LAW OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2010 An e-mail from Cousin Sherilyn. I have seen it before but thought I would save it as it is, especially as of the last few years, my philosophy on life. I will sometimes get angry but now days usually for less than a second before I catch myself. I must admit it took some time to master. LAW OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, So ... Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it! Have a blessed, garbage-free day! If you don't see a light at the end of the tunnel, march down there and turn it on yourself!

TRUE STORY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2010 NOT A JOKE I don’t remember if I have told this one on myself before or not, BUT! Every once in a while a thought will come into my mind, then a moment later I will catch myself and ask, “Was I really thinking what I was thinking, or did I just think I was thinking what I was thinking? DUH! This has happened a number of times.

THOUGHT IN PASSING

Sunday, July 25, 2010 My health is bad and I am loosing my memory. Just now I knelt down and uttered a simple, “Father, what is to become of me?” A voice/thought came to me saying, “You have got to die to fulfill all your goals/desires!” I guess that does not mean I will be gaining them soon or it does mean I will be dying soon. I guess either way is OK.

24th of JULY 1847– PIONEER DAY

Saturday, July 24, 2010 – Today is a state holiday in Utah and is celebrated widely in Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada and elswhere. It marks the 163rd anniversary of the first pioneers with the Lord’s prophet Brigham Young at their head entering the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. I sort of consider myself a third generation pioneer as my mother considered herself a second generation one. Her father was born in 1859 shortly after their arrival in Deseret but his older sister Louisa Jane Hall and brother Newton Daniel Hall Jr. came across the plains in a covered wagon. In fact Newton was born in Winter Quarters while they were in preparation for the trek. My mother dearly loved her pioneer heritage and passed that love on to me as well as her love of genealogy which, in my mind at least go hand in hand. You have no idea how many times I have dreamed of and longed to meet my ancestors and give them loving embraces and hopefully learn in detail the stories of their lives. I am imagining it will be in some kind of diorama where I can see or even better experience there joys and heartbreaks along with them. My mother’s sister, Aunt Lidy (Lydia Hall) wrote several poems about her parents, especially her father and one on death I would like to pass along: NO MOUNTAINS His faded eyes grew brighter As he told of work he’d done; Of logging where the pointed pines, Where pillars for the sun. He spoke of upland meadows, where his cattle used to roam; Of storms that slashed at summits, Where he built a cabin home. I asked him if he’d ever worked, In mill or factory; And waited while his tired mind, Walked paths of memory. Well once, he said at last and smiled, But only for a day. There wasn’t any mountains there, And so I went away. COWBOY He was a jolly cowboy once, Out in the golden west, And on his horse would ride to see, The girl he loved the best. But that was a long time ago. His cowboy days are gone; And gone too is the dark eyed girl, And he sits in the sun, Just waiting for the day to come, When eagerly he’ll ride, To meet her there where she has gone, Beyond the great divide. DEATH If this be death This sunset loveliness that pins a metal on the river’s breast That makes a molten glory of the sky And burns upon each splendid mountain high If this be death Then I shall have no fear When life, for me shall sink beyond this sphere In radiant content, as shadows creep I’ll fold my hands and fall to sleep A few tidbits of information. Salt Lake City was originally called Great Salt Lake City The territory was called Deseret (not desert). It covered all of what is Utah, much of Colorado, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada and even went as far as Los Angeles and San Diego, California, and even went up into Oregon. When it was made a state, the federal government split it up.

MEN DO REMEMBER ANNIVERSARIES !!!!

An e-mail I received today A woman awakes during the night to find that her husband was not in their bed. She puts on her dressing gown and goes downstairs to look for him. She finds him sitting at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee in front of him. He appears to be in deep thought, just staring at the wall. She watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip of his coffee. 'What's the matter, dear?' she whispers as she steps into the room, 'Why are you down here at this time of night?' The husband looks up from his coffee, 'I am just remembering when we first met 20 years ago and started dating. You were only 16. Do you remember back then?' he says solemnly. The wife is touched to tears thinking that her husband is so caring, so sensitive. 'Yes, I do' she replies. The husband pauses.. The words were not coming easily. 'Do you remember when your father caught us in the back seat of my car?' 'Yes, I remember!' said the wife, lowering herself into a chair beside him. The husband continues. 'Do you remember when he shoved the shotgun in my face and said, 'Either you marry my daughter, or I will send you to jail for 20 years?' 'I remember that too' she replies softly. He wipes another tear from his cheek and says... 'I would have been released today.'

THE LAST FEW DAYS

SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2010 Yesterday our granddaughter Molly called and asked, “Did anyone tell you I was coming out today?” I said “No, but you are certainly welcome!” A few hours later, Diane (I assume) dropped her off. Jim and Austin were in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho rafting with the Single Adults. Jim and Austin rafted on the Provo River with Julia and her three children a day or two before, so it was just Molly and Grandma and me here at home which is fine. I am glad Molly feels comfortable enough to just drop in and do that. She is going back Wednesday so she can attend Young Women's. Friday, I guess it was, while I was with Jayden and Bailey, Jayden announced that “you and Grandma need to take us to see The Sorcerer’s Apprentice!” He had seen the ads on TV. He grabbed his mother’s computer and went online. He typed in "Megaplex" then scrolled down to the one at Jordan Commons, hit Enter and scrolled down until he found The Wizard’s Apprentice and announced, “Yes, it is playing there.” I told him I thought it was a good idea and that we will have to ask Grandma. Yesterday I had the kids again while Stacey and Corey went on a double date with Stacey’s sister Aimee and her husband Derk. They went to dinner and then the vampire movie Eclipse. While Jayden and Bailey and I were in the car, Jayden took my cell phone and called Grandma and told her we were going to see The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and for her to meet us at Jordan Commons. She agreed and she and Molly met the three of us there. It was a fun movie and we all had a good time. I took Jayden and Bailey home so they could fall asleep in their own house. Both Jayden and Bailey are assertive that way, especially Jayden; more so lately. I got a big kick out of his doing all that on his own. Jayden has been going to football strength and agility sessions at a park in The Ranches. He seems to be doing very well for his size. He has not had his growth spurt yet so he isn’t very big. Yesterday Corey took him to Westlake High School to sign him up and get his helmet, pads pants etc. He is excited to start playing.

MELANOMA

SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010 Well, my ‘puter’s been in the shop for a physical and virus removal and as stated above, I did the same. I had an appointment with my NP Shelly Ebert on Wednesday the 14 for a physical, blood work etc. I had her look at the mole on my left lower leg/shin. She said she thought it was just hardened skin but asked if I would like to have it removed. I said why not so she gave me a local which numbed my whole lower leg and dug down rather deep. Today I got the results in the mail. It began with: Comment by: EBERT, SHELLY 07/15/10 14:15:15 Fred, Turns out a little melanoma. We need to do a deeper biopsy. You can come to me to (or) go see a plastic surgeon. Your choice. Shelly. Somewhere else on the multiple sheet lab report she said I should make an appointment to see her about the results. Anyway, I have skin cancer. Guess I will make a phone call Monday.

STUCK LIKE A PIG

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 Today I didn’t eat until after my 11:00 Dr. appointment with Shelly Ebert NP, which, of course being that late In the day I didn’t get in to see her until 11:30 or so and then I saw a NP in training named Greg, I think. He seemed to be really on top of things. He asked a million questions and make several recommendations including taking one of my medicines in the morning instead of at night. It has a pep me upper as a side benefit. No wonder I have trouble getting to sleep until 4:00 in the morning and am so tired when I should be waking up. I showed them a dark round purple hard spot above my left ankle. Shelly thought it was a derma…something or rather which amounts to “hard skin”. She asked if I wanted it off and I said OK. I was somewhat indifferent then thought why not be sure. She gave me a local that numbed my whole lower leg good and dug it out, and deep to make sure she got it all. I bled like a stuck pig. She finally thought she had it under control well enough that a band aid would be good enough and sent be to the lab. When I sat down in their chair I looked down and pant leg was soaked in blood and it was running down into my shoe. They did what they could then gave up and sent me in to Shantel, Shelly’s nurse who bandaged me up good. They too six vials of blood plus a urine sample.

HCG and BEST BUY

MONDAY, JULY 12, 2010 This is a test more than anything. It is the first document I have made on my WordPad and I want to see how it is and figure out copying it to my main computer except my main/old computer is in the shop so that part I will figure out later. In the meantime I am going to e-mail it to myself just to be on the safe side. This morning when I tried to get on the Internet, I got an error message/a note saying I have a virus and need to buy “their” product. There was no way I could get around it. I tried rebooting and everything. I was suspicious so I took it into Best Buy. They laughed and said, “Does it say such and such?” I said yes. They laughed and said they had another one just this morning and that “it” was around and getting everybody – exaggeration on my part. Long story short it will be in the shop for up to three days and is costing me $320.?? I may also get an external hard drive or some such to back up my files. More money yet and if they do it, it will be $99.00 though if I use their featured hard drive they will throw it in for the same price. Maybe it was just half off. I can’t remember. W e got two bottles of HCG so wish us luck!

WHERE the DEERS and the CANTELOPES PLAY

WEDNESDAY, JULY07, 2010 For I think the forth day in a row there was a herd of 15-20 Antelope (I think) in the fields on the east side of Redwood Road. It has always been an afterthought to check to see if they are indeed antelope or deer. About half of them are tiny, probably this years “crop”. I guess it is a good thing that I am paying more attention to traffic than them.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Monday, July 05, 2010 The last few days I have been to the pool three times. The first time must have been Friday; maybe Saturday when Judy asked if I wanted to go. Because of the 4th of July holiday she got off work at noon on Friday and doesn’t have to be back until tomorrow; Tuesday. Sunday, Molly who has been here since Friday, asked me if I would go to the pool with her, and I obliged. We were there for only forty-five minutes and she was ready to go “home”. Today, Bailey, who was over to the house, asked me to go with her. Again I obliged. Bailey is an interesting case study. She is the ultimate socialite. Not only can she stay in the pool for hours, she also makes friends super quick. Today when we got there, she jumped into the corner of the shallow end next to the stairs. I could she her looking over the hoard of kids playing and calculating where to make her move. Soon she chose her prey and starting interacting with three or four kids about her age and right away she was in the midst of them talking and having a gay old time. In a while that group had to get out and go home so Bailey went through the routine again and again was gaily having fun with “friends”. This scenario went on at least five times in the two hours we were there. She is the pro. We took an inflatable raft to the pool with us and she used it as a ploy in inducing kids to play with her. At one point she got in a race with a girl half again as big as her who was wearing flippers. They were doing the back stroke and little Bailey almost kept up with her, flippers and all. She really is a good swimmer and she is best on her back. I remember after the last summer Olympics there was a story about Michael Phelps who won eight swimming medals and breaking many of the old world records. They talked about how his body is proportioned and how it was ideal for swimming. Bailey is built the same way. Earlier today, Judy, Molly and I met Niki, Alexa and Gavin and, Chris and Sierra at the deli at Thanksgiving Point where we ate lunch. Corey dropped Bailey off with us. He went on with Jayden to Stacey’s work. She had to open today and was by herself since the girl who was supposed to help her called in and said she was in California with a broken down car. (Corey doubts the validity of her story.) I started feeling sick and went home while the rest of them walked the gardens. At her request, Bailey came home with “Grandma” and that is how we ended up going to the pool. Later, after Stacey dragged us out of the pool, the four of them and I went to Café El Lago for dinner while Judy and Jim went to a benefit play at the Orem Hale Theater. I forget where Molly went; home to her mother’s I suppose.

DREAM - EVERYTHING IN THREES

SATURDAY, JULY 03, 2010 – Last night/this morning, I had a strange dream. Everything came in threes including three white grand pianos. Another weird part of it is that “we” were witling them down to one of each, for instance, “we” (I think Judy was in it too.) were deciding which piano to remove and after removing it, which of the other two to remove. It seemed that everything was prioritized, good, better, best or whatever. I wish I could remember it better.

VISITING WITH “PAPA”

THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2010 - Last night I took both of my goofy pills—a prescription pain killer and a prescription muscle relaxant. At noon I was still feeling the effects so I laid back down for a nap. At about two I woke up from a wonderful dream. I was the age I am now, sixty-six, yet younger somehow. I was in an old house with my parents, my children and at least one little one, a boy younger than my grandson Gavin I think, but walking, mostly holding onto my finger. My grandpa James “Anthony” Jepson had come for a visit. We talked on and on about many things especially the past. The two of us were as close as any grandpa and grandson could possible get. He mentioned at one point that he was well pleased that I had named one of my sons, James Anthony in honor of him. After a long interaction, perhaps over several days, “Papa” announced he had an appointment with someone somewhere. I assumed he would return. I offered to escort him there. He gladly accepted my offer and off the three of us went. We had the toddler in toe with us. We ambled down the street still talking. He was wearing a light two tone brown suite and a brown brimmed hat. He was wearing rimmed glasses; the same ones he always wore. I mentioned that I had bought the old house I grew up in but that the previous owners had torn it down and build a new modern one in its stead so it really isn’t the old house after all. We didn’t bother to go see it though it was only a couple of blocks away. Grandpa wanted to visit the old drugstore, the one “I used to take you to when you were little.” When we got there we had to climb four or five brick steps up to the door. I carefully held his arm and assisted him up. When we got inside, it had changed little from “the old days”. Grandpa soon was happily engaged in conversation with the shop owner and his wife about "way back then". There were a few other customers in there too. The store was small, maybe 10X30 though there were two doors, the one in the center of the long wall, the one we entered and another at the far right end as you are facing the shop. There was an old cash register and old scales to measure candy etc in. I recognized the back wall from when I was a toddler and told them so. They were pleased. Finally Grandpa said it was time to go. This time we passed the other door/stairs and left through the end door. On the right side of these stairs which were longer than the stairs we had used to enter the store, was a wide brick banister which bowed up slightly in the middle. It curved at the bottom to be horizontal with the street. It had been worn smooth by endless kids sliding down it over the decades. Grandpa got on this banister, laid down and slid to the bottom arriving in a sitting position. I knew though he didn’t say so that he used to do that “way back when”. I, in a semi-panic hurried down the steps to help him at the bottom. I arrived there at the same time he did but he was fine and pleased he could still do it. A woman, dressed in light blue if I remember correctly appeared at that time. I instinctively new she was the person or one of the people he was going to see. She took his arm. I was planning to continue on with them but I turned to help the toddler down the stairs and when I turned around again Grandpa and the lady in blue were nowhere to be seen. I looked all over trying to find them but I knew immediately it was all in vain. Something told me this was the last I would see "Papa" in this life. For sometime now I have been anxious to again be with my ancestors. I was Grandpa’s favorite and want to renew our relationship and tell him how sorry I was that we didn’t get to be together much after my toddler years. He was always gone to Mesa, Arizona doing temple work or living in a bedroom apartment with a bathroom down the hall near the Utah State Capitol. I only remember seeing him there once. As all of you that know me well, know, I am now in tears.