Ingathering

Children find me a little scary. I talk loud, laugh loud and can be a little unpredictable. Often at spectator events I will scan about and notice the children are all watching me. I suppose they are on the alert lest I pounce and eat one of them.

Craig and Lee-ann Cannon's kids are not afraid of me. That's one of the reasons I really love them. They run up to me and give me hugs -- even little Sarah now with her sloppy smile and still-wobbly legs.

Yesterday, Rhead, the eldest of the three Cannon siblings, was baptized. It only took him one dunk, too, and he emerged smiling and triumphant. Afterwards, we gathered at Lee-Ann's parents, the Terry Martins, and gobbled food like the animals we are. That's how Mormons celebrate, it seems. We don't drink alcohol, no coffee for us. So it's heavy on the grazing foods, lunch meats, cheese, salads and chips, and plenty of laughing to make an event feel like the party it's supposed to be.

I was so glad there were so many people gathered to see Rhead's baptism. I wanted him to know how important many thought it was that he'd decided to be baptized, but also for him to know how many people really loved him. He got his obligatory set of scriptures from his cooperating grandparents, looked ever-so-handsome in his suit and was proper and mannerly in his "Thank you" and then dashed off to play with his many cousins.

I love my family and love the get-togethers even though I'm getting fatter by the day. They all mean so much to me, especially now as I'm "twilighting", including those who live too far away to make it down for yesterday's gathering. But, thanks, Rhead, for a great day.

"Somewhere My Love . . . "

Maurice Jarre died in the last couple of weeks. Another pillar of my life crumbles. Unbeknown to most, including my beloved husband, Carl, Maurice wrote "our song," the beautiful "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago. Right at the beginning of our marriage, Carl and I went to see that movie and though Carl actually slept through it, I decided to let that be "Our Theme" as well, even though Carl seemed understandably confused and bewildered about the whole idea. But he did consent. No real enthusiasm there, though.

My excitement about the song was renewed when my son, Brad, married the beautiful Julia (above) who was born in Kiev, Ukraine. I thought Dr. Zhivago would be right up her alley since she kind of gravitates towards soapy love story movies and it was Russian. She informed me, however, she'd seen it and thought it was "stupid" and hardly a depiction of the U.S.S.R. she'd known. My hopes again blasted.

Let it be noted I mourn Maurice Jarre's passing even though it appears I stand alone in this.

Knowing

Carl and I went to see "Knowing" yesterday, and I really liked it. The graphics were really remarkable, I loved the kids and the stars (even Cage). I also love to think that there might be people like "Lucinda" out there in the world. The story is Apocalyptic and appealing to the Mormon mentality at the same time. Is there only chance out there or is there divine intervention? I'd recommend it to you for a fun time out. It kept me involved the whole time. It's not deathless art, but it's worth seeing.

Love the New Ward

I love my new ward. Actually it's not new. It's the old Daybreak 14th Ward with a whole chunk taken off to form the Daybreak 3rd Ward. ("Ward" is the name for LDS congregations. The word is taken from the political areas in Illinois used to this day. The Mormons (LDS) were in Illinois when the "wards" were formed, so it just seemed a natural.)

My Bishop is wonderful. He is funny (a real plus for me), kinda sentimental, and looks like he belongs in a James Bond movie. He's Bishop Day as you see above.

The Relief Society President is the ever competent Ann Hobson. Gotta start baking cookies (or not.)

Into the Unknown

Is this the cutest thing? These are my two little granddaughters, Ali and Sophia Aukschun, walking along a street in Kiev. Perfect little Ruske peasant girls. They're the sweetest ever. (Photo credit goes to Carl Aukschun.)

Wasting Time

I can waste more time than the average contestant. I get addicted to games like Spiderette and, back in the day, Tetris. I have learned to watch out for addicting games, but sometimes they find me and bite. It's incomprehensible for most sane adults to understand that unbalanced/lazy/procrastinating adults can spend hours just playing games. Sudoku is my game of choice currently. It's on my Ipod Touch and I generally blow through two or three games (or more) in one sitting. My rationale is that I'm forstalling Alzheimer's, but I know I'm kidding myself. A game or two might do that, but many is simply mind-numbing.

Great books that hung on in my head

Here's a great list of books that I've read at various times in my life -- some recently and others a long time ago. They are as varied as the years have been, but they share the commonality of being particularly memorable to me. Some I've loved without reservation, some not so much but still they've hung on. Recently I published the list on Facebook and I couldn't let it die there. Here it comes.

John Updike's Rabbit books

The Color of Water

A Marvelous Work of Staggering Genius

The Book of Mormon

Taylor Hartman's Color Code

Confederacy of Dunces

To Kill a Mockingbird

Of Mice and Men

Tess of the D'Ubervilles

Silas Marner

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey

Year of Magical Thinking

Angela's Ashes

A Prayer for Owen Meany

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

The Chosen

All the Pretty Horses

The World According to Garp

I know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Great Gatsby

Shipping News

Gone With the Wind

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Poisonwood Bible