Happy Anniversary Darling

Today is our 27th wedding anniversary. I wish you were here. When I pray I ask Father to tell you I love you and miss you.

One Magical Summer

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Because of a journal I kept I am now a published author. I'm thrilled!

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Fall festival at the ward in Concord

Michael, Soaring Eagle

Michael passed away October 22, 2009, in Pacifica, California, surrounded by his children, daughter-in-law and me, all except one daughter and son-in-law still in Germany. He left the earth where I'd met him 28 years before at an LDS Church Halloween dance, in Pacifica. We were married a year later on December 11, 1982. We each brought a five-year-old daughter to the marriage and two sons were born to us in 1983 and 1985. We lived in San Francisco in an apartment on Parnassus Avenue, 17th Avenue, and a house on Santiago Street before saving enough for a down payment on a lovely home in Concord, California. It was all I'd prayed for: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, almost 1600 square feet, fireplace, lots of closet space, yards, good neighbors, and even a pool down the street. In the nine years we've lived in Concord Michael has made no less than 57 improvements on our home. We've lived here 1/3 of our married life together, dancing at outdoor concerts day and night, at weddings, and Church dances. He became the cook and even grocery-shopper for us. We camped at Mt. Shasta every summer with or without our children from 2001 to 2008 including two trips to Crater Lake and Lewiston, California, we hiked Mt. Lassen, and camped at other camp sites before then. We camped on Bainbridge Island to attend the golden wedding anniversary party of Don and Bev in July 2004. We took three major trips together the last three years: a cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada in 2006, a cruise to Inside Passage in Alaska in 2008, and finally in 2009 a two-week vacation in Paradise--Oahu, Hawaii. Today is my birthday and I'm remembering the traditions my husband made for me to make it special. He celebrated his 57th birthday on October 18 in Tijuana surrounded by the same children and me who were with him his last moments on earth. To my recollection he never once complained during his last year throughout all manner of trials. His last words: "Oh, come on!"

738 York Street

Mother owned this home and she lost it which she told Rose and me. I was born at 415 Woodrow Avenue with the help of my father and oldest brother. She also bought 135 Renida Street. This house was bought by the father of her oldest four children after her death. In talking to my brother Richard at the 2011 reunion he says Mother owned Woodrow, then York, then Renida. I always thought she owned Woodrow just before Renida and would love to know if I lived in the York Street home like he says.

Members of the Quorum of the Twelve I've Shaken Hands With

Elder Nelson

Elder Perry

Elder Holland

Elder Cook

Canada Geese Honk in Flight

Ever since seeing thousands of Canada Geese in Toronto near Lake Ontario I have loved hearing the geese honk in flight and will run to a window or outside to see and hear them. Adam was on the back of my borrowed bicycle and 22 months old.

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

It doesn't get much better than this. Now I need to write up a list of all I've visited since I was nine years old on a cross-country road trip to Ontario, Canada, with Mother and Rosella, a second trip to all 48 states with them, and a trip back east to Virginia for Kaarlyn and George's wedding with Rose, Jade and Patty. In looking through the list I can positively say I've visited 25 and maybe more that I can't recall. Anyone 62 can buy a lifetime pass for $10.00. This will get three guests in or a carload to any national site or park.

Sales

Doris -- Yes
Olie -- Yes
EM -- Yes
AC -- Yes
PC -- Yes
MC -- No

Our First Cruise

When our children postponed their honeymoon cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada spring break 2006 we went instead. Being novices we didn't know there was an itinerary for the first couple days so we just ate and wandered around having a great time. I highly recommend Omar's Uni-Sex for a $4 haircut in Ensenada. I took a chance and was very pleased. A customer interpreted for me. Tel. 78-25-88. Gastelum No. 214-A Edif. Los Arcos. We drove to Long Beach leaving very early in the morning to be sure to get there in time so had a wonderful walk along the waterfront until we embarked. Coming home we took the scenic route along the coast back to the Bay Area stopping to look at the Hearst Castle museum.

Honey-Do List

When we moved from San Francisco in 2000 there were no fans, no window coverings or hardware, and we baked in the East Bay. Gradually over time my husband worked on the honey-do list.

1. Install hardware and rods for windows for a 3-bedroom home
2. Install three sets of blinds on the inside as I found ones that fit
3. Install hardware and outdoor blinds at patio, master bedroom, and Paul's room against the heat
4. Unstick the garbage disposal
5. Repair the master bedroom closet rod which broke under the weight of my clothes.
6. Repair it the second time
7. Install ceiling fans in the family room, first centering ceiling fixture then texture-painting area, living room, and two bedrooms
8. Install an attic fan in the family room, first extending electrical wiring in the SE wall
9. Fix the attic fan installed by a friend in the garage because it didn't work right
10.Install shelving on all sides of the garage with EM's help
11. Install ceiling hooks in the garage for the bikes
12. Install hanging rods in the garage for hanging drying clothes
13. Install a side-yard clothes line using poles brought from our backyard basketball pole
14. Purchase lumber and build a wooden structure enclosing south driveway
15. Paint the white picket fence with PC and OC
16. Jack up the NW corner of the garage to repair damage from a car running into it
17. Shore up the master bathtub from the crawl space
18. Remove the leaking master toilet and reinstall it properly
19. Fix basin fixture leaks
20. Clear out the sewer line with a commercial snake as needed
21. Set traps in the attic and look for rodent entries, dispose of the dead
22. Prune overhanging cedar branches in the south neighbor's yard
23. Prune mistletoe from the front ash
24. Repair bricks near sidewalk
25. Prune overhanging branches away from roof and prepare yard for termite tenting
26. Help change curtains each season
27. Shore up sagging kitchen cupboards at ceiling
28. Completely rebrick inside of living room fireplace
29. Help carry fireplace insert and install
30. Remove fireplace insert for chimney sweep to save money
31. Clear out house gutters annually

32. Attach the fridge ice hook-up through the crawl space

33. Install a washer, then installed another when it broke down

34. Repair dresser drawer bottom

35. Set up TV, VCR, DVD wiring

36. Clean out/repair dishwasher

37. Install painting/mirror wall hooks

38. Replace eyeglass screws

39. Keep cars repaired and gassed

40. Water trees and plants

41. Patch chipped enamel in master tub and paint

42. Secure sagging master medicine cabinet

43. Patch a gaping hole in family room hearth with a rock and cement that blends in perfectly

44. Patch a gaping hole in the sheetrock behind the stove

45. Wash exterior windows and screens

46. Fix my purse strap hardware

47. Attach the glass shower door back on its track

48. Attach dislodged vertical house gutter drain pipe

49. Purchase lumber and build a new south backyard fence with the help of Adam and Paul

50. Pick up, split and saw firewood

51. Build wonderful, blazing fires

52. Take over cooking and grocery shopping

53. Replace broken tub soap holder with wall tile in hall bath

54. Caulk master tub perimeter

55. Cover front areas with brown bark

56. Keep front areas weeded

57. Move fridge to front door and wet vac power-blow coils before spring cleaning begins

Scotty's Castle and the Rose Parade

These are two last places Mother intended to take us but her time ran out.

The Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, Revised and Enhanced

http://www.ldsmag.com/churchhistory/090917pratt_ch4.html

I am thrilled to be reading this chapter by chapter as it appears on http://www.meridianmagazine.com/ having finished the wonderful History of the Prophet Joseph Smith By His Mother. Pratt is a gifted writer and it's very enjoyable to read about his life and times in the 1820s on.

A marriage proposal:

“In view of all these things,” said I to her, “If you still love me and desire to share my fortune you are worthy to be my wife. If not, we will agree to be friends forever; but part to meet no more in time.”

“I have loved you during three years’ absence,” said she, “and I never can be happy without you.”

Another excerpt after unlawful detention:

"He now came hallooing after me, and shouting to his dog to seize me. The dog, being one of the largest I ever saw, came close on my footsteps with all his fury; the officer behind still in pursuit, clapping his hands and hallooing, “stu-boy, stu-boy — take him — watch — lay hold of him, I say — down with him,” and pointing his finger in the direction I was running. The dog was fast overtaking me, and in the act of leaping upon me, when, quick as lightning, the thought struck me, [7] to assist the officer, in sending the dog with all fury to the forest a little distance before me. I pointed my finger in that direction, clapped my hands, and shouted in imitation of the officer. The dog hastened past me with redoubled speed towards the forest; being urged by the officer and myself, and both of us running in the same direction."

http://jared.pratt-family.org/old/histories/ppp-autobiography/

I found this last site online when Meridian Magazine seemed to discontinue publishing the chapters and am glad to read on and learn of the early beginnings of the Church in San Francisco and the amazing life and travels of missionary service of this man of God.

Have Fruit Picker Will Pick

I was enchanted by the number of fruit trees in Concord when we moved there. I started ringing doorbells asking permission to pick fruit. We also planted our own fruit trees. Our neighbors' trees include apricot, orange, plum, pear, peach, apple, lemon and persimmon. A few times I've been turned down to pick. Most trees have way too much fruit and the owners are happy to share. Our family members have planted apricot, apple, peach, cherry, plum, pear, grapes and Japanese maple on our own property in addition to lemon and orange already there and have success with yields. I also planted a Chinese pistache, potato vine, etc.

May I Help You Find Your Way?

I once read somewhere in the 80s that a nice way to help visitors and give them a good impression of the city you live in is to offer to assist map readers you see. It even led to a friendship. I've enjoyed helping people find their way and if nothing else smiles are exchanged. Once I was asked where Oprah was. I was stumped with that in an accent until I figured it out. Opera. I pointed them to the Civic Center.

Mexico After Jaws in the 70s

When the beaches of Mazatlan were deserted I immediately thought it was because people were afraid after seeing Jaws. It was probably just the time of year we were visiting, during Mexico's Independence Day in September. There was a parade in the village we were in at the time. A girlfriend and I stayed in a nice hotel on the beach in Mazatlan. We took the bus and train to Hermosillo and Guadalajara where exhaust from buses is out of control. I believe it was in Hermosillo where we both got very bad, short haircuts. I laughed when my friend knocked on our hotel room standing there with her hair whacked off, like mine already was. It was hot and dusty, the trains were without air, poverty and litter along the tracks. And after meeting a neat German guy and taking his picture my camera was stolen which was devastating to me. It was an adventure we suffered through together before our marriages.

Joseph Geno Conklin and Mary Jane Wells

Paul was born exactly 150 years after the birth of our ancestor Joseph Conklin.

Recycling

I don't get why anyone would throw away an item that could be donated to charity or offered free on Web sites. Why be wasteful and have it end up in a landfill?

Also, kitchen scraps like peelings can easily be composted or added to the lawn clippings recycle container to keep them out of a landfill.

Recycling is being responsible.

Good to Do--D&C 136:28, 29

Know where you're going and how to get there.

Take a book along.

Carpe diem.

August 21, 2009, 45th Hogan/Vallejo High School Get-together and Hawaii's 50th Anniversary

So I combined the two and dressed with a Hawaiian flair at the Quality Inn, Vallejo. Conversation was enjoyable outside on the 95* balmy evening and pot luck was delicious, for five hours!

Why I Admire Oxen and Seagulls

The oxen were the stalwart animals that provided a way for early Pioneers to make the trek west to the Salt Lake Valley. The crops of the early Saints were spared when after prayer and fasting large flocks of gulls swooped in and devoured hordes of locusts. The gulls would leave and return for more locusts.

Celebrities I've Seen

Jack Palance, Knott's Berry Farm, 50s--we got his autograph.
The Everly Brothers, 50s--I was standing in the front row as they performed at the Solano County Fair, Vallejo.
Robert Redford, Provo, Utah, mid 60s--my friend Pooh and I followed him all over downtown Provo on foot.
Ricky Nelson, Salt Lake City, mid 60s.
Peter, Paul, and Mary, near Salt Lake City, mid 60s.
Trini Lopez, near Salt Lake City, mid 60s.

Linda Ronstadt, University of Utah. She was wearing gigantic hoop earrings.

Janis Joplin, Golden Gate Park

Country Joe McDonald and the Fish, Golden Gate Park and Todos Santos Plaza, Concord, California
Elvis Presley, Cow Palace, San Francisco, 1970--Standing in the left balcony facing the stage I was with a date but entirely lost my head like everyone else I was so excited.
Tom Jones, New Jersey, early 70s.

Beau Bridges, Ghirardelli Square at night with my sister and niece. I said, "Aren't you a movie star? Want to go out dancing?" He declined and on our walk to the car I suddenly remembered his name and screamed it. I later learned he was in the city filming a documentary about teens and whether eating dinner with the family is crucial to their well being.

Reggie Jackson, Golden Gate Park, Singles Ward outing. At least I think that's his name. I was introduced to him by a guy in the Singles Ward as I stood beside him and didn't know who he was. The three of us were just talking.
Clint Eastwood, Pacific Heights on location, San Francisco, 70s--I first saw him from the bus but didn't believe it was really him. On my way to do laundry I saw the film crew and walked in the garage. I asked him for his autograph and he patted me on the head. I was wearing pig tails at the time.
Danny Glover, Haight Street, San Francisco--I said hello and he offered me his hand. It's huge, like a baseball glove.
Bob Dylan, Warfield Theatre, Market Street, San Francisco, November 1979, with a date.
John Denver, intimate venue downtown San Francisco, 80s, with my husband Michael. We were in the front row. I may have won tickets.
McLean Stevenson, Golden Gate Park near Bandshell, 80s--he was on vacation with his family, and smoking!

Elizabeth Taylor, Passport Show, San Francisco, 1997?
Tina Turner, Passport Show, San Francisco, 1997?--she didn't perform. :(

Marie Osmond, on stage as Anna in The King and I, San Francisco, Spring 1998
Kenny G, Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco.
Gladys Knight fireside, Interstake Center, Oakland, California, early 2000s
Etta James, Masonic Auditorium, 2000, San Francisco.
Lou Rawls, Masonic Auditorium, 2000, San Francisco.
Willie Mays, San Francisco event to raise awareness for a new downtown ballpark, 90s, now AT&T.
Cher, Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, California, 2003?
Gladys Knight and SUV Choir, Interstake Center, Oakland, California, late 2000s.
Lani Misalucha, Interstake Center, Oakland, California, late 2000s.

Sal Valentino, Todos Santos Plaza, Concord, California, August 20, 2009, and spoke with him August 27, 2009. "Are you Sal Valentino (as we crossed Willow Pass Road together when the light changed)? You sang for us last week. Thank you." He's the legendary lead singer of the Beau Brummels.

Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, July 1, 2010, Jessie Square, Mission Street, San Francisco, for the second time there and other times in Union Square and Golden Gate Park.

Maria Muldaur, Todos Santos Plaza, July 6, 2010.

Tony Bennett, feted at City Hall, San Francisco, February 14, 2012. He didn't sing.

My Favorite Scripture

“Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.” (Mosiah 4: 9)

My Testimony

I was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints March 25, 1961, with my mother and younger sister and consider my membership in the Church a blessing. I know the Church is true. I know Jesus is the Christ and Savior of the world. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and restored the gospel to the earth. I know The Book of Mormon is true and the word of God. I know President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet and leads the Church today. No one forced me to believe or be baptized. I prayed and received a witness from the Holy Ghost. I look forward to my golden jubilee baptismal anniversary in 2011.

Latter-day Prophets

I have been in the same room with three latter-day prophets. I saw President David O. McKay in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle in the 60s. I burned that image into my mind and still have it. He was 9th President of the Church. When I lived in Salt Lake City I was in the North 18th Ward and Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., was pointed out to me as President of the Quorum of the Twelve. He became the 10th President of the Church. When I was in the San Francisco Singles Ward in the 70s we met in the Bay Ward building and after a traumatic incident Apostle Thomas S. Monson came and spoke to us in the Relief Society room. The Spirit was felt so strongly in his presence I wished more than anything never to have to leave that room that day. President Monson leads the Church at this time.

The Olympics

Somewhere along the way I became fascinated with the Olympics. I don't watch any other sports on TV but when it comes to the Olympics I'm a daily viewer. I've visited Squaw Valley and Rome seeing where the events were held. I remember Adam was an infant during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. We were in Victoria, B.C. last year and they're flying the Olympics flag in anticipation of hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Shooting Stars

Is there anyone alive who doesn't thrill to see an unexpected shooting star? When I was a little girl at the drive-in movies in Vallejo there was a huge one to the left of the screen I've never forgotten. Last week I saw a fat shooting star to the right of the outdoor Clayton movie! Last night I left home at 10:30 on a warm summer night in hopes of finding a dark, safe place to view the meteor showers. In an hour I saw 22 beautiful stars. I looked behind me and there was a low, orange half moon! I tried to fall asleep once I got home but was still awake at 1 a.m. and ventured out in our front yard darkened from the street lights and saw seven more stars that hour. It is so wonderful and I loved each and every one.

Traveling in European Nations--my list

This was for 13 months in 1968 and 1969, hitchhiking, taking the train, and working the winter of 1968 in Zermatt, Switzerland, for two hotel/restaurants in succession as chambermaid and dishwasher. A passenger on the flight over suggested I go to the north countries first before winter, so I did. I stayed in youth hostels, pensiones, and with friends. I knew one person, a former roommate, in Europe before I left for Luxembourg and she lived and worked in Rome and had learned Italian. I'm still friends with an American named Kaarlyn I met in Monaco. I have a niece Jade Kaarlyn who was born in Rome.


Iceland Airport
Luxembourg
Holland
Greece
Germany
Belgium
Denmark
Ireland
Switzerland
England
Scotland
Spain
Italy
France
Sweden
Austria
Norway

Swimming

I can swim all the strokes, freestyle, breast, back, and butterfly. It helps to have a community pool just down the street. I've also invented some strokes of my own I enjoy that you'll never see in the Olympics. One is a freestyle stroke under water with a side frog kick that's very relaxing. Another is on the back with a regular foot kick and skulling motions. The last is like a snow angel in the water. Sometimes I do the side stroke in remembrance of Mother. That's the only stroke I ever saw her swim.

Unique to Me

I attended a one-room school house in Lewiston, California, around 9 or 10 years of age. It has been made into a library.

I traveled in Europe for 13 months in 1968 and 1969 working as a chambermaid and dishwasher in Zermatt, Switzerland, during the winter.

I owned a 1968 convertible red Mustang with black racing stripes on the hood whose name was Scarlett O'Hara.

I have a journal of visiting 48 states, Mexico and Canada, with my mother and younger sister for 66 days in the summer of 1960. I visited Alaska in 2008 and Hawaii in 2009 with my husband Michael.

Turkey Lurkey

The first time I saw a huge wild turkey on Esperanza Drive near Willow Pass Road I thought it was a fluke. However, every morning about 6:45 I look for Turkey Lurkey as I begin my day. Once I even saw one in our backyard.

Fisherman at Sunset in Belize

Attending Church While on Vacation

Dear Author:
Thank you very much for sending us your submission. It is a pleasure to see new material. Every piece received is individually reviewed by the editorial staff.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to publish your work. Because of limited magazine space and the increasing number of such submissions as the Church grows, the Church magazines are able to publish only a very small percentage of the many good items received. We regret that the time it takes to process hundreds of incoming submissions does not allow us to make comments about each one individually.
Please accept our thanks for the time and effort put into your work. We know that submissions like yours are goodwill offerings in support of the Church. We hope the work that has gone into this one will be a benefit to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Ensign Editorial Staff
On 6/2/09 6:03 PM,
Concord 1st Ward, Concord
California Stake
Donation/2 June 2009
ensign@ldschurch.org
ATTENDING CHURCH WHILE ON VACATION
Because of the dream of my mother, Doris Eleanor Thomas, to visit the 48 contiguous states my younger sister, Rosella, and I at ages 13 and 12 drove with our 50-year old mother in the summer of 1960 and did just that. She drove a pale green ’55 Chevy pulling a trailer where we slept and prepared meals. On Sundays we often put on dresses and looked for a church to attend. Donald Lee Davis, her oldest son who later became a bishop, and his wife Beverly who had been tracted into and baptized, encouraged her to take the missionary discussions. Mother had always wanted to be baptized having read it in the Bible. My sister and I took the discussions with her and were baptized March 25, 1961, the spring following our driving trip. She had also visited Alaska more than once. Mother died and was buried exactly ten months after her baptism, on Beverly’s birthday. It had been my goal over the years to visit all 50 states. One of my family’s favorite parts of travel is attending the local wards. We love attending the Mt. Shasta Ward during our annual camping trip and each time we get invited to move into the ward. For our silver wedding anniversary my husband Michael and I left on our temple sealing anniversary May 7, 2008, on our Alaska cruise to the Inland Passage, my 49th visited state during Alaska’s 49th anniversary as a state. It has been such a blessing to visit local wards while vacationing. On Mother’s Day the bishop’s wife kept her promise from months earlier to pick us up for church in Juneau, Alaska, in front of the Red Dog Saloon. We took a walk after the early ward and returned to the afternoon ward, thoroughly enjoying the spiritual experience. Then on May 16, 2009, we flew together for the first time in 26 years of marriage to my 50th visited state, Hawaii, during their 50th anniversary as a state which took almost 50 years for me to achieve. We attended stake conference the first Sunday; I attended a seminary graduation followed by a lei-giving frenzy; I attended Enrichment. Our second Sunday I attended three sacrament meetings, three Sunday School classes and one Relief Society of the Manoa, McCully and Makiki wards in the very beautiful Honolulu Tabernacle. My husband gave up after attending five meetings. The stake center has a mosaic of the Savior on the building with a blue reflecting pool and the giant banyan tree spreads its branches over the lawn with green parrots that fly between the palms and banyan branches. It is a rare and choice blessing to renew covenants and meet with the Saints while traveling. I thank my Heavenly Father for these spiritual experiences.

Nite

Nite turned eight on June 3, the birthday we gave her. Here she's resting on our winter quilt.

The following appeared on our Intranet for work:

Nite was a lady of the night rescued by our youngest son from under a bush at a busy intersection in Concord. No one responded to lost and found ads so our family adopted her, giving her the birthday of the day we moved. So she's five years old and was a young cat when found. She's a short-haired all black with chartreuse eyes. Nite is best known for responding to whistling or singing, especially hymns. She will jump on a lap and snuggle around the face to try to stop the singing. After being an indoor-outdoor cat a new dog frightened her into leaving the yard and crossing the street regularly so we keep her in now to protect her, letting her into a net tunnel when she wants out, then letting her scratch on wood outside. Nite is a lovely companion but probably not too child friendly as when she's had enough petting she may nip or swipe, especially when she's tired. She was a great tree climber and had a favorite pastime of catching salamanders. A home is not a home without a cat.