Oregon Trails

I’ve written this once before this morning as an e-mail only to loose it while sending when the computer froze. So here it goes in Word to paste either on the blog or e-mail.
            My drive to Oakridge went just fine. I saw a pair of Sandhill cranes heading to Ontario, OR and a Great Blue Heron and two tall egrets (I think) in the river on the way to Bend. Stopped for lunch at the Twin Falls Temple grounds for a lunch hour. This has been a good chance to listen to some books on my to-read list—“Holes” which for whatever reason I thought Bruce would like, and “Balzac and the Chinese Seamstress” by a Chinese writer which I liked in some ways. Now I’m listening to “In the Time of Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez. This has the qualities of a book about women in another culture written by a native of that culture, a genre that I seem to like to read. Some of the sisters seem frivolous and air-headed until I remember they are from a different culture and time. When they become aware of the reality in the world they become remarkable admired women. I believe Alvarez is a Pulitzer winner or Nobel winner. I like her writing. I’m finishing up the Minerva Teichert letters Heather loaned me on my last trip. It is interesting to read how a remarkable artist whose work I have admired lived each day dealing with the typical day to day happenings of family life plus ranch responsibilities and still made time to paint large murals continually while eventually suffering from lead poisoning manifested in her eyesight. Nobody’s life is easy, but a good foundation sure helps.          Its wonderful to be greeted warmly by my grandchildren as soon as I arrive. So far I’ve had a walk with Zella in the a.m. as she rode her bike, saw them do their school work, watched Lion King 1.5 with the girls, took down the outdoor tents before the rains come this weekend, admired the landscape changes and the rearranging in the house to make small spaces work better . . . .
        Last night after watching the boys and Brad at their martial arts class they gave a demo of a take down. I had watched intently and did a practice on Brad which surprised me to do it pretty good. This time I had the good sense to not do the final step of take down to the floor and likely injury. Ha!
       After dinner we celebrated all the Wells birthdays and Dad’s and mine with ice cream and fresh Wilson peaches and chocolate sauce. Brad almost went ballistic with the goodness of the peaches! Then the IKEA party began of nuts and bolts, rats and Swedish fish candies and pear and pomegranate bubbly. Each of them received a shelf for their birthday 2009-2010 for a shelving frame they have. I admire how they, like the rest of you find new ways to use your home space to better advantage and order.
        This morning when I went out to the car for something I think I discovered the source of what looks like itchy spider bites on my leg. There was an impressive spider web along one side of the boot/trunk and behind my clipboard was the spider which I captured. I had seen the spider before I left home and it escaped. Now hopefully the bites and itching will stop.
         Did I mention that I saw Diane and John Madsen at the temple Tuesday? It was nice to visit quietly in the Celestial Room. When asking what his assignment is currently, after a pause he answered—being a good husband. He is now emeritus having turned 70. Perhaps as with other emeriti we will hear of a call to serve in a temple presidency capacity. I can’t think of a better place to cross paths with old friends.
        If Jan Donnelly (we  and Ruth were college roommates our senior year) is able to arrange her schedule for next week I’ll either drive up to Cannon Beach or Portland for a couple of days on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, then back to Oakridge for overnight before heading to Reno as planned.  Jan is much immersed in her son’s estate management and still hurting from his loss in July--a car accident near his home in the hills above Portland, CEO/owner of NetXposure in Portland, Tokyo, India and London.  We all have our challenges and pains.  This is a time in our lives that the liklihood of getting together probably won't happen again.  I hope it works out.  Life is about people.

It sure is fun to be here with our Oregon family.