abbracadabra

Tonight, Doug and I attended the viewing of an old friend, Dorothy Riley.  Old friend, as in a friend for the past 25 years.   As I read her obituary, when we got home from the ranch, I realized that she was an "old" friend in years as well.  Dorothy was 84.  I was shocked to read this because I met her when she was almost sixty and she's always been sixty to me, for all these years.  Standing there at her casket, I can honestly say that she didn't look much older than she did when we met while Liza was still in diapers. I adored this woman.  She was exemplary in so many ways.  A great mother, wife, neighbor, friend. 

As Doug and I stood in line at the mortuary, we visited with many "old" friends, from the ward that we had lived in and loved so much all those years ago.  We saw people that we've seen only once or twice in the past two decades.  Many had aged greatly.  Some well.  Some, not so well.  But, it was like coming home to them all.  As we visited with Paul, Dorothy's husband, I told him how much we've always loved them both.  Paul, who was our previous bishop when I was thirty years old, said to me, "Why did she have to leave me here alone?"  I assured him that it was just like Dorothy to go ahead and get things ready for him on the other side.   He will sorely miss her.  It was interesting, as Doug and I walked out, I commented that Paul will be lost without Dorothy by his side.  Doug said, "No more than I would be lost without you." 

And it hit me.  Holy cow!  We're over fifty.  The twenty five years that have gone by since we were neighbors with the Rileys again would make Doug and I in our mid to late 70s.  We need to make the most of the time that we have left!  It was a calm reminder that our mortality on earth is limited and how important it is to make the moments count.   Enough said about that.  But, I had to say it again.

• As I'm sitting here typing away, I'm listening to the fireworks go off outside. Today was Utah's official state holiday to celebrate the arrival of the pioneers back in1847.  As the fireworks were going off, in every direction of the house, there was a little shake.   We had a 3.8 earthquake, that centered in Preston Idaho, just 20 miles north of us. 
• Thanks for the concern about Kelly.  This has been a nightmare issue for her.  First, all of the issues were on the left side, but yesterday and the last two emergencies were on the left.  She had a rough day today but felt better by evening.  Again, my suggestion is to get rid of the other one and let this thing be an expensive lesson learned. 
• Liza is packing.   Enough said.
• The highlight of my day was tending Zaylee.  ZJ pretty much keeps her entertained every minute of every day.  Today, they were hysterical.  At first, Zaylee came upstairs with Zeej dressed like wizards.  Zaylee was trying to say "Abbracadabra" only it came out as the most tongue twisted words I've ever heard.  We laughed out loud.  I thought that they were playing Harry Potter, until a minute later, Zaylee came upstairs dressed like SpongeBob, then an indian squaw,   They were in the costume bin, having their time of their lives.  Too funny!  Here's a video after she learned to pronounce the "big word" sorta and a few pix....

 

 

 

 

 

Joy is untouched by circumstance.

Comments

[Pamela K.]

Zaylee is a cutie-patootie! That video made my evening! :-)

[Nicole]

Zaylee is totally adorable!! Yesterday, my husband just mentioned the same thing: 25 years go by so fast and the worse part is that the older we get the faster it goes, so let's enjoy the day and one of the highlights of my day is to read your blog!