An Open Letter to Michelle:

The long walk actually began in kindergarten. Indeed, the entire plan until now was unveiled and adopted before first grade. With a little encouragement (and noted lack of free agency), Michelle, you decided to proceed sequentially through elementary school from first through fifth grades. Then came middle school and you struggled against your urge to try seventh before sixth, and then go to eighth. Then of course came ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth just like clockwork-–boom, bam, bing, bong. Now did you stop there? No way, off you flew to thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, fifteen and a hafth and then sixteenth. So now what? Graduation of course! And that is exactly what happened. On April 23 and 24, 2010, like a speck of pepper in a sea of dark blue robes, you distinguished yourself by wearing a cap and gown that looked exactly like everybody else. But we all saw you. We all recognized your beautiful shining hair, your captivating smile, and your energetic wave. (Thank goodness you called us on your cell phone to describe where you were seated.)

After all those years of school, Michelle, I am sure that you are a little nostalgic at the thought of not continuing with those late night studies, the cramming for the tests, the term papers and the challenging lectures. Gone are the days of guessing at the unknown test questions, rushing from class to class, grabbing a quick bite before heading to the library and worrying before the grades are posted. YOU DID IT. YOU GRADUATED FROM BYU! It is better than a trophy. It is something that is yours forever and nobody can ever take it away. It is now a part of who you are. We are all excited for you. In fact we take pride in our part that helped you succeed. (Maybe we even think that you could not have done it without our invaluable help.) But you did it. You could have quit, but you did not. You did it!

Oddly enough, now the real pressure begins. People actually expect you to remember what you learned and put it to good use. Imagine that! In fact some people think that graduation is just the beginning–-the commencement-–of a much larger life long quest. What are they thinking? We of course know better. If you try to put one more fact into that already crammed full brain, it is likely to explode and that would be a real mess--facts and information all over the place. So be very careful. Avoid learning like the plague. Never pick up a book or try to think again!

Congratulations! (Because graduation is only a single event, should I be saying, “Contratulation?” See, as a college graduate you need to know these things.) And . . . there are other rewards to graduating too.

Of course there are advantages to helping even if only a little bit.

Love you tons,

Dad and Mary Lee

Spring is here!

On Valentines Day, our ornamental pear trees were in full bloom.

Last Saturday I took my camera to Sabino Canyon, located about a mile from our house. 

We have had a very wet spring (after many years of drought) and Sabino Creek is overflowing the bridges.

I was hoping to see the cardinal we had seen last week, perched in a tree right next to the road.

Sure enough, there he was again--and I was ready this time!

Then he flew across the road, so I could capture him backlit by the morning sun.

 

 A moment or two later, I spotted the deer.  It was a great day for wild life in the canyon!  

 
And a great season for wildlife in our yard.  Our cactus in the front yard bloomed several days ago.  The blossoms only last a day, and are usually at their peak during the night.  Bruce called on his way to the grocery store in the evening to let me know they were in bloom, so I ran out with the camera to get a picture.  By the next morning, all the blooms were gone.  I think the javelina stopped by during the night for a snack!  Fortunately, they will bloom several more times during the next few months.
 

Unwelcome visitors

Somehow we have gotten back on the javelina circuit. For many years they have avoided us, remembering the unpleasant shock of the encounter with our electric fence. But the fence appears to have grounded out because they now visit two or three evenings a week. They like to dig up the roots of the asparagus fern and wallow in the mud left by the drip system and the rain. One night I watched from the study window as one rolled around in the mud, as if the rain had washed him too clean and he needed a recharge.

We found them at our front door when we returned from our date at Eclectic Cafe. I grabbed the camera and Bruce grabbed a pitcher and filled it with water. He discovered several years ago that water is the only thing that javelina despise. One night we had javelina on our back porch where they had gotten into some bird seed. In an effort to frighten them away, he started the lawn mower...they continued to feed, undeterred. He poked at them with a sharp stick (through the kitchen window)...no reaction. Finally, he got one of the kids' Super Soakers and sent a jet of water their way. That did it!


When we opened the door to throw the water on them, they thought we were inviting them in for treats.


But no, Bruce chucked the water at them and they ran away grunting, leaving a trail of dirt on our front sidewalk. That's our clue in the mornings that they have stopped by again.


They actually can be quite dangerous. Recently we met a young woman who was attacked as she stepped out her front door. So if I happened to meet them on my morning walk, I wait from far away until they cross the road--a rare occurrence, fortunately.

Leather-clad Trio Frequents Local Cafe

Craig had a great approach to planning his date for me: Use the cash to pay for dinner, then guide the conversation over dinner to pick up as many remaining points as possible!

Since my favorite restaurant, Sandolo, where Dad proposed to me, is a two-and-a-half hour drive away (in Scottsdale) and also beyond our budget (likely another reason we have never been back), Craig asked me for another idea. I suggested Eclectic Cafe, which is close by and has become a favorite as of late. Craig picked up a few points when I ordered some of my favorite foods: salmon (though not as tasty as Dad's barbecued version, my real favorite) with pineapple salsa (my favorite fruit).

Craig set the standard for packing the most points into the conversation:
He asked why "When I Fall in Love" is my favorite song. I explained that it was because Dad sang it to me while we were dating, and then he sang it at a ward Valentine's party a year after we were married. We discussed my favorite sport to play, skiing, and how I used to arrange my schedule at BYU so that I could take classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and ski on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I said I was glad I had decided to go on a mission instead of going pro on the ski patrol at Sundance like my friend did. (Okay, so maybe I shouldn't admit all that in print.)

I told Craig about how Grandpa and I got to see an ice dancing event (favorite sport to watch) at the 2002 Winter Games. Craig asked what I liked about Cry the Beloved Country (favorite book) and I explained that I was touched by the hardships and faith of the black pastor who is the main character. Craig also discovered that I like Superman because as a child I used wish that I had been adopted so that there would be a possibility that I was really from another planet and would some day develop super powers.

Every time I answered a question, Craig took great satisfaction in checking the item off his list, racking up yet more points. Finally, towards the end, I was beginning to wonder if he was even listening. "Why is Cranium your favorite game?" "I like it because there are lots of different activities, like word puzzles, and--" But before I could finish, he exclaimed, "Check! Next question...."


Dad and Craig discuss plans for our next date....

My Favorite Date

Nothing like a hot date with someone who knows your favorite things. Well, I was the lucky beneficiary of such an evening of fun and frivolity as part of a great christmas present. (Even if I do say so myself.) I mean, how else could literaly everything be my favorite? Favorite main dish, side dish, vegetable, dessert, color, you name it--it was just great.



Just think of New York cut strip steak with baked Idaho potato, butter and sour cream, fresh green beans, Fontina cheese, and homemade fresh peach pie with whipped cream while listening to soft rock music in the background. Perfect! To top it off we went to a movie (at home) and saw The Bourne Ultimatum (not my absolute favorite, but a favorite none the less).



As the final kicker, we had chocolate covered nuts, and teal colored canister shaving cream as a Happy Valentine's Day surprise. Is that wild or what? It was a continuation of our family motto: TBTI.

UGLI! (U Gotta Luv It).

I'm Dreaming of a . . .

The temperature was in the seventies and the sun was shining brightly. Obviously it was time to pursue a colder clime, and just in case Salt Lake's freezing snowy weather was not cold enough we decided to go further north to the frozen tundra of southeastern Idaho where the wind chill whipped through the Snake River Valley and drove the temperatures well below zero. Of course it was Christmas time. You would think that after 23 years in Tucson we would have learned to stay south for the winter, but as you all know I am a bit hard headed so lessons are hard learned (or perhaps hardly learned). So off we went to Salt Lake and then Idaho Falls even though Camille and Bryan were in Logan with Bryan's family and Michelle and Josh were in Cancun with Josh's family. Tradition rules. Plus there were great attractions such as Grandma Faux, Grandpa Scott, and Grandma and Grandpa Call. Therefore, we dressed for the occasion.



We booked our flight in advance from home, drove to the airport in our air conditioned car, boarded our air conditioned airplane, complained about the lay-over in the air conditioned Las Vegas airport, and made the grueling 775 mile journey to Salt Lake City in about 5 hours. Although it was cold when we arrived, we had warm clothing and plenty to eat, a nice place to stay and warm beds to sleep in. Obviously we could relate to a journey over 2000 years ago when a young expectant couple traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem on foot and by donkey. Because it was only about 70 miles but probably took at least 3 days, we figured that they also must have had a lay-over.



(Our ward had an activity at which we re-enacted a Bethlehem marketplace. Since we were all dressed up in our traveling clothes we decided to stop in and found that we fit right in with the locals.)

It Doesn't Get Any Better--It's TBTI!

Sages through the ages have wondered what exactly TBTI is all about. Some have supposed that it is a secret chant that has mystical powers, others have just thought it sounded cool. Nevertheless the debate continues:

The philosopher might say it stands for "the beauty that's inside." Dancers take a more practical approach and suggest it means "these black tights itch." Psychiatrists recognize it as a common diagnosis: "Tranquil, but totally insane." And children say it means "this broccoli tastes icky!" Some maintain that it describes their situation "trapped between two idiots." While the dyslexic think it is a reminder to "bring the trashcans in," the hypochondriac sees it as advice: "Tender back? Take ibuprofen." The self conscious yell it out: "take back that insult," and of course the academician contends that "truth brings transformational independence!"



As time passes I am sure that it will take on even more meaning and its realm of influence will increase globally. However, we all know that it describes our family. TBTI!

Thanksgiving in Tucson: Great people. Great food. Great country.

It was such a treat to have everyone home for those days of fun and frivolity: Knockout was a real winner. Badmitton was a hit. Swimming was chilling. Boggle was humbling (especially when playing with Megan and Craig).

We loved it. Just like I said: "Our family is TBTI!"