People Connections

The children started swimming lessons on Monday and I have run into a few people I haven't seen in months or even years. It has been fun!!! It has gotten me thinking about the whole 6 degrees of seperation thing--I don't think it is a coincidence that we are as connected as we are. I don't fully believe that all people come into your life by accident. Some do and some serve no purpose whatsoever, but some . . . . .some can really change your life. For good, for bad. It's kind of amazing. I look back over my life and the people I have been blessed to know--it's pretty cool. So here's a shout out to all of you in my life who mean so much to me. I'm glad I know you. I'm glad our paths have crossed.
I talked to a woman today at swimming lessons--I don't know even know her name. I do know that her daughter is 3, almost 4--in Cortney's class. She (the daughter)has this pretty, curly red hair and she hates having water splashed on her face. Neither this woman nor her husband have red hair--it's in the genes somewhere though. I watched her as she fretted about her daughter screaming in the pool (who, by the way, was doing so much better by the end of the lesson.) It's hard to be a Mom so many times--and so rewarding so many more times. Our paths crossed briefly. A few minutes is all. I have always wanted to write a story about this theme of lives crossing and how our decisions can ultimately affect so many more people than just ourselves. That our lives are all interconnected. That we aren't brought to the same place as someone else by mere coincidence. That we can learn so much from others and their lives and experiences. Not sure about any details of this story. I just think it is an interesting theme that could possibly be fun to explore in a fictional setting.
That is one positive aspect of moving--if we ever sell our house--everywhere I go, I "pick up" more friends. My bestest friend, my longest friend, is Karyn. We have been friends since second grade in Plymouth Massachusetts. That is incredible to me. Especially now that I have children in elementary school. That's my entire life. I have dear, dear friends from High School in North Carolina. Nancy, Maria, Julia--Julia I just reconnected with because of the beauty of Facebook. Haven't talked to her in 13 years--and here we are. I have friends from college--that list is a bit longer. I love them all. There is Kim from the first ward Jon and I lived in after we were married. She's in Alaska now. I have a good group of women I adore from the second ward we lived in after that. Some absolutely amazing people who I love. And now, this ward we are in--another group of women I just adore. So it's kind of fun to wonder who I might get to meet in our next place of living wherever that may be. If it happens. My life becomes what it is because of me and also because of the people I connect with as the years go along. I wonder at times what our lives would have been like had we stayed where we were instead of buying this home. I am sure many things would have been different--financially things might have been better in some ways. But money isn't everything. And the people I know and love who I wouldn't know and love . . . .it's worth it. I am glad I am here.

A Short Story: "The Proposal"

She should have seen it coming. Looking back in the years to come, it was so obvious. But she had been on her own for so many years and unloved years before that, even with him at her side. So as Lindy Smith drove her silver Toyota Camry hybrid across the bustling town of Provo, Utah, she had more on her mind than the man she was going to have dinner with.

Lindy was strong. Those who didn't know her well had been know to call her intimidating. She knew what she wanted, how she would get it and no one was going to stop her. At 24 she had left her abusive husband with her two children, a boy and girl, in tow. Back then, divorce was a lot more taboo, even outside of her religious beliefs. And within her church it just did not happen. People whispered, said things, judged--Lindy didn't care. She went back to school, got accepted into law school and graduated Cum Laud of her class at the age of 30. Being a single working mother was tough for her, but she did the best she could. She and the children, Tommy and Brenda, traveled, visiting all the National State parks, Disneyland and Disney World, swam in the Caribbean Sea with turtles and saw whales breaching on a cruise to Alaska. At 36 she became the top family lawyer in her firm and to celebrate they went to France, dined on cheese and bread in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and toured cathedrals and castles. Her children grew, went to college, served missions for their church and now both were married with children. Lindy was a grandmother, retired lawyer, writer of unpublished poetry, lover of organic gardening and companions with a beautiful Golden Retriever named Susie. Life was good.

And that Golden Retriever and a new hyacinth plant was what was on her mind as she drove to Steve Connor's house across town. This man she had known her entire life, the son of her mother's best friend. Lindy was friends with his sister. She had gone on one date with him in college and went home to laugh about it with her roommates. He was old, quirky and from her past life in California. She got married to her ex-husband 14 months later.

She was 57 when she and Steve reconnected. He became her confidant, her travelling companion and friend. She mourned the 10 year anniversary of his wife's passing with him. He went to family events with her. They laughed and drank hot chocolate at the local I.H.O.P. talking politics and whatever other topics would come to mind. Why she didn't expect what was coming is unknown. But she didn't.

After a delicious dinner of roast turkey and mashed potatoes, they sat in his living room, sipping drinks and debating the latest Washington D.C. debacle until there wasn't much left to debate on it. He was an outspoken Democrat, she a conservative, albeit still outspoken Republican. It left very little unsaid.

There was a comfortable quiet between them now. A soft, spring breeze came in through the window. Lindy could see the gigantic Rocky Mountains out the window, the peaks turning red and purple as the setting sun cast a glow on the snow still present. She was soaking all of this when it happened.

Steve knelt down before her, touched her hand with his and said, "Marry me, Lindy." She raised an eyebrow. He smiled knowingly. "Please," he added with a touch of urgency in his voice.

Her heart skipped a beat. Her heart said yes, her mind asked if her heart was crazy, her mouth said,"I can't."

He slightly pouted. She had never seen him pout, even when she topped him in a political debate. It was kind of cute. It brought out the soft wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. "Lindy, I am so serious. We need each other."

She gently touched his hand. "That's not what this is about, Steve. It's just not. Me, you--we're just . . .friends. Good friends. But friends." She gently pushed his hands away and stood up, moving to the couch across the room. He followed on his knees, not giving up that easily.

"I love you Lindy. Love you! What else would it be about? I need you. Please, marry me?"

She smiled, her eyes glistening through her glasses perched on the nose he was dying to kiss. Her lips were soft, years of experience and life appearing softly beneath her makeup. "No," she said softly.

He furrowed his brow, then raised his eyebrows that were slowly turning from blond to white. "Will you think about it?"

She contemplated this option. "Yes", she said just as the phone rang.

Steve got up to answer it and Lindy let her breath out, unaware she had even been holding it.

"Hi, Mom. . .Great. Hey, guess what! I'm engaged!!" Lindy looked at him in horror. How dare he announce this as an engagement to anyone! He caught her searing glance and added, "Well, I'm engaged, Lindy is still thinking about it."

It was at that moment that she fell head over heels in love with this man. This quirky, liberal Democrat who had come back into her life in such an unexpected way. Of course she didn't tell him for 4 more days. And they were married three months later in a local chapel, their Bishop conducting. She wore a soft ivory dress, he a navy blue suit. They honeymooned in Bar Harbor, Maine at a small Inn on the shore. They rode bikes, boated, hiked, and fell even more in love. It was the beginning of something magical. An incredible way to enter this third chapter of her life.


***Such a rough draft. I don't even know if the years add up right or anything. I just wrote this on a whim after talking to a woman in my ward about how she met her husband. I wanted to get these thoughts down before I forgot.******

Lost and Found

After all the bad news, I knew this was going to end in the same way. I was driving all over the valley, doing my thing and I heard they were searching the Grand Canyon for this couple from Utah. So sad, I thought to myself. So many times there are searches. And so many times the search ends sadly. This one didn't. They were found. Alive and okay. YEAH!! I don't even know them. But they are okay. And for that I am glad tonight.

Missing couple found alive

In Honor of Memorial Day

I have been to the Vietnam Wall quite a few times in my life. I have been overwhelmed by the sense of loss. But this new website that I heard about on the radio, really brought out the reality of these thousands upon thousands of names on that black monument. How these really were people, with hometowns and birthdays. I just typed in a name and started looking at different people. As far as I know, I don't have any relatives on that wall. Yet, someone loved these guys. It's a solemn experiece.

I am grateful for the freedoms we have in this country. I am grateful for our Constitution. No matter how imperfect our government may be we are still very blessed with all we have. That our volunteer army continues on, year after year, out of a love of country and other human beings is almost a miracle in and of itself. Thank you to all who sacrifice so much for our freedom. The mothers, wives, children, fathers, families--the soldiers themselves. Thank you. And God bless you and America.

Click on the following link Vietnam Wall.

Monday's Musings

Hmmm . . .before I started this blog, I had a bunch of ideas of things I wanted to blog about that weren't necessarilly connected to our family blog. Not so sure where all those ideas went to, but I have gotten tired of looking at the American Idol post so I had to type something!!!

So I added a playlist to this blog. And I like it. I like music. It can inspire, uplift--make you feel so good. Course on the flip side, it can make you feel like crap if it's the wrong kind of music. Music is definitly eternal in nature. What does music sound like in heaven?? Absolutely perfect I am sure. Does everything have a song? I have read in some near death experiences that even the flowers have a song. Interesting thought.

What else is on my mind? I am just typing for the heck of it right now. The weather is rainy. I like the rain, though. I miss the rain in North Carolina. I remember the summer we moved there, we lived at a campground for a summer while we were looking for a house. My sister and I lived in a tent while the rest of the fam was in the motorhome. It was cool though. Camping out for an entire summer. But I remember I had never seen rain like I saw that summer. It seriously rained every day in the afternoon. It would start off sunny, a warm afternoon thunderstorm would roll in and you would end the day with a fabulous sunset framed by the beautiful, humble Blue Ridge Mountains.

It was amazing. N.C. is a good place. Sometimes I miss it. Though if we ever leave this valley, I will miss the majestic mountains I see all around me every day. These babies as far as mountain ranges are concerned. I love them. I can't look at them without thinking of my God who created them--created everything here. Wow. We are so lucky to be alive.

American Idol Finale

Okay, so I watched American Idol for the first time tonight. I really can't say much cause I haven't kept up with everyone, but my thoughts on what I saw are . . .

David A.'s voice amazes me. I think David C has more stage presence and I like his voice if I am in that kind of mood. Honestly, they are both great. I thought it was cute how emotional David C was and man, he took the votes, didn't he!? By 12 million. Still, I was a little dissapointed that that fresh faced kid from Utah didn't win. Glad for David C, but . . .

What is this??

This is a place for me to share random thoughts I have at times. My purpose for my family blog is to make a book out of that blog at the end of each year to serve as our family journal. I have found after 10 years of marriage that I will not scrapbook. I like the idea of scrapbooks. I enjoy looking at other people's. But I will not do it. So, I followed my sister's great idea of making a blog and having that be our family journal. But I find myself at times wanting to blog about other random things, yet I didn't really want to clutter the family journal up with my rants and raves. So I decided to make another blog. Why not?? It's free!! So here we are. Now that I think about it, perhaps I should have labeled this my random thoughts--oh well, it is now life's random thoughts.
So that's that.