Thirty Years Later

Well, I hate to admit it ~ but yes, it was 30 years ago that I was a Verdugo Hills Don. What is a Don? Even in high school I wondered what a "Don" was. I still don't have an answer to that question 30 years later. I wonder if anyone knows what a Don is... anyway...

My reunion was a great experience! I saw so many people that I haven't seen in years! I found the perfect little black dress ~ however I think I was showing more cleavage than I wanted, and it was a constant adjustment...but oh well. It was nice to spend time with old friends! This is a picture of my friends Roger Wallace and Danny Gaylord. They were some of my best buddies in school.
This is me and Linda Strandquist. We have been friends since elementary school. We both went to Sunland Neighborhood Church together. Linda recently reminded me of an incident at church when I punched her in the mouth because she was being mean to me. I guess that is what you do when you are in 5th grade and are frustrated. Ummmm I am so glad that I grew up!

Mayor Randy

It was Mayor Randy’s birthday a couple of days ago. I called him, got his voicemail, and sang my best Marilyn Monroe version of Happy Birthday Mr. Mayor. Well, not really, but I did call and sing Happy Birthday.

In my ever elusive quest to get organized, I was sorting through some old pictures and came across these. I was flooded with the memory of this trip. And I thought I would share it with you. First – the background…

It was a couple of months before we were scheduled to leave office. The Mayor had decided that he would not run for re-election. And given the nature of politics, I knew the incoming Mayor would choose his own staff. So, the Mayor happened upon some VIP tickets to see a shuttle launch. We all took vacation time, anted up the airfare, and off we all went on a Griswold Family Vacation like none other. Who would have put together this unlikely group? An engineer, attorney, cheerleader, a fake poop salesman, and a human resource specialist? I am going to leave it to you to decide who was who. We arrived in Florida on a Wednesday ahead of a Friday morning launch.

Our first adventure on Thursday was to head over to the Kennedy Space Center. It was here that we saw a really great 3D movie about space.


Sonya and I thought it was a fabulous movie ~ the Mayor slept through it.

Friday came and we got news that the launch was delayed and they were going to shoot for Saturday morning. So we decided to head over to Orlando and went through Universal Studios. It was there that the two most famous Mayors met, Mayor Randy Fitts of South Salt Lake, and Mayor Augustus Maywho of Whoville.


Everywhere we went Craig wore shorts with black socks… what is up with black socks? We totally made fun of him the whole time. I mean seriously….

Saturday morning came and the shuttle was delayed again. They thought they might get an afternoon launch. As the day went on, we knew it wasn’t going to happen. We all piled into the white cargo van and headed for Miami. How much more Griswold could we be? We played car games. We played “I am going on a trip. And on this trip I am bringing (insert something here that starts with an A)”. Then the next person says “I am going on a trip and I am bringing…” and they must recite all the previous contestants entries and their entry with the next letter of the alphabet. If you forget one of the entries, then you are out of the game. I think that Kyle won. But I do know that the Mayor cheated a couple of times. We recited that laundry list of things we were going to bring on the trip several times throughout the trip.

It was Craig’s keen memory that landed us here at Joe’s Stone Crabs in Miami. This restaurant is certainly not to be confused with the chain restaurant. It was a pretty hoity toity kind of a restaurant. Randy left his 7-11 Big Gulp cup in the lobby.

We walked the streets of Miami, and the beaches. We did a little beachcoming, butts up in the air, and saw a little bit of sand sculpting. The Mayor even picked me a coconut off a real live coconut tree.

Then it was off back to the hotel. Craig was the designated driver of the van, however, when he started nodding off, I took the helm. Sonya was the co-pilot and map reader extraordinaire. We made it back to Orlando with three sleeping men in the back seat. We were lost. We couldn’t find our hotel. Lordy almighty. I think we drove around for 30 minutes before one of the guys woke up and guided us back to the hotel.

What a great adventure to watch The Shuttle Launch That Wasn’t. I cherish the time that I spent working for the Mayor. It was by far and away the best job I have ever had. And he indeed was the best boss I have ever had.

What Do Trees Say?

I have a fond memory of meeting a guy (who is now a very dear friend) for the first time. We met at a park right here in Bountiful. You know how first time meetings go... I was a little nervous. We sat in the park and were talking. It was a lovely late summer evening. The wind was whistling through the trees.

**Point of note, I have always loved trees. Perhaps this stems from my time in Brigham City's Parks and Recreation Department where we nurtured and planted trees to become Tree City USA....ya, maybe that was it...**

meanwhile back at the park.... As we talked about the trees, I was really surprised that he had never really thought about trees in the way that I always have... that they are a living, breathing, beautiful part of this earth. They dance, they sing, they weep, they shed, they have their spirit renewed. It was a lovely first meeting for my friend and I and we often reminisce about that day and what he learned about trees.

What does my beautiful 50 year old sycamore tree say to you?


She is saying, "aren't I blessed! Look at me waving in the wind, bending in allowance for whatever comes my way. Rustling my leaves in perfect harmony....and I am smiling, can't you tell? I am dancing with my friend the wind".


Why yes she is....





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Class Reunion

So my class reunion is just around the corner. Okay, I am just going to be honest here… just because I think we are at that stage of our relationship, it is my 30 year class reunion. How is that possible when I am only 26? Uh um. Don’t answer that.

So I have been perusing my wardrobe trying to figure out what I can wear that will make me look like the 26 year old that I think I am. I found in the deep recesses of my closet this darling little black number that I thought would be perfect. I bought it online a couple of years, okay a few years, back for an event. The dress never once slithered over my hips after the day I first received it in the mail, tried it on, then went and ate a Ding Dong. Needless to say, I won’t be wearing that dress.

Why can’t I find something classic… kind of like what Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffanys.

Well, maybe because I ate that Ding Dong (and subsequent Twinkies) that have led me to the place that I will just have to settle for some layered, ruffled, frumpy frock. I am destined to wear that Gunny Sax dress I just know it…

I wonder if I can lose 37.5 lbs. before the end of October.... probably not...

How Unique are You?

Well according to this cool little widget that my mom sent me… I am one of a kind :) Which, most of you who are reading this right now are saying a collective “whew”. Try it out and see how many others there are in the United States with your same name. It is kinda fun!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

It is Good to Be the Queen

When I was young me and my two brothers wanted a dog. We wanted one bad... But Daddy was fairly reluctant. Then came the day that Mindie came to our house. This cute and darling little weiner. Daddy would not let her come in the living room. Okay, well then she was allowed in the living room, but not on the couch. Then she was allowed on the couch, but not in the bedrooms. Then she was allowed in the bedrooms, but she couldn't sleep with us. Then she became the Queen and she could be anywhere in the house.



In our house it is Maggie. She is the Queen. The Alpha Queen. She was just sitting there minding her own business, going about the duties of her kingdom. You know, sniffing, rolling, just being queenly, when Scooter had the audacity to breathe.

Wait… what are YOU doing in MY backyard?? Ya, you. I am talking to you.



What you want a piece of me?



Who is the queen? Who is the master?



Ya, that is what I am talking about.



You had enough yet sport?



What? You are gonna run away now? Ya, that is what I thought...



Big Baby… No one thinks that’s cute…



It sure is good to be the Queen…..



Squirrel!!!

Being Still

Interesting how an autumn morning, with the breeze blowing through my sycamore trees can make me completely introspective. It brings me back to a place and time in my life when things were so tumultuous, when life seemed so messed up. But this year, I am grateful. I love my life. I love all that is in it. I feel peaceful for the first time in many, many years. On this morning, the breeze is crisp. The contrast of the incredibly blue sky with wispy white clouds and the green of the Wasatch is staggering. The quiet of the day is soothing. All my senses are heightened. I love this day.