Breaking Dawn Blanket Prop to New Home

 

Breaking Dawn prop blanket going to new home.

Background: The Prop Store had two auctions of Twilight related props. A live auction in November 2016 and an on-line only one in November 2017. I attended the live auction and was out bid on a couple of items I was interested in. Then the on-line one came up with better stuff as far as I was concerned – more minor props with some practical value too. I just wanted a little piece of the movies. I won a set of Romeo & Juliet books, I kept one copy and gave the rest mostly to Twilight Fan Fiction authors and a couple of friends. I won a copy of The Merchant of Venice which was expressly for The Collection in Forks.

I won the red woven blanket that appears on corner of couch in the Christmas scene in BD2. Red has been my accent color in decorating. The blanket would be practical and decorative and neat prop to have. Jack Morrissey was instrumental in guiding all of us auction newcomers. The bidding was getting close to my budget limit and Jack texted me about it, offering to finish bidding on it if went over my budget. The other person dropped out at my limit. I told Jack that he would have first right of refusal upon my death for the blanket. I had planned on keeping it and passing it along upon my death. It is one of specific items mentioned in my will.

I finished paying for it and received the items in February of 2018. I have been using the blanket to keep my shoulders warm. Being woven it is kind of delicate and didn’t want it to catch on something in lap or be stepped on if covering feet. When not in use it hangs out on back of my rocking chair. The red looks great with the emerald green pillows and dark wood.

Present day: Amber and Dean Neufeld bought the house in St Helens Oregon that was used as the Swan house in the Twilight movie. They have made it a vacation rental house. They had someone contact me for specifics on the blanket to make a replica, Deb Farris Wood. That inquiry and other things got me to thinking maybe time to pass along the blanket to them and let others enjoy it too. I contacted Jack to see if he was agreeable to let it bypass him and give to Amber and Dean now.

He kind of spoiled my surprise to them by asking them about what would they do with it, display wise. He was satisfied with their answer and agreed to them getting it. Also asked if selling or donating. Direct donation. Money is nice, but they will have to spend money on setting up some kind of display. Can’t be used in the rental as it would likely grow legs and walk off. So instead of money being exchanged I am getting one or maybe two night stay at the house for free. I want a companion to drive down with me and maybe have Christine join us at the house. Hoping Gay can be the drive companion. We are working out details of when this might happen. I also invited Jack to come and be part of transfer of blanket.   

 

Poem: Hope Is a Trap

 

Hope is a trap

Abby Weyr 15 April 2023

Hope is a trap.

Things never change.

Hope is a delusion,

Encourage you to try

But always fail.

Nothing changes.

Never get caught up

Much less ahead.

What is the point?

Always more to do

And fail at.

Good for nothing

Good at nothing

Just pebble on path

To avoid.

 

 

 

 

Memories of Music

 Music Memories March and April 2023

Thursday 16 March: I Stand All Amazed, hymn #193 in current LDS hymnal. It use to be really hard for me to sing this without getting chocked up and eyes wet. The longer I’ve been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the more we have sung it has lessened the immediate impact. The phrase ‘rebellious soul’ is a good fit for me and I do stand all amazed at the love offered by our Redeemer. 

Monday 20 March: Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky was one of family favorites not only at Christmas time. When I was in the third grade our class put on a talent show. I was taking ballet classes at the time and parents asked the teacher to make up a short dance for me to do. The music was from the Nutcracker Suite. The whole ballet class learned the dance. There were two performances of the talent show. Mom made one but Dad wasn’t able to make either one. We marked the cut on the LP and the first show went well. The second show, the student putting the record player on did not put it on the correct section. All I remember was the very beginning after that my mind blanked out, the music wasn’t the right one. Mom said I did the dance well even if not the right music. Muscle memory?

Thursday 23 March: Big Girls Don’t Cry by Four Seasons hit number one in November 1962. You use to be able to listen to records at the store before buying. I was standing listening to something and a classmate was listening to Big Girls Don’t Cry. She had recently broken up with boyfriend and the song had tears running down her face.

Monday 27 March: Grand Canyon Suite by Grofe was another family favorite. The sweeping music captures the grandeur of the area. It paints pictures with the music. You can see the donkeys on the trail and feel the rain in cloudburst. I always wanted to ride a donkey down the canyon.

Thursday 30 March: 2001: A Space Odyssey soundtrack. Johann Strauss’ Blue Danube Waltz and Richard Stauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra are the two standouts. The music weaves in and out of the movie scenes. The opening sequence and then the Pan Am space plane and space station are the most memorable. It came out first year of college and was discussed among the science students.

Monday 3 April: Anna of Thousand Days soundtrack. This was my introduction to Renaissance music. It is a favorite along with Celtic music and other folk music.

Thursday 6 April: Gotta Get Out of This Place by the Animals, this was our ‘anthem’ going through Officer Candidate School.

Monday 10 April: Super Massive Black Hole, this is the music for the baseball scene in Twilight movie. It is awesome and so fitting for the scene.

Thursday 13 April: folk songs of 50’s & 60’s, especially Kingston Trio, The Merry Minuet. So many good songs/ballads from some great groups. The main memory is from a birthday or Mother’s Day gift in 1959 to mom. She especially liked The Merry Minuet by the Kingston Trio. She liked the whimsy of the song and bit ironic as how much of it was kind of true. My brother and I went to record store to find the record to give to her for either her birthday or Mother’s Day. We found the album with that song, Live at Hungry i. Some other good songs on the album. She liked the gift and the whole family enjoyed the album.

Monday 17 April 2023 – added a book to that list.

Thursday 20 April:  Star Wars: A New Hope. John Williams’ music was magical – a bit fantasy, a bit inspirational. Luke watching the two suns set wishing to be someplace else. The Sand People and Jawas. Princess Leia’s theme. Imperial March. Later SW movies, then the Harry Potter movies. And the Olympic Games. Indiana Jones movies. SW was the start of my noticing John Williams. Also got me paying more attention to the music composers for movies in general.

Monday 24 April: movie/theater soundtracks and TV themes in general. No specific memories, but enjoy many that are not necessarily musicals. A particular piece brings to mind the movie or show.

Thursday 27 April: added to book memories

 

‘Favorite’ singers/composers/group: Kingston Trio, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Elvis, Beatles, Richard Searles, New Christy Ministrels, Mamas and Papas, John Williams, Carter Burwell, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Rogers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber

 

Memories of Books for February and March 2023

Thursday 2 February: actually finished up refrig magnets memories with Calico angel

Monday 6 Feb: Scriptures  

The most significant books in my life are the Scriptures – The Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. The first two most important. I remember getting a white leather zipper case Bible when I joined the Methodist Church formally when I was about 9 years old. Last time I saw it, the spine had cracked and mostly off. The pages were really thin and I had to be careful reading it. It had my name imprinted on cover. At the time I did not read it cover to cover but used it for Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.

Growing up I had a few encounters with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days. It was not until I was in my mid 20’s that I made a serious investigation. Missionaries taught me. I received a witness that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and translated the Book of Mormon and restored Christ’s Church in these latter days. I was baptized and join the LDS Church. All these years later, I still feel that witness and that this path is correct for me. I’ve had some questioning times over particular things, but to me the doctrine is true.

Thursday 9 Feb: Tom Swift Jr series & Daybreak 2250 AD by Andre Norton 

 I remember reading Bobbsey Twin and Nancy Drew Mystery books and others. Then about age 9 found the Tom Swift Jr books in my brother’s room and borrowed them. Great fun books. Then found Daybreak – 2250AD by Andre Norton. Hooked on science friction. I’ve read a lot of her books. Not all of them are science fiction. The Witch World and Solar Queen are two favorite series. Some of early ones were double books.

Monday 13 Feb: Too Near the Throne & Desiree

I was in 9^th grade when read Too Near the Throne by Molly Costain Haycraft and Desiree by Annamarie Selinko a year later. Both are novelized biographies. Too Near the Throne is based on life of Lady Arabella Stuart, royal birth put her near the Scottish Throne. Desiree is based on life of Desiree Clary, first love of Napoleon Bonaparte who eventually became queen of Sweden. Both books point out the hazards of royalty and power. 

Thursday 16 Feb: Angel Unaware by Dale Evans Rogers was another book I found in 10^th grade in school library. For study hall I worked in the library and came across the book as shelving others. I was a big fan of Dale Evans and Roy Rogers when I was younger, so I had to check it out and read it. The family went to a rodeo in Denver to see them, parents indulging my being a fan and they use to ride a lot growing up in Pasadena. We had a boy on school bus that had Downs Syndrome, so the book wasn’t my introduction but did fill in more information about it.

Monday 20 Feb: Peyton Place by Grace Metalious was the book to read in 11^th grade, in mid 60s, often hidden from parents and teachers, more interesting than World History. The standout scene for me was the abortion that became an appendectomy. Even then the idea of medical procedure being forced to back alleys and the problems of that was not right.    

          

Thursday 23 Feb: A Tale of Two Cities was the first book I reread. I was a senior in college. My boyfriend at the time introduced me to the concept of rereading a book. Haven’t been able to clean bookshelves quickly ever since then. He introduced me to some old classic science fiction books – Azimov’s Foundation Trilogy (the original three) and Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land are the two standouts.

This was the last one posted to Facebook. Plan to keep it up and post on my blog but not on Facebook. 

Monday 27 Feb: Ben Hur: a Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace. Not sure when I read the book other than it was after seeing the movie. There are parts of the story told in letters and I picked up some things about letter salutation and closing from this book.

 

Thursday 2 March 2023: Edgar Rice Burroughs Venus and Mars series. These I read instead of studying for finals the last couple of years of college.

Monday 6 March: Added Upon by Nephi Anderson was a gift from a friend while I was investigating joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They were members and he was a co-worker. There is a scene that takes place in heaven where a girl is talking with a small group and a boy come up. She is shocked that he is there, it wasn’t his time but he committed suicide as he felt he could not live without her. 

Thursday 9 March: Childhood End by Arthur C Clarke. I read this while station at a remote base. Humanity doesn’t survive as humans. It is kind of depressing. There wasn’t anyone to talk with about the book, not sure why it was in our library. It kind of depressed me for a few days while processing the story. It is a classic and recommend reading it, just not when more or less alone and where there is not much happening to balance out the depressing story.

Monday 13 March: The Twilight Saga original books and fan fiction. At a church women’s group meeting some middle-aged women were talking about Twilight. I had seen it and read back cover and didn’t strike my fancy, I’m not into vampires and werewolves at all. Their overheard conversation got me curious, and I asked one if I could borrow the book. That was January 2010. The first two movies had already been released, the third due out that summer. I read it and was hooked a few chapters in. I could not put it down. Once done I kept picking it up and rereading parts until I could get the other books. I had been numb in my depressed state for a long while and Twilight got me to feel again for better or worse. It changed my life. I found fan fiction and prefer some of those stories over the original. The movies are ok. I went to the Eclipse marathon with a local group that didn’t really include me as I was new. I went to a midnight release of the DVD of one of the movies, again people in line weren’t so friendly. I read about Stephenie Meyer Days in Forks Washington. It was 10 years ago this month. I prayed about it, looked at cost, prayed and I went. I have met some wonderful folks. On the drive up I felt like I was coming home. I was born in Tacoma Wa while my father was stationed at Ft Lewis. I had already retired and figured I wouldn’t stay in California in a two-story condo with knees and hips causing problems and was considering where to move. That trip and my nieces and nephews all saying that they were not going to stay where they were at, so I decided to go where I wanted to and that was the Olympic Peninsula. I’ve been here since 2018. Glad I moved. As I said life changing.

Added Monday 17 April 2023: Magic of Recluce by LE Modesett, Jr. This was the first book that I picked up and read again within half a day of finishing the first read through. [did that with Twilight and do this regularly now with TWS fan fiction] Along with Death of Chaos it describes ‘battle’ between chaos and order. In the end one realizes those are the extremes and not balanced. Along with Tolkien’s Ring trilogy good reading for these uncertain changing times in the present world. 

Thursday 27 April: I am a reader. I don’t remember my parents reading to me, but do remember them reading a lot. We would watch news and maybe one TV show in evening, but other reading. I read mysteries, science fiction/fantasy, some romance, some historical fiction, rare biography. The books mentioned above are just the ones that have specific memories associated with them. 

Favorite Authors: Agatha Christy, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Peter David, Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey, Katherine Kurtz, Alan Dean Foster, Sandi Layne

Favorite Fan Fiction Authors, on FFn: 2Brown-eyes, Mrs Brownloe, Shouldbecleaning, Anton M, Katmom, LJ Summers, Virginia May, Windchymes,

 

 

Poem Moving Through Water

 

Poem: Moving through water

Abby Weyr 13 March 2023

 

Still water

Moving water

Both have pressure

 

Water up to neck

Most of time

Sometimes lower

 

Always there to make

It harder to move even

When water is still

 

Sometimes with flow

Sometimes against flow

Always some pressure

 

Doesn’t hurt

Just takes effort

All the time

 

Tired of making

The effort

To move

Frequently feel overwhelmed

Not drowning just overwhelmed

And too hard to move

 

Can’t raise feet to float

Or to swim

Only walk

 

Don’t know why

Don’t know what burdens

Hold feet down

 

Don’t know how to see or

How to lift those burdens

That won’t let me swim

 

Or how to let the

Water drain away

To walk free

 

Effort

Energy

Inertia

 

Tired of effort

Little energy

To counter inertia

 

Reduced to

Bump on

Log

 

Feel worthless

Though even a bump on log

Has a purpose

 

Can’t decide where

To go for help

Too many bad decisions

 

Overwhelmed with options

Overwhelmed with decisions

Overwhelmed with backlog of work

 

Tired of constant

Water pressure

Making hard to move

 

Tempted to give up and

Leave mess for others

Better able to handle things

 

Hard to see this as just a

Temporary problem

Seems like always been there

 

Never goes away

Little faith or hope

To ever be better

 

God and Jesus

Is an answer

Practicing my faith is effort

 

Tired of climbing

Mountain of life

Alone

 

Know life not suppose

To be easy

But not so hard all the time

 

Takes effort to move

From bed to

Recliner

 

Sometimes that is all can do

Even reading is effort

At times

 

Tired of trying

Rebel against

All the should be doing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poem Alone

 Alone

7 March 2023 Abby Weyr

So tired

Doing everything alone

No one to help

No one to do anything for

 

All want to do alone

Is sleep

Read

Maybe eat

 

Tired

Doing what expected

Being where expected

Acting normal

 

Wish I wouldn’t wake

To another alone day

Or another fake it day

Don’t know what real anymore

 

Tired

Pushing against stay in bed

Daily mask cleaning

Daily blood pricking

  

So tired

Doing everything alone

No one to help

No one to do anything for

Every day same

Boring stuff

No fun

No company

 

Rare invites

Rare accepting invites from me

Everyone else busy

With someone else

 

Worthless

Bump on log

Hurts to stand

Can’t contribute

 

Hands don’t work so well either

Harder to read

Hard to hear

Hard to decide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memories with Refrig magnets

For January 2023 I decided to do a Monday and Thursday memory associated with refrig magnets I've been given or picked up along the way. 

Thursday 5 January: sea shell butterfly, originally set of three or four was housewarming gift from my parents in 1987. They lived in Florida so the sea shell was a reminder of that. My father retired to Florida, the warm humid heat was easier for my mother’s arthritis. We had lived in Florida in late 50’s on a previous base assignment. We’d go to beach a few times each year. Dad would surf fish, brother would swim and body surf, I’d swim or walk with mom looking for sea shells. Back then one could drive onto the beach. That was even before Ron Jon’s Surf shop was there. We’d set up umbrella close to car. Mom was a red head and burned easily. We’d bring food and drinks and stay a good three to four hours. When I’d swim my brother would watch out for me – warn of bigger wave coming, make sure I came back up after knocked over. He was six years older and lots taller. He’d still be walking and I’d be swimming. Good times. Things had changed a lot when dad retired there in mid 60’s. Ron Jon’s was there, but still just a smallish shop in the building.

                                      

 

Monday 9 January: I noticed the SF seagull on my refrigerator the day after my brother left after visiting me. Gathered it was a thank you gift. I can’t remember when he came, think maybe shortly after I moved into condo, late 80’s. He was using crutches instead of wheelchair. We went to San Francisco Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, 17 mile drive in Monterey, Monterey Aquarium, Highland Games in Santa Rosa. He was able to do a lot even with the crutches, didn’t use them all the time, managed to climb over or around some boulders in Monterey. Kinda disappeared once while I was taking pictures one place, he went off in other direction, amazed where I found him. Visit to SF was colder than I planned and had to buy a sweatshirt up there, became a favorite and wore it out.

We did not share motel room, I was not comfortable doing that. Realized why later.

Thursday 12 January: PayLess Drug stores was one of my employers as a pharmacist. It was a medium size regional company. There were good benefits and we were treated well. I worked two days a week at two stores and filled in temp at other stores when needed. I liked working at different stores. The commute was kind of long for one, but I worked the afternoon shift so traffic wasn’t a problem. Those were a good four or five years. Unfortunately the company was bought out by RiteAid – worse employer possible in my opinion. I lasted a week before knew I had to leave.

            

 

Monday 16 January 2023: Keeping with the pharmacist from last memory post, this was a gift from my friend Joanne. She lives on the East Coast. We met in line at a Star Trek Convention in LA. Maybe the 20^th anniversary? I don’t remember exactly. We met up at a couple of other conventions over the years. We stay in touch. I’ve visited her twice, most recently in 2019.  

Thursday 19 January 2023: Kalama High School was used as Forks HS in the Twilight movies. I’ve visited a few times. The first time it was part of TaffCon movie site trip. Before Covid the school had annual Twilight open house event. They have TShirts and magnets and other things as fundraising. They had tours of the school and some vendors selling Twilight and HS related items. The movie was shown in the theater. It was a fun little event.

          

Monday 23 January 2023: These two clips were found at the Thriftway store in Forks. Like the red color and Twilight. Team Switzerland, so both sides represented.

Thursday 26 January 2023: The more I’ve looked at this one the more I think I’m wrong about who it’s from. So it represents more my liking of American Indian art in general rather than the specific artist I original thought. I’m old and memories get mixed up at times. I know I have some refrig magnets of the artist I was thinking of, guess not yet found in my unpacking.

                         

 

Monday 30 January 2023: These four are from Kathie Spitz. She is a wordsmith and an artist and a friend. We met on line through Twilight and liking dragons, especially Dragonriders of Pern. I was invited to her daughter’s wedding and that is when I met her and her family in person. That trip was possible with the help of another friend. It was a wonderful trip. Christmas with friends along with the wedding.

 

Thursday 2 February 2023: This little angel I picked up in Calico California on way back home from Las Vegas. A Sister in my ward needed to move to Las Vegas in January 2013. I was retired and volunteered to drive her. We were able to fit her items in my car. Long drive. Decent conversation. Found where she was to be dropped off and unloaded. I had decided to spend a couple of days in area to visit some places of interest not seen on earlier trips. Went out to Valley of Fire. Did some looking around the fancy hotels. On the way to Vegas saw these signs for ghost town Calico. On way home decided to stop and see it. Interesting place. The little angel was cute and my only souvenir along with all the pictures. This image isn't very good. I may try to get better one and replace later. 

 

Winter/Christmas Memories

 

Winter/Christmas Memories

Tuesday & Thursday December 2022 on Facebook

1 December 2022: We were living in O’Fallon Illinois, 4 to 7 years old, living in a trailer with only heater in front room. I remember being really cold one night and took my blanket and curled up by heater and slept. 

6 Dec: Still in O’Fallon, one of my Christmas jobs was putting the cards on the card holder. It was an outline of the reindeer pulling Santa in his sleigh with rods hanging down with ‘clips’ to hold the cards. When mom died, it was passed down to one of my nephew or nieces. I kind of wish now I’d kept it. 

8 Dec: Moving on to Denver. We had snow in October. Too cold for me to wear costume I wanted for Halloween. That is the only costume I remember. I tried to learn to ski. After a morning on bunny hill my brother took me on a ride to big and long slope. I would make one or two turns and fall down. Finally was too tired and too wet to try more. My brother took my skis and poles down while I started walking down just inside tree line. He came back up and carried me down on his back. 

13 Dec: Moving on to Orlando. I got a big girls bike the first year we were there. The furnace was under the floor and there was a grate in floor. One could not walk over the grate quietly. That first year I slept in like 2 hour blocks Christmas Eve. I kept walking out to check if Santa had come and what new gifts were there. Somehow my parents got the bike out while I was sleeping. Yes, I was old enough to know who Santa was, but was young enough for it all to still be kinda magical. 

15 Dec: Germany, we went to US Military Recreation resort in Garmish each Christmas. Introduced to a silver artificial tree – so we had one in our rooms. I ice skated. Brother skied. Smaller number of presents due to the trips. We toured around a little. Saw where the Passion Play was put on every 10 years. There was a ski jump competition that we went to. We had seats close to the end of the ramp. It was awesome watching them fly through the air.

20 Dec: Grand Forks North Dakota. Our driveway was in line with a little side street…straight shot for the North wind to bring snow and hit our garage and stop. The driveway would fill up quickly with snow. Cars needed to have a heater for the engine block. You would see the plug hanging out in front of car radiator. Our Base House was a duplex split level. The snow would pile up to part way cover up bedroom windows on the upper level. The great plains wind was terrible, nothing could stop it, no matter how many layers one wore. Had to ride a bus to attend school in town. During winter we would wait in garage at the bus stop. Our across the street neighbor was a B52 pilot, a snowcat that came to take him to work got stuck once in all the snow. Strangely the wind was such that the highway between the base and town was usually clear of snow. Now black ice was totally a problem. In three years never had any road problems in family car or the school bus.

22 Dec: Thursday 22 December Winter memories is out of chronological order. One of my best Christmas times was eight years ago. Eight years ago, a friend's daughter got married on 23 December, a friend I had yet to meet in person. I was invited but didn't have enough money to cover all the travel expenses. A friend gave me some money to cover what I couldn't. It was a great trip. I was accepted and adopted as a family member of wedding party. I was semi-official photographer for the rehearsal. They took me around to see pretty Christmas lights. Lent me earrings that I thought I had forgotten to pack - which turned out to just be buried in pocket of backpack and found when got home. It was a great time. So grateful to all for the wonderful memories. David Buchanan, Kathie Spitz, Amanda Tiffany Spitz

27 Dec: Back to when lived in Grand Forks - One of my father’s coworkers raised standard poodles. They had an unexpected litter, one of parents wasn’t registered or they were not same color, so puppies were less expensive and being in ND before computers made it harder for them to sell the puppies out of the local area. We got a black one that might turn silver as grew. She only got a little silver around her mouth. She loved the snow. We let her wool grow out for winter, almost looked like a bear cub. We’d bring her inside and have to use hair dryer on her to get all the snow out of her fur. Being black she didn’t get lost in the snow. 

29 Dec: 2022 Year in review short version: Took a flying sight seeing trip with Sherri Aguayo to celebrate 50 years since I enlisted in USAF. One photo trip to Ruby Beach and then the Tree of Life. Attended a few plays at Sequim High School - Emma, Frozen Jr, Clue, and White Christmas - and spring choral concert of high school groups. Had snow in January, February, and April. Peter and Carol Christensen visited from California. Had an ambulance ride to ER. Got a smart watch with a fall detector. Attended Irrigation and Lavender Festivals here in Sequim. Went to Forks for Sasquatch Days and then again for 4 July celebration. The yard wood chips and gravel were both refreshed. Attended the Fly-In at Fairchild Airport and the Clallam county fair in Port Angeles. Exciting times when the tank on master bathroom toilet cracked and leaked. Sold some TShirts, cleared out most of Star Trek paperback books. Attended for the last time a full weekend of Forever Twilight in Forks. Christine Bentley-Johnston joined me in the fun. Jim Johnston enjoyed other sight seeing times. First snow of season was 7 November. Snowed again on 18 December, larger amount but not enough to still be around for Christmas. Thanks to those that helped with the work and shared the fun - Dylan Sanders, Dave & Cindy Kelm with the yard work, Janell Heintz helped until decided needed ambulance, Josh Tax replaced toilet. This is the last Thursday Winter/Christmas post. 

Thankful Tuesday and Thursday November 2022

 

Tuesday 1 November:

I am going to do a Thankful Tuesday and Thursday for the month of November 2022. Since today is also Celtic New Year, I am starting off with grateful for Celtic Heritage. I enjoy Celtic music. Not going to listen to bagpipes all day long but do enjoy it at times. The myths and legends are interesting. The Rice family name was originally from Wales with spelling Rhys. Some moved north into Scotland and spelling got changed. Some eventually found their way to Nova Scotia and then to USA.

It is also booklovers day. I do enjoy reading. I am thankful for authors and them sharing their talent be it fan fiction or published. Mary Morgan writes about Celtic myths and warriors. Today would be good day to read one of her books. Have a great day!

Thursday 3 November:

Grateful for friends. Some come and help when have big project. Some are supportive long distance. Some are artists and authors and share their talents for good entertainment. Keep in contact with some more frequently than others. All are dear to me. Thank you for your friendship. Have a great day!

Tuesday 8 November:

Thankful to be able to vote in local and national elections. Not sure how honest the candidates are these days, but I do have confidence that the voting process is good. Here in Washington state you register when you get driver’s license and voting is all by mail. Easy. Safe. The ballot drop off box is close. I was getting some frozen desert and watched them pick up ballots for the primary. Looked secure to me.

I pray that all will be safe while voting - the people staffing the polling places, the voters, and those counting the ballots. 

Thursday 10 November:

Since tomorrow is Veterans Day it is fitting to be grateful for the heritage of serving in the military. My mother’s father and brother served after Pearl Harbor bombing. My father and his older brother also enlisted after Pearl Harbor. They all went into the Army or Army Air Corp. His younger brother eventually went into the Navy. One of my mother’s aunts was in the Marine Corp, I’m not sure of when she served. Two cousins went into the Marine Corp. My brother enlisted into the Army during Viet Nam War. I went into the Air Force a few years later. A grandnephew enlisted into the Air Force. Being military dependent was my first ‘tribe’ I felt I belonged in. That is the reason that one of my Facebook profile picture, including the current one, is the USAF tartan. [My two cousins and grandnephew and I are only ones still alive.]

Tuesday 15 November:

My faith and membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Faith and hope fluctuate, but always there no matter how small and flickering. It is so comforting to know no matter where I go when I find a church it will be the same meeting set up, same Sunday School lesson. There is an immediate community and help when needed and opportunities to be of service. I could not have made this move from San Jose to Sequim without the help of some members at both ends of move. My life would have been vastly different if I had not joined the Church back in 1974. My faith fits the doctrine of the Church. I have a testimony that Joseph Smith, Jr translated the Book of Mormon and restored the Church of Jesus Christ on earth. 

Thursday 17 November:

Reading The Book of Mormon changed my life. Reading Twilight changed my life. I had been depressed and numb for a long while before reading that first book in the saga. Reading that book I felt things that I hadn’t in long time. Thankful to Jill Juchau for loaning me the books. I’ve traveled and met people never would have. I’ve made friends. Reading it and coming to area gave me a place to retire to that feels like home. In round about way brings my life full circle since I was born in Tacoma area.

Tuesday 22 November:

Today I am especially gratefully for being a reader. I grew up with books. My parents read. My brother read. I read. When I was about 9 years old I would borrow my brother’s Tom Swift Jr books and that was my introduction to science fiction. Summers would be spent with at least weekly bike rides to the library. I would grab a volume of the encyclopedia set we had and just pick and choose sections to read. I could get lost reading about words from the dictionary. I confess to spending too much time reading on occasion. I like having a physical book to read, but for past few years digital copy with font size adjustments is nice. It is a joy to visit other places and times via a book. Science fiction and mysteries are my favorite and returning to those after too many years of almost only reading Twilight fan fiction. Fan fiction is wonderful. Fill in back story. Give a minor character a bigger part. Twist the characters a little and change the situation and see what happens. Delightful and amazing to read what authors come up with. Open your mind and read.

Thursday 24 November:

Grateful for lots of little things. Love of music. Can’t dance or sing or play an instrument, but I enjoy listening to music and those that can do those things need people in the audience. Love of nature and opportunities to get out and take pictures to share.

And big things like having a home, moving to the Pacific Northwest – specifically Sequim Washington. My faith and love of reading already mentioned along with friends. My health isn’t great, but I am still moving around on my own power. My calling as Relief Society Secretary.  

Happy Thanksgiving Day. May all be blessed with safe travels, good company, and good food.

Tuesday 29 November:

For this last entry I am grateful for the life I’ve had – good, bad, sad, ugly. Parents did the best they could. Military dependent life and my own military service gave me experience traveling and living in different places, including four years in other countries. Through the years I’ve met lots of different people in those places, lost track of most of them. Joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Left the military and became a pharmacist. Moved around in that career some. Active for a while in the Scottish community and science fiction con community in San Jose. Read Twilight. Retired and moved from California to Sequim Washington – in ways coming full circle as I was born in Tacoma area. Parts have been more interesting than others. Moved through too many years in a functional depressed state. I’m still here, grown older, not sure about wiser. Body doesn’t work like it use to and hard adjusting at times, but I’m still mobile. There is much to be grateful for – big, little, in between things. May God bless us all with peace, love, and joy.