The Storage Room

Boxes yellowed with age. No - they are not boxes from great great grandparents. They are from when I was a student at BYU and first married. THAT was a few years ago!

I've cursed myself lately for keeping too many things. This morning when I opened a box, I knew I was going to really walk down memory lane. 1974-1975 - my freshman year at BYU. Letters from my father. Having lost him earlier this year it didn't take long for tears to come as I read. My mind was thrown back to sitting on my bed in Wells Hall. I was just as eager to read the letters this morning as I remembered first getting them. And of course, his closing to his letters, "God Bless" always present.

Oh, I know I can certainly do better about throwing things away. But this morning, I'm very grateful that I've shuffled that box from place to place for the last thirty-five years.

So, attack of the potato vines - new horror flick from the Swenson basement. Laurel said to put Christmas lights on them - I did. What can I say - I'm home de-junking and needed a break!

I Guess I've Lived Long Enough

I've been pondering this for a while. I've decided, I guess I've lived long enough. See, I've lived enough and collected enough stuff that I've been asked by my children if they can have my stuff when I die. So that must mean I've reach a certain milestone that I've got enough "stuff" that is "valued" so that I could leave this life and know that my memory will live on. You know...they can say: "This is my stuff now, but it belonged to my mother and before that her grandmother." The links are there. I must admit - there is a certain amount of "peace" found. Isn't it great that I've actually aquired something that my children WANT?
So, now I think since I'm tired of all the "stuff" that I'll just keep the "stuff" they want and have a big bonfire. Especially because the only "stuff" that really means anything to me are the people in my life and the memories with them. Which is really what we're all connected to anyway. Sometimes the "stuff" is what brings back the memories.

Passwords

I remember having a discussion with my father when I first got my Social Security Number. He counseled me to memorize it. I did so and put it in my head with my address and phone number. I had a fairly normal childhood - memorize the bike combination, the locker combination. License plate number, Driver's license - it was all pretty simple.

I find it very unfair that the older I've gotten when my brain doesn't always "find" information as quickly, that I have to have a password for everything. Scottie and I were talking one day and he told me my blackberry had this great thing. i could actually enter all my passwords into this spot on my phone. So he showed me how it worked. We entered one. Of course I had to use a password to get INTO the password section.

I realized yesterday that I have no memory at all of what the password was that I set to get into the password file on my phone.

My biggest fear in life right now is that when I die and end up in a hotter place than I had hoped...that it will be an endless questioning of what all my passwords were in life!

Where did the time go?

I never cease to be amazed at how quickly time passes. Then, I think - what have I been doing. Life - just Life. Work, laundry, dishes, sleep. Work, laundry, dishes, sleep. Sprinkled in with all that though has been a few movies (well, more than a few)! I know - I'm addicted to movies and reading. I've been reading books to help pass along suggestions to my mother. It has been fun to talk about books we've both read. I discovered Lori Wick - a "christian" writer. Just like all those LDS novels out there. But these are available through all libraries more readily and so I've gotten my mom hooked too. She has busied herself with many opportunities to serve and made many new friends. I'm so happy for her and the adjustment she is making. She still misses Daddy so very much, but it is getting easier for her, I think.

Last weekend, I went to the wedding of a dear friend. Well, in all honesty, I feel she is one of my "own". You know all those little kids I tended will always have a special place in my heart. Jessica Robertson is one of those dear people in my life. Now she is all grown up and married. Attending her wedding in the Manti Temple was very special to me.

For Mother's Day last weekend, my dear children gave me a new digital camera. I told them they cannot complain when I want to take pictures - afterall they've "contributed" to my urge by giving me a new one! I feel such freedom to "flash" whenever I want. Hopefully, there will be new pics to show on my blog.

The Bright Spot of My Job

One of the reasons I LOVE working at BYU is because of our student employees! I love these kids. Most of the people linked to my blog are due to friendships made during their time on campus. Then they graduate and think they can move on in life and usually that means moving AWAY from Utah. I treasure their friendship and rejoice in their accomplishments. But I always go through withdrawal and miss them so much. Such is the case of Annie. Annie has been one of our receptionists in our office. She works the first shift and was always a cheerie person in the morning. I loved having her around. She has officially graduated from BYU and is now "moving on". My only hope is that her husband still has a few years left on campus to finish his degree. I was very happy when Annie came to me with the camera in hand asking for a picture of the two of us.

Scott SLC Half Marathon

We all cheered Scott on as he ran the Salt Lake City Half Marathon on Saturday. It was great to see him accomplish his goal. Sharing moments together like this always makes me even more grateful I live close to my children.