"Happy Little Secrets" with Nan.

A delightful evening catching up with Nan.  Several years ago Nan introduced be to a young playwright, Melani Lelani Larson,  whose work I've really enjoyed.  The first was a Joan of Arc play at BYU, then "Happy Little Secrets" at a Provo theater.  A friend of mine whose daughter has interests in homosexual leanings joined us.  Uncannily remminscent of her daughter.  She was thrilled to see how Melanie Lelani Larson crafted her HLS so well.  Nan and I enjoyed it again tonight in readers theater format at the Salt Lake Acting Company.

Looking forward to Zion Theatre Company presentation of  Mahonri Stewart’s new play "The Opposing Wheel" in September at the Castle Outdoor Amphitheatre.  Never been to that setting.  Its a birthday gift from Nan. 

I've missed getting together with Nan the past year or so. 

Anyone interested can listen to a reading of HLS at  http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/little-happy-secrets/id303818084
Perhaps not for everyone's listening, but I like it.

Sorry to have missed Melani's

• Persuasion

  Mar 2011 to Apr 2011
• Martyr's Crossing

  In Mar 2011

   

  I really like her work.  She's currently working on her first musical after having done

  Sundance Summer Theatre

  Stage Manager

  • The Sound of Music

    Apr 2011 to Aug 2011 (now ended)
  • Big River

    Apr 2010 to Aug 2010

     

    Just signed up for Melani's  facebook as well as Mahonri Stewart's.  

     

    I admire these talented local writers and hope to see more of their plays.

Mission Hubpage blog update.

Since I was set apart for my mission I haven't added an entry to my hubpage blog, A Bowlful of Kernels,  until today.    It was prompted by listening to Diane Rehm review of "Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Society."  Listening to the show prompted many memories.  If you haven't read the book, I recommend it.

Feel free to select to follow either of my public blogs or make a comment.  Such things boost visibility to others.  Not that my blogs are so great, but who knows who might find them interesting.

FYI:  This blog, "Meandering . . . ." is not a public blog but A Bowlful of Kernels is public as is goodfamilies.org that I contribute to with others on our Sharing the Gospel Online (SGO) mission team.

A little something worth reading.

Just finished a motivating conversation with my friend Myra.  From every conversation I have with her I come away enriched with interesting things to read and/or contemplate.  Myra shared a web site she thought interesting for my new mission which she anticipates doing when she retires this spring.
Mormon Scholars Testify:  Messages of faith from scholars who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   http://mormonscholarstestify.org/category/index 

As we were talking I browsed the alphabetical listing and happened to notice Dula Parkinson.  There is also an index by specialty. 

You might remember him as Dil and Laura Beth's oldest son.  He and his wife have two children.  He is a scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.  If you are interested in reading his remarks -- http://mormonscholarstestify.org/1779/dula-parkinson  

The kernel I would keep -- “In our hands,” or "In my hands,."  I admire this way to share an opinion, a belief.  For me this is a phrase that is worth keeping and using to facilitate discussion of opinions in a respectful manner.

On another note --
My friend, LaVelle Moss, was my guest at our mission social last night.  On very short notice she was able to attend and was as interested as I was upon hearing of the purposes.  She has always had an interest in LDS church history and is considering taking on monitoring and editing LDS references on Wikipedia.  She just returned from teaching aesthetics at BYU-Hawaii for the past two years as well as volunteering at the Polynesian Center. 

A Delightful Day with Old Friends.

Have you ever sung "Oh, how lovely was the morning" to the tune of "Come thou font of every blessing"?  At the Seminaries and Institutes retirees convention yesterday a couple of musicians who were the entertainment had us do so and it was delightful. 

The rest of their program was very, very entertaining--funny  and talented guys.  A pianist and a cellist.  Marshall McDonald and Steven Sharp Nelson.

This video is of a selection played by the cellist, Steve-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry4BzonlVlw  Very funny guy.

It was the first time in two years I had seen my CES widow friends LaVelle and Faye.  They're now home from Hawaii and Budapest.  Also crossed paths with Dan Rogers, Jerry Burns, Jess Christensen, Tom Nelson and their wives from our days in CES.  It was wonderful to see them. 

As I sat across from Tom and Susan I noticed Tom's gently aging face and I thought this is how Dad would look.  It was really a tender moment.  It was sweet to hear Jerry say he would sure like to fish the Madison with David. and Brother Hudson from Smithfield comment on David's teaching.  I didn't recognize Laurie Christensen nor Jess when LaVelle was visiting with them.  It was startling.  Long time since London.  Great to catch up with them and their families and share updates of each of you.  They've all been an influence on me.  Joe Christensen, Emeritus Seventy,  remember his EK visit, spoke to us reviewing some interesting changes in church education over the years.  What a great feeling to know intimately the international pivot point and hear of the impact begun in Brazil, knowing of the part President Bangerter had in increasing the number of native Brazilian missionaries. 

Big pictures in retrospect are quite thrilling.

Changes

For many years I've enjoyed being associated in the planning and conducting of the Brazilian Missionaria reunions.  It seems right to bring about a change, so we sent out this notice to our 70+ Brazil Mission U.S. sister missionaries . . .

BRAZILIAN MISSIONÁRIA
ANNOUNCEMENT

     After consulting with Sister Geri Bangerter it has been decided to simplify our reunions by combining our efforts with the April, Brazil Mission Reunion.  As you may know the Brazil Reunion is held typically on the Thursday prior to general conference in the early evening.  It will continue to be held in the Alpine Stake Center near the Bangerter farm.  Kim Russell has all the sister contact information and will notify us of the details.  It will also be published in the Brasulista.
     In April there were more sisters that attended the reunion than has been typical.  We hope that you will all make an effort to continue to gather in Alpine to greet Sister Bangerter, renew friendships, catch up on news of Brazil and meet Brazilian guests that join with us each year. 

We thank you for your interest and support these many years and
look forward to continuing our friendships in April.
If you have questions please call or write to:
Maureen Daines Hodgen, 801-292-6182, plumbob@utahweb.com
Phyllis Merrell Miller, 801-295-8426, pmmiller@q.com
Mary Etta Watson Parkinson, 801-566-7563, mewparkinson@comcast.net


My motivation in being associated with the group was to encourage gathering of the sisters to get to know one another.  There is a broad span of years among our group.  Many of the sisters I had known only be their great reputations that had remained in Brazil when I was in my first assignment in Santos.  Sister Mills used to refer to them often with great admiration.  Now I do also.  Of special note was Carol Wheeler, a nurse, who shared responsibility as a missionary for the Relief Society for part of her mission.  She accompanied Sister Bangerter and a Brazilian sister to establish the first Relief Society organization in Brazil beginning with visiting teaching.  That was news to me when I read Sister Beck speak of it in the March 2009 Ensign.  http://lds.org/ensign/2009/03/focusing-on-the-lords-work-of-salvation?lang=eng&query=%22four+sentences+in+portuguese%22   

At our April Brazil Mission Reunion I was impressed to notice the many sisters in attendance.  Previous reunions there were only two or three sisters among the many, many elders attending.  It has seemed since April that we should simplify.  We want to be respectful of Sister Bangerter's generous time in always being with us at our reunions.  She's always been willing to travel to West Bountiful for our reunions.  She comes with much memorabilia to remind us of our times in Brazil.  Now she will do it just once a year close to her home and we can all benefit together.  This transition will be good.  In addition we made much progress locating former Brazilian sisters missionaries in Brazil.  There'll be some saudades but it will be good. 

Life has many opportunities.

Its Official!

Soon after returning from our West Coast Road Trip I received my new mission call, Sharing the Gospel Online.  This past week I was set apart -- it made a difference.  My dragging and dropping Internet connection was resolved.  The A/C now blows cold air.  I articulate better. . . .

and I published my first posting on Good Families.  http://www.goodfamilies.org/73/when-the-uphill-hike-gets-tough

Its a start.

Part 4, Washington and Idaho, West Coast Road Trip, 2011

Seattle:  arrived in time to walk to Space Needle from hotel, dinner in revolving restaurant was the splurge of the trip—very beautiful at dusk and as all the city lights came on,

Dinner above the city really was nice.  Perfect timing.  Soup, salad, dessert put us to the dinner minimum $'s.   The whole experience was delightful.  We learned the precautions walking to our hotel late at night by asking the right questions of the right people.  Nice to have a view of the Needle from our hotel window.  Thanks again Polly for thinking of the details.

Experience Music Project museum in morning

The design of the building is intriguing.  The exhibition was as well.  Not an easy one to figure out.  Battlestar Gallactica exhibit had interesting moral questions--"What would you do?" circumstances--really tough questions prompting an increased appreciation for the influence of the Spirit in my life.   Avatar exhibit was very interesting learning of the back side of the filming.  I haven't seen the film yet. 

 Vancouver:  great fun biking the sea wall around perimeter of Stanley Park,

Stanley Park fam foto.  Rented our bikes from a nearby bike shop.  The guys moved ahead of us, paused till we passed by and then moved ahead again.  Lovely ride.

Vancouver harbor skyline.

The views were ever-changing as we rode the trail along the sea wall of the park.

Great option for unwinding after sitting in the car for hours.  The Midwest Road trip we learned to keep the guys tanked up with food.  This trip we added meaningful exercise each day for all of us.  Little things do make a difference.

Bike/rollerblade trail is separate from walkers/runners.

Great variety of use along the route.

Even a very large swimming pool.

Laughing Madmen of English Bay, very funny bronzes on our return to the bike shop.

Slept in Burnaby between a bar and liquor store (the things the hotel website doesn’t show) which seemed a little dicey at first but worked out fine.


Vancouver: back to city for Granville Island—

Amazing difference to leave a somewhat blighted area, crossover onto Granville Island.

Loved this clever way for good neighbor industry (cement business) to fit into the creativity of food, arts vendors of the island.  Each of the cement trucks was painted as a fresh produce--asparagus, ear of corn, etc. 

Granville Island fam foto.  This mechanical sculpture, Kinetic Sculpture was fun.  There is a great website, http://www.360cities.net/image/kinetic-sculpture-granville-island-vancouver#355.70,-1.10,50.0.

. . . great huge farmer’s market atmosphere with lots of interesting food to try, . . .

Polly admiring the posies.

An interesting painting in a food court.  One more chance to have great clam chowder.

Delightful conversation with this artist, Michelle Vulama. She paints rocks with a tiny brush of acrylic paint to pull out the images she sees in the rock.  Very patient creativity.

We enjoyed the street musicians as we walked and as we sat in the sun.  Thought of Mark and his Native American flute. 

. . . kayaked Indian Arm Inlet with loons, heron and lots of mini crabs, misty blue mountains.

Images only in our minds.  Kayaking across open water  and along the edges of the islands  was a treasured experience looking for birds and mollusks. 

Back to Seattle:  stayed at B&B in good walking neighborhood near fun restaurants, . . .

Loved these digs, Maisson Baile.  The sun room behind Polly was reminiscent of a home on Willson in Bozeman that I always admired.  Now I can imagine what it was like inside.  Our room had been part of the upstairs ballroom.  Again reminded me of the stories Henry told me of his SAE days in the Story Mansion where he and his fraternity brothers slept in the very cold winter in the upstairs former-ballroom.

Volunteer Park fam foto.  The park is nearby the B & B in the Capitol Hill area.  The water tower in the background looks like part of a fortress. 

Climbing the many stairs was our substitute for Wizard Island trail.  Click on the image to better see the Seattle skyline through the morning mist. 

. . . enjoyed Olympic sculpture garden along ocean, . . .

We thought this was Red Chair.  It wasn't it was "The Eagle."  That was the beauty of this very large permanent installation at the Seattle Art Museum, SAM.  As you move around the park you see each piece from another vantage.

"Love and Loss" in the garden described as a transformed ". . . nine-acre industrial site into open and vibrant green space for art."  Delightful to browse and enjoy the sea air.  

"Perre's Ventaglio III"  "The idea is that from whatever angle you view it, the voids seem filled and the solids seem empty."

"Eye Benches".  (lower left)

"Schubert Sonata".  There are many more pieces.

. . . found jelly fish, . . .

Thought of Mark's years at University of Washington and our ferry ride to an island for his graduation convocation.

Fam foto playing at the tiny cove where Griffin discovered jelly fish.

 . . . had the best hot mini doughnuts at Pike’s market.

We loved these tiny donuts!  So fresh and so very good.  This machine was just like the one at Woolworth's dime store in Inglewood.  It was always mesmerizing to watch the batter dough plop down into the sizzling hot fat, fry the donuts, automatically turn them over and then bring then up the track to drop into the basket.  Yummy, warm with cinnamon sugar!
 The yummy taste lingers on discouraging eating any other doughnuts ever!

 Plymouth, WA:  drove through a very misty Mt. Rainer National Park and mostly saw the road in front of us, camped on Columbia River across bridge from Oregon, got tent dried and aired out.

Good place to have some space and time to reorganize for the last leg.

Boise:  stayed with Mark and Karen’s family and the cousins were up late again playing games . . .

 Boise art museum with terrific decorated shoe exhibit, . . .

Our addition to the shoe exhibition.

Harriet's creation in the children's activity area.

. . . river walk, goddess festival, . . .

. . . more game time with cousins, more walks on the trails, 

Claire (Taiwan student), Polly, Karen and I walked the foothills one evening.

 . . . good food and winding down transition time, and fun to get to meet their new ward before heading out—got home to Salt Lake City just before dark.


This is probably too much information, but that’s all I’ve been doing or thinking.  It was quite an adventure.    After our drive across the desert and so much stop and go traffic, I woke up thinking we just hit the car in front of us in my dream.  Everything went very well in reality.  The car battery died once we were home, but we were safe and watched over the whole trip.  Christopher got in some driving practice and everyone got a lot of map- reading practice, as well as big doses of dealing with long hours in small spaces with the same people always with you, changing plans, monitoring coolant and oil levels, flexibility, budget choices, cooperation, coping with new situations, and making the most of every moment.  It was my idea of a travel-study program as much or more than a vacation, but hopefully it came across to everyone else as just a lot of fun.  (Once again, thanks to Polly for summarizing our trip, in italics.)

For me traveling with this group was a delight!  Many thanks to Polly and her guys for inviting me along for the adventure.

THE END

Part 3, Oregon, West Coast Road Trip 2011

Crater Lake, OR:  still too snowy to have the boat access open so no hike to Wizard Island cone,

Campground snow reminiscent of HVC in April. 

 but hiked up snowfield to pretty Phantom Ship overlook, . . .

The wonderful plus of the whole trip was good exercise almost every day.  Glad I had my hiking stick for this one.

Phantom Ship in the incredible blue.

 about 34 degrees in our tent that night—coldest of trip, . . .

Great little campsite.  Found a sweet sunny overlook for breakfast.  No bears at our site.  Showers don't accept state quarters--interesting!

 spectacular full moon.

Honeyman State Park:  through Coos Bay and stop at Umpqua Lighthouse . . .

Enjoyed the museum.  The only place I got lost from the rest of the family.  Don't ask me how.

. . . before meeting Heather and Brad’s family at the campground, . . .

Love these campfires.

fabulous fun on sand dunes, . . .

Probably our most challenging hike.  This doesn't do justice to the steepness.  Later learned from the Oregon cousins to crawl  up like a spider. 

Sand dunes are steep!  I recalled skiing with Ruth in CA after we bought our first skis we were so anxious to try them out.  What did we see here but sandboarders!

Lil and Zip at the dunes.  Love this photo of Heather's.

Ian

Lily

Zella

Fun cousin time.

Not sure what Griffin called his sculpture but I see dino molars.

Benny shared their delicious Dutch oven dinner, rained all evening but luckily Benny’s campsite had a table under an umbrella-like tree and the cousins played games until late, it rained all night and all morning as we packed up the tent, ready to go but the coolant light came on—Brad, Gus and Ian drove to town and got supplies so we could keep the car cool and get on our way sooner without a AAA tow;

Ben, Lil and Zip came up the coast with us to Heceta Head Lighthouse . . .

The lighthouse is in the mist above the house.

Heather rescued this stranded star fish.

Loved these foxgloves.  They were all along the roadsides on the coastal roads.

. . . and Cape Perpetua tide pools—we saw tadpoles in lots of tide pools and ate wild salmon berries and strawberries, . . .

Tasty tiny strawberries.

Love this photo of Polly and Heather.

Griffin making his way.

Thanks, Heather for the great fam foto.

we could have watched the waves crashing in the lava chutes all day

Cannon Beach:  past Otter Rock, Depoe Bay for caramel corn, Tillamook Cheese Factory for ice cream cones, and stayed with Mom’s college roommate near the Haystack Rock on the beach—

Early morning from our side of the house.

Sunday after-church brunch before we hit the road.

Jan and JillXan at a  serious moment speaking of husband/father, Bob and son/brother, Devin.  Bob's favorite blue becomes a favorite of ours also.

Darling Eeyore, everyone's favorite.

High tide.

Sunday afternoon stroll to Haystack before adieu.  Jan seemed to really enjoy are boys, perhaps reminiscent of her Mark and Devin.

Jan visiting with sandcastle builders.  Cannon Beach has a huge sandcastle festival earlier in the year.  When JX was a youngster it was small and fun to enter.

. . . fun walk even in the rain, found a beautiful assortment of egg shells instead of sea shell—must have been channeling Dad, 

. . . nice ward in Seaside.

The bishop of Seaside Ward has become a good contact for my Sharing the Gospel Online mission.   Loved the little flower kiosk at a rural home on our route.  So sweet to see people making a cottage industry of cut flowers and plants so beautiful in Oregon.  Jan knew all the flowers.  She and JX have carried on her mother, Hulda's, love of gardening.

Good-bye Oregon.