Neighbors Night

Halloween with our five little children was “Trick-or-Treat” time for them and “Meet Your Neighbors Night” for me.  My wife Kay’s delightful role was gypsy (“a nomadic or free-spirited person”), giving out candy and telling fun fortunes — legendary!

East Mill Creek, SLC Utah, was the ideal, peaceful neighborhood where our kids thrived and grew up.  A friendly family our age always invited us over to share their Halloween dinner tradition.  Once a year I had a perfect excuse to meet new neighbors and talk to old ones I hadn’t seen in twelve months.  While our kids in costumes received sweet offerings (including homemade root beer from a witch on her porch), I was like Mister Rogers saying, “Won’t you be my neighbor.”  Ned was lovin’ it — not to mention treats the children shared with Dad afterward.  A highlight for the kids one year was their all-out “spook alley” on a vacant lot.

This year is different for most folks.  However, I see plenty of creative ways young families are starting new traditions to be recalled by grandparents forty years from now ... with love.

Tenth Anniversary Pics

Tuesday, special for me every week since 2018, today is a timely celebration of a tenth anniversary.  This obscure “LFF” blog began October 20, 2010.  “Words” introduced my “shared journal” as "language fast food" to be an unending series of short posts focused on the English language, my personal views, and family history.

I am grateful for the few who have discovered my random notes, and I appreciate all the comments and encouragement.  Special thanks to my eternal sweetheart, Kay Hinckley Cannon, who continues to inspire me to write ... with love.  

Many of my favorite posts have pictures which sample (“get a representative experience of”) my OC photography, not always relating to the topic at hand.  So, I share these pics as fast food for thought.

my mother Janath and 3 older generations

Awake Early or Late?

Maybe I’m just up in the night, wanting to write.  Fortunately, waking at 2am, earlier than most seniors, or getting up after a very late nap, is not routine for me.  It’s something I feel free to do for a change.

My younger friend (67) in the lush land of Bountiful rarely sleeps past 3:30am.  Before being re-employed last week for 6am work, he routinely drove to a park in Salt Lake City (far beyond the scenic oil refineries) around 6:20, then called me at 7am while visiting with strangers to cheer them up.  Respectfully waiting to wake me, he reported how his day was going and how he was challenged the day before.  It was always interesting and never surprising.  Now what shall I do to start my day?

After a delightfully scary evening with our grandchildren at Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park (“lights, camera!”), my strange dream was not surprising.  Not too late for relief, it was time to awake and write early.

A time for peace

Surely there is a season ...

My sweetheart Kay helps me keep an eternal perspective and feel at peace.  Our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost give us peace when we are accepting.  I often feel it, so I know it is true.

What more can I say?  It’s about love.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Haunted House Too?

Some things from the past that I find around home are haunting me, occasionally raising their ugly heads until buried again.  As a collector of interesting things, I write this one about hoarding and OCH (an OCD).

In 2010, when I first posted this, my close friend Phil's advice was: "Ask yourself, 'What good will this do for someone if I keep it?' Get real."  It's tough deciding — I know from experience.

I am convinced that scanning stuff (for digital storage) and discarding is a no-brainer solution.  It is how I let go of stuff.  One baby-step at a time; (remember Bob!)

That Time Again

Let “the holidays” begin!

What are your family memories?