Tender Mercy

I have been feeling really down the past three week, even though wonderful things have happened.  It was so exciting to get new grandsons in our family, but sad that we don't live closer so we can rock them more often.  This past month has been difficult financially with the high gas prices and the quick trips we have needed to take.  This, along with health problems has taken a toll on my emotions and I haven't been myself the past week.  But something very nice happened the other day that lifted up my spirits quite a bit.

Garth and I took our annual trip to Wal-mart to pick up school supplies.  That in itself is a bit dis-heartening because teachers just shouldn't have to purchase supplies with their own money.  However, we have learned that any items we really need for the first day of school need to  be purchased, not ordered.  If I put these items in a supply order, it is very likely they would not be here in time to get things prepared for students.  So, that requires me to purchase them myself when Wal-Mart has school supplies on sale. 

A few years ago I purchased the composition notebooks I wanted early in August, only to find them on a better sale a few weeks later.  I was able to return to the store with my sales receipt and get an adjustment on my cost, which was very nice.  So the next week I decided to wait until the "better" sale came up.  It never did and the notebooks were all gone by the time I got there.  The last few years I have just picked them up the first week in August and saved my receipt to return it if needed. 

So, here it was, the first week of August.  Paycheck had been deposited, so off to Price we went.  When we walked in, I headed in the general direction where the supplies were usually located, then remembered that the store had been remodeled and the school supplies were located right in the front, so we turned our shopping cart around and went to the front of the store.  We found the composition notebooks right there on the end of the first aisle. 

While starting to count out the twenty (yes, only twenty this year) I needed, I heard someone say, "I'm just going to talk with these people for a minute."  I kept on counting, then heard the statement again and felt a hand on my shoulder.  I turned around and there was a blessing from heaven!  My old roommate, Marilee!  What a great moment to be able to visit with her and her daughter for a while. 

Marilee told us that our chance meeting was even more of a miracle than just us being at the same place at the same time.  She was staying in Price that night because they were going to some meeting and decided not to go on to Monticello where they live.  Then she had gotten there earlier but had to return to their motel because she had forgotten her wallet.  So to actually be there at the same time was certainly a blessing. 

It was so good to talk with her again.  We lived together at Weber State for one year.  We got together because of a mutual friend, Joy Lynn.  Joy and Marilee had spent some time together at a workshop at Snow College the year before she came to Weber State.  When Joy found out Marilee was looking for a place to live, she suggested to Marilee that she contact me.  I might have all the facts a bit mixed up after .....years, but none-the-less, we ended up in the same apartment.  It was a very fun year and we became good friends.  We drove home several times together.  I would drop her off in Price where her parents would pick her up to take her on to Monticello.  We had some good talks and great fun that year.

Marilee and I even drove up to Logan one weekend where we stalked out the two guys we both ended up marrying!  Rick was just an old friend, according to Marilee, and Garth was on his mission, but we drove up to visit with Rick, then out to Lewiston to see where Garth's family lived.  I remember we drove past Duane and Kaye's house and waited for a lady to cross the street to pick up her mail.  Little did I realize that she would later be my sister-in-law.  One of our great adventures!

There has been a few times when our paths have crossed the past few years.  She was here in Emery County one fall for meeting with the District Health Department.  We all met at Joy's house:  Marilee, Joy Lynn, me, and Dixie Fielder who was another roommate at Weber State.  It just was the next year that JoyLynn passed away.  I called Marilee that morning and told her.  We had a good cry together.

Such good times together.  I am so glad we were there that evening in Price, that she had forgotten her wallet, that our paths crossed at that aisle.  We could have both been in that store and never have seen each other.  It helped me feel happy to see her again.  And her sweet daughter who loved Garth to tease her.  I am thankful for a great friend.

To Clarify

As I read through my last post, I realized I made a little bit of a mistake. I was too quick when I said I only saw family looking at my blog. That isn't entirely true. There are several people who I know look here regularly. My friend in Cleveland, some from Bountiful, and several other places around the state. I don't want them to think that I don't appreciate their friendship. I really do, and it is fun to look and see that they are checking up on me.
I do wish that when I see some hits on the blog from etv.net, I wish I knew exactly who they are. I can see what towns they are from, but who in Ferron is looking in? Maybe Lynda, but I doubt it because I couldn't get her to use the internet while she was working across the hallway. I can guess on the ones from Orangeville, but then, family......friends.......a little of everyone.
In USU there is Mitchell, but would he really be spending that much time reading about my boring life? Maybe, because he "borrowed" enough banana runts from my drawer at school. Then there is the other family members in Cache Valley. I don't know if they use a USU server, but maybe.
Comcast must be used by everyone in Salt Lake, Davis, and Utah counties. And Myriad has their own server that appears as numbers so I know when Nicky is here. At any rate, Thanks for dropping in.
And Cleveland......please know how special you are to me! Thanks for your friendship. Even if we don't get together except through the internet, you are a great friend and I love ya lots! (PS. I see your brother has moved. Where to?)

A Fun Photo

My niece, Chelsie, has been posting some old family pictures for all of us to see. I was looking through some this morning and came across this really cute picture. I wanted to share it, especially with Sandra. Sandra and I both know we have been friends since forever, and this just goes to show it is true. I remember the summers our families went camping together. It might have lasted only a few years, probably less than 5-7 years, if even that much. I really liked these camps because with the Rasmussens and the Lukes I have girl friends. When we went camping with the Olsen family, everyone had girl cousins their age but me (Julie, but she was the baby and only crawled around). I only had boy cousins my age. But with the Rasmussens and Luke I had Sandra and Kaye, as well as Tami Sorry, Tami, I don't recall how you spell your name. I guess my age is showing. So here is a picture of all the girls camping. Notice how much Sandra and I like each other! We are holding hands. How cute!

(Click on the picture to enlarge.)
Left to right:
Tami Rasmussen, Ruanne Ware, LaNean Luke being held by Kaye Luke, Lori (me!), Sandra Rasmussen, Linda Ware
Aren't we all so cute!

What is a Friend?

My daughter wrote a great post about ordinary miracles. She talked about Charolette's Web, a book I always read to my third graders. We always discuss what a true friend does for others, and talk about what each character in the story does to show what kind of a friend they are. Most people believe that Charolette is a greatest friend in the world because she will give Wilbur something that eventually takes her life. She is a friend to the end. But after 23 years of reading Charlotte I have learned many lessons. (Along with lessons learned from The Wizard of Oz, but that is another post.)

Yes, Charlotte worked hard to help save Wilbur. What she did was amazing. But what is the life expectany of a spider. anyway? She knew she was going to die. Was it the work that caused her death? Or did she do something when she knew she was dying?

My biggest question to my students is, "What about Templeton, the rat?" Who thinks the rat can be a friend? One of my favorite quotes from the story is something like this: Templeton speaking: "And what about 'old Templeton'? Who has been running after words? Who caused Avery to break the rotten egg so he wouldn't kill Charlotte? Who carried Charlotte in his mouth? Who did all the leg work?" Now, granted, these aren't direct quotes, but who did all that? Isn't that a friend? Everyone complained about Templeton, and Templeton complained about everything. What did he get in return for his work? Not a book written about him! Sometimes we overlook some people who might not be as pretty, those not able to do fancy things like write in webs, but who trudge along and do the leg work so others can take the glory. Should we really blame them for grumbling as they do it?

What about Wilbur? What did he do for anyone? Yes, he took care of Charlotte's children, but did he really? And what did they give him in return? What happened to Templeton after he returned to the farm? What makes a true friend?

Reflecting

I have had so many things on my mind the past few days and I hope I have time to write them down. So I may write several posts the next few days.

The news last night brought so many memories to me when I heard that Craig Jessop announced his retirement as conductor of the Tabernacle Choir. I am sure that Mack is weighted down with the awesome responsibility of his job right now. But there could be no one better to fill the position.

I was just thinking of all the days and evening we spent together in play practices, small group and solo practices. Some might think it would be hard to always follow in his shadow, but it was really a pleasure. I never felt that I didn't measure up because he was so far over and above everything any of the rest of us were able to do. But he was so humble about it. He always called on me to be his accompanist for his singing and clarinet solos. We played countless duets together (He always had the toughest part.) We played four hand-two piano solos. He really made me stretch to try to get anywhere near his level. We did a pretty good job together.

Mack is one of those friends who you don't see for a few years and then pick up where you left off when you get together again. I feel I must apologize to him for all the teasing we did about him leading the Tab Choir when he became an old man. No one ever doubted his future.

I have probably his first album ever. If I remember right, he won the National PTA Reflection contest for music when he was in 8th grade. Our Junior High band made a record the next year and he played his composition on the record: The Emery County Suite. You can hear the farmyard with fun music, coal mines with dark, mysterious sounds, desert and mountain movements. It is great when you consider his age at the time. I am sure he would laugh if he knew I still play that song when I teach suites to my third graders. It is as good as the Grand Canyon Suite and the kids can certainly connect with it.


Mack is just a great guy and I value his friendship so much. I loved the times spent at his home, and the times he was at mine. Our group of friends were wonderful, filling our time together with music and laughter. These times create great memories.

I send my love, best wishes and good luck to you, my friend.