Fifty Years ago..John F. Kennedy visited SLC and I was There

When I was ten years old, my mom took me to see President John F. Kennedy. 

 It was September 26th of 1963.  He came to Salt Lake City for a visit. 

 I don't know why she took me, but she and her friend took me and my friend to see the President.  My parents had not voted for President Kennedy. They supported Richard Nixon.  (I guess it was before they realized how "tricky" he really was.) 

Anyway, off we went to see the President.

  He was to speak at the Mormon Tabernacle on Temple Square, right in the middle of all that was Mormon. 

 Thinking back it is amazing to me how many people were there. 

 Downtown Salt Lake City was packed. 

 This was conservative Repulican Utah.  But he was our President, and back then people thought it was cool to see and hear the leader of the nation, even if you didn't vote for him. 

 It was too crowded for us to get into the Tabernacle or even Temple Square.

  It would be a while so we just decided to hang out at the west entrance of what was then Hotel Utah, hoping to get a glimpse of his car as he drove down the street.  The main entrance of the hotel faced south, so we were amazed when his bubble topped car slowed down and stopped right at our entrance and he got out. 

We were within about five feet of the President. 

 (Probably an impossibility today.) 

 I don't even remember any secret service, although I'm sure they were there. 

 He was very tall and handsome with beautiful eyes.

  I remember, even at ten thinking he had gorgeous eyes. 

 He looked straight into my eyes and smiled and waved and was gone into the hotel. 
Of course I didn't know then what would happen in just a few weeks time. 
I have never forgotten that experience.
 

It was just two months later as I sat in the lunch room in my school that the nation heard the horrifying events unfolding in Dallas. 

 The nation came together mourning the loss of this bright young man. 

 

It seems strange to know that its been 50 years. 

 It doesn't seem that long ago. 

 I've always loved history. 

 I guess I'm getting old enough to be one of those people who say "I remember when...."

Peter Paul & Mary - If I Had Wings

Just happened to be listening to this song.  One of my favorite Peter, Paul and Mary songs.

My Goals - Learn a new Talent every 30 years

When I was in my teens I took singing lessons. 

 I worked hard, had an extremely good teacher and enjoyed singing. 

 At the age of thirty I decided I needed to learn something new.

  I am extremely untalented when it comes to the arts, so I decided to stretch myself and took up painting. 

 This was very difficult for me, but I practiced and practiced and proved to myself that with enough practice you could get fairly good at anything. 

Well, another thirty years have passed and I've decided it's time to learn something else..

I've taken up the harmonica!

My first lesson was today. 

 It was actually quite fun, so I think I'll go back and hopefully with a little bit of practice I might be able to play a song or two.

 ( I wonder what I'll come up with when I turn 90 !  It seems I'm on a thirty year learning curve.)

An Evening with James Taylor

I've been looking forward to this concert all summer.

  I've seen my friend, James sing every time he's made his way to SLC. 

 I listen to him in my car, when I'm cleaning or relaxing. 

You could say, I'm a fan since way back. 

 As crazy as it sounds,

I'm even a member of his Fan Club!!! 

 

I'm a groupie!

 

Being a member paid off last night.  

 When Jim and I got to the door our tickets showed at the conference center,

 the host exclaimed, "who do you know.. you have great seats!" 

We were kind of stunned wondering what she was talking about,

 but just kept following along as we were guided closer and closer to our

reserved seats..right down in front and in the center! 

We were shocked! 

We were told it was because we got our tickets through the James Taylor Fan Club which I had gone through!   

 The evening only got better as the Utah Symphony and the Tabernacle Choir opened the evening with several fabulous musical selections.

 

I always love hearing the choir sing "When the Saints go Marchin In." 

 I love John Rutter's arrangement. 

 It could only be made better if Dad was sitting next to me to enjoy it as well. 

(Maybe he was). 

 

James Taylor's selections were perfect. 

Loved every song he sang, but when he sang "Shed a Little Light"  with the choir as his back up,

 I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

  Of course his last song with the choir and symphony "Shower the People" was  unreal, 

 but then, as he sang "Sweet Baby James" for his encore, the evening was made perfect.

 

The sound in the Concert Center is so beautiful.

  Everything about the evening was just what I'd hoped for. 

 A lovely way to end the summer. 

 Thanks James!

"The fragrance always stays in the hand that give the Rose"

What a wonderful world. 

 That is a strange sentence to write down after reading the newspaper and listening to the news.  There are so many things going on that can bring a person down.
 I have had a particularly rough month.
 But even with all the heartache, physical illness and all kinds of other strange goings on..there is still so much of heaven everywhere.
 The contrast for me is so strong.
 When I get down or falter or go back a step or two,
 what keeps me going is the army that Heavenly Father chose to bless me with.
   I believe that Heavenly Father works through us.
 I am constantly amazed by the courage of people like Tyler Hallsey and his family and Burgen Jensen and her family.
 They give me strength.

 I live in an area that could only be called Heaven in the middle of a world in crisis.
  Here we have a bit of peace. 
A little bit of land with houses dotting the hill..and those homes are filled with people who all have problems,
 but who take care of each other
Such a pure love dwells here. 
The closeness that we feel is priceless.
 The love that ties us together is a rare thread, it doesn't break.
 All of the people give of themselves over and over again.  They never stop, they just keep on giving.  I have been the recipient of their generosity and love over and over.

 

"..have miracles ceased?  Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."

 

Moroni 71: 29

 

Miracles have not ceased and angels do exist. 
They are all living in my neighborhood. 

 

"..charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever.."

 

Moroni 71:47

 

And these angels who live here have the charity that this scripture is talking about. 

My dear friends and neighbors have given out so many roses over the years. 
It smells like a rose garden as you walk down the street.

I am so grateful I live among these lovely people.

Happy Birthday Ty!

It all started 39 years ago today. 

We spent the summer in Logan, waiting for Tyler's arrival. 

 He got here in about an hour! 

We were so excited to have a little brother for Jamey. 

Tyler's big brown eyes and easy going ways made him a very easy baby and also an easy child. 

As he grew it was evident that his main interest was sports.

  He learned to read from Sport Illustrated and the sports page in the newspaper. 

 He loved baseball, basketball, and golf. 

 He excelled in all of these sports. 

 He has always been a good and loyal friend.

He's the most generous person I know.

Tyler has a great sense of humor and

likes to think he's the favorite! 

Well, today you can be the favorite. 

 

A happy birthday from mom to Ty..who loved his gramps, loves his wife

 and his wonderful little boy. 

 Hope you have a great year.

"Couldn't Do it Without You"

I can't let this week go by (or start) without paying tribute to Jim. 

 Another week...another back surgery..what else is new??

Jim takes it in stride.  Taking care of me. 

 Working, being in the bishopbric, keeping the house clean,
the wash done and my plants watered. 
He's had to be my nurse this week and done it with such kindness. 

 Thank you for always being there for me. 

 As Jake always says 

 "Couldn't do it without you!" 

Reflections on Summer

I love summer. 

Warm nights, blue skies, beautiful flowers

And most of all, the family gets together. 

 Nick comes home for a few weeks,  the  DeSpain Gang flies out from the East to spend time with us.

  I love when the cousins all get together to play and have fun.

  They've been swimming at the Latimer's, played in our back yard. 

We've been to a Bee's game, a Real game, Draper Days, to Pinedale and back, we've ridden horses, fed a pig. 

 We've been together.

I've seen my flowers grow, sung with my cousins once more,

seen a beautiful rainbow, watched the sunset. 

 Held my little Wren, watched Jim take walks with Dylan,

 see the big boys fish with their Dad. 

 Spent days with Jake, Sam and Dylan, hugging, playing and laughing. 

I've spent time with my family in my lovely home. 

I love summer.

Won't you join me in my Garden?

I love August in my garden.  Everything is growing. 

The colors are beautiful. 

This year I mixed perennials in my vegetable garden. 

I love the mixture. 

 I have tomatoes, a lot of mint, and some pumpkins,

 which I am excited about growing along with some lovely flowers for color.

We've all ready had  a bacon and tomato sandwich this year. 

 And our tomatoes have made our salads extra tasty. 

There is nothing better than eating a fresh tomato,

 just picked with a little salt and pepper. 

We've got a lot more on the vine!

I'm really excited about our pumpkin patch. 

Jim took out a huge pine tree this year which gave me a big space to plant pumpkins. 

 It looks like we'll have quite a crop! 

 Can't wait to see the grandkids pick out their own pumpkin to carve when Halloween comes.

These four o'clocks were transplanted from my friend, Pat's garden. 

 I love these flowers which are suppose to pop out at 4:00! 

 But for some reason, whenever I go and check them, whatever the time of day,

 they greet me with their lovely blossoms. 

The steps to my upper garden look lovely,

 although upper garden itself didn't do too well this year. 

 That's the joy of gardening.  It's ongoing. 

 If something doesn't work well one year, you plan for the next. 

 I'm all ready planning on what will take place next year to revamp my little hide away.

I plant morning glory vines here and there in my garden. 

 I love the little purple flower that shows up in the morning and evening hours. 

This is an annual black eyed susan vine. 

 It is the first time I've tried this particular plant, and I love them.

  I only have two, but I am a fan and will definitely have more in my garden next year.

I have also loved the flowering kale and ornamental cabbage I planted. 

 They have done really well.  I was told they wouldn't do well in the heat, but they've made it through this hot summer.

  I'm told their colors will come out even more as it cools down, so I am looking forward to that as we go into September and October.

Now that I've given you a tour,

won't you join me in my garden?

Reflections..Grama B, Reunion with Uncle Mel

Grama Bagley loved the simple things in life. 

 She loved flowers, she loved baking and gardening, she loved music. 

 Most of all she loved her family. 

She loved summer when the Low and Bagley cousins came from out of town. 

 I think the reason we loved being together in her home was because we felt her love. 

We felt the security that comes from being together. 

 Grama didn't have much in the way of material things, she didn't give us much materially..but she gave us everything this world has to offer. 

She gave of herself.  She gave of her time, she gave us her love. 

 She passed on her many gifts, her sense of humor, her love of music, her love of quilting, her artistic abilities. 

 She had five amazing children and thirteen grandchildren who will always be grateful for the time and love she gave to us.

Dad and Uncle Mel got a lot of Grama's characteristics. 

 They loved music, they loved to get together and have a good party, laugh and joke.

  (I think the joking and teasing came from Grampa.) 

 When Uncle Mel, Aunt Barbara and their girls came to town we spent our days and nights at Grama's and Grampa's

Barbeques, singing and listening to Uncle Mel and Dad tell stories, laugh and try to one up each other.

  Again, it was that time spent with one another that cements a family together. 

 We may not see those cousins often.  Dad, mom, Aunt Barbara, Marie, Grama and Grampa are all gone now..but the memories will last. 

Uncle Mel invited us to Pinedale this past weekend. 

There were a lot of games, singing, fishing and good food. 

So much fun seeing our cousins and their children. 

 Uncle Mel, sitting in the midst of us all, was in charge, making sure we were participating, "who's marching the best?" he'd say 

 "sing that song one more time, a prize for the best singer." 

 said Uncle Mel

And of course, everybody marched and sang.  

 

Thank you  for the beautiful weekend.  For bringing our family together. 

 The world is so busy these days. 

 It is good to stop and realize that simple things like good food, singing, games,

spending time on a summer evening and being with family making memories is what it is all about.