages and music from inspired leaders teach and bring us joy.  Technology enables a virtual devotional every Sunday morning for our Michigan congregation; I sense the Spirit is there and in my home.

I look forward to reuniting with my sweetheart on the other side, with confidence I will cross that bridge when I come to it ... with love.

Day in the Neighborhood

Yesterday I collected a few of my photos of the Ogden Utah area to show a visitor from Alabama.  An open house was held here last night for neighbors to meet her and enjoy good food.  The evening was successfully filled with friendly talk and refreshment, so I saved my show for another day.

In the meantime, I can share some with the few friends and family who may run across this post.  Easy to throw in a little family history on this beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Pioneer Days celebrated with artsy horses in July

welcome diner at FrontRunner train station

telling visitors where to go

 view from our home 2005-2009

with temple and Kay's favorite flowers

Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum

reminding me of Kay's Deseret Dolls in Layton

Ogden River trail I like to walk and bike

shave ice added to Farr Better Ice Cream

for sisters visiting dad nearby

end of the day at favorite gathering place by temple

– Farr's celebrating 100 years of ice cream

Practice Makes Perfect?

In my old age, I have doubts about the “common idiom ... used for saying that if you repeat an activity or do it regularly, you will become very good at it.”  — Stack Exchange

Take practicing the piano, for example, which I did again tonight.  It’s OK to never again reach the comfort level I achieved as a teenager, or the amazing talent of my wife Kay, but I am disappointed nonetheless.  Looking at my limitations in a positive light, I find joy in playing uplifting music with hope that proper practice eventually makes perfect.  I’m actually getting pretty good at “Down by the Station” for beginners (“suggested prop: train whistle”), my choice for a summer recital with grandsons in the far West.  My assignment: bring donuts.

Another example: practicing physical distancing (labeled “social distancing”, which I agree is opposite of what family and friends need to do socially during the pandemic) wisely shows a perfect example of caring for others at risk.  No mask design is ideal for health, but wearing one according to accepted guidelines can be a perfect way to say, “I care.”  As Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf wrote, “Don’t mask your heart.”  Use technology to stay socially close.

Practice writing stories about your life, and be pleased with how perfectly youngsters smile when reading or hearing them.  When I was about ten years old, I was riding bareback on a stout pony named Smokey.  (My father and uncle had recently purchased an old farm, and my summers were never the same after that!)  No problem heading out to the field, but when I turned Smokey toward home, he took off galloping, eager to return (and get me off his back, I suppose).  Now you can guess the rest of the story, as I tried to hang on for dear life.  You’re right.  The chance to practice falling taught me a perfect lesson about staying in control ... and living to tell about it.

Tuesday Progress

For the record: This morning I held a 54-minute phone meeting with an author-client friend of mine in Florida, and I ordered Amazon to ship copies of his latest book to him.   A 9am trip to the city dump with our “action man” neighbor was a fun service project and my first visit there.  That’s progress.  I was impressed!

Starting an early lunch, I happened to visit Classical89.org in time to hear a BYU devotional from 7/10/2018.  The university editor spoke about faith in Jesus Christ and gave me new insight about trials in life; it made my day!

Not wanting a hot walk for three blocks to the bike shop, I drove to get my flat tire repaired.  Two more stops on the way home.  Paid a bill, visited with nice neighbors, and walked around the block.  Goes without saying, I wrote this.

My haphazard (random) journal is a way to track progress toward my Tuesday-time-off plan.  I’m not there yet, but it was a special day, feeling close to Kay.  (Recording impressions is something else I need to work on.)  “At the end of the day,” it’s progress.

End of the Day Too

Freedom to write, speak up, and worship God.  This Independence Day celebration reminds me to be grateful for freedom in this great country.

Years ago, I interpreted a common phrase as meaning: “I conclude that, after all is said and done, this is what it boils down to ..."  Simply stated (sometimes superfluosly) in the media, “At the end of the day ...”

At the end ... brave men and women fought for and gained our freedom.  To this day, others sacrifice to maintain it.  I honor and pray for those serving in our military.  Each day, know that we must not take freedom for granted.  The battle continues until He comes again.

At the end of the day, we can thank Heavenly Father for freedom of religion, and pray for its protection.  Each day, I know Kay & I can be together forever with our family.  At day’s end, one may rest from all cares and know the sun will come up in the morning — the dawning of a new day.