small town happenings while visiting la mia mama

Awesome Things Number 1 & 2

My mom

My mom having fresh milk from the dairy with cream on top. Seriously amazing. Yummy. No more vegan.

Conversation Number 1

Scene: Soren and I sitting in the car on Main St. while Jason, my mom and Dahlia go into the store to by a TV.

Soren: Mom you look like a bunny. . . because your teeth are big.

Me: (laughing) You're right I do have long front teeth.

A lady once asked me if I ate a lot of carrots when I was younger. I know what you're thinking. I can't believe she asked that either! And you're probably wondering why I'm sharing these embarrassing stories. I guess I'm at peace with my long (lovely ;) teeth and it's cathartic to share my oneness with them. I like them anyway.

Strange Happenings Number 1

Jason and I went to the above store earlier that same day to buy a cord to hook the computer up to the TV (they didn't have the right one). While we were walking back to the car we past Curly's Lounge. There were three people outside and as we walked by I don't think I've felt that "looked up and down" since high school. It was right out of a movie and we could have been wearing Lady Ga Ga's meat dress to merit the stares we got (totally gross and lame dress IMHO). It made me really appreciate city life and miss it. All the happenings, fast pace, uniqueness. . . I felt right at home.

. . .and don't get me on the topic of Dragging Main. I couldn't believe it when my mom told me that's what kids did and still did when I was 16 and we were visiting my grandma in the same small town. We took a drive one time and she showed me how the teenagers drove down Main Street and then when they got to a certain point would turn around and drive back again and again. I guess I shouldn't laugh too hard (or maybe I should laugh even harder) because while I was in Riccione, Italy (when I was 19) the kids did the same thing down the board walk. . .walking back and forth. I was with a friend and felt so ridiculous. I remember asking her what we were doing. . .totally funny memory for me. Not my cuppa tea, thank you.

Hiking to Alta. . .

. . .was a bit more strenuous than we had planned for but we did it and it was breathtaking! We met up with Mere and Cory and their darling kids Dotty and Townes, hiked to a gorgeous lake, and had delicious picnic. Below are some photos of the trip.

MissDahlia

Miss Dotty

Soren, Dotty, Dahlia and Townes

Parks and Pumpkins with Grandma and Grandpa

My mama came to town for my Birthday and it was so fun. I love how much she and Dahlia look alike and it just warms my heart to see them together. They are both November babies and full of personality. My mom calls Dahlia Miss Personality and Dahlia can repeat it perfectly. It's pretty remarkable.

A wonderful children's book

The other day Jason brought home a book for Soren from the library. It is The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth and it's lovely. It's based on a story by Leo Tolstoy and I hope you enjoy it too.

desert dwellings

I love this story

This story illustrates many things but one in particular is the beauty of movement and the joy it brings. I can imagine what a joyful and inspiring moment it was to see little Ashley turn on her side and back again.

"One evening near the end of the month, I was preparing to leave town and still hadn’t visited one of my sisters. It was later in the evening. I had no appointment. I didn’t call. I had no partner. But I decided it was important to visit my friend Julie. Julie’s daughter Ashley was born with a brittle-bone disease. Although Ashley was almost six years old, she was very small and unable to do much of anything besides move her arms and speak. She lay on a sheepskin rug all day, every day. Ashley was a happy, cheerful child, and I loved being around her.

On this particular night when I got to the home, Julie invited me in and Ashley called out that she wanted to show me something. I went in and knelt down on the floor on one side of Ashley, and her mother was on the other side. Ashley said, “Look what I can do!” Then with a little assistance from her mother, Ashley was able to turn on her side and back again. It had taken her almost six years to accomplish this wonderful goal. As we clapped and cheered and laughed and cried together on this special occasion, I thanked Heavenly Father that I had gone visiting teaching and had not missed this great event. Even though that visit was many years ago and sweet Ashley has since passed away, I will be forever grateful that I had that special experience with her."

Barbara Thompson
Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

Nikki

One of my most favorite people, the Miss Nikki Arrington, had a very cool art show last night! Here are some photos of her work. It will be a display for maybe another week, if you are in the area, at: 39 West 200 North, Provo

My favorite is the fourth piece shown, titled Rome.

We went to the show with lovely friends and ran into other friends we haven't seen for a quite while--it was a fantastic time. Thanks Nikki for sharing your work!

Art, friends, Indian food. . . a recipe for una notte favolosa!

Today while Jason was at the library and I couldn't get in touch with him I thought of a question that I would ask him when he got home.

Me: Babe, I thought of a question that I wanted to ask you while you were away and I couldn't get a hold of you because you weren't online.

J: really, what is it?

Me: Who do you think you are? (with a cheeky smile)

J: I really don't know. ... I mean, am I only a genuine self in relating to God, as Kierkegaard said, ... or is there no independent and permanent self but only a flow of processes that I mistake for my self, as the Buddha taught?

I got served.

Prof. Stephen Prothero on Disinformation in Media on Religion

I thought this interview was really good, and worth seeing: