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.