Grandma and her boys "river rafting".

Early Saturday morning McKee and Luke were out on the pond in the paddleboat feeding the fish. The night before they asked if they could go on the river and I said I thought it was too dangerous but Saturday when they asked again I thought, “Why not? Angie and her friends and even Meghan, and Lauren have canoed down the river,” so I said, “Sure, let's give it a try!" It took our combined strength to drag the paddleboat up the gradual pond bank, across the lawn and into the creek. We quickly discovered that McK was the only one who could steer correctly. Feeling like Huck Finn we paddled down the creek sailing along smoothly until we got to the bridge where we had to quickly lower the canopy in order to pass under it. That caused some excitement and McK was nervous and sure the boat was going to sink, Luke remained calm. We paddled around the corner and discovered that the bridge by Bob and Lil’s house was lower than the first bridge and I sure didn't want to get stuck under it with my boys. We turned around but we could not paddle strong enough against the current to make any headway and we were quickly drifting toward the bridge. We maneuvered close to the bank where the current wasn't as strong. I grabbed the grass, reeds and rosebushes and pulled us along making about 30 feet in 30 minutes. We needed more power so I sent McK after the oars from the canoe. While waiting for McK to return Luke asked, “Grandma do you think this was such a good idea?” I knew Mark and Shari were anxious to leave for California and they had no idea where we were. I mustered my most brave and confident response, “Sure, I said, we're going to be fine, just fine.”

When McK returned with the oars it quickly became evident that strong rowing and not-so-strong rowing make for "going in circles". Next McK helped by digging an oar into the mud in the creek bottom and pushing as I pulled along the reeds in the blistering heat of mid day. A few more minutes of that and I was totally exhausted. There was no way we could maneuver the boat back to where we launched it. Finally it dawned on me, ‘Maybe we should have a prayer!” McK eagerly offered to say it asking Heavenly Father to please bless us that the boat wouldn’t sink and that we would be able to get back safe. I am a bit reluctant to admit how shocked I was when within a few short minutes I looked up and saw a man standing above us on the river bank - in fact I was ‘stunned! It took me a couple of seconds for it to register that indeed we were being rescued ‘immediately’ following our prayer. Josh May, who is renting Bob’s house, said that he and his wife looked out the window and saw something blue on the creek and he decided to come down and check it out. If it had been me I would have thought “Oh, yeah, how interesting, something blue is floating down the creek." I believe that in answer to our prayer, Josh was inspired to come to our rescue. He and I easily lifted the boat up the steep bank.

As my boys and I walked back to the house McK said, “Grandma you are the most righteous person I know. Now I’m not here to judge, but that’s what I think.” Shari said that I am not the only person McK has said that to. He is a pretty observant kid. He knows what is right and he wants to be good. He - almost too quickly - recognizes the righteous efforts of others and eagerly points out virtuous and sometimes even unrighteous characteristics. My new resolve is that my grandchildren will always be able to see me as an example of righteousness.

As I have pondered our experience I am amazed at my slow response in asking for God’s assistance. I strained, struggled, and figured out my own failed strategies in the blistering heat until I was completely exhausted before asking for help. It was a perfect example of "man trying to prosper by his own means." When I humbled myself and McK asked for help, IMMEDIATELY the prayer was answered.

Alma 33:11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy... Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies, which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son... O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

Since I asked a few weeks ago to be shown that prayers really do make a difference, I have seen numerous examples of the absolute and definitive difference that prayer makes in our lives. Of course I pray morning and night, but struggling against a strong current with two impressionable boys, I realized that in the moment of tribulation prayer is eminently significant and efficacious. Most of the time it takes awhile for our prayers to be answered, sometimes years, but it is nice to know that when necessary, the answer sometimes comes unexpectedly and instantly.

Raising The Victorian #3

"The Old House"was filled with memories from the first, second, third and fourth generation Orson Pratt Thatcher family. Each one of you have your own set of precious memories. I remember sitting at the kitchen table when I was dating Sid and eating Mom's homemade bread with gravy (a real treat if you haven't tried it.) Kimberly, Karen, Brent, David, Mark and Sid and I, lived in the Old House from Jan to April 1976 while we built our house. When we tore it down it was perfectly obvious that there was no insulation in the walls. No wonder it was so cold. When we lived there  we got up at 4:00 a.m., started the fire and jumped back into bed until it was warm enough to get up and get breakfast. Our children slept in bunk beds in the living room. A couple of years later Bob and Lillian installed a furnace and carpet and lived there while they built their house.  Our children used it at Halloween to terrorize each other and their friends by rigging mannequin parts to appear when doors opened.  They watched scary movies, had prom banquets, invented horror stories and took people on "Tours" through her. They swear that there was even a real ghost sighting in the south bedroom window. At one time I planned a complete remodel and wanted to move her across the creek on the hill north east of the deck. When that proved impractical we contacted Utah State University and offered it to them for the the American West Heritage Center since it was the first non-log house built in the valley.  The extended Thatcher family offered to pay to move it; however, red tape and bureaucracy multiplied until we gave up.  The children are gone now and the reason for keeping it has vanished. The porches were caving in, bats enjoyed the peeling wallpaper, and it became a junk collector and a fire hazard.  July 4th, 2008 became Liberation Day for the "Old House." Sid rented a D315 Track Hoe and a Front End Loader. David, Tara and Claire came from California and brought Mark and Shari's children, McK, Luke and Logan. MaRea, Kyle and Kaden, and Lindsey, Riley and Jack came Thursday night. Paul, Nicole, Carson and Brynlee came Saturday. Thursday night David and Sid cleared out the trees and equipment on the west and dug a hole for debris.

Everyone was told that if they wanted anything in the house to get it.  McK, Luke and Kaden found a treasure box of 78 rpm records from the 60's and called them their "Big CD's".  They played with them on the lawn throwing them like frisbees until the sun warped them. 

"Raising the Victorian" Part 2

A common definition of raise is to put or take to a higher position, elevate, make nobler. Ironically, raise also means to put an end to, to break up and remove. My objective in using the title "Raising the Victorian" is to apply both definitions to "The Old House". We want to pay tribute to this grand old lady and evelate her in the hearts and minds of her posterity at the same time that we put an end to her earthly existance. Sid told Earnie on the phone tonight that after someone has died it is time to bury them and now was her time. She was magnificient in her day. Built in 1884 certainly qualifies her to be designated "Victorian" which is anything associated with the reign or time of Queen Victoria of England (1837-1901). Our "Victorian" - The Old House, had three bedrooms upstairs and two on the main floor including my favorite, the beautiful large West bedroom with it's bay windows. If I had been able to do a 'make over' on the house which I always hoped possible, that bedroom would have become a beautiful library. Last fall I removed approximately 8 layers of wallpaper down to the very first richly hued ornate wall covering printed in New York City. The magnificent deep burgandy, gold metalic and green medallions and swirls in coordinating patterns graced the walls of the mainfloor bedroom, and dining room. Both rooms were finished with superbly beautiful 18inch borders and matching ceiling paper. The window in the door of the foyer entrance was etched with a replica of the Salt Lake Temple. Before her "raising" on July 4, 2008 we preserved two of the beautiful newel posts from the stairway, a few of the doorway medallions and the three decorative pieces on the outside of the bay windows. Reese, Steve's son, was wise enough to preserve some of the door medallions in the doorways of the home he built.

It was to this house that the Orson P. Thatcher's moved in 1909. The Thatcher's themselves were often referred to as "Victorian". Grandma Nettie was very proper, straight laced and conventional. She never went anywhere without her hat and gloves. She was very careful and close about what was said and to whom. Thus she would never let Grandpa Orson P. talk about the circumstances surrounding Moses Thatcher being dropped from the Twelve Apostles. Family members would have liked to have known Grandpa's perspective but no one was ever able to hear it from his lips - at least that we know about.

When ORT's twin sister Virgina divorced her husband, their oldest son Gilbert said he chose to live with his father's family, the Olsen's, "because the Thatchers were so straight-laced and the Olsen's were fun loving and easy going." That was before Amelia came on the scene because she had a wonderful sense of humor which her children consciously or subconsciously inherited - thank goodness!

When ORT (Orson Reeder Thatcher) and his new bride Amelia (Emelie) Fuhriman moved into the house following their marriage in January 1936 they were given the main bedroom. It helps to remember that this was during the Great Depression when it would have taken real courage to even get married. Grandma lost her first baby, Reed, during child birth in November of 1936. She said he was a perfect full term baby. No reason was ever given for his death but she felt that his neck was broken during delivery. He was buried under the walnut tree West of the house. Sharon was born the next year in November 1937, Howard March 14, 1939 and the twins in May 1940. Steve in 1942 , another still-born son Grant and Aurelia last. As far as we can determine they lived in the "Old House" until after the twins were born because she often told of hanging over a hundred diapers on the line as she had four children in diapers at the same time. Sharon was three years old but she had contracted meningitis when she was 18 months old and although her life was saved by the "New" sulfa drugs she was left physically and mentally impaired. Thus four babies with mountains of diapers washed in a wringer washer in the basement under the kitchen which was more like a dugout - dark, damp and without heat and hung on the line two and three deep winter (when the clothes pins froze to the frozen diapers), spring, summer and fall. One of the most admirable characteristics of Amelia was that in spite of all her hardship; living in one room with four children, sharing the rest of the house with her austere in-laws, washing and hanging all those diapers in all kinds of weather, her sense of humor squelched and unappreciated, she was never bitter and she never complained then or since. Whenever she talked about it she recited the details as if it were a documentary - without guile or accusation. In fact she always chuckled when she told us how resourceful she was to discover Grandma Nettie's recipe for flaky pie crust which she refused to share, by discreetly watching her and making a mental note of the amount of the ingredients. Amelia's pie crust was amazing.

The photo of Amelia kneeling under the window of "The Victorian" with her new born twins is one of the most touching old photos I have ever seen. Of special interest are her gloves and shoes. The photo of her with her four babies in diapers shows only the peace and satisfaction with which she accepted her 'lot in life'.



















Sid believes ORT must have built the basement house in the early forties as the pictures of Sharon, Howard and the twins were taken in front of it. Ill advised that it wasn't necessary to reinforce the two-bedroom cinder block basement it wasn't long before it split at the corners. The children remember waking up in the morning with snow on their beds which blew in through the cracks in the walls. It was in the basement that Sid innocently aimed a loaded gun at Howard and instead of blowing him away, blew out the window above his head.












Shortly before Amelia delivered the twins, she asked the doctor if he thought she might be having twins. He laughed at her and said, "Why would you think that?"










"Well", she replied, "My sister just had twins."

He laughed again. But the last laugh was on him when five minutes after the first one was born, he said,

"Woops, here comes another one."

Orson P. and Nettie moved to Logan First Ward in the 1950's and ORT and his family moved back into the Victorian. To them it was a mansion after having lived in the deteriorating cinder-block basement.

"Raising" the Victorian Part 1

For 30 years we have wanted to tear down the old house, but it was hard to make the final decision because of all the family memories and history connected to that old house. We tried to interest USU in using it at the American West Center on Highway 89 but it was too political even though the extended Thatcher family offered to pay for the moving. The "Old Victorian" house was purchased by Orson Pratt Thatcher and Nettie Elizabeth Thatcher in 1909 from John C. Dawdle who built the house in 1884 and moved to Canada when they sold the farm.  It is reported to have been the first non-log house in Cache Valley.  Dawdle was also supposed to have been the person who built the first log house in the valley. J.C. Dawdle's descendent, Claudia Findlay, married Ed Prince, the cousin my dad raised. The information concerning Dawdle's building experiences comes from his personal journal in the possession of Claudia Prince. 

Grandpa Orson P. was not a farmer, he had been swindled out of a laundry business by an unscrupulous partner but had enough to make a down payment on 120 acres and house in Young Ward. The purchase price was $3,500.00.  

They raised chickens, eggs, sugar beets and grain crops.  During the depression, Orson 's half brothers at the Thatcher bank threatened to foreclose on the farm until Grandma Nettie went into the bank and read them the 'right act.'  They made him sign the farm over to his wife Nettie.  Grandma Nettie insisted they drill the well down in the West field and it was a real gusher.

Orson Reeder, Orson P's son is in both photos.  Orson P.  was driving a load of sugar beets over the bridge when the load shifted and the valuable work team ended up at the bottom of the creek with the load of sugar beets on top of them. He lost everything - the sugar beets, the team and the wagon.  It was a devastating  financial and emotional blow for grandpa.  

"Summer Snow"

As a child, our basement house was built into the hillside of the treeless Southern Alberta foothills on the verge of flattening into the expansive prairie. The closest trees were a good 1/2 hour by horseback to Kaye Woodard's, a couple of miles up the road. Their little brown house was next to a bridge on a coulee surrounded by TREES. On beautiful summer days, lying on a little cot in the grass we watched the clouds through the leaves and thought heaven couldn't compare. I yearned for my very own stream, bridge, grass and TREES. It was never a conscious goal and I don't think I ever believed that my dream would come true but I dreamed and wished anyway. It makes me reflect upon Alma's statement in Chapter 29, "for, I know that he (God) granteth unto men according to their desire...." for today some 60 years later, two streams meander lazily past our home. The banks are lined with native Cottonwood Trees -gentle giants that grow profusely, their mammoth trunks straining the bridge girders and deforming the deck flooring. Every year they shed forth their froth filling your eyes, nose and lungs, irritating allergies and decorating your car and clothes. Do I love them? Yes I do, passionately! Remembering my childhood desire, I find myself filled with gratitude for my bridges and creeks, the refreshing 40 degree pond with its 52 second feet of water (whatever that means but is very impressive to fact-spouting men like Sid), the hundreds of trees and the full acre of grass surrounding our house. One magical morning I walked out the front door and for the first time saw the flowers buried in 'summer snow" thanks to my beloved Cottonwood Trees.

A reminder of what could have been!

Yesterday was Sunday and as I walked, almost ran - skipped down the hall of the church house because I was in such a hurry to get back to the Relief Society room where I was teaching my lesson I passed Rachel Daugs, our neighbor and daughter of our old bishop. She fell on the ice just before Christmas and broke the same ankle she broke on our trampoline when she was about 10 years old. She broke one bone and got two pins. She was barely walking, last week she still had her crutches. He whole leg from her foot almost to her knee is swollen and she can hardly stand on it. Arvonna Jenson, our former Stake President's wife broke her ankle and got a couple of pins about 5 years ago. She is still limping. I was reminded of a year ago Feb 22 when I fell down the stairs at work and broke both ankle bones, one on each side. When I tripped on the landing I popped my ankle one direction and then popped it the other direction ending up on the floor moaning and groaning with a double fracture and dislocated left ankle. Paul took me to the hospital in Sid’s truck. He was so gentle, kind and supportive. He stayed with me and gave me a blessing once they looked at the X-rays and decided that the operation needed to be done immediately. An orderly anointed me with the oil and the very moment that Paul put his hands on my head to give me a blessing I relaxed and the pain left. That blessing was the most powerful IMMEDIATE blessing I have ever received. When he laid his hands on my head the excruciating pain totally subsided and I felt the spirit surge through me completely. In the blessing Paul promised me total recovery with no negative affects. There were 24 staples holding two incisions together. The outside incision was about 6” long with a metal plate and 7 screws holding the vertical break in place. The inside ankle incision was about 4” long and has 2 screws holding the large horizontal bone break in place. Within 8 weeks it was completely healed to the point where I didn't limp. A year later there was no swelling, only a few little stitch marks. I have been greatly blessed. Paul was promised in his Patriarchal Blessing that he would perform miracles. I believe I have been blessed as the recipient of one of those miracles and I was duly reminded of it Sunday as I witnessed the pain that I could still be experiencing. Thank you Paul for your gift and your kindness, mercy and patience with me. Thank you for being worthy to bless me with your Priesthood. Thank you for your continued efforts to work at becoming the kind of husband and father you want to be. Thank you for being my precious, wonderful son. Without you my life would not be complete!

"No Greater Joy."

Last night, Saturday, April 12, 2008 Sid and I left for SLC about 4:15 to go to Chuck A Rama with MaRea, Kyle and Kaden and then to the Jazz Game (Denver Nuggets – they won by 20+ points – my kind of game!) It was the best time we have had since we were in NYC with Dave, Tara and Claire - funny how the best times are always with our family. It was so good to see them again – I have missed them terribly. The most sensational event of the whole evening was when we were passing the temple and Kaden, who will be 3 on my birthday August 23, kept saying ‘Temple, mommy, Temple.” MaRea asked him. “When are YOU going to the temple Kaden?” and he said, “Mission.” She asked him, “What are you going to teach people about on your mission?” And as quick as she asked him he answered, “Jesus.” Then she asked him, “What are you going to teach them to read?” And he replied, “Book of Mormon.” She asked him, “We read two stories every night and one of them is the? And he again replied, “Book of Mormon.” My heart skipped a beat and it was instantly filled with JOY. I have no worries about Kaden. He will be fine in this difficult world because he is being rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He will know who he is and whose he is. He will be founded and grounded in love and he will seek after righteousness. Kaden Kyle Hess will find peace in a chaotic world because he will have faith, hope and trust in Christ. As John says in 3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Last night was full of JOY.

Big Apple '08 -The End of an Era

WOW! I finally got MaRea to walk me through the "how to blog" again.  Way too much has happened since last time I wrote a month ago.  Sid and I got on the POD Train the 18th of March - threatening snowstorm moved the date up a day (sound familiar)? We drove to St. Louis and left the SEI trailer at the convention center in Collinsville, Illinois and flew to NYC for our last hurrah in the Big Apple before Dave and Tara move to Palm Springs. 

David picked us up at the Islip, Long Island airport since we had companion tickets on Southwest (2 - at the last minute - for $350.00) and MacArthur is the only airport SWA flies into.  We loved spending time with Dave, Tara and Claire Bear or "CBT" as Grandpa Thatcher calls her. She especially liked  Grandpa Thatcher to read her a story in the morning. She is, everyone-on-the-block's baby doll - The very fat,  lovely, refined, intellectual lady on the stoop next door who writes Opera Revues all over the world - and  'Eddie,' the guy across the hall, who has a celebrity car service (New York Giants etc.) who spends his day stepping off, measuring and maneuvering  Dave's car and his cars into parking places in front of their Brownstone so he can take up two spaces instead of one without it looking like he's being a hog so he can squeeze in one more of his cars when he needs to. Parking is an experience in New York City that Dave and Tara need to write about as one of their NYC 10.  Eddie  listens for the Thatchers to  come up the second flight of stairs then he pops out of his apartment door and  Claire giggles and runs into his arms.  If she hears his voice in the hall she is out their apartment door and into his arms.  He buys her gifts and assures them they are only going to be in California for 6 months because they will miss NY too much.  Dave and Tara have made some amazing friends in NYC. That, I am sure, is one of the hardest parts about leaving.

Mostly, we just relaxed and enjoyed each other, which was our only priority.  I did press my luck not once but twice (which David kindly catered to) for a trip down to Canal street for a purse and  Pashmina run.  I got just about every color of scarf I thought I might someday use (I have to carry on the Maxine Reeder tradition of wearing a scarf to keep warm. Mother had one black scarf, I'm trying to add some color to the tradition.) 

My favorite activity was a trip to Stew Leonard's which if you haven't been there is worth a trip to NYC. It is built like a huge dairy, silo and all.  Laura says they have something like it in Atlanta and we've got to hit that one too.  Stew Leonard's is one of those places you go just for the experience.  It is a grocery store extraordinaire.  Pardon me, referring to it as a grocery store is somewhat ignominious. It is a rather like a huge 'NYC Deli' plus Trader Joe's in Palm Springs but at least 10 maybe 20 times bigger  - it's gigantic!  The owners have their own dairies and farms and grow most of the produce themselves. They have talking and singing cows, horses and other farm animals (Claire's favorite part of the store). Videos of the owner feeding his pet cows and being pushed around by them as he tells his story, play throughout the store.  Fresh herbs have their own stand with  bunches of basil - my favorite - so huge and fresh you can cradle them in your arm and bury your nose in pure fragrant refreshment. There is a specialty shrimp counter with every imaginable way to buy shrimp PLUS a girl who knows everything about shrimp you ever wanted to know. She can tell you what you want to buy and why depending on your particular need. We weren't quit sure we had enough! They also have a deli counter the size of many grocery stores where you can buy freshly prepared gourmet food you can  take home and heat. BUT they do NOT have flour or coconut!   AND talk about the grazing! - INCREDIBLE.  Sweet potato chips were my favorite this time.  Of course you know Sid and David hung out at the cheese and olive deli which had almost as much variety as France. Now Paul, MaRea and the Prier's may differ on that but they need to take a trip to Stew Leonard's and see for themselves.  To top it all off, if you spend $100 (and of course we obliged) you get a free soft ice cream cone - our choices were pistachio, coconut or vanilla - made of course with their famous milk. The amazing home made soup bar? We should have bought a quart - no a gallon - of each one of them - in my book one more good reason to live in the Big Apple. We slurped ours on the way back to the apartment and wished we had more. What a blow out for someone who isn't suppose to eat dairy, fat, or starch - Yea, that was me pigging out at Stew Leonard's.  Across from the check-out counter is a 30 foot bulletin board filled with photos of people all over the world having their pictures taken with their "Stew Leonard" shopping bags in front of the Eiffel Tower, Machu Pichu, Tibet, China Wall, etc. 

All that was just on the way home from the airport! 

Saturday Tara and her Stake Young Women's counselors spent the whole day preparing food for about 50 Young Women and their mothers. In the morning I chopped basil and leeks really fine. That night they had a Mother/Daughter fashion show - a rather unusual one which featured literal fashions such as 'fish net stockings with fish hanging off of them,' A 'sun dress with huge suns on it,' a "T" shirt made of T's,  etc.  They created a runway with flood lights and the models pranced their wares like they were real models - loving every minute of it. Leolani is a producer for Anderson Cooper and she entertained us while we cooked with her stories of getting the first exclusive interview with Barak Obama which led some big news breaking story and her life with her Hawaiian family. Lisel, one of Tara's counselors is a food editorial writer and a gourmet cook so they made specialty sandwiches and strawberries dipped in chocolate - (all purchased at Stew Leonard's of course) which were served during the runway show just like uptown. They then watched the Young Women's general conference report. Dave and Tara have one of the few cars among members in New York so they of course spent most of the day hauling food, lights, etc. to and from the church. 

Dave made Sid's whole trip worthwhile Saturday afternoon when we went downtown to the "Apple Store."  I tended the car and Claire in a "no parking" zone while they went shopping to find Sid the best possible earphones for his IPhone.  They are remarkable - best sound ever and well worth the almost $100 price.  Can't you just see the smile on Sid's face - he is such a gadget guy - his father, ORT the original gadget guy -  would have been proud of him!

Sunday we "walked" 2 1/2 blocks to church, a beautiful new chapel  instead of clear across Central Park on the West Side where the temple and the other chapel are located and where they have attended church all these years - 9  1/2 to be exact.  It was testimony meeting and we got to tend Claire while Dave helped his Young Men pass the sacrament.  Claire got a little fussy so Dave took her out and didn't get to hear the last testimony which was a woman who is some enormous Wall Street guru.  She heard that Dave and Tara were moving and she said, "I've been sitting in the back of the cultural hall but I had to make the trip all the way up here because I couldn't let this meeting end or Brother Thatcher leave New York  without him and all of you knowing that he is the reason that our son is on a mission. I don't know what we would have done without him. Dave was there for our son when he needed someone the most. Brother Thatcher gave him the desire and the determination to serve a mission.  He is about 3/4 finished his mission now and will complete the last few months in the office helping the Mission President as AP.  I just had to let all of you and Brother Thatcher know that there are not words to express our appreciation and gratitude for his sensitivity to our son's needs, his genuine care and concern and the invaluable contribution he has made to the life of our son and to our lives as parents."

(I had to put that in there because Dave didn't hear it and Tara was in another ward at a  Stake Young Women's meeting.)

Sid and I took Claire home for a nap and started making my famous "Curry Chicken." I made one batch and when Dave got home I found out that more than Anita was coming for lunch and they were taking dinner to a family with a new baby so I made another batch and ended up with a pretty good pot of  "the best curry chicken I've ever made!" We love Anita! She is the national fashion sales manager for DK NYC, a convert from Switzerland and we would love to see her find some incredible LDS guy which she certainly deserves.  We are really going to miss seeing her when we don't get to go to NYC  and stay at 324E 89th Street 3W.

Sunday night we went to a going-away party for Maurice, one of Dave and Tara's friends.  It was at the home of a Reeder cousin, a common descendant of David Reeder who died on the plains near North Platte, Nebraska.  Mark Hammond is from David Reeder's son George Reeder  and we are from George's brother, Robert's family. Interesting side note - Mark Hammond's wife is from George's first wife's lineage and he is from George's second wife's lineage.  I am from Robert's first wife's lineage and Sid is from the second wife's lineage. Mark Hammond collects early church history artifacts before 1847 and has a remarkable photograph of George Reeder in a bishopric in Brigham City.

Every one will be excited to learn that the "Reeder Book" which was out of print and has been the source of many 'swappings' over the years has been updated and reprinted.  He is going to send me an e-mail of where we can get copies.  Mark Hammond was also able to go back to England and find the exact location of the Reeder home in the photos that are in the book.  It was pretty much a miracle that he was able to find it since you have to know the name of the people who have lived there over the last 100 years because there are no street addresses etc.

Monday Dave and I went for a run in Central Park.  It was an overcast day, rained over night, puddles here and there, not crowded.  Dave took the longer 4 mile run while I walked the Reservoir 1.7 miles. I wondered why everyone was going in the opposite direction until I noticed a sign showing that I should have been going in the OTHER direction too - but I was already about 1/2 way around and I was not about to change directions at that point. Besides I felt it was somewhat representative of my life since it seems that I have chosen 'to walk in the opposite direction' a good portion of my life.  It is amazing that someone 100 years ago had enough wisdom to create this little piece of paradise in the middle of chaos. "A Walk In The Park" must surely refer to Central Park where you can rediscover who, why, what, and where you are in life in just a few minutes. Dave said it would take me about 30 minutes which is about how long it takes me to walk that far on my treadmill at home.  I kept looking for a particular building as a homing spot and when I looked at my watch  it had been 40 minutes - I was LOST.  David finished his run, saw police cars, ambulances and heard sirens, wondering if I was the victim.  How can one get lost on a circular track around the reservoir?  Well I had been so deep in something that I passed up the starting point and made it part way around again when I recognized a guy who was standing still and talking on his cell phone. The first time I passed  him I heard him say something to 'Doug' on the phone so when I passed him the second time in the same spot and hear him say 'Doug' again I knew something was wrong.  So I turned around and walked back.  David was pretty relieved to see me not smashed up in traffic. 

It was a very nostalgic experience remembering the many times we had driven through the Park in Taxis to and from the airport, walked through the park from Dave and Tara's to the church, spent an evening at the Concert in the Park with a gourmet bread/cheese and hors d'oeuvre picnic and the time Sid and I stayed in the Ritz across from the park.  I thought about the many times that Dave, Tara and Claire have loved the Park and how hard it is going to be for them to leave it since my heart is hanging on to the few sweet memories I have.

New York is WONDERFUL.  WE LOVE IT, HAVE LOVED IT AND WILL ALWAYS LOVE IT! New York is a significant part of our family DNA having come here often since 1982 when we started buying semi loads of fabric from HealthTex. Some of our children were surely destined to spend some time here since both Sid and I have always loved  New York.  There is an electricity in the air of this town that can be found no where else in the world. The changes and improvements made in New York by Rudi Julianni have not only made it a magical city but a safe, warm, and friendly city. We thrilled with the Broadway plays and learned remarkable lessons through our experiences and associations in the City. 

Kim, Karen and Tammy came to New York with us as a graduation outing about 1987. Last year, Kim and I came to buy art work and had our first 'Pink Berry' experience. Just before she left on her mission, MaRea was with us in New York at Dave's apartment on Roosevelt Island on 9-11 when we watched the Towers come down. Paul had a terrifying experience driving a semi under the intentional low brides on the Long Island turnpike. Dave and Tara met, fell in love, lived and worked in New York City. Our precious little Claire Bear was born under the Big Lights. She has a double Big Apple imprint on her DNA. Tara and Melissa attended graduate school here. Brent and Melissa, met, fell in love, lived and worked in New York City. Angie celebrated her 16th birthday here plus several other visits during and between shows. Laura has been to the Big Apple two or three times but never for the full NY experience except for a run in Central Park and lunch at Cafe Lalo from her favorite movie, "You've Got Mail." Mark has come on business. Lindsey?  Have you ever been to New York?  I don't think so.  New York has left it's mark on (almost) all of us. 

Well that is way more than I ever intended to write and way more than most of you will read. However, I talked to my brother Bill the other day. (By the way Branding is the end of May for anyone interested in a trip to Canada then.)  He was reading my mother's diaries.  She kept one almost every year of her life since she got married in 1941. She died in 2007 - 66 years of diaries!  So I decided that I am going to print my journals.  Perhaps some day one of you will read them. Bill said mother's journals were mostly informational i.e. "L. (Lynn) went to town. Rained today. Cut and raked hay. Mad at L. Still mad at L. Neighbors came to dinner. Not mad at L." Bill said she was pretty short on emotions and feelings. 

Monday night we went to dinner with Dave's old bishop who is now the Patriarch and his brother and sister-in-law.  We went to Peter Lugars Steak House - 1887 original building in Queens.  Remarkable experience - totally unique, price too  - $420 for 6 people. Sid claims that Outback Steakhouse still beats them all the way around for 20 bucks a person instead of Peter Lugars advertised $66 per person.

Yes, Kim, in memory of you and only because of you, - we went to "Pink Berry." Sid was a bit skeptical and only wanted a little one since he knew he wasn't going to like it but when David popped into an office building on business while we babysat the car (a typical New York experience) he and Claire helped themselves to several bites of Dave's "Pink Berry." "Pink Berry" is another legitimate reason for a New York Trip.

Tuesday afternoon we flew back to St. Louis, did the show, missed every word of conference, and got home Monday night, April 7th about 7:00. Angie, Ann, Matt and Taren came out and we had  Chinese food from Mandarin Garden. 

The End! 

The End of an Era, a Wonderful New York Era. Brent and Melissa moved back to Salt Lake City almost a year ago and Dave and Tara will be leaving for Palm Springs about the 20th of April. We will always cherish the past 20 plus years of Big Apple memories, experiences, heartaches and joys. Good Bye New York! Good Bye! We will always love you!

Well, I am learning and I haven't figured out how to get the writing next to the photo.  The reason Paul and Nicole are on my blog is because I could find the picture - wish I had one of them and Carson and Brynlee but none the less we stopped in Boise to see them on our way to Portland where I trained Lindsey to teach the SEI classes.  We had a great time in Boise. Paul and Nicole treated us like royalty.  They have moved into a much bigger house and our guest bedroom was better than a hotel suite.  They bought all the required veggies and fruits for the 'weird' mother-in-law and Nicole fixed me this awesome vegetable dish that is supposed to be available at Albertson's and I have never been able to find. I ate the whole thing!!  They sent us on our way with all the fruits and veggies necessary for a buffet at Chuck-A-Rama.  We stayed with them two nights.  Their back door opens onto a street where Sid parked his 'mini cooper.'  Carson loved all the buttons, knobs and switches - especially the horn.  He and Grandpa Thatcher had such a good time playing that they left on one of the switches and the next morning the battery was dead.  Luckily Paul's truck had a big enough battery to charge the semi.  We went to lunch with Paul and Carson while Nicole took Brynlee to the doctor where she received a shot for her bronchial tubes and Nicole got the big antibiotic pack for her Strep throat.  Pretty good when you have company when you've got Strep and a sick baby.  It didn't seem to bother them - they took good care of us anyway.  We went to Portland, beautiful weather whole way there and back - not a drop of snow. It is beautiful scenery.  Lindsey was easy to train.  In fact she did such a good job she out sold me on coupon returns 220 to 87 - not bad for a beginner.  She is going to be a fantastic addition.  Her friend Mandy is going to replace one of the teachers that quit and we are training her on Monday.  One of these days I am not going to have to go.  We that is quit enough for my first effort.  I already wrote something and lost it somewhere - it must be floating out there in the blogosphere somehwere. 

Trip to the north land via Boise to Portland and back.

Old women can blogg too!!!

I wanted to be a part of all of your lives, so here we go starting our own blog. All the exciting things that me and your father encounter through our journey together! Keep posted the exctiment has just began.