My Car Keys

We moved into our condo about six and a half years ago. The condos were not totally occupied when we moved in.  One of the residents was parking their car in my parking space.  Given that few of the condos were taken at that time, there were many available parking spaces in the garage.  But I'm a person who trys to follow the rules, so I put a note on her car saying that I was now moved in and would like to use my parking space.  After that cute move on my part, we became very good friends.  I'm a very lucky person.

I was working for a dentist located in the Sears building at Fashion Place Mall.  It's only 5 minutes away, but I'm always in a rush. Just before leaving for work I'm reading my emails or updating my facebook pictures, or something equally as essential.

However, I want to get to the office with enough time to set up before seeing my first patients.  I might be seeing these guys!

One morning I walked out of the door in a rush, and was on my way to the elevator when I realized I didn't have my car keys.  I panicked, called my friend down the hall and told her my problem. She said I could borrow her car to get to work.  I was so embarrassed. This would leave her without a car for the whole day.  But I felt as though there was no other alternative because Merlin was out of town.  So I took her up on the offer, knowing I would want to pay her back big time for this help.

I went to get the keys from her and thanked her profusely.  I got in her Toyota Camry and got on my way, not too late.

When I was nearly half way to work I called Merlin and told him I had left the car keys in the condo, so I had to borrow our neighbor's car to get to work.
He said: "How did you lock the door to the condo!" 

Now for the rest of the story.  Gaining a modicum of control, after laughing my head off,  I made a U-turn and went back home.  I walked right into my condo easily, since the door was unlocked, and there were my keys on the counter.

When I took my neighbor's keys back to her, she said; "I wondered how you locked your condo door!"  After laughing and laughing again, I headed to work in my own car, and wonders of wonders, I got there on time.   AW

Biker Grandma

We are preparing to visit our son in Seattle and ride on his 35 foot sailboat. We are very excited. We have bought waterproof jackets and pants which will make us look like Gorton’s fisherman only in green.

Then we needed hats. Merlin already has one. I was looking at hats in the outlet mall in Castle Rock CO this weekend. In the Levi store I found a nice black hat which fit me very well and went with my clothes. Merlin showed me the lining which was skull and crossbones. “Oh, that’s ok“, I said. “No one will see the lining“. I tried it on and here was a big skull and crossbones on the outside of the hat!

But it fit me so well. However if I bought that hat, I’d have to get a leather bike jacket, then the leather chaps

and the boots of course.

I always wanted to drive a motorcycle. When I was 60 I looked all over our city for motorcycle driving lessons and couldn’t find any group or store giving lessons. So I thought I’d ask my sons to give me lessons for my birthday or Mother’s Day or any day, figuring they were smart and would be able to find lessons for me.

But no such luck. My desire fell on deaf ears. I never got lessons. I asked my oldest son why he never got me biker lessons. He said that he prefers me riding about town in a big metal car, with as much protection as possible. Hmmm. All I wanted to do was to take lessons, not become a biker grandma.

But one never knows. . . .

Kyle's Homecoming

We went to Denver, Elizabeth to be exact, for Kyle’s homecoming talk. He is just back from the Columbus Ohio Mission. We nearly couldn’t find the chapel. We lost the Google map I printed out, so Merlin was trying to remember the way. Finally after calling and texting Lori, we found the Google map.


As we walked into the chapel we were met by Kyle and were given a big hug. How wonderful he looked, so grown up, so full of the Spirit. We were overjoyed at seeing him. As the meeting was nearly ready to begin, we quickly sat behind Lori and her mother and sisters and the girls, Taylor and McKenzie. I greeted Lori’s mother whose husband just recently passed away and told her how sorry for her loss I was. Then I waved hello to the sisters and grand daughters.

There were two friends of Cory’s sitting next to us who were very nice. The talks previous to Kyle’s were very good. Then Lori sang one of my all time favorites, I Know That My Redeemer Lives. It was so inspirational.

Then Kyle gave his talk. He had notes but rarely looked at them. He said that he was a changed person, that he may look the same, but he is totally changed. He then gave some experiences from his mission that had the effect of making the big change in his heart and his feelings about the church. He seemed a changed man to us. It was as though he was born again. It seemed a pentecostal meeting with the Holy Ghost present and perhaps even angels in attendance. It reminded me of the stories of the pentecostal times at the Kirtland Temple.

It was a wonderful time and the best meeting ever. I’m so sorry that so many of the grand children weren’t able to be there to see and hear the talk, and feel the Spirit. But as Kyle is a changed man, they will be able to feel it when they see or talk to him now.

Afterward, Lori's sister took a picture of us.  It's me, then Taylor, then McKenzie, then Kyle, then Merlin. Taylor and McKenzie are so beautiful.  Merlin and Kyle look so happy.  I look like a grumpy little old lady.  But I was very happy even if a little worn out.

Family History

Merlin and I had so much fun last night. Tina and I finished teaching our SS class in FH last week. Tina taught, thankfully as we were out of town. Anyway, the class planned a field trip to our Stake Family History Center. I went down there several times, reserving the room with the big HD TV and individual computers, trying all of the portals and printing off my handouts. Merlin was rested up f from his drive, so he was able to go too. I always do much better with him around.
Our time was very well spent. My handouts were good. I was able to work with one person for nearly one hour that night and she came over this morning to do some more on her nFS. Her nFS is really jumbled up and she is the oldest one of her family living, so it's important she clear up some of these errors for her family in nFS. We accomplished 4 things for her this morning and there is more to go.

It's really fun to help people solve their family history mysteries in this way. It makes me so tired, wears my brain out but is the most fun ever!  I love FH.