On Friday, November 21, while heading to work, I was involved in an auto collision. I was headed downtown past Utah State University, on cruise-control, at 40 mph, when a woman came off the USU campus, at the old library location and nailed me...or T-Boned me. She was attempting to cross the the highway to head east. A witness told the police that I did not have a chance. She reported that the driver did not stop at the stop sign...just accelerated out across the four lane highway and hit me broadside. The driver admitted that she did not look in my direction. Why not? Who knows, but you would think that she would have been extra careful, since she had a four month old baby with her. Remarkably, neither of them was hurt. But she was given a citation. Apparently that campus exit has been the site of many accidents and at least one death. USU ought to make it a right turn only exit.
When Jeff Miller, the auto-repair man, called to report on the condition of my Charger R/T...he said "You were hit really hard Tony...the impact even wrinkled the roof." The front right quadrant and right door were destroyed. He thought it was probably repairable.
I did not see the accident unfold. Most people say that such accidents happen in slow-motion...but I did not see anything until the BANG. After that I don't recall much. I was wearing my seat belt and the air bag deployed, so when I came around the car was full of smoke and two women were at my door asking if I was OK. I was not sure. I could not breathe and there was blood dripping off my fingers. Nate later suggested that the air-bag gasses probably contributed to my breathing problem. The blood looked worse than it was. The skin had been peeled back on the back of my hands...still don't know how.
I was trying to get out of the car when the police arrived...it was more difficult than I expected...things weren't responding normally. The police asked me to stay in the car until the paramedics arrived. I could hear conversation about my age and my difficulty breathing. I was telling them that I thought I was OK. They convinced me that it would be best under the circumstances if I was transported to the emergency room for observation. It was probably a good move, but it was a most uncomfortable ride. I was on a board with a neck brace, and I swear the ambulance had no shocks...and one paramedic was trying to stick an IV in my arm...which is never easy at the best of times. I was impressed that he did it.
Prior to that another police officer had talked with me. It was James Gale, a pilot and friend of Andy's. Kathie and I had been to James' home with Andy and Missy a few weeks before. He drove a six cylinder police version of the Charger. Mine was an R/T with a HEMI engine. So like boys with their toys, I said to James..."My Charger will go faster than your Charger James." He thought that was pretty funny. But last Friday, after determining that I was OK, or that I thought I was OK, James poked his head in the car and said "My Charger will go faster than your Charger Tony." Now that's funny.
The best part about the emergency room experience was the warm blanket. For some reason I was chilled. Kathie arrived, Steve and Dan came...and I was wheeled off to the x-ray room by a young tech who knew Steve. They took all sorts of chest images and at one point this young lady said "You know...you have really long lungs"...I responded..."You know... I have never had a girl tell me that before." She laughed and said...."I'm glad to see that you still have a sense of humor...It is obvious where your son gets his from."
Steve asked how I was feeling. It was hard to describe. I felt like I had had the stuffing knocked out of me. I just hurt all over. Steve suggested that it might be like the day after a really hard workout. That was appropriate. The doctor suggested it would only get worse, before it got better. He prescribed some pain pills. He was right.
Then George Knapp showed up. George is a friend from California, whom I met in Sydney in 1965. He and his wife Bonnie dropped in on us last year. George called last week to say that he would be in Logan on the following Friday and we had planned to get together. So When George arrived at the office, our receptionist Beth, informed him that I was in the Emergency Room. George stayed with us until I was released and then followed us home where we had a good chat...mainly about his experiences campaigning for Prop 8 in California.
Then I slept...and slept some more.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
JACOB
Our grandson Jacob Nathan Wegener, son of Becky and Nate, spent a few days with us while his parents, two brothers, Jordan and Grayson, and grandparents Ray and Rita Minkler, went on a Disney Cruise.
Becky brought him to us on November 12. She stayed over that night and the next day to help Jacob make the adjustment. He did well...better than Becky we guessed. He obviously wanted his Momma that first day and there were a few tears as he looked for her. But Jacob adjusted...and Grandma Kathie and Poppa Tony adjusted. We actually had a great time together...but it really was a two (old) person assignment...we were a pretty good tag team.
Jacob is a delight. He has long blond hair and big blue eyes. He is an absolute clone of his Dad at the same age. We have the baby pictures to prove it. And he was into everything...he dumped Wheaties onto the floor twice...and Kathie's grits onto the floor one day. He did not like walking on grits barefoot very much. But you play...you pay. Much of the house was off limits, but he did not go exploring...he had to have one of us in sight most of the time.
What a sleeper!...in eleven nights he only woke one time. And what a drooler...his shirts were constantly wet with drool. We concluded that Jacob drooled enough that he really did not need to pee. But he did of course and we were retrained to diaper duty.
Jacob started walking while he was with us. I know...we are inspirational grandparents. But he wanted Poppa Tony to go walking, holding his hand of course. He would tug on a finger until I moved. He would not walk alone on cue. He would be holding on to someone or something one minute and then take off by himself. Five steps was his record. We would clap. He would stop and clap also, but that usually resulted in a flop to the bot, since his balance was not coordinated with handclapping.
As fun as those days were, we were really glad to see Becky again late on Saturday, November 22. Unfortunately Jacob was not. He would not give Becky the time of day. So parents, there is an emotional price to pay for leaving your children with others. You pay when you leave...your heart breaks...you pay when you return...your heart breaks again, when you are ignored, even rejected. We just had to smile...been there...done that.
Becky brought him to us on November 12. She stayed over that night and the next day to help Jacob make the adjustment. He did well...better than Becky we guessed. He obviously wanted his Momma that first day and there were a few tears as he looked for her. But Jacob adjusted...and Grandma Kathie and Poppa Tony adjusted. We actually had a great time together...but it really was a two (old) person assignment...we were a pretty good tag team.
Jacob is a delight. He has long blond hair and big blue eyes. He is an absolute clone of his Dad at the same age. We have the baby pictures to prove it. And he was into everything...he dumped Wheaties onto the floor twice...and Kathie's grits onto the floor one day. He did not like walking on grits barefoot very much. But you play...you pay. Much of the house was off limits, but he did not go exploring...he had to have one of us in sight most of the time.
What a sleeper!...in eleven nights he only woke one time. And what a drooler...his shirts were constantly wet with drool. We concluded that Jacob drooled enough that he really did not need to pee. But he did of course and we were retrained to diaper duty.
Jacob started walking while he was with us. I know...we are inspirational grandparents. But he wanted Poppa Tony to go walking, holding his hand of course. He would tug on a finger until I moved. He would not walk alone on cue. He would be holding on to someone or something one minute and then take off by himself. Five steps was his record. We would clap. He would stop and clap also, but that usually resulted in a flop to the bot, since his balance was not coordinated with handclapping.
As fun as those days were, we were really glad to see Becky again late on Saturday, November 22. Unfortunately Jacob was not. He would not give Becky the time of day. So parents, there is an emotional price to pay for leaving your children with others. You pay when you leave...your heart breaks...you pay when you return...your heart breaks again, when you are ignored, even rejected. We just had to smile...been there...done that.
Twilight: The Movie
Angie's blog is worth reading. It is instructive. I have lived with the twilight series since Kathie started reading them earlier this year. I succumbed to reading the first two...but strange as it may seem to women...I lost interest.
I recently overheard a conversation, between two women, at the Bear River Mental Health Department. (the location is possibly significant). They were discussing Twilight and the upcoming movie. They were passionate about it of course. I thought I would get into the spirit of the conversation and asked..."So ladies...are you Edward fans, or Jacob fans?" They responded in unison as if it was a really dumb male question..."Edward fans...of course!". I had to respond defensively... "Well...my wife is a Jacob fan".
The younger of the two women asked somewhat accusingly, "Have you read any of the Twilight series?" I had to admit that I had read two. She warmed up slightly and said "You know...I think that if men would read these books, they would understand women better." I thought to myself..."You have to be kidding!"
This is how I see it: Bella, a 16 year old, self described ordinary girl, meets Edward, a pasty white, ice cold, high school student, whom she thinks is the most handsome man in the world. He is actually 70 + years old...he's a vampire...he never sleeps, moves faster than a speeding bullet, and only eats and breaths to keep up appearances. He has no worries, his family (vampires all) have an unlimited source of income, and fast cars...and they have an unlimited source of bears, cougars, etc., in the Washington wilderness, which they hunt for blood.
Edward's only problem in life, is that he can't stand close proximity to Bella...why...because she smells really good...and he really wants to suck her blood...and kill all her classmates. Bella, of course does not know this, but when she finally discovers the dreadful truth, she is deeply moved...totally unconcerned...and completely smitten. Love triumphs over blood-sucking. And she has another friend who is a handsome 6'4" Indian who is a werewolf, whose life is ruined forever, because he loves Bella. It is a true love triangle...Bella, a vampire and a werewolf.
OK...I get it...what was I thinking?...NOW I understand women!
I recently overheard a conversation, between two women, at the Bear River Mental Health Department. (the location is possibly significant). They were discussing Twilight and the upcoming movie. They were passionate about it of course. I thought I would get into the spirit of the conversation and asked..."So ladies...are you Edward fans, or Jacob fans?" They responded in unison as if it was a really dumb male question..."Edward fans...of course!". I had to respond defensively... "Well...my wife is a Jacob fan".
The younger of the two women asked somewhat accusingly, "Have you read any of the Twilight series?" I had to admit that I had read two. She warmed up slightly and said "You know...I think that if men would read these books, they would understand women better." I thought to myself..."You have to be kidding!"
This is how I see it: Bella, a 16 year old, self described ordinary girl, meets Edward, a pasty white, ice cold, high school student, whom she thinks is the most handsome man in the world. He is actually 70 + years old...he's a vampire...he never sleeps, moves faster than a speeding bullet, and only eats and breaths to keep up appearances. He has no worries, his family (vampires all) have an unlimited source of income, and fast cars...and they have an unlimited source of bears, cougars, etc., in the Washington wilderness, which they hunt for blood.
Edward's only problem in life, is that he can't stand close proximity to Bella...why...because she smells really good...and he really wants to suck her blood...and kill all her classmates. Bella, of course does not know this, but when she finally discovers the dreadful truth, she is deeply moved...totally unconcerned...and completely smitten. Love triumphs over blood-sucking. And she has another friend who is a handsome 6'4" Indian who is a werewolf, whose life is ruined forever, because he loves Bella. It is a true love triangle...Bella, a vampire and a werewolf.
OK...I get it...what was I thinking?...NOW I understand women!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Weird Weather - 2008
2008 has been an unusual weather year, in Utah, yet we have seen little or no press concering this unusual pattern. But I'm a old gardener...I notice this stuff. I've grown a garden every year for about 40 years. I've seen it all...but this year was definitely different. Spring was the first sign that something was different. My peonies have always bloomed before Memorial Day. Peonies were once the flower of choice, with which to decorate graves. This year they did not bloom in time...they were at least two weeks late...maybe more. It was strange. It was different.
Did anyone else notice? Well, someone did. There was a brief reference on the news about this being a late spring...actually, the latest Spring on record, in Utah. I thought that was a big deal. Where was the press? The reality of this unique weather pattern was also made obvious in our apple orchard. We traditionally harvest at least 200 bushels. This year we picked three bushels..that's right...three. That is the lowest output ever. Some apple trees take a rest every few years, and sometimes a late frost damages blossoms...but this was different. It was weird.
Then I began to hear complaints from other gardeners about their tomato plants...they were not thriving. I had about 80 tomato plants, of all varieties...they seemed to be OK. Slowly it dawned on me that the larger varieties were not ripening. Each year I look forward to giving away literally buckets of tomatoes to neighbors. This year we did not give away a single tomato. To compound the problem, there was an early frost and I lost the entire crop. I tilled in a ton of green tomatoes. No big deal, but where's the press? Where is Global Warming when we need it? Bring it on!
Then there was early snow in Utah this Fall. How early? It was interesting to learn that the earliest recorded snowfall in Utah occurred in September, 1965...the month that I arrived in Utah from Australia. 2008 challenged that record. The Salt Lake Ski Areas had their earliest opening in years. Good for them, but where's the press...the same press which has predicted the demise of the Utah ski industry, due to Global Warming? This is a weird weather year. It certainly calls into question the concept of Global Warming.
People have been religiously preaching the dire effects of Global Warming since before 1980. If their wild predictions had come true, I think we would have noticed a few cities being underwater. You would think they might give old gardeners a little credit for a few intelligent observations. Like...since 1965...there has been no significant climate change in Utah...cycles maybe...but no evidence of gradual warming. This year may be different, but it is not warmer....Spring was not earlier...Fall was not later. It was pretty close to 1965 conditions. We hear repeated warnings from experts, that even 1 degree C increase in global temperature will have devastating global consequences... the poles will melt...oceans will rise...polar bears will drown...growing seasons will change. Of course, old gardeners might suggest that longer growing seasons might actually bless a lot of people?
The evidence is clear, that the climate has not changed here in Logan, Utah in 40 years. And I was in Australia last year, where weather data has been manipulated to "prove" that the average temperature has risen alarmingly by 1.5 degree C, in the past 100 years. Yet I was born there 68 years ago...and need I point out the obvious?..nothing has changed...not the rainfall...not the spring wild-flowers...not the ocean level...not the weather pattern. So who is fooling whom? When will the press begin to acknowledge the obvious truth? We've all been had! We continue to be had by enviromentalists and politicians, who apparently grow neither apples nor tomatoes.
Postscript: "Great Salt Lake shrinking looks to be at an end."
12 November 2008: Herald Journal
Why is the shrinking coming to an end? If Global Warming is an indisputable fact, surely the Great Salt Lake should have shrunk to its lowest level in modern history. The press blames "warm summer temperatures" for the shrinking and "cooler fall temperatures" for the correction. Brilliant observations!
"All summer and into the fall, warm temperatures kept evaporation humming, drawing down the lake to near near-record lows and exposing more shore than normal...the current lake level is 4,194 feet...the lake hasn't been this low since the 1970s. Some speculate it might slip past the record low of 4,191.35 set in 1963. But cooler temperatures this fall are finally bringing the shrinking to a stop...the lake has a reputation for having cyclical fluctuations, rising and falling at the whims of temperature, rainfall and other factors."
No kidding! But where is the indisputable evidence of Global Warming? Apparently the Utah climate in the 1960s, was almost the same as it was in 2008... late spring...early snows...low lake level. One does not need to be a Rocket Scientist to know that Global Warming is a myth! One only needs to be an old gardener.
Did anyone else notice? Well, someone did. There was a brief reference on the news about this being a late spring...actually, the latest Spring on record, in Utah. I thought that was a big deal. Where was the press? The reality of this unique weather pattern was also made obvious in our apple orchard. We traditionally harvest at least 200 bushels. This year we picked three bushels..that's right...three. That is the lowest output ever. Some apple trees take a rest every few years, and sometimes a late frost damages blossoms...but this was different. It was weird.
Then I began to hear complaints from other gardeners about their tomato plants...they were not thriving. I had about 80 tomato plants, of all varieties...they seemed to be OK. Slowly it dawned on me that the larger varieties were not ripening. Each year I look forward to giving away literally buckets of tomatoes to neighbors. This year we did not give away a single tomato. To compound the problem, there was an early frost and I lost the entire crop. I tilled in a ton of green tomatoes. No big deal, but where's the press? Where is Global Warming when we need it? Bring it on!
Then there was early snow in Utah this Fall. How early? It was interesting to learn that the earliest recorded snowfall in Utah occurred in September, 1965...the month that I arrived in Utah from Australia. 2008 challenged that record. The Salt Lake Ski Areas had their earliest opening in years. Good for them, but where's the press...the same press which has predicted the demise of the Utah ski industry, due to Global Warming? This is a weird weather year. It certainly calls into question the concept of Global Warming.
People have been religiously preaching the dire effects of Global Warming since before 1980. If their wild predictions had come true, I think we would have noticed a few cities being underwater. You would think they might give old gardeners a little credit for a few intelligent observations. Like...since 1965...there has been no significant climate change in Utah...cycles maybe...but no evidence of gradual warming. This year may be different, but it is not warmer....Spring was not earlier...Fall was not later. It was pretty close to 1965 conditions. We hear repeated warnings from experts, that even 1 degree C increase in global temperature will have devastating global consequences... the poles will melt...oceans will rise...polar bears will drown...growing seasons will change. Of course, old gardeners might suggest that longer growing seasons might actually bless a lot of people?
The evidence is clear, that the climate has not changed here in Logan, Utah in 40 years. And I was in Australia last year, where weather data has been manipulated to "prove" that the average temperature has risen alarmingly by 1.5 degree C, in the past 100 years. Yet I was born there 68 years ago...and need I point out the obvious?..nothing has changed...not the rainfall...not the spring wild-flowers...not the ocean level...not the weather pattern. So who is fooling whom? When will the press begin to acknowledge the obvious truth? We've all been had! We continue to be had by enviromentalists and politicians, who apparently grow neither apples nor tomatoes.
Postscript: "Great Salt Lake shrinking looks to be at an end."
12 November 2008: Herald Journal
Why is the shrinking coming to an end? If Global Warming is an indisputable fact, surely the Great Salt Lake should have shrunk to its lowest level in modern history. The press blames "warm summer temperatures" for the shrinking and "cooler fall temperatures" for the correction. Brilliant observations!
"All summer and into the fall, warm temperatures kept evaporation humming, drawing down the lake to near near-record lows and exposing more shore than normal...the current lake level is 4,194 feet...the lake hasn't been this low since the 1970s. Some speculate it might slip past the record low of 4,191.35 set in 1963. But cooler temperatures this fall are finally bringing the shrinking to a stop...the lake has a reputation for having cyclical fluctuations, rising and falling at the whims of temperature, rainfall and other factors."
No kidding! But where is the indisputable evidence of Global Warming? Apparently the Utah climate in the 1960s, was almost the same as it was in 2008... late spring...early snows...low lake level. One does not need to be a Rocket Scientist to know that Global Warming is a myth! One only needs to be an old gardener.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Be Still, My Soul
The words to one of my all-time favorite hymns, were written by Katharina von Schlegel in 1697 and translated by Jane Borthwick who lived 1813-1897. I offer them here for your comfort during troubled times:
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my sould: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Always remember...the Lord is on your side.
"Be still, and know that I am God" D&C 101:16
The words to one of my all-time favorite hymns, were written by Katharina von Schlegel in 1697 and translated by Jane Borthwick who lived 1813-1897. I offer them here for your comfort during troubled times:
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my sould: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Always remember...the Lord is on your side.
"Be still, and know that I am God" D&C 101:16
Saturday, October 4, 2008
What Language Barrier?
Mormons are unique in many ways. For example, while flying home from Australia, the flight attendant was attempting to explain all the wonderful wines available to me. I said, "You know, I would think that United Airlines would have some of Australia's wonderful non-alcoholic wines available for passengers like me who don't drink". She thought I was joking. I explained that Australia really does make wonderful non-alcoholic wines. She looked a little confused and said with a smile: "You know...you are a really complicated man". It got more complicated for her when we refused tea and coffee.
By the way...a bloke at the temple asked us what airline we were flying on. When I said "United"...he responded..."Really? Don't you realize that United is a nursing home for flight attendants?" He was not far off the mark. One flight attendant told us she had been with United for 42 years.
Mormons are also unique in the number who speak a foreign language...and speak it fluently...because of missionary service in foreign countries. Our son Nate speaks Spanish fluently. That is a useful language, but we know some who speak obscure languages like Hmong or Trukese...spoken only on the Island of Truk.
I remember our eldest son Steve telling us an interesting story, when his Marine Corps Reserve unit was called up for Desert Storm. His company included men from Utah and Nevada. The company commander was required to report any special skills among his men. He reported that of his 150 men 91 spoke a foreign language. Headquarters wrote back saying that he must be mistaken. He was not...they were just Mormon boys who had served missions in foreign countries...and they spoke about 50 different languages between them.
Our son-in-law Shane Falslev, is a foreign language speaker. He served a mission in Taiwan. He speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently. Not only that, he also speaks the native Taiwanese language, which apparently very few foreigners master. Just how fluent Shane is was demonstrated to us during our recent trip to Australia.
There was a mall across the street from the Sydney Temple, where we ate a few meals. I was watching Shane as he approached a Chinese girl at one fast-food place. When he started talking to her in fluent Mandarin, her jaw dropped...she was speechless. She had one of those moments when the brain stops...brain cramp. She looked around helplessly, as if she was trying to attract attention from her co-workers, looked at Shane in disbelief...then started communicating in Mandarin. During the conversation Shane explained that he had lived in Taiwan. She asked if he spoke the native Taiwan language, so he started speaking that language. She was blown away. She started laughing and ran to tell her co-workers. This happened a few times.
The most remarkable experience occurred on our last day. We were at the Featherdale Animal Preserve, which was on the way to the airport. There were a couple of large tour groups...all speaking Mandarin Chinese. Shane opened conversations with a few people...and got the look...that great look of disbelief.
The conversation which was most amazing was one between Shane and a woman with a little girl, who were looking at a Koala bear. Shane was standing behind them just talking away. His accent is apparently so natural that the woman and little girl carried on a conversation with Shane without noticing anything different about his accent. They never turned to look at him...and never noticed that he was a weird white guy speaking perfect Mandarin. It was amazing.
By the way...a bloke at the temple asked us what airline we were flying on. When I said "United"...he responded..."Really? Don't you realize that United is a nursing home for flight attendants?" He was not far off the mark. One flight attendant told us she had been with United for 42 years.
Mormons are also unique in the number who speak a foreign language...and speak it fluently...because of missionary service in foreign countries. Our son Nate speaks Spanish fluently. That is a useful language, but we know some who speak obscure languages like Hmong or Trukese...spoken only on the Island of Truk.
I remember our eldest son Steve telling us an interesting story, when his Marine Corps Reserve unit was called up for Desert Storm. His company included men from Utah and Nevada. The company commander was required to report any special skills among his men. He reported that of his 150 men 91 spoke a foreign language. Headquarters wrote back saying that he must be mistaken. He was not...they were just Mormon boys who had served missions in foreign countries...and they spoke about 50 different languages between them.
Our son-in-law Shane Falslev, is a foreign language speaker. He served a mission in Taiwan. He speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently. Not only that, he also speaks the native Taiwanese language, which apparently very few foreigners master. Just how fluent Shane is was demonstrated to us during our recent trip to Australia.
There was a mall across the street from the Sydney Temple, where we ate a few meals. I was watching Shane as he approached a Chinese girl at one fast-food place. When he started talking to her in fluent Mandarin, her jaw dropped...she was speechless. She had one of those moments when the brain stops...brain cramp. She looked around helplessly, as if she was trying to attract attention from her co-workers, looked at Shane in disbelief...then started communicating in Mandarin. During the conversation Shane explained that he had lived in Taiwan. She asked if he spoke the native Taiwan language, so he started speaking that language. She was blown away. She started laughing and ran to tell her co-workers. This happened a few times.
The most remarkable experience occurred on our last day. We were at the Featherdale Animal Preserve, which was on the way to the airport. There were a couple of large tour groups...all speaking Mandarin Chinese. Shane opened conversations with a few people...and got the look...that great look of disbelief.
The conversation which was most amazing was one between Shane and a woman with a little girl, who were looking at a Koala bear. Shane was standing behind them just talking away. His accent is apparently so natural that the woman and little girl carried on a conversation with Shane without noticing anything different about his accent. They never turned to look at him...and never noticed that he was a weird white guy speaking perfect Mandarin. It was amazing.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Serendipitous or Spiritual Experiences?
I'm an old architect...employed by Design West. Back in 2000, Design West had a client…Jerroll Winget, who was a friend of Merrill Osmond. Merrill was based in Branson, Missouri. He had been asked by then LDS Church President Kimball, to go to Branson to “make friends for the Church”. He did. He had been performing in Branson with his brothers for ten years.
I was in our Salt Lake City office one day for a conference call with Merrill Osmond. Jerroll was present. The bottom line was that there were some business opportunities in Branson…Merrill asked Jerroll to come to Branson, with an architect. To sweeten the invitation, Merrill said that whoever chose to come would be invited to the Osmond Brothers' dinner show as guests of the Osmonds…and also invited to a couple of special events. One event was the baptism of Merrill’s business manager, Kevin Reno…the other was the very first reunion of the Joseph Smith Jr. family, which Merrill was helping to organize. My associate Richard Heindel and I decided to go… and we took our wives.
Some time prior to this event, Merrill had met Kim Smith Davis. It was the habit of the Osmond Brothers to greet fans in the foyer after each show. Kim approached Merrill in this setting. She informed Merrill that she was the great, great grand daughter of Joseph Smith Jr…and she had some questions about the mainstream LDS church…she did not want to join his church, but she wanted to understand some of the history…why some Saints went west to Utah, while others stayed in Nauvoo. Merrill obliged…Kim later joined the LDS Church.
Shortly thereafter, Kim felt compelled to organize a reunion of the descendants of Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith. It was a sensitive assignment. Most descendants of Joseph had grown up being advised never to mention their heritage…there was embarrassment…there were shattered relationships within the family…and animosity toward mainstream Mormonism. Merrill agreed to help Kim organize a reunion.
Merrill had received his own compelling spiritual prompting. He had a dream in which Joseph Smith appeared to him….told him that his descendants were hurting…he asked Merrill to help “heal my family”. So Kim and Merrill collaborated on a reunion. The reunion was held in the Hughes Family Theater…it was poorly attended, but we thought it was wonderful.
Kim Smith Davis was the MC…the invocation was given by Joseph Fielding Smith (Kim’s father)…Merrill told his story…Gracia Jones, the first member of Joseph’s family to join mainstream Mormonism, spoke of her experiences…and her discovery that there were over 400 descendants of Joseph living in Australia. Merrill and Gracia made pleas to the family to come together in unity and love…and pledged their love and support to that end.
There followed some role playing: Jason Hughes, a descendant of Newel Knight, read from family records about the Knight family and their love for Joseph Smith. Nancy Eppert, dressed as Emma Hale Smith, presented a moving monologue about Emma’s life. The Hughes Brothers re-enacted the scene in Carthage Gaol, while Ryan Hughes sang “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”…I don’t think that I have ever heard it sung better…or with more feeling. There was poetry and singing…and Kim closed the meeting. It was a very special experience. We were honored to be there.
Gracia’s words hit a chord with us. She said something like “Everyone here today was handpicked by the spirit of this family to be here.” We discussed this later, remarking that even though we were not part of the family, we somehow felt included in Gracia's prophetic pronouncement. What were we even doing there? There was a certain serendipity in our being present to witness this first reunion of the Joseph Smith Jr. family.
Kathie and I had the opportunity to meet Kim’s parents, Joseph Fielding and Sue Smith. We learned a lot about Kim. She was, on that very day, literally escaping from her husband, with her two children. It was a very tense, difficult time for the family. The Smiths were long-time members of the Temple Lot Group, the splinter Mormon group which owns/maintains the dedicated temple site in Independence, Missouri. The group had about 2,500 members. The Smiths were lovely people...and so proud of Kim. They were amazed by the transformation in their daughter since joining the LDS Church. “If you had known her before she joined the Church, you would not believe the change in her. That she could stand up there and conduct an event like this, is a miracle in itself.” Sue Smith confided to Kathie that she had had a dream herself, in which she was informed that there were big changes coming into her life. We have wondered about that over the years. We even stopped at the Temple Lot one year, during a visit to Independence, and asked the attendant if he could direct us to Joseph and Sue Smith. He acted as if he had never heard of them.
I had a video camera and actually videoed the Smith Family reunion. Without a tripod it was not easy…and without any real talent at filming it was not very professional. So I did nothing with the video for some time. We showed it to our study group, but that was it. Some time later I asked Scott Harris, who was a high school instructor in video production, if he could edit my video…take out some of the jiggles…insert some titles, etc. He agreed…but he did not do anything. It became almost a joke. Every time I ran into Scott, I would ask if he was ever going to finish editing my video. Years went by.
Scott’s wife Laura is a photographer...she photographs and videos weddings. Kathie met her at a wedding, liked her work and engaged her to photograph our family at our annual reunion in August. Since one can rely on women to get things done, Kathie asked Laura to apply pressure on Scott regarding the Joseph Smith DVDs. Within the month the job was completed. By the first week in September, 2008, we had 25 DVDs to distribute.
Then the problem was how to distribute the DVDs…to whom?…where?. I immediately thought of Gracia Jones who lives in St. George or Hurricane. But I needed her email address…or phone number.
Then I flew off to Sydney with Shane, Andy and Cody who were assigned to lay carpet in the Sydney LDS Temple. It was a pure whim on my part. Because Andy is a commercial pilot I can fly anywhere inexpensively. For those who don't know, I was born in Perth, Australia...joined the LDS Church in 1961. Sydney is where I served a mission in 1964/65...where Kathie and I met...where we have a lot of friends.
We were assigned to the Temple Patron Housing. We were told that there were other people staying there who were making a documentary about Joseph Smith’s descendants in Australia. We met a couple of women that first day. I asked if they were “with the movie group”…they were…so I asked if the movie was based upon Gracia Jones’ research?...yes…did they know her email address?…yes they did. Wow! That was easy. So I emailed Gracia…she emailed back, saying that she would be happy to help. I noticed that she had copied Michael Kennedy. I did not know who he was.
A couple of days later we were invited to a special showing of the movie "Emma". The gentleman who introduced the movie to the mainly LDS crowd was Michael Kennedy. Wow! Another surprise. He turned out to be the president of the Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society. After the movie I asked him for his card, telling him that I would like to send him a DVD, which he might appreciate.
The very next morning I met the woman who had given me Gracia Jones’ email address. She turned out to be the wife of Michael Kennedy. This was getting weird...I could not believe it...we were all living in the same building. I thanked Sister Kennedy for giving me Gracia’s email address and explained that I had received a response from Gracia…and that Gracia had agreed to help me distribute the DVDs of the first Joseph Smith Jr. reunion. I told her that I especially wanted to get DVDs to Kim Smith Davis and her parents. She smiled and said “Come with me”. She led me to the kitchen where a group was gathered for breakfast. She said…”Kim, this gentleman would like to speak with you.” It was Kim Smith. My head was spinning. What was happening?
Kim and I talked. She divorced her husband shortly after the reunion in 2000 and dropped the name Davis. She introduced me to her two children, now teenagers. She is now living in Nauvoo, Illinois. I asked about her parents. Her mother Sue joined the LDS Church...her dream came true... but her father Joseph has not…not yet. Kim was actually embarrassed by the poor turnout at the 2000 reunion…I'm not sure that she was happy to discover that someone had recorded the event. But I suggested that her 2000 reunion was a wonderful “gentle beginning”, from which great things have evolved.
I still cannot believe it. I had goose bumps on goose bumps. I flew to Australia for five days, on a whim, and found the very family which I needed to locate in order to distribute the Joseph Smith Jr. reunion DVDs.
How does one explain this? It certainly cannot be explained in any rational, pragmatic sense. It was definitely serendipitous…more likely spiritual. Time will tell. Kathie even asked “Are you sure that you do not have any Smiths in your Australian family lines?” Since I am a family history nut, I had better check.
After writing this entry, I woke in the middle of the night with the strong impression that I should not equivocate. Rather, I should testify boldly that this entire series of events is clear evidence of the hand of the Lord in our affairs here on earth.
I was in our Salt Lake City office one day for a conference call with Merrill Osmond. Jerroll was present. The bottom line was that there were some business opportunities in Branson…Merrill asked Jerroll to come to Branson, with an architect. To sweeten the invitation, Merrill said that whoever chose to come would be invited to the Osmond Brothers' dinner show as guests of the Osmonds…and also invited to a couple of special events. One event was the baptism of Merrill’s business manager, Kevin Reno…the other was the very first reunion of the Joseph Smith Jr. family, which Merrill was helping to organize. My associate Richard Heindel and I decided to go… and we took our wives.
Some time prior to this event, Merrill had met Kim Smith Davis. It was the habit of the Osmond Brothers to greet fans in the foyer after each show. Kim approached Merrill in this setting. She informed Merrill that she was the great, great grand daughter of Joseph Smith Jr…and she had some questions about the mainstream LDS church…she did not want to join his church, but she wanted to understand some of the history…why some Saints went west to Utah, while others stayed in Nauvoo. Merrill obliged…Kim later joined the LDS Church.
Shortly thereafter, Kim felt compelled to organize a reunion of the descendants of Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith. It was a sensitive assignment. Most descendants of Joseph had grown up being advised never to mention their heritage…there was embarrassment…there were shattered relationships within the family…and animosity toward mainstream Mormonism. Merrill agreed to help Kim organize a reunion.
Merrill had received his own compelling spiritual prompting. He had a dream in which Joseph Smith appeared to him….told him that his descendants were hurting…he asked Merrill to help “heal my family”. So Kim and Merrill collaborated on a reunion. The reunion was held in the Hughes Family Theater…it was poorly attended, but we thought it was wonderful.
Kim Smith Davis was the MC…the invocation was given by Joseph Fielding Smith (Kim’s father)…Merrill told his story…Gracia Jones, the first member of Joseph’s family to join mainstream Mormonism, spoke of her experiences…and her discovery that there were over 400 descendants of Joseph living in Australia. Merrill and Gracia made pleas to the family to come together in unity and love…and pledged their love and support to that end.
There followed some role playing: Jason Hughes, a descendant of Newel Knight, read from family records about the Knight family and their love for Joseph Smith. Nancy Eppert, dressed as Emma Hale Smith, presented a moving monologue about Emma’s life. The Hughes Brothers re-enacted the scene in Carthage Gaol, while Ryan Hughes sang “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”…I don’t think that I have ever heard it sung better…or with more feeling. There was poetry and singing…and Kim closed the meeting. It was a very special experience. We were honored to be there.
Gracia’s words hit a chord with us. She said something like “Everyone here today was handpicked by the spirit of this family to be here.” We discussed this later, remarking that even though we were not part of the family, we somehow felt included in Gracia's prophetic pronouncement. What were we even doing there? There was a certain serendipity in our being present to witness this first reunion of the Joseph Smith Jr. family.
Kathie and I had the opportunity to meet Kim’s parents, Joseph Fielding and Sue Smith. We learned a lot about Kim. She was, on that very day, literally escaping from her husband, with her two children. It was a very tense, difficult time for the family. The Smiths were long-time members of the Temple Lot Group, the splinter Mormon group which owns/maintains the dedicated temple site in Independence, Missouri. The group had about 2,500 members. The Smiths were lovely people...and so proud of Kim. They were amazed by the transformation in their daughter since joining the LDS Church. “If you had known her before she joined the Church, you would not believe the change in her. That she could stand up there and conduct an event like this, is a miracle in itself.” Sue Smith confided to Kathie that she had had a dream herself, in which she was informed that there were big changes coming into her life. We have wondered about that over the years. We even stopped at the Temple Lot one year, during a visit to Independence, and asked the attendant if he could direct us to Joseph and Sue Smith. He acted as if he had never heard of them.
I had a video camera and actually videoed the Smith Family reunion. Without a tripod it was not easy…and without any real talent at filming it was not very professional. So I did nothing with the video for some time. We showed it to our study group, but that was it. Some time later I asked Scott Harris, who was a high school instructor in video production, if he could edit my video…take out some of the jiggles…insert some titles, etc. He agreed…but he did not do anything. It became almost a joke. Every time I ran into Scott, I would ask if he was ever going to finish editing my video. Years went by.
Scott’s wife Laura is a photographer...she photographs and videos weddings. Kathie met her at a wedding, liked her work and engaged her to photograph our family at our annual reunion in August. Since one can rely on women to get things done, Kathie asked Laura to apply pressure on Scott regarding the Joseph Smith DVDs. Within the month the job was completed. By the first week in September, 2008, we had 25 DVDs to distribute.
Then the problem was how to distribute the DVDs…to whom?…where?. I immediately thought of Gracia Jones who lives in St. George or Hurricane. But I needed her email address…or phone number.
Then I flew off to Sydney with Shane, Andy and Cody who were assigned to lay carpet in the Sydney LDS Temple. It was a pure whim on my part. Because Andy is a commercial pilot I can fly anywhere inexpensively. For those who don't know, I was born in Perth, Australia...joined the LDS Church in 1961. Sydney is where I served a mission in 1964/65...where Kathie and I met...where we have a lot of friends.
We were assigned to the Temple Patron Housing. We were told that there were other people staying there who were making a documentary about Joseph Smith’s descendants in Australia. We met a couple of women that first day. I asked if they were “with the movie group”…they were…so I asked if the movie was based upon Gracia Jones’ research?...yes…did they know her email address?…yes they did. Wow! That was easy. So I emailed Gracia…she emailed back, saying that she would be happy to help. I noticed that she had copied Michael Kennedy. I did not know who he was.
A couple of days later we were invited to a special showing of the movie "Emma". The gentleman who introduced the movie to the mainly LDS crowd was Michael Kennedy. Wow! Another surprise. He turned out to be the president of the Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society. After the movie I asked him for his card, telling him that I would like to send him a DVD, which he might appreciate.
The very next morning I met the woman who had given me Gracia Jones’ email address. She turned out to be the wife of Michael Kennedy. This was getting weird...I could not believe it...we were all living in the same building. I thanked Sister Kennedy for giving me Gracia’s email address and explained that I had received a response from Gracia…and that Gracia had agreed to help me distribute the DVDs of the first Joseph Smith Jr. reunion. I told her that I especially wanted to get DVDs to Kim Smith Davis and her parents. She smiled and said “Come with me”. She led me to the kitchen where a group was gathered for breakfast. She said…”Kim, this gentleman would like to speak with you.” It was Kim Smith. My head was spinning. What was happening?
Kim and I talked. She divorced her husband shortly after the reunion in 2000 and dropped the name Davis. She introduced me to her two children, now teenagers. She is now living in Nauvoo, Illinois. I asked about her parents. Her mother Sue joined the LDS Church...her dream came true... but her father Joseph has not…not yet. Kim was actually embarrassed by the poor turnout at the 2000 reunion…I'm not sure that she was happy to discover that someone had recorded the event. But I suggested that her 2000 reunion was a wonderful “gentle beginning”, from which great things have evolved.
I still cannot believe it. I had goose bumps on goose bumps. I flew to Australia for five days, on a whim, and found the very family which I needed to locate in order to distribute the Joseph Smith Jr. reunion DVDs.
How does one explain this? It certainly cannot be explained in any rational, pragmatic sense. It was definitely serendipitous…more likely spiritual. Time will tell. Kathie even asked “Are you sure that you do not have any Smiths in your Australian family lines?” Since I am a family history nut, I had better check.
After writing this entry, I woke in the middle of the night with the strong impression that I should not equivocate. Rather, I should testify boldly that this entire series of events is clear evidence of the hand of the Lord in our affairs here on earth.
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