Those of you who follow this blog probably noticed a change in design today. This is the result of boredom combined with an utter lack of creativity on my part. When I awoke this morning, staring at the list I made last night of 15 things I need to accomplish today, I decided to indulge myself by lying in bed and reading the latest entries in the blogs I routinely follow. It's like when I have 5,000,000 papers to grade and I, instead, decide to clean my house. Except reading blogs is MUCH more fun than cleaning my house, so this is even better! Ah, the joy of procrastination.
As I skimmed through the blogs of several friends, I began to compare (this is never good) my blog design to those I was reading. Bad idea. When we compare ourselves to others in any capacity, the result is never positive. The truth is that while I have a small number of talents and abilities, creating beautiful things is certainly not one of them. I know people who have what I call "The Beauty Touch." It's like "The Midas Touch," only instead of things turning to gold, everything they touch turns to beautiful.
I don't have that touch. In fact, on those occasions when I've tried to create something aesthetically pleasing, the result has been disastrous. Consequently, I don't try very often. I do love to write, however, and this blog has provided me a much-needed opportunity to do just that. I wish I could make its design beautiful like so many of the others I look at, but alas, I have no idea how. So instead, I'll have to settle for a new template which I selected this morning.
Do you like it? Or is the other one better? I'm just not good at this, so I definitely need input.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Paradise
What is paradise?
I suppose its definition changes from person to person, from time to time, from situation to situation, and sometimes even from moment to moment.
Today, I sit at the Paradise Cafe in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City where Shulamith's new apartment is located. What could be more paradisaical than sitting across from my daughter in a booth at the Paradise Cafe, each of us with our laptops plugged in, typing away, listening to Dixie Chicks, eating cookies, and sipping Diet Coke? Absolutely nothing.
We are here because she has yet to get the internet set up at her new apartment; both she and her roommate Nicassia have been too busy to call. This is fun, though, a new experience for us. And I am thoroughly enjoying it. It costs us nothing more than the price of the cookies and Diet Coke, so it's much cheaper than when we're in a mall. (Oh, don't worry...we have, of course, been to the mall.) But for now, here we are, chillin' to the music, catching up on Facebook, email, and this blog.
It's been a fun three days filled with our typical regime of shopping, movies (we cried our eyes out at "My Sister's Keeper"), and fattening food. And this time, we added longboarding. She was impressed by my progress from last month when I was here, but she's still much better than I am. So fun.
Early tomorrow morning, a friend from Billings will pick me up, and we will drive the nine hours home. I can already begin to feel the melancholy that envelopes me every time I have to say goodbye. But you already know all about that, so I won't elaborate.
For now, let's simply enjoy the moment. Paradise.
I suppose its definition changes from person to person, from time to time, from situation to situation, and sometimes even from moment to moment.
Today, I sit at the Paradise Cafe in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City where Shulamith's new apartment is located. What could be more paradisaical than sitting across from my daughter in a booth at the Paradise Cafe, each of us with our laptops plugged in, typing away, listening to Dixie Chicks, eating cookies, and sipping Diet Coke? Absolutely nothing.
We are here because she has yet to get the internet set up at her new apartment; both she and her roommate Nicassia have been too busy to call. This is fun, though, a new experience for us. And I am thoroughly enjoying it. It costs us nothing more than the price of the cookies and Diet Coke, so it's much cheaper than when we're in a mall. (Oh, don't worry...we have, of course, been to the mall.) But for now, here we are, chillin' to the music, catching up on Facebook, email, and this blog.
It's been a fun three days filled with our typical regime of shopping, movies (we cried our eyes out at "My Sister's Keeper"), and fattening food. And this time, we added longboarding. She was impressed by my progress from last month when I was here, but she's still much better than I am. So fun.
Early tomorrow morning, a friend from Billings will pick me up, and we will drive the nine hours home. I can already begin to feel the melancholy that envelopes me every time I have to say goodbye. But you already know all about that, so I won't elaborate.
For now, let's simply enjoy the moment. Paradise.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Some for a Season
A friend once told me that some people come into our lives for a second, others for a season, and others for a lifetime. I think she's right. And in some cases, that's a little sad. The people we meet and know for only a "second" may not make a huge difference, but the "season" people often do. I wonder if they are sent to us just at the time we most need them, and then for whatever reason, they move on. I feel that way about many of the people from our former ward here in Billings. When we moved here five years ago, we knew not a single person in the entire state of Montana. I am extremely social, an extrovert with a capital "E." Leaving my friends in Washington after eleven years wasn't easy. Many were "season" friends; a few were "lifetime" friends. Neither group was easy to say goodbye to. To make matters worse, Shulamith left for her first year of college just five days after we arrived in Billings. And to make matters worse still, we were stuck living in a college dorm for four months because our house in Washington took its own sweet time getting sold.
Our salvation was the Metra Ward. They became our family here in Montana. A couple people turned out to be "lifetime" friends for me, but most were "season" friends, sent to us to help our family adjust to a brand new life in a brand new state. In January of this year, the ward boundaries in our stake were totally reorganized, and the Metra Ward was no more. Members of the ward were dispersed into five different wards. This was both shocking and difficult for many of us, including me. I was Relief Society President at the time, and I remember sending an email out to all the sisters saying things like, "It will be okay. It's not like we're all moving. We can still see each other." For the most part, though, we don't. It was a season, and now it has passed, but I will be eternally grateful for so many of those Metra Ward folks who provided a safe and welcoming place for our children and us to land when we first came to Montana.
When I think of the "season" people in our lives, I am reminded of a poem I once read. It was posted on a dorm room door during the last month my freshman year of college. Whose door? I haven't a clue, but it said this: "Your friends say to keep in touch, but you know you won't. Your teachers say come back and see them, but you know you won't. Maybe one day it won't matter, but right now, it hurts a little."
With today's technology, it's certainly easier than it once was to keep in touch with the people who pass through our lives. We have cell phones, email, Facebook, blogging, yet establishing and maintaining "lifetime" friends still takes time, effort, and energy. It's worth it, yes, but that doesn't make it easy, especially when distance separates us. I have two such friends who live 600 and 700 miles, respectively, away from me. We exchange daily emails (or close to daily) in order to keep the connection alive and strong. I cherish both these friends more than I can say.
Some for a second, others for a season, others for a lifetime.
Our salvation was the Metra Ward. They became our family here in Montana. A couple people turned out to be "lifetime" friends for me, but most were "season" friends, sent to us to help our family adjust to a brand new life in a brand new state. In January of this year, the ward boundaries in our stake were totally reorganized, and the Metra Ward was no more. Members of the ward were dispersed into five different wards. This was both shocking and difficult for many of us, including me. I was Relief Society President at the time, and I remember sending an email out to all the sisters saying things like, "It will be okay. It's not like we're all moving. We can still see each other." For the most part, though, we don't. It was a season, and now it has passed, but I will be eternally grateful for so many of those Metra Ward folks who provided a safe and welcoming place for our children and us to land when we first came to Montana.
When I think of the "season" people in our lives, I am reminded of a poem I once read. It was posted on a dorm room door during the last month my freshman year of college. Whose door? I haven't a clue, but it said this: "Your friends say to keep in touch, but you know you won't. Your teachers say come back and see them, but you know you won't. Maybe one day it won't matter, but right now, it hurts a little."
With today's technology, it's certainly easier than it once was to keep in touch with the people who pass through our lives. We have cell phones, email, Facebook, blogging, yet establishing and maintaining "lifetime" friends still takes time, effort, and energy. It's worth it, yes, but that doesn't make it easy, especially when distance separates us. I have two such friends who live 600 and 700 miles, respectively, away from me. We exchange daily emails (or close to daily) in order to keep the connection alive and strong. I cherish both these friends more than I can say.
Some for a second, others for a season, others for a lifetime.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Clearance Dog
Today, Seth made an astute observation:
He said, "If Chloe were for sale in a store, she would be on clearance. She would be on the table that says, 'take an additional 75% off the already marked-down price.' She's definitely a clearance dog."
(To understand what causes Seth to make this observation, you might want to read the May 8th entry of this blog entitled "Dog Years.")
He said, "If Chloe were for sale in a store, she would be on clearance. She would be on the table that says, 'take an additional 75% off the already marked-down price.' She's definitely a clearance dog."
(To understand what causes Seth to make this observation, you might want to read the May 8th entry of this blog entitled "Dog Years.")
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wolf or Bear?
Wolf or Bear? That is the dilemma. As I explained in an earlier blog entry, I am a terrible Cub Scout mom, so terrible that I really had no idea which day camp schedule Seth should follow, Wolf or Bear. I trusted the leaders to tell us when to go, and I didn't give it much thought beyond that. My bad.
Now if it were I, I would definitely choose to be a Bear. After all, bears get to hibernate for months out of the year, and what could be more amazing than months of uninterrupted sleep? Then they get to wake up and eat a bunch. Heaven. Do wolves hibernate too? I have no idea, but whatever. I KNOW bears do. Also, wolves remind me of Jacob, and I am most definitely on "Team Edward." (Once again, if you don't get the Twilight allusions, you simply MUST read the books). So yeah, I'd choose to be a bear.
And Seth was technically registered in a Bear den at camp. However, I was given the Wolf camp schedule to follow. Ack! So Seth missed out on yesterday morning's activities with his Bear den because the Wolf schedule called for him to arrive at noon, and that's when I took him. Even worse, he couldn't participate in the Wolf skits at last night's campfire because he isn't in a Wolf den, and his Bear den had already gone home. Their campfire is tonight. That means we have to go back tonight, so he can be in the Bear skit. Are you sufficiently confused yet? Me too!
Have I mentioned how much I dislike Cub Scouts? I can't make this right for Seth no matter what I do because he missed those activities yesterday morning. Seriously, I want to be a bear and go into hibernation. Today.
Now if it were I, I would definitely choose to be a Bear. After all, bears get to hibernate for months out of the year, and what could be more amazing than months of uninterrupted sleep? Then they get to wake up and eat a bunch. Heaven. Do wolves hibernate too? I have no idea, but whatever. I KNOW bears do. Also, wolves remind me of Jacob, and I am most definitely on "Team Edward." (Once again, if you don't get the Twilight allusions, you simply MUST read the books). So yeah, I'd choose to be a bear.
And Seth was technically registered in a Bear den at camp. However, I was given the Wolf camp schedule to follow. Ack! So Seth missed out on yesterday morning's activities with his Bear den because the Wolf schedule called for him to arrive at noon, and that's when I took him. Even worse, he couldn't participate in the Wolf skits at last night's campfire because he isn't in a Wolf den, and his Bear den had already gone home. Their campfire is tonight. That means we have to go back tonight, so he can be in the Bear skit. Are you sufficiently confused yet? Me too!
Have I mentioned how much I dislike Cub Scouts? I can't make this right for Seth no matter what I do because he missed those activities yesterday morning. Seriously, I want to be a bear and go into hibernation. Today.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Road Trip
So here's the thing. I don't like road trips. I like airplanes. I get tired, bored, and irritable when I have to be in a car for a long time. As I said, I really like airplanes. Why then did I decide to accompany Luke on a car trip all the way from Billings over to Portland and Seattle and to bring Seth with me? That is a very good question. It all started when Luke mentioned that he would like to visit both his grandmas before leaving for Indiana this fall. His original plan was to drive his little car over to the Pacific Northwest by himself. He planned to drive straight through to Portland (14 hours) in one day without stopping. Um...yeah...that made me nervous. I suggested that he (1) stop overnight in a motel and (2) take my van because "I have absolutely nothing to do that week anyway." His reply, "Well, if you have absolutely nothing to do, why don't you come with me?"
Hmmm. No reason, really. So I decided to go, and it seemed like a good idea to bring Seth, so he could visit his grandmas too.
As road trips go, it wasn't bad, but seriously, I am just NOT a long-distance driver. Or passenger, for that matter. Luke drove the majority of the trip, and still, I can't say I enjoyed the experience. We had only one incident that would qualify as eventful: on our way back late Friday night, I suddenly looked up and saw a deer standing in the middle of the road. Luke hadn't seen it, but at my urging, he swerved the car to the left, nicking the deer on the right side of the van. It could have been so much worse. Other than that, it was just lots and lots of miles to travel, occasional stops for food and bathroom breaks, as well as stops at various Redbox stations to rent and return movies to keep Seth entertained.
Despite the tedious car trip, we had many fun experiences once we arrived in Oregon. Most notably, we took Seth to the zoo on a glorious rainy day and saw many cool animals. Seth is the perfect age to appreciate and enjoy everything about the zoo. Also, Luke went to Salem to visit his final mission companion who is now serving there. We also spent half a day at a wonderful outlet mall in Woodburn which had a Coach store! And best of all, I got to spend most of a morning visiting my brother at his work. I love it when I get to spend time with him.
Luke went to Washington for part of the week to visit friends and relatives there. He spent one day with a college friend milking goats on an organic farm in Raymond. Seth and I rode Amtrak from Portland to Everett to meet Luke and begin our travel home. It was Seth's first train ride, so that was fun as well.
All in all, it was a satisfying trip. Next time, though, I'll definitely be flying.
Hmmm. No reason, really. So I decided to go, and it seemed like a good idea to bring Seth, so he could visit his grandmas too.
As road trips go, it wasn't bad, but seriously, I am just NOT a long-distance driver. Or passenger, for that matter. Luke drove the majority of the trip, and still, I can't say I enjoyed the experience. We had only one incident that would qualify as eventful: on our way back late Friday night, I suddenly looked up and saw a deer standing in the middle of the road. Luke hadn't seen it, but at my urging, he swerved the car to the left, nicking the deer on the right side of the van. It could have been so much worse. Other than that, it was just lots and lots of miles to travel, occasional stops for food and bathroom breaks, as well as stops at various Redbox stations to rent and return movies to keep Seth entertained.
Despite the tedious car trip, we had many fun experiences once we arrived in Oregon. Most notably, we took Seth to the zoo on a glorious rainy day and saw many cool animals. Seth is the perfect age to appreciate and enjoy everything about the zoo. Also, Luke went to Salem to visit his final mission companion who is now serving there. We also spent half a day at a wonderful outlet mall in Woodburn which had a Coach store! And best of all, I got to spend most of a morning visiting my brother at his work. I love it when I get to spend time with him.
Luke went to Washington for part of the week to visit friends and relatives there. He spent one day with a college friend milking goats on an organic farm in Raymond. Seth and I rode Amtrak from Portland to Everett to meet Luke and begin our travel home. It was Seth's first train ride, so that was fun as well.
All in all, it was a satisfying trip. Next time, though, I'll definitely be flying.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Sethspeak
As most of you know, our nearly nine-year-old son Seth is considerably younger than our other children. In fact, he is a full seven years younger than his next older sibling Eli, who is sixteen. That place in the family carries both advantages and disadvantages. Seth has literally grown up in a teenage world. Luke and Shulamith were teenagers when he was born, and Isaiah and Eli are teenagers now. He would tell you that it "sucks" to be the baby of the family. Everyone else gets to do whatever he or she wants, or so it seems to Seth. On the other hand, living in a teenage world offers Seth a perspective that he might not otherwise have. He is an expert at videogames. He is exceptionally well informed about all sorts of metal and rock bands. He can text message with the best of them. Yet it about makes him crazy that he isn't allowed to drive a car or have a job.
Occasionally, though, we'll have a conversation to remind me that he really is only eight. And I love that. I don't want him to be one day older than he is. Eight, going on nine, is absolutely perfect. Two such conversations occurred this past week.
Seth went on a field trip to some sort of wildlife exhibit.
Seth: We saw red-eyed tree frogs there. They were so cool.
Me: Really? Tell me about them.
Seth: Well, they are very dangerous because they are almost extinct!
Me: Really? Almost extinct?
Seth: Yes, there are only three of them left in the whole world.
Me: Only three in the whole world? And you saw one of them right here in Billings?
Seth: Yes, we did. It's probably the only one I'll ever see in my whole life because they are almost extinct.
Me: What did you learn about them?
Seth: They are very important because we need them to live.
Me: We do? Why?
Seth: Because they give us pollution.
Me: Pollution?
Seth: Yes, they give us air pollution and water pollution. And we have to be very quiet around them.
Me: Why?
Seth: Because noise kills them, and I told you they are almost extinct!
Later in the week, I left Seth home with only Luke. Ordinarily, that would not be a problem, but Luke was sound asleep after working a graveyard shift the previous night. Before I left, we discussed the situation.
Me: Okay, Seth, Luke is here, but he's very tired because he was up all night last night at work. So you need to be quiet, and only wake Luke up if it's an emergency.
Seth: An emergency?
Me: Yes.
Seth: Like if I get hungry?
Me: No! That is NOT an emergency. Only wake Luke up if it's a REAL emergency.
Later, Luke woke up and realized Seth was there alone.
Luke: Seth, where is everyone? Who is taking care of you?
Seth: You are.
Luke: But I've been sleeping. I haven't been watching you.
Seth: Mom said I could only wake you up if it's an emergency. And that is not if I get hungry.
Luke: What do you think would be an emergency?
Seth: If the house is burning down or if someone is stealing our cars.
Yes, Seth is eight. Going on nine. And that is the perfect age for him to be.
Occasionally, though, we'll have a conversation to remind me that he really is only eight. And I love that. I don't want him to be one day older than he is. Eight, going on nine, is absolutely perfect. Two such conversations occurred this past week.
Seth went on a field trip to some sort of wildlife exhibit.
Seth: We saw red-eyed tree frogs there. They were so cool.
Me: Really? Tell me about them.
Seth: Well, they are very dangerous because they are almost extinct!
Me: Really? Almost extinct?
Seth: Yes, there are only three of them left in the whole world.
Me: Only three in the whole world? And you saw one of them right here in Billings?
Seth: Yes, we did. It's probably the only one I'll ever see in my whole life because they are almost extinct.
Me: What did you learn about them?
Seth: They are very important because we need them to live.
Me: We do? Why?
Seth: Because they give us pollution.
Me: Pollution?
Seth: Yes, they give us air pollution and water pollution. And we have to be very quiet around them.
Me: Why?
Seth: Because noise kills them, and I told you they are almost extinct!
Later in the week, I left Seth home with only Luke. Ordinarily, that would not be a problem, but Luke was sound asleep after working a graveyard shift the previous night. Before I left, we discussed the situation.
Me: Okay, Seth, Luke is here, but he's very tired because he was up all night last night at work. So you need to be quiet, and only wake Luke up if it's an emergency.
Seth: An emergency?
Me: Yes.
Seth: Like if I get hungry?
Me: No! That is NOT an emergency. Only wake Luke up if it's a REAL emergency.
Later, Luke woke up and realized Seth was there alone.
Luke: Seth, where is everyone? Who is taking care of you?
Seth: You are.
Luke: But I've been sleeping. I haven't been watching you.
Seth: Mom said I could only wake you up if it's an emergency. And that is not if I get hungry.
Luke: What do you think would be an emergency?
Seth: If the house is burning down or if someone is stealing our cars.
Yes, Seth is eight. Going on nine. And that is the perfect age for him to be.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Mom! All Your Other Sons Got To Grow Up
As an introduction, may I begin with a recent phone conversation I had with Seth. It occurred when I was away this past weekend in Red Lodge, and Seth was at home with his three big brothers.
Seth: Mom, I only have 4-1/2 more days of school.
Me: That is so exciting. Summer is almost here.
Seth: Then I'll be a fourth grader!
Me: Oh no, that can't be true. That is such a grown-up grade to be in. Maybe there's some mistake.
Seth: Mom! All your other sons got to grow up, and I get to too.
Alas, he is so right. Sunday evening, we attended commencement exercises for the Skyview High School Class of 2009 and watched Isaiah receive his diploma. We waited in anticipation for the announcement of his name and then watched him saunter across the stage to shake hands with the principal. He then made his way through the faculty receiving line, hugging several teachers along the way. After all the other graduates' names were announced, the highlight of the evening was when the Chorale graduating seniors sang. They did a lovely job as always. And then, caps were tossed into the air, shouts of joy echoed through the Metra Park Arena, and the celebrating began.
As a classic middle child, Isaiah has always been quiet, calm, requiring little. Yet he gives so much to us. He is sure and steadfast. He is kind and thoughtful. He is a great example to his two younger brothers. We love you Isaiah, and we are proud of you.
"Mom! All your other sons got to grow up." Indeed, but Seth, that doesn't mean you have to rush.
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