Time

With each passing moment it is creeping ever closer - heavy footsteps of its approach echo relentlessly in the hallways of my mind. The "it" I am referring to is the dreaded spring daylight savings time change (which is always much worse than the one in the fall). Worse because it causes me to lose an entire hour of precious sleep (what could be worse than that?). Yes, I could just go to bed an hour earlier (pretending that the time change has already happened). But I think going to bed early like that must be against my religion. I am trying to find supporting mention of this belief in the scriptures - I'm sure it must be in there!! All I need is to be more diligent in reading from them every day, and I shall soon discover words of support.

I do admit that there are a few positive things that this yearly time change event heralds - the fast approaching gifts of spring. I think that I mentioned in a previous posting that spring is one of my four favorite seasons. It is spring that brings with it a total renewal of life, finally awakening from the slumbers of winter's chill. How I anxiously await the tiny leaf and flower buds bursting forth everywhere you look. Sunshine is warmer, and remains longer in the sky as the days slowly extend the blessed hours of light to the northern hemisphere.

When I think of spring, I think of newborn baby animals (puppy's being among my most favorite). I think of plowing and planting crops in the freshly turned earth (corn on the cob to mention one) - crops to be feasted upon in the upcoming months. I think of wildflowers stretching their flowered heads towards the sky - and bees busily humming as they eagerly harvest the pollen nectar. I can hear birds singing their songs of nest building, and laying eggs in every assorted color - from which will burst forth some of God's beautiful creatures. Butterflies are emerging from their cocoons - spreading their colorful wings to fly past - while I stare in shear wonderment at their grace and beauty.

Okay, perhaps the approach of daylight saving change isn't as bad as I may think. After all, it is one of the hallmarks announcing the coming of spring!

Hello birdie!!

On my drive home, I often see a bird of prey (a falcon or hawk) perched high above the freeway on one of the light posts. I like to imagine the bird is there to greet and welcome me on my homeward journey. Or perhaps it is just there to view with curiosity and amazement the strange metal objects hurtling past at breakneck speeds. However, I suspect this bird is merely on the watch for field mice in the large grassy enclosed area, that is often created with an intersection between two freeway systems.

I usually greet warmly the stately bird - and offer up a wish for a good hunt. In the back of my mind I swear that I can faintly hear a personal return greeting - conveyed mostly by a regal look towards my car as it speeds past... my friend in the red car is safely on her way home now - all is good in the world - now I can go forward with the hunt.

Sisters

It is always nice to be invited into the home of those with large and loving families. My definition of a "large family" is one with three or more children. I grew up with only one brother - but he and I from day one were never close in any sense of the word. He left home when I was about age 14 – but long before that (due to choices he made to separate himself from the family unit)... I often thought of myself as an only child in many respects.

I have often experienced the green-eyed monster I call "envy" of those who have sisters (I always wanted a sister). Growing up I loved the chaos and noise found in the homes of those with multiple siblings. Don't get me wrong - I was most fortunate to grow up in a home that was a fairly quiet and peaceful place in which one could totally unwind from the cares of the day. My parents worked hard at creating this environment of peace. In fact as a kid, some friends with large families who came over to "play" would sit down and actually fall asleep.

Now that both of my parents have passed away and I am alone, my home is even more quiet and peaceful - which I truly enjoy. I love being at home. However I have to express the thought that it is nice to get out and interact with others in a family gathering. I don’t usually understand the long-standing family inside jokes - but the shared laughter is always a bright spot.

One could say that I do have some "sisters" - they take the shape of neighbors and close friends. But as much as I love and deeply care for them - for some reason it doesn’t seem to be exactly quite the same as having a life-long connection with another person that is filled with shared experiences. Perhaps I am trying to elevate the whole concept of having a blood sister into something that it is not in real life. But to those of you who do have sisters, I say... cherish them on whatever level you are able to.

Winter

I like winter. It is one of my four favorite seasons of the year - the others being spring, summer and autumn (listed in no particular order). What is it about winter that has me taking keyboard in hand to express feelings about it? Top of the list would probably be... no yard work required!! Except for brief episodes of snow shoveling, winter is a time of sweet respite from the labor intensiveness of other seasons. Here are a few of my other favorite winter things...

• cold days and even colder nights
• frosted or snow covered branches on trees
• turtle necks and fleece
• ear muffs and gloves
• snuggling under a blanket reading a book
• hot chocolate and a good movie
• warmth and comfort of a wood fire
• the sounds of winter...
  - how sound carries so clearly on a cold morning after a storm
  - muffled stillness during a snow storm
  - show crunching when walking on it
  - the sound of snowflakes falling (yes, there is a sound)

Winter weather also helps to better justify my home body tendencies - I simply love being at home. The best vacation I have taken in years was a week "staycation" this past summer. In the winter, no one questions your mental state when you stick close to home. Try that in the summer, and your friends start slipping you names of mental health professionals and self-help books to read.

In the future, I will probably write other blog postings expressing my feelings about spring, summer or autumn - and why I like those times of the year so much. But for now I must reiterate that... I like winter.

Sasquatch

NEWS FLASH: A Sasquatch sighting was here at my home this morning!!

Okay - so it was only a partial sighting - just the legs. And for some strange reason those legs appear to be attached to my body!! It's amazing how much leg hair can grow in only two weeks. Who knows how much longer it will get before I am once again able to reach down and properly use a razor?

I am currently contemplating various methods of adding additional length to the razor handle - without jeopardizing safety in shaving. I don't want to open any bleeding wounds on my legs - and then be unable to address the problem without an embarrassing visit to the local medical care center.

I can hear it now...

"So, how did you receive this huge gash that now requires 57 stitches?"

"Ummm, I was attacked by a rabid dust bunny? Maybe I need a tetanus shot."

Brain fog

The past 1.5 weeks have passed in a drug induced brain fog. Ever since surgery last week I have needed to be somewhat doped up to reduce the pain levels for mere survival. The pain really only hits when I do silly things such as breathing, standing, walking, or eating. Heaven forbid I ever need to sneeze, cough or blow my nose!! I honestly do not understand why people would ever make the choice to turn to drugs and live their lives in such a foggy world. I can't wait for the time when I can once again live my life with full faculties in place.

But until then, I am certain that my friends are enjoying observing and mocking my altered state of mind. But just remember - even though I can't quite think straight at the moment - I have been taking notes and suitable retaliation will be forthcoming (all in good taste, of course)!!

Journey of re-discovery

I have rediscovered something lost many years ago - and thought to never find again. It is amazing - but apparently I have lost enough weight this year to have once again found my waist (or at least the hint of what used to be my waist). Sometimes we don't know how much something is missed, until the joy of rediscovery comes our way.

The only problem with this rediscovery journey is that I need to seriously think about purchasing new (and smaller) clothing items. Outfits that have suited me very well for the past number of years are becoming larger. So, if you see me walking down the street with my pants hanging low - please know that I am not trying to make a young "gangster pants falling off" type of fashion statement. It could be that I have simply run out of safety pins.

I wonder if my upcoming hernia surgery will provide me with any new and exciting benefits? You know, make me "better than before; better stronger, faster" - kinda like the bionic man!! (if you're not old enough to remember that TV series - I am so sorry).

Maybe I will gain a bionic bellybutton!! (that's where the hernia is located). I wonder what enhanced super bionic type powers it could provide me? I don't think the bellybutton is attached in any significant way to legs, arms, eyes or ears - so this limits the bionic possibilities somewhat. Actually I might settle for a simple tummy tuck - think the surgeon will comply with that request?

Crazy busy - or just plain crazy?

I haven't posted anything on this blog for a while now. Life just got all crazy busy at work - and combine that with my crazy busy personal life and there you have it... total mental meltdown. It is difficult to write anything clever or interesting to read when one's brain cells are dying off at an exponential rate.

I am scheduled to have surgery next month for a hernia and will be away from work for two solid weeks straight. How sad is it that I am actually looking forward to going under the knife? Maybe next time I should plan a less painful (and more enjoyable) way of taking time off work, eh?

Memories (part seven) - shopping

What woman out there doesn’t like shopping? And even better than that - shopping for things when they are on sale!!

Back in the day at ZCMI (a marvelous department store in downtown Salt Lake City - that alas is no more) they would periodically hold what were known as “door crasher” sales. Mom knew exactly which door would be opened mere moments before any of the others in the store. It was there that she anxiously waited for the doors to be unlocked, and the highly anticipated sales to begin. Mom was always first in line of course - she hated to be late for anything - and being first in line would assure her of greater sales prowess. I distinctly remember still being in a stroller - and even later walking (make that running - Mom was known for her quick stride) with Mom to these sales.

Ready, set, run… masses of women rushing and almost knocking down hapless sales people who bravely unlocked the doors - all in an effort to get to the basement bargain tables before anyone else. It was there that the hoards of shoppers would find tables piled high with towels, sheets, shirts, socks, pants, etc. - all being offered at the lowest prices ever conceived of for a "door crasher" closeout sale.

Mom’s supreme strategy was to simply elbow other women out of her way and gather a large helping of whatever was on the table - sort through the items in her arms - throwing back that which didn’t fit her needs. Then she would thrust into my small waiting arms her chosen finds - and turn again to shove herself once more into the mad foray of bargain hungry women.

There is nothing more terrifying than to witness the flailing arms and elbows of determined bargain shoppers hunting for their prey in a “door crasher” sale. Some of these maddened women would actually have the audacity to try and pry Mom’s prized finds out of my tiny hands. But I would hold tightly - and with shopping genes bred pure and true into my very being - would scream at these women... "These belong to my Mommy!! NO you can not have them!!"

Maybe these childhood sales experiences are one reason why I do not participate in the day after Thanksgiving sales. I got the madness out of my system at a very young age - and today’s bargain shopping simply pales in comparison. I also don’t appreciate loosing valuable sleep just for the sake of shopping.

Perhaps those shopping genes have finally worn themselves out - or are not in reality quite so pure? That being said - I admit there is still a visible warm internal glow and sense of pure pride of accomplishment after a crushing bargain take down. Hummmm... shopping anyone?

Memories (part six) - church

At one point I was as familiar with Temple Square as I was my own home and yard. We would walk around those beautiful grounds a number of times every week. After all we only lived a block away in those early years.

I loved going up the long curved ramp to view the huge Christus statue in the North Visitor’s Center Rotunda. Static would build up from walking on that carpeted ramp – and what fun it was to then stealthily sneak up on my brother, or Mom, and watch them jump when touched. I remember being awestruck by the enormity of the statue, and the beautiful depiction of the cosmos on the background walls. I am still awestruck by this very special place – and need to make a goal to visit Temple Square more often than just at Christmas time.

One of my most favorite things to do at Temple Square was to watch the movie, Man’s Search for Happiness. I loved watching this movie, and even now forty plus years later remember most of the movie, almost as if I had just viewed it the other day. Among such scenes I can still hear and see the multitude of clocks ticking away – and hear the narrator’s voice-over talking about time. In my mind I can see the young family standing in falling snow at the graveside of their beloved grandfather – who was passing through the veil and being greeted by a multitude of loved ones.

Another loved but slightly more intense movie was, Christ in America. There was a point in that presentation where loud thunder type sounds and flashing lights were followed by the theater being plunged into total darkness. Then a deep voice quoted a passage from the Book of Mormon, announcing the resurrected Savior. And the scariness was soon over when lights came back on - and the screen had disappeared - replaced by the wonder of seeing a life-size three dimensional portrayal of Christ visiting the Nephites after his resurrection. I really liked that part best of all - and so would endure the terror before it so that I might gaze in awe at such a miraculous event. I always wanted to run forward towards the Christ figure, with the faint thought that He might possibly be real - but was too shy to really consider such an act.

We attended church meetings every Sunday in the old 17th ward building (located at 142 West 200 North in Salt Lake). In the chapel, which is still there, is a beautiful stained glass depiction of Joseph Smith’s first vision. I can remember sitting in church staring at that scene for what seemed like the longest time every Sunday. Such vivid memories of this window have remained with me - and even now I can clearly recall the smallest details of that stained glass window.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to be in that church building once again - and took the time to walk into the chapel. It was exactly the way I remembered it in every detail. I’m sure that being able to look at such beauty during Sunday meetings was what helped make me the most quiet, and well behaved, toddler in the history of Mormon church meetings (wink wink).