Recent read -

The Portland Airport is a cut above most others - in my opinion anyway - or maybe I've just spent more time there than other airports and have been able to explore more.  But this time I got there early and had time to browse the charming shops, have a tasty lunch, and listen to a pretty fine violist!!

I spent some time in the Powells Bookstore "extension" they have there and found a book on the bargain table.  It was by Ann Patchett - a fave author of mine - so I could not resist.  (Last year I made a resolve - which I kept btw - not to buy any physical books.  No such resolve this year - and I have only bought two books so far - so I'm doing okay - I could "afford" to get this one!)

It is about Ann's friendship with Lucy Grealy - pronounced "gray-lee" - a poet she met at the Iowa Writer's Workshop.  Lucy was one of the 5% who survive Ewing's Sarcoma, but it left her with a "disappearing" face and many struggles with a damaged face.  She endured over 38 surgeries - and it never really did fix everything - but along with many other struggles, she dealt with prescription painkillers and worse.  She died at age 39 of an accidental overdose of heroin.  

 

This book about their friendship may not be for everyone - it's pretty honest and even brutal at times - but it was a great airplane - and airport - read.  

Lucy Grealy's story is a sad one - her way of dealing with her trials might not sit well with some.  I did not find her an especially sympathetic character, but she did have lots of friends who supported her.  In the end, however, she lost the support of many of her friends who felt they were enabling her drug use - when she got into the "hard" stuff with heroin.  

And the glimpse into the lives of two women - two women who had lots in common - and little in common - is a powerful discussion on the merits and value of deep, intense "friend" relationships.

General Conference Weekend!

I always love General Conference weekend.  It really didn't start making a big difference in my life until I lived in Utah.  In California, when I was growing up, we only got the Sunday morning session - on the radio.  We'd sit in chairs in front of the radio in the living room and listen to the talks.  It was a pretty tedious stretch sometimes!!   And then we'd go to church for Sunday School only!  (Lots of people didn't come though!  I guess they thought it was a holiday or something!)

Lots of people in our ward drove up to Salt Lake for Conference - and then they'd give a report in Sacrament meeting.  It wasn't particularly meaningful to me - mostly in retrospect it is.  One man especially served as an usher, and he was always excited to report which General Authorities had come through his door!

After moving to Utah to attend BYU, we would take the bus up to Salt Lake City and see it either in the Tabernacle or the Assembly Hall.  I don't remember a whole lot about what went on - I have photos - so I know I was there!!  The first time I attended General Conference, Thomas S. Monson was sustained as an apostle!!  I did not really take note of it then.

The whole idea of General Authorities as people I could relate to didn't really occur to me until a few years later as I was able to watch conference on TV, and the men speaking - women didn't speak in Conference then - started having individual personalities to me.

After I got married and we had children, and because conference used to be on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I took to having it be my semi-annual ironing day!  I used to iron everything - and I mean everything - so it was a good way to make sure I didn't fall asleep during the talks!  And my kids seemed to not bother me when I was ironing - but they would have interrupted frequently if I had just been sitting on the couch watching TV!

In the "old days" when we had babies who napped, we'd drive in the canyon while the kids napped and listen to conference on the radio.  In many ways, there was an entire "culture" of activities surrounding Conference.  Now if you have to miss it, it's really easy to see or listen to what you missed, so making sure you get to listen at the exact moment it's going on isn't so vital I suppose.

The conference "culture" changed when we moved to California - we had to go to the Stake Center where it was beamed by satellite.  I remember being excited when we had a radio that could bring in all the sessions - but I still preferred being able to have a visual.

A couple of times, when I was YW President, and Harry was Bishop, we took the youth to Conference - we went in our van.  It was a great experience.

We have had times when someone speaking, or someone about whom someone was speaking, turned out to have a connection in our lives.  Once Elder Haight talked about Connie McMurray and how she fainted at the podium at the 8th grade graduation.  We were watching conference at the Stake Center - a part of Conference culture that is going by the wayside I think - and my kids simultaneously turned their heads and asked it that was their own Grandma Connie??  (and it was indeed!!)

It's also been fun over the years to find the people we know in the Tabernacle Choir.

So of course we were all delighted when our own Linda Reeves spoke in the Saturday morning session this time.  She did a great job - we were proud to claim her.

I ironed this time during the Saturday morning session.  I had not touched the items in my ironing basket - it's pretty good-sized - for probably over a year!  There were some pleasant surprises there too.  It was mostly table cloths, cloth napkins, tea towels, shirts, aprons, and pillow cases - the fancy kind that need ironing!  And I got them all done!  And I found a shirt I thought I'd given away!!

I will look forward to the May issue of the Ensign with all the talks.  I know I could go on lds.org and re-read them all, but I like to just wait for the magazine and browse.

So Spring Break is over, Conference Weekend is over, school starts back up tomorrow - at least there is summer vacation to look forward too!!

Vive la France!!

48 years ago I was enjoying a semester abroad in Grenoble, France.  When I read the journal I kept, much of it sounds like a life someone else lead - I don't recognize the names, places, or events.  Other items are a fresh as yesterday.  Someone told me that as you acquire more and more memories, your brain puts a lot of them into storage because you aren't dwelling on them or using them.

Seeing this student visa, however, reminded me vividly of one day in the student union, I was trying to do something, register for a class I think.  I was not having much success - my grasp of French was not superb - when someone told me to get in the "foreign student" line!!  

I totally recall thinking, "But I'm not a foreign student!"

Your viewpoint really depends on where you are looking - and where you are looking from!

Here's to the Irish in all of us!!

Mrs. Hoopes always has a Limerick contest on St. Patrick's Day - and she asks me to help judge.  She provides cream soda and peanuts, so it's worth going to!!

I always try to whip up a few limericks to wow the kiddos - so here's today's effort:

There was a young lassie from Nod

Who always presented as odd.

She tried everything,

From low end to bling,

But most of her efforts were flawed.

And in honor of the continuing frustration of many students who don't like to meet their AR goals - and who rail at the requirement:

Teachers all have grades to score,

And time is up for any more.

If AR's short,

Then you are "morte,"

But you knew this before.

Top 'o the evenin' to ye!

Beware!!

The Ides of March has been celebrated, Terrill-style, for a lot of years now.  This shot is from a 1995 celebration that included Mandy and Erin McGlone!!

It all started when our friend Ronnie Horton, whose birthday was March 15th, suggested we have a Caesar celebration one year for his birthday.  One thing led to another, and Harry ended up abridging Shakespeare's play.  The rest, as they say, is history!!

We are not having it this year though.  Too much going on, too many conflicts.

But I'm thinking of serving Caesar salad - if, indeed, anyone is here for dinner!

The "Terrill Tilt" appears to be a family phenomenon!!

Even mastered by non-Terrill family members here and abroad!! 

Women friends are the best!!

When I posted a photo of Tina,Val, and Sue Graham, my girls all responded with things like "I babysat for all of them," and "Love these women," and "80's and Monrovia East Ward!"  (This occasion today was a surprise 60th birthday party for Sue Graham - her girls pulled it off beautifully!!)

When I first moved into the Monrovia East Ward - we had been sliced off from the Monrovia Ward - I found out about a monthly birthday tradition that I participated in for many years - a very fun, lovely tradition.  

Every month we met to celebrate that month's birthdays.  We often ended up at Tina's house - her backyard backed up to the playground of Mayflower School, so it was close to where a lot of our kids were.

We each brought food.  I don't even remember if we sang Happy Birthday or not.  Sometimes there were gifts, sometimes not.  Sometimes a non-member friend came along.  Sometimes we turned them into baby showers if a baby shower was needed.  Always there was lots of love and friendship.

It was a special time in my life.  I will always have good memories of it!!

Friends are the best - value them, treasure them, keep them close.

And remember their birthdays!

Friendship!!

The Nebekers are good friends - and old friends - and we treasure our association with them.

 

Harry, Ry, and Jim Heder were college roommates - the other two men are Ry's brothers.  A wonderful comradeship.

From the first time I met Ry - at his missionary farewell that Harry asked me to attend while he was on his mission - until now, it has only been a pleasure to associate with him and his family.

Today is Ry's birthday.  Ry is quite ill, and our prayers continue daily for him and for his family.  But we want to remember the good times and the many wonderful memories we share.

Happy day to you Ry!!

Need to remember to do this one!!

When we were in DC at the reception after Rhoda's blessing, this graham cracker "row house" was on the front desk of the building where we were gathered.  I felt I had to take a photo, because it looks very simple.  It's actually a cardboard box with graham crackers "glued" on with frosting.  Wafers anchor the windows, as well as candy canes.  

Part of its charm is that it looks like the row houses in DC, but I'm not going to let that detail deter me!!

Another stairway!! (Besides the Stairway of the Stars!)

I read about "Secret Stairs" in the LA Times a few weeks ago - ordered the book and got excited to try one of the walks out.  So Harry and I headed to Echo Park this a.m.  We were not disappointed either.  Above is a beautiful old Ukranian Orthodox church we came across!  We also had a birdseye view of Dodger Stadium, and a magnificent view of LA!

 

There were varied and beautiful trees, World War I memorial plaques, a "memory" grove dedicated to the fallen, the ruins of an old house - all that was left were the front stairs! - and a shaded sidewalk hidden behind storefronts where several old houses stood.  And there were 5 sets of stairs.  Next time I'll remember to get shots of the stairs!!

 

After, we had lunch at Lot 1 Cafe - and it was good.  I'm excited for our next adventure.  The author rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 - this one was a 2.  Next time I'm branching out and going for 2.5!!

A little light reading!

 Alice left this at Eliza's - said she'd read it on the plane, thought someone might want to read it.  It was good airplane fiction.  A somewhat schmaltzy story, but well written, good character development, intrigue, suspense, and a lot of regional color.  And a look into the past - the early 5o's and the polio scare.  When you want some escape lit, this is the story for you!!

 

I have enjoyed the other books by this author - The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses - so I was sure I'd enjoy this one.  I did - but I almost think it should be categorized as adolescent fiction.  It's a well-written story with some suspense and lots of regional color and flair.  The ending is a little "pat" in some ways, but there are some nice images and symbolism that save it from being too predictable.

Now I'm reading Dear Life, a collection of short stories by Alice Munro, Nobel Prize winner for literature last year.  So far they seem well-written, and very regional - she is Canadian - but I don't know much about Canada.  

Will do an update when I finish.

Happy reading to you too!!

The Blessing Dresses

When Bonny was born, my mother gave me a blessing dress that my Grandma Stevens had crocheted for her.  Bonny wore it for her blessing.  Unfortunately, there are no photos of Bonny wearing it.  She was a colicky baby who also spit up a lot.  I distinctly remember dressing her in the dress many times, propping her on a pillow on the couch, and getting set to take a photo.  Every time she spit up voluminous amounts.  So I said, "I will wash the dress and try again."  Apparently I gave up though!!

Phoebe wore the dress too - and there are also no photos of her wearing it.

When Eliza was born, my mom found a dress that she said had been my blessing dress - and probably Alice's and Mary's too, but she was not sure.  The dress was in terrible shape - yellowed, stained, ripped - but I was not to be thwarted!  I washed it in a solution of soap, water, and 2 teaspoons of bleach!!  And it came clean as a whistle!  I mended the tears and got new ribbon to thread through the sleeves and hem.  I was pretty excited.

Above is a shot of Eliza holding baby Ida wearing the blessing dress.

 

And here is Eliza wearing it.  I bought the little shoes for her to wear with it.  My grandmother had crocheted booties that Bonny wore, but I went with pink to match the ribbons in the dress.

 

Hannah wore the dress too - and the satin slippers.

 

And sweet little Rhoda wore it all yesterday!!

 

Phoebe wore Bonny's blessing dress - and this photo was taken on the day she was blessed - but for some reason, I changed her into a different dress for this photo.  Maybe I was afraid it would get ripped or stained.  It was a delicate, lacy dress. 

Agnes wore Bonny's blessing dress too - and the blanket my grandmother crocheted is her background here.  All of our children were wrapped in it for the blessing - boys and girls.  Some of the grandkids have been wrapped in it too I think.  Phoebe chose the pink slip for Agnes.

 

Eve wore the blessing dress too - the one that I had worn - you can mostly tell by the ribbon on the sleeves!

 

Here's Ara in the dress and the booties - and the yellow slip, rather than the pink slip.  I haven't kept track of the slips as much, but pretty much my dress goes with the pink slip and Bonny's dress goes with the yellow slip.  I know Bonny's other girls wore it too - but I don't have photos - maybe Bonny does and she will send them to me!!

The are both beautiful dresses - and when I wash and fix them as they need repair, I think of my Grandma Stevens.  And I think she would be really pleased!!

Men and Babies

There is a photo of Harry holding Hannah on her blessing day.  It was well after church, and she doesn't have the blessing dress on, but it has always been one of my favorite photos.  I wanted to do a "duplicate" shot of Harry holding Rhoda on her blessing day, but it didn't quite happen - at least I didn't duplicate the pose.  But while I was scrolling through my photos looking for that shot,  I kept coming across other great photos of men and babies - and it seemed like a nice touch for a blog post - especially after our lovely weekend in DC for Rhoda's blessing.

The above is shot of Harry with Bonny - in the Portia Apartments in SLC in 1970.

 

This is a shot of my dad holding my brother Lyn - in 1943.

 

 This is my Grandpa Clayton with my Uncle Paul - in 1915 or 16.

 

This is Harry with a very newborn Eliza.

 

And this is Harry with Esme - at Clocker's Corners it looks like - a few years ago for sure!!

 

A favorite photo of mine of Grandpa Terrill with Hannah - in 1986 - when she had casts on her legs for the foot problems she had as a baby.

 

And here is my dad and Harry holding Phoebe - in 1979.

 

My Uncle Harry holding his son Mark in 1947 I think.

 

A new grandpa!!  Harry with Ara in 1997!

 

My Grandpa Clayton holding Bonny - a 3 generation shot in 1970.  Not sure why we didn't put my dad in the photo - that would have been nice!

 

Harry with holding Bonny and Harry in 1972.

 

Harry holding Noah in 1987.

 

Harry and Theo posing with their matching faux hawks in 2007.

 

 The favorite photo of mine - it's a favorite of both of them, but it really captures how Harry looked then.  In 1985, on Hannah's blessing day.

And the closest  I could get to a duplicate - and maybe a new fave photo??

Men and babies - they go together so well!!