Sunday, 31 July 2022 by Sagacity

Preston England Dedication Handkerchief

Preston England Temple Dedication Handkerchief

On 5 April 2020, I had to go digging to find my Hosanna Shout Handkerchief. It was the 200th Anniversary of the First Vision of Joseph Smith Jr. and President Russell M. Nelson had indicated we would be having a Hosanna Shout the day before to honor and celebrate. At some point on that day I snapped this picture of my handkerchief.

This handkerchief was given to me in Runcorn, England by John and Rose Byrom. It had been used in the Hosanna Shout for the Preston England Temple Dedication. I do not know who it belonged to or why it was being given to some missionary from Idaho, but I gladly accepted it. I got to use it for the first time 8 October 2000 in the Manchester England Stake Center for the dedication of the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Several days later I recall my companion, Elder Gheorghe Simion, telling me that during the night he heard me muttering the Hosanna Shout in my sleep. Later, again, we were in the car and he told me I should stop saying the Hosanna Shout under my breath. I had not realized I was doing it. But I do catch myself once and a while repeating its words to myself on particular occasions. It is deeply entrenched in my soul.

As I sat thinking about this handkerchief in 2020, I was thinking about all the occasions on which I have had the privilege of using it since then. For a record, I thought I better list them at some point as I struggled on that date.

Conference Center – 8 October 2000 – Manchester Stake Center, Altrincham, England.

Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple – 22 April 2001 – Branson Chapel, Branson, Missouri.

Nauvoo Illinois Temple – 27 June 2002 – Branson Chapel, Branson, Missouri.

Boise Idaho Temple – 18 November 2012 – Paul Idaho Stake Center – Paul, Idaho.

Provo City Utah Temple – 20 March 2016 – Kaysville Utah South Stake Center, Kaysville, Utah.

Idaho Falls Idaho Temple – 4 June 2017 – Burley West Idaho Stake Center, Burley, Idaho.

Meridian Idaho Temple – 19 November 2017 – Burley West Idaho Stake Center, Burley, Idaho.

Palm Sunday – 5 April 2020 – Ross Home, Burley, Idaho.

Pocatello Idaho Temple – 7 November 2021 – American Falls Idaho Stake Center, American Falls, Idaho.

Saturday, 11 September 2021 by Sagacity

My 9/11 20th Commemoration

Many are more eloquent than me. Many have shared their memories of that fateful day, where they were at, what they were doing, and how they felt. I wish to sing with that chorus.

9/11 2021 at the Ross home. My shadow, Lillie, Aliza, Hiram, James, and Amanda.

I am not really certain why I felt more sensitive or emotional today. There was really no change from the 15, 18, or 19 year anniversary. But I felt myself pondering and deliberating, moved to tears multiple times by music and commemorative videos. I honored the 20th anniversary in Burley, Idaho with my family. I pulled my journal from 2001 to see what I wrote then. Here are a couple of excerpts.

“The past days are days never to be forgotten. Shock, anguish, anger, and peace. Not only catastrophic terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C. which I shall not rehearse. They leave me in such sorrow for those people. I have wept several times. My little heart strings are tried in many ways. Such loss of life. Also a sense of awe in the brute power this government has. The whole world is shuttering at the thought of America angry. Even Germany, England, and France are quick to say we are on your side more in fear than just loyalty. It looks as if we may go to war. Even Afghanistan is quick to say they will do what we want. A country not totally cooperative in the past.” Recorded 13 September 2001.

“It is strangely imaginable how much life can change in the space of a few days… I was impressed that Friday was a national day of prayer. I listened to a portion of the service at that National Cathedral in Washington D.C. I was very moved, especially with the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The church also had a service I saw a small part of. A service done by the church in the tabernacle. A very moving scene with the two huge flags draped behind the choir… Although I had to work Sunday I knew would be a hard day for me. I had high emotions and with the tragedy this week… Sacrament was amazing. I sat with Paul & Kathryn [England]. The Bishopric all spoke and several musical numbers. The Hughes brothers sang ‘Lord, Make Me an Instrument of they Peace.’ Kathryn sang ‘In My Father’s House There are Many Mansions.’ The Lowes did a medley with Bonnie of ‘Where can I turn for Peach, Abide with Me, and I need Thee Every Hour.’ One of the things that stuck out with the meeting was we need to forgive, but justice must be served. The opening hymn was ‘America.’ Powerful.” Recorded 17 September 2001.

I didn’t write as much as I thought I might have, especially with the vivid memories I have. 11 September 2001 was what 22 November 1963 was to my parents. 11 September 2001 was what 7 December 1941 was for my grandparents. So it is through the generations before. Where and what they were doing when they heard about x, y, or z. The assassination of Lincoln or Garfield or Ferdinand. The sinking of the Reuben James or the Bismarck. Or the surrender of Cornwall. I guess it depends on what generation or the incident.

Here is my story of 11 September 2001. I was living with Gary & Lena Hughes at 368 Santa Fe Ave, Branson, Missouri. I managed the dinner theater for the Hughes Brothers. As such, I worked late evenings and usually got up in the morning to an empty home. I often got up and prepared for the day, ate breakfast, and usually practiced the piano and singing. Most of the time the local radio was playing in the background, the station usually 1930s-1950s music.

This morning was different. I woke up and I remember thinking the day was heavy. The radio was not on, I did not practice. It was quiet and solemn. I ate and headed to the theater for the first show of the day. The drive to the theater was usually less than 10 minutes.

I turned on the radio half way to the theater. There was discussion about damage to a skyscraper and confusion on which of the buildings had been hit. I did not get enough information to know where or what had happened. But I understood there was a potential attack on the United States.

I arrived at the theater and I could sense the pandemonium. It was big, whatever had happened. But the buses were arriving and we needed to get the people seated and ready for the first show. Some of the people were just as unaware as me, others were visibly upset, others were just emotionless. As the time got closer there was a sense of panic of whether to cancel, how to alter the show, what to do moving forward. The information coming to us from the office was becoming more clear as to what had happened. The show started late. It was going to be mostly impromptu.

Elder Evan Wagley in front of the Hughes Brothers Theater, Branson, Missouri, I believe 2002.

I watched from the balcony as Jason Hughes welcomed the audience. He gave an update for everyone present. Asked whether the show could start with a prayer. A prayer was uttered. I don’t recall if it was first or not, but the Hughes Brothers sang their version of Secret Prayer. It still haunts me today, the memory, the song. We were communing in a theater church. There were hymns, patriotic music, and a smattering of other songs. It is all fuzzy to me now 20 years later, but Secret Prayer is the show for me. I was likely back and forth between the offices and the balcony of the theater. The response at intermission and afterward was extremely positive. Those people had been uplifted.

Here is a link to the Hughes Brothers singing the song.

https://fb.watch/7ZgEY7GbIs/

As the day went on it was interesting to see the reactions of individuals. There was a general consensus we were headed to war. Some were so distraught that our nation and way of life was ending. Others were hopeful this was an isolated incident. There were many tears and emotions were high. One individual in the office was trying to figure out ways to avoid the draft that was sure to come. I was turning 22 that same month, prime age. Do we enlist or just wait it out. Others commented about their parents and the bombing of Pearl Harbor and how they mobilized.

My Grandfather Ross and Grandmother Jonas had both planted a seed in my heart and a desire to serve in the military. I looked forward to the opportunity and yet feared what might yet come. Too this day, I still wonder how I will yet serve and get that honorable flag on my casket.

As the days pressed forward we watched a revitalization of unity in faith and our nation. I do not believe it was the time I felt the strongest for my country, but it was the time when it was the most palpable.

That is all I recall of the day looking back. My journal helped me recall the international unity and coalescing against terror and evil. I do long for the days of trying to do what is right for the nation as opposed for the party or individual. May those days again return, but not due to some terrible tragedy. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be in the cards. But one can hope. Whether in this life of the next, it will come. “It’s the place where dreams come true.”

Elder Spencer Lewis and me at Mt. Vernon Missouri, I believe mid September 2001.

Sunday, 17 November 2019 by Sagacity

20 years of passing

Colleen and her grandson, Paul Ross.

This year on 14 November 2019 marked the 20 year passing of my Grandmother, Colleen Andra Jonas.

I thought about that experience repeatedly on Thursday. She would have turned 91 earlier this year. She was falling apart then, so 91 probably would not have treated her well. She passed away from a botched back surgery that had taken place several days before. 14 November 1999 was a Sunday.

Her passing is important for me for several reasons. She was probably the person I most loved in my whole universe. In many ways she had helped raise me and I always felt a very keen affinity and close relationship with her. We knew each others thoughts, feelings, and how to connect. I attribute many of my characteristics, humor, ability to communicate and get along with others, and much more to her. She was a remarkable woman. She had her faults, we all do, but that innate goodness outshines everything to me. Her passing I can safely say completely rocked my world.

On the other side of the coin though, her passing marked my first spiritual experience inside of a Temple. I was serving as missionary in the England Manchester Mission (EMM). I was then serving in the Eccles Ward, living in Patricroft. Our preparation day was on Mondays. On 15 November 1999, I went with a family and our missionary district to the Preston England Temple. We did a number of baptisms that day. We intended to take at least one name through baptism, confirmation, initiatory, and endowment.

Somehow I found myself sitting alone outside initiatory. I have no clue where the other missionaries were, it must have been a shift change or the workers had to go to the veil. I sat on a padded bench outside initiatory, I suppose the other elders were sitting waiting in the initiatory booths.

Colleen Elliott tending to Paul Ross sitting on her kitchen counter

As I sat there, the smell of Hai Karate came to me. That was a distinct smell of my grandmother, she wore that. I knew she had surgery the previous week so I thought of her and prayed for her well-being. Knowing she had a pretty major surgery coming up, we visited on the telephone the week before. We talked about our love for each other. We spent several minutes discussing Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk just the month before at General Conference, “An High Priest of Good Things to Come.” We were both very moved by that talk and felt it directly related to both of us in our circumstances, especially in light of my mother’s actions the year before. There was very much to look forward to and be positive about. We closed that phone call expressing our love, looking forward to reuniting, and knowing Christ as our “High Priest of Good Things to Come.”

It was then in my mind’s eye I was transported to her surgery in Sun Valley, Idaho. I saw the surgery, the actions of the surgeon, the extent of the invasive nature of the work. It was during this that I saw the mistake that occurred and that was left. Then I saw her coalescing in the hospital and the problem being created by the nicked bowel. I saw the nurses get her up on Sunday morning, I saw the dislodging of the clot that occurred, I saw and felt the panic in her and the nurses. I saw her slump to the floor in unconsciousness. I knew she had passed at that moment.

I then saw my Mom, my Uncle, my Sister, my Aunt, and Bud (her husband) and their finding out the news. My Mom didn’t know yet, but she would find out. I saw the sadness, desperation, and frustration that came with it.

It was then I came back to myself in Preston, England. I had just experienced the past week of my grandmother and immediate family in what seemed to me to be a couple of hours, but must have been less than 10 minutes in the Preston England Temple. I saw there in a sort of out-of-body experience looking at myself sitting there in the 1999 initiatory clothing sitting on a bench outside an initiatory booth.

Then at that moment, in my mind’s eye, my grandmother was there. I could smell her. She talked to me, I could hear and feel her talking into my ear as I watched myself sitting there on the bench. I couldn’t see her. She told me that she had passed away. She told me a number of other things I don’t feel to share here. I am telling you, I was standing there, out of my body, listening to her. She then went to leave, and the person of me standing there looking at me sitting there, started to cry. She told me not to. She hugged me. Then she departed.

Side profile with grandson Paul Ross, 1979.

Suddenly, I was back sitting on the bench. I could still smell her. I didn’t want it to leave. I looked up wondering what had happened. In typical mortal fashion, I just thought to myself I had fallen asleep and dreamed it. It was a dream to me. I was overwhelmed by the experience but I didn’t believe it.

I must have been pretty somber throughout the rest of the day. I didn’t really talk after the temple, at dinner that night, I was overwhelmed by the vision/dream.

Tuesday dawned and we went to work. The day went along but the experience would not leave me. We got home that night to 24 Lewis Street, Patricroft, England and were getting ready for the night. It was then a knock came to the door.

I opened the door and there stood President Philip Wightman. He said he was there to visit with me and I immediately knew why. That dream/vision I had experienced and did not believe was now true. I completely broke down sobbing. He came in and we visited, I cried so hard I couldn’t breathe. He just held and hugged me. Finally sitting facing each other on folding chairs I told him of my experience. Initially he said something like, “Knowing you and your history and that your Grandmother had passed, I came to visit you personally.” After I shared with him my insight, his comment was along the lines of, “Glad I could confirm what you already knew. I guess I didn’t need to come personally visit.” I was very glad he did. It was funny, a year later he indicated, “That was the night the lights came on in Elder Ross.” I guess I wasn’t wholly in the work just yet, or along for the ride. Not sure, I wasn’t a bad missionary, but the gospel became that much more real for me through this experience.

Colleen Jonas Portrait, 1991.

While writing this at this time, I can only think of two other experience I have had with my sweet grandmother since her passing. One was while I lived in Branson, Missouri and she came bearing an answer to a prayer. I was actually sleeping at that time and after her departure I awoke. In the middle of the night I then went to see if my good friend Terry McCombs, who was staying at the same home, was awake. Sure enough he was. I shared the experience, the one in the Preston England Temple, and some others I have had. He shared with me many of his own. We talked for hours in the middle of the night and the spirit burned in my heart. I love and miss Terry. The other experience actually happened during a Priesthood Blessing that was being given to me in Logan, Utah by Dustin McClellan. I recognized my grandmother’s presence come into the room. He then announced he was acting voice for her in which he blessed me as if he were her. Wow, if one wanted to hear a voice from the dead, that is the way to do it! Even though Dustin spoke, I heard her voice in my ears.

This week marked the 20 year anniversary of one of the most emotional weeks I have ever had in my life. Both on the emotional from a death, but on the spiritual of an everlasting burning of a memory on my soul. Even recounting it in writing tonight I felt myself reliving some of it.

It is experiences like this that come to mind when people tell me that nobody can know for sure that God exists, or that his Son did anything for us. It is moments like this when the spirit world is very real and I view people’s arguments against God as rationalization to make themselves feel better for not knowing. Those arguments are a whistling in the dark. For I have no doubt from the experiences recounted above and numerous others that the spirit world is not far away. These are experiences with my grandmother, but there are others.

14 Sep 1998, Paul Ross, Colleen Lloyd, Paul, Idaho

I know God lives, just as surely as my grandmother still lives spiritually. I am not aware of her being resurrected at this time, but it will come if it hasn’t already. Death is not the end, that is my personal experience. I don’t care for aging and death much, but neither are the end. We have a work to do and not much time to do it in.

Oh how I miss my grandmother. I haven’t had an experience with her directly since 2005, 6 years after her death, at least that I can recall now. How I look forward to seeing her again. It will be a blessed day. 20 years seems so long, yet so short in how vivid the love and tenderness is. Years have caused me to forget some of her mannerisms and characteristics, but the connection is as strong as it was ever at any point. It extends through time and space between us. But this anniversary shocked me at how long it has been, and yet how fresh it still seems.

Here is a picture of the last day I saw her physically. The day I met with the Stake President again and to finally go into the Missionary Training Center after many weeks of delay due to my mother’s actions.

The morning to go to the MTC with Milo Ross, Colleen Lloyd, and Jackie Melycher

Sunday, 21 August 2016 by Sagacity

Edith Maude Gudmundson Andra

Edith Maude Gudmundson Andra, 91, passed away on Monday, 18 July 2016 at her home in Stockton, Missouri, from natural causes related to age. She was born the first of two children on 21 September 1924 in Logan, Utah, to Melvin Peter and Maude Victoria Wollaston Gudmundson. She married William Fredrick Andra Jr 13 June 1947 in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. Together they had six children. William passed away in 1992. Edith married Leland Fred Williams 10 March 1999 in Arnica, Missouri. He predeceased her in 2011.

Edith grew up in Logan at 253 East 3rd South. She had one sister, Shirley, born in 1928, with who she grew up.

Shirley, Melvin, and Edith

Shirley and Edith Gudmundson

Her mother passed away in 1931 and the family had to work through those difficult years with just the three of them. She attended Wilson School and Logan Junior and Senior Schools where she graduated. She played the violin.

Logan HS Yearbook

She enlisted in the Navy in Salt Lake City, Utah, 21 September 1944 and served until discharge in San Francisco, California, 1 May 1946. She trained and served as a switchboard operator for the majority of the time of her service.

After her military service, she attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Edith in the BYU yearbook

During this time she met William Andra, who discharged from the Marines 20 June 1946. I am not aware that he attended Brigham Young University, but I know he was living in Orem and it was likely there that William and Edith met culminating in their marriage in 1947.

Edith and William Andra Marriage Portrait

Greg William was born in Preston, Idaho in 1948. Chad Fredrick was born in Preston in 1949.

By 1950, the family was living in Boise for a short time.

Edith in 1951

The family then moved back to Logan where Kent Melvin was born in 1954.

The family was living in Midvale by 1955 where Marc David was born. Then to Salt Lake City in 1956. Troy Norman was born in Providence in 1960.

Bill & Edith in Richmond for an Andra Reunion

A few years later the family moved to Smithfield. Todd Nathan was born in Smithfield in 1968.

It is in Smithfield that my mother came to know the family, since she was living in Richmond. Kent and my Mom were close in age and played together.

Larry and Mom both told me stories about William and Edith being very particular about being healthy eaters. Larry remembers Edith washing every leaf of a head of lettuce before it could be eaten. William tried to convince Larry of the unhealthy nature of bacon and milk. Nobody else seemed to care, but it would really get William and Edith upset when people would not come to their way of thinking. William was also particular about when you ate, not mixing the various parts of your food with other parts. Larry found much of this amusing.

The Andra family was a fairly tight knit family and held reunions together yearly. Relationships started to strain in 1965 when William and Edith learned and accepted polygamy leading to their excommunication from the LDS church. The Andra family relationships started to strain further after attempts to convert William’s parents and some of the siblings to polygamy. Even while William’s parents were in a nursing home late in life, there were attempts to convert them to polygamy which led to final severing ties.

I don’t know when, but the family after converting to polygamy moved to Santa Clara. Nobody in the immediate family knows when due to the severance. After many years in Santa Clara, they then moved to Cedar County, Missouri.

My first visit to Edith was in 2001. I was moving to Branson, Missouri for work and before I left Uncle Ross Andra told me Edith lived in Missouri somewhere. I do not have any memories with William and Edith and did not even know she was still alive. Ross told me I should stop and visit. I knew nothing of the divide that had come into the family.

When I stayed the night before entering Missouri in Florence, Kansas, I looked to see what I could find in the phone book. With a last name like Andra, it wasn’t hard to find who I thought was the right name in Stockton, Missouri. I called the number and it was Mary Andra, wife of Kent Andra who answered. She told me I was welcome to stop by and since their shop was a bit off the beaten path, gave me directions.

I arrived later that day and found a long lost number of cousins I never knew existed. I saw the shop, I met a number of Kent’s children, and then I was taken down to the home to meet more of the family. When I was introduced to his wife, Tammy, I thought I had already met his wife, Mary, but I assumed I must have misunderstood. I met more and more children.

Kent sent one of his daughters with me to help me find Edith’s home. I sat with Edith meeting her for the first time in my memory and chatted for quite a while. She showed me some family history, told me some sweet stories of my Grandmother Colleen, and various conversations. Edith did not know Colleen had passed away. She told me of her new marriage to Leland Williams. We parted on great terms and went back to Kent’s home, enjoyed some carrot juice, and visited.

In a funny situation, I was enjoying my carrot juice trying to keep the children’s names straight when Mary came into the house. I sat there talking with Kent, Tammy, and Mary having a good laugh. I kept wondering how I misunderstood and was unclear on who was Kent’s wife, so I asked. They stated that both were. I sat there not comprehending. I must have looked confused because they just looked at me. It then dawned on me and I made some comment like, “Well, we are family right?” I laughed, they laughed, and I think any tension or misunderstanding that may have been there melted away. That was not something I was expecting that day!

We said our goodbyes knowing that we were still family. I quite enjoyed my visit.

It was later that week I got a phone call from Edith asking me to not share names, circumstances, or anything else regarding the family because it had caused so much trouble with the rest of the family. I told her that we were family and it did not bother me and I really did not think it bothered anyone else.

I visited again in 2002. When Kent passed away in 2003, I thought they were very kind to let me know.

Amanda and I stopped in 2006 on our move from Utah to Virginia. As we drove to the boonies where they lived, she joked with me that I was going to drop her off out in the middle of nowhere. We again had a very pleasant visit with Mary, Tammy, and Edith. Amanda was prepped with the information and quickly found out nobody had multiple heads or horns. I think it was the boonies that gave her more concern than the polygamy.

I visited again in 2008 driving from Virginia through to Washington for work. That time Edith had moved to a home nearer to her son Marc. I stopped to visit Marc and Cheryl and met them for the first time. Edith also came over to the house and we visited with her. Here is a photo from that visit.

Paul Ross, Cheryl & Marc Andra, and Edith.

I tried to call Edith every other year or so. Sometimes it was hard to track her down, but I typically found her and was able to call. The last time I visited with her was when Donald was sick and dying with cancer in the spring of 2016. I asked Donald if I could let some of the extended family know. He said yes. With that, I called Edith and visited with her about Sergene’s passing and Donald’s cancer. She talked about how the family was distant and she appreciated the updates. She also indicated that life continues to pass and we all end up dealing with death at some point. She reminded me of her age and she did not know where she would be next week either.

Now she is gone.

While I know there was quite a bit of angst in the family over the beliefs and separation, but despite all that I am glad I did not know of the polygamy issues and got to know the family as just that, family. Their position, beliefs, and practices at no point directly affected me in any way. I am glad I know them!

Aunt Edith, until we meet again.

Tuesday, 26 April 2011 by Sagacity

Stoker-Eames Wedding

Elizabeth and the late Thomas Eames are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter Emma to William Edward Stoker, son of Thomas Stoker and the late Ann Nightingale Stoker. William and Emma were married in St. Johns Church of Wembley, Middlesex, England 29 July 1849.

I have not seen the records, but apparently William Edward Stoker was born 9 January 1827 in Crateford, Staffordshire, England. I am unsure where Crateford exactly is since the online map services do not list it as a town. I know it is near Brewood, Staffordshire, England and can find the Crateford Road outside of town to the northwest, but I am not sure much more is available without actually visiting the area. He was baptized/christened 4 February 1827 in Brewood. His father, Thomas Stoker, worked as a coachman and remained so until he became too old to work.

Emma Eames was baptized/christened 21 February 1830 in St. Mary’s Church of Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex, England. She is the third of at least 5 children we know of. The only other sibling we know much about is her brother Thomas. Her father, Thomas Eames, was listed as a wheelwright at the time Emma was born. By the time Emma married to William her father is listed as a servant.

William and Emma would have five children together (although some have added two more children, but with no documentation). William worked as a saddler, leather-worker, and harness maker throughout his life. I do not know why the family moved around so much, probably for work, but they do not seem to have been too poor. Staffordshire, Shropshire, Middlesex, and Berkshire were all homes of the Stoker family.

William Thomas Stoker born 4 June 1850 in Alperton Hollow, Middlesex, England. He died 21 October 1908 in Plain City, Weber, Utah. He would end up marrying three times to Fanny Amelia Tucker, Ellen Hemmings, and Callie Oliver.

Alice Stoker born 20 September 1851 back in Brewood. She died 11 September 1869 in Ogden, Weber, Utah. I have been unable to tell if she actually married or was just engaged to James England when she died.

Jeanette Stoker born 3 February 1856 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. She died 5 February 1941 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. She married Charles David Rogers in 1875. I posted a picture and quick biography at this link: Jeanette Rogers.

Alfred Stoker born 21 September 1859 in Hendon, Middlesex, England. He died 3 November 1927 in Pocatello, Bannock, Idaho. He married Elizabeth Branson in 1881.

Mary Ann Stoker born 24 February 1863 in Reading, Berkshire, England. She died 6 May 1935 in Plain City. She married Milo Riley Sharp in 1879. I have written previously about this family at this link: Sharp-Stoker Wedding.

Emma contracted tuberculosis (listed as phthisis on the death certificate) and passed away 28 April 1863 at 18 Albert Street within St. Mary’s Parish after a year struggle with the disease.

Emma joined the LDS church on 7 August 1856. William Thomas joined 5 December 1860. William Edward and Alice joined the LDS church 27 May 1863.

The family wasted no time in gathering to Zion. The Stoker family departed from London on a ship called “Amazon” 4 June 1863. George Q Cannon dedicated the ship which was entirely of Saints (880+) headed for Zion. It was this same ship that Charles Dickens wrote that the Mormons were not taking misfits and scoundrels, but the “pick and flower” of England. Even George Sutherland, future U.S. Supreme Court Justice was on this ship. Here is a link to the story by Charles Dickens: The Uncommercial Traveller. The LDS church also tells of the story that day at this link: Amazon Departure. The ship sailed to Liverpool before finally heading out for America. Elijah Larkin, who would help found Larkin Mortuary, noted that on the 16th and 20th of June, Thomas Stoker was administered to due to a sickness since leaving Liverpool.

The “Amazon” landed at Castle Gardens, New York, New York on 18 July 1863. The Saints took rail to Albany, Albany, New York and then to Florence, Douglas, Nebraska through Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. From there they hoofed it on to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory arriving 3 and 4 October 1863 (depending on which of the two companies), just in time for General Conference. Several of the company wrote of Brigham Young coming out to greet them and giving them advice.

William moved almost immediately to Ogden, Weber, Utah and set up shop working with leather. William wasted no time in remarrying to Eliza Sinfield in Ogden 18 May 1864. While Mary Ann is listed as a child for William and Eliza on the 1870 Census, she was actually living with the Musgrave family and Jeanette with the Garner family. Additionally, the other children from this first marriage were also being raised by other families. I just cannot tell for sure since the families sometimes listed these children as their own with their own last name. Family lore indicates that William and Eliza could not afford to raise these older children and farmed them out to families that could afford to take care of them. Other evidence points that they were not all that poor, but it is not likely we will ever really know.

Eliza Sinfield was born 24 January 1842 in Eversholt, Bedfordshire, England. She and William married 18 May 1864 in Ogden. They lived there the rest of their days. I cannot tell for sure where they lived. The 1880 Census puts them on 6th Street, but then this address is near Franklin Street, which is now located 20 blocks or more away. The next page of the census has the Academy of the Sacred Heart which is also near 25th street in Ogden. Therefore, another 6th street once existed in Ogden, or the census taker jumped all over town, which is unlikely. The 1870 Census does not give street addresses, so we have no leads there. At any rate, William and Eliza had six children.

Emma Stoker born 24 March 1865 in Ogden and died 10 October 1878.

Agnes Stoker born 1 October 1866 in Ogden. She married George Shields in 1885. She died 6 September 1921 in Ogden.

Henrietta Stoker born 10 October 1868 in Ogden. She married Simon Heber Weston in 1885. She died 10 June 1942.

Eli Benjamin Stoker born 9 July 1870 in Ogden. He married Sarah Jane Thomas in 1899. He died 17 May 1952 in Silverton, Shoshone, Idaho.

Albert Stoker born 12 May 1873 in Ogden. I do not know of a marriage for him. He died 8 February 1949 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.

Victoria Stoker born 28 May 1878 in Ogden. I do not have a marriage for her either. She died 20 November 1888.

William and Eliza continued to live in Ogden until he passed away 12 April 1899 in Ogden. He was buried in the Ogden City Cemetery, along with most of his already deceased family. Later family members would also be buried near him. Eliza died 3 April 1912. Here is the only other picture we have of William Edward Stoker as a much older man. You can see the tuft of hair in the middle that has not changed. The increased bag lines under the eyes and the same man greatly aged. If you look, you can see some of the resemblance in his sons.

Thursday, 16 August 2007 by Sagacity

TV’s and such

It seems to be one of those weeks where there isn’t necessarily a whole lot to tell. So to make an entry, and anything with a little length, I will offer a smattering of thoughts from all over the spectrum.

A big Happy Birthday to Chris Horsley and Amanda Smith on the 14th. I sent them both e-mails and wished them the best. It is my Aunt Jackie’s birthday on the 25th, so Happy Birthday ahead of time.

Tuesday night Amanda and I went to pay a visit to Doris Coley. She lives over in Laurel Fork area. Amanda has worked with her for some time at Macy’s. She lured Amanda over there in pursuit of a free TV and DVD player. I really don’t care if we own either and would actually prefer not to. That is just a little more weight I will have to worry about moving in a year and another distraction to take away some of what little time we mortals have been given. Somehow I had come to believe it was a venture where we would go over and pick up the newly acquired property and head back home. We made an evening of it. We chatted about the nice lovely pleasantries of the life at Macy’s. Conversation turned to life in general and school. Of course I did a full analysis to see if her Coley line could in any way be related to mine (Hers is several hundreds of years in North Carolina making at least that long of a connection seeing how mine came directly from England).

She had a nice little piano in her living room that also became conversation. She invited me to play it and before long I was in my own land while the women pondered paths I didn’t care to walk. Before the night had ended we sang some hymns and even ended in a discussion about religion. I ended the evening with giving her a copy of the Book of Mormon and basically a first discussion. Sometimes I feel I am not as bold as I once was. Honestly, it seems that one relies upon their companion so much to bear testimony and Amanda had no clue of the missionary ways that I think that is the only reason it felt pretty weak. Sadly, I think both of us relied on trying to convince too much rather than just bearing testimony and letting the Spirit drive it to the heart. Amanda left thinking we had been too bold and I left thinking we had not been bold enough. She called us a few days later and made sure we were still planning on coming back. Either way, we don’t seem to have offended. I look forward to a return visit and whether or not she read any of the newly introduced sacred scripture.

Tonight I paid a visit to the Family History Library outside my normal working hours. We had a pretty severe thunderstorm this evening and the two ladies working inside decided to go watch the storm for a minute. Sadly, they left their keys in the library. I rushed down thinking I would find two drowned older ladies. Luckily enough they had only locked themselves out of the library, and not the building. So I spent some time visiting with them about the Merrick’s of Maine/Massachusetts. They decided to leave early so I played the piano and practiced some singing until a member of the Stake Presidency appeared to practice basketball.

Tuesday night at the library also proved to be interesting. For the second week in a row a young man who is a recent convert came into the library to do some research. He appeared with his laptop last week with PAF newly downloaded. He started putting in his family. He is preparing to go to the temple and wanted to do some of his own names for baptisms in about two weeks. He never even knew who his Dad was last week. This week he came back with dates and places and interestingly, was able to link him into the Cosby line. Once we did that we were able to take him back to Jamestowne and even followed the line back 1,000 years. He comes from a noble line in England. He was amazed to find ancestors on both of his lines whose temple work had been done. Some as early as 1932 in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. I look forward to seeing him this coming Tuesday when we run these names through TempleReady.

Last Sunday we had our Stake Priesthood Meeting. We were introduced to the new Mission President, President Millburn. I prefer him much more than the last one. He seems much more humble and able to connect with an audience. In addition, he gave a great talk on fishing. He is an expert at it, that is for sure. Who else uses a stomach pump on a fish? President Mullins (who interrupted my singing and playing tonight) gave a talk about various topics. One was that individuals in the stake are not carrying their weight in fast offerings. I thought that was interesting. None of the other talks I remember. However, the power in the singing was easily felt.

Today I was branded again at work due to a broker’s dishonesty. A man gave me a complete sob story about why an appraisal was sufficient. He manipulated my inexperience in working someone else’s loan, added with the other person not recording what they had done, and my not being thorough enough to catch the little red flags has now cost the bank a loan which is considered a risk and investors will not buy it. Due to my approving of an updated appraisal, that wasn’t really updated, and the bank always standing by their word somebody got away with money that probably would not have been approved. Like speeding tickets with points, I have now gained my first and hope they will wear off over time… It is a good thing I no longer have access to that broker’s information for I would surely give him a phone call and let him know how sorely disappointed I am in him. At any rate, “Let God choose between me and thee and reward thee according to thy deeds.”

Terry McComb’s funeral is going to be this coming Saturday. I so wish I could be there. Alas, we can’t do everything we want in life. His obituary appeared today in the Times News. I looked at it this morning at work. I am looking forward to having my own clipping from the newspaper for my records. I guess I will just have to pay a visit to the cemetery next time I get back to Idaho. I so planned on spending a day or two in Branson on the way home for a lesson or two. I guess I won’t now, at least stay for lessons.

We are headed up to Washington, DC again this weekend to attend the temple. I am very much looking forward to it. I have very much felt my faith increase this week and my soul feeling greatly nourished after some experiences in the scriptures. 2 Peter 2 and Ether 12 were powerful this week.

We received the Church News today and I read the parts about the new Brazil Temple. I was thinking how excited President Faust must be to have the temple dedication coming up and realized he had passed away. I guess he will be there at any rate, but not with a mortal body. I wonder who will be called next. I surely hope it is someone independent from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I certainly think tradition and order are a good thing but it is always nice to shake things up from time to time. Too often people get so rigid about the way things should be done we forget the role of inspiration being mixed in the bag. I would really like to see a President of the Church not be the most senior Apostle. How would that be for shaking things up? We need more John Winder’s, Reuben Clark’s, Jedediah Grant’s, Hyrum Smith’s, and Charles Nibley’s in the world.

Lastly, I will end on a political note. I haven’t had a political candidate really catch much of the sympathies of my heart. They seem so canned and stale I can’t stand it. However, Obama gave a comment this week about opening up government. Boy, if reading an article ever stopped my heart, that was one of them. A candidate willing to give full disclosure to the public? If that becomes his whole purpose in life, I will most certainly vote for that man. Well, that is only after he drops universal health care. After my experiences in England, will never support government ran health care. But open disclosure? How refreshing. That requires more effort. That requires doing things you know the whole country can be privy to. Where would Bill Clinton be if he had known that? How would things be different with Bush? Either of them? Watergate? Iran-Contra? New Deal? War? How would the world be different?

Saturday, 11 August 2007 by Sagacity

Farewell to Terry

Yesterday early afternoon I received a phone call to notify me of the death of a dear friend. There is always an interesting surge of emotions with the death of a person, especially one you feel such a kinship with. Somehow though, I couldn’t help but feel a total sense of relief and release.

Terry McCombs was born in Rupert, Idaho and grew up on the farm outside of Rupert. He graduated from Minico in probably its most notable time. He went to school when Minico was known nationally for its band program. The high school was still under 10 years old and Southern Idaho was in the Post-war boom. Some of his mentors both in choir and band were to forever influence his life. There was something about the farm soil and the passion of music that set Terry on his future.

I met Terry for the first time in 1997. I had been asked to accompany a friend, Elena McBride, on the piano for a vocal number she was doing. She wanted me to meet her vocal coach, Terry McCombs. There was a McComb’s in my grade who I knew and one just younger who was in choir and who I knew more through friends. These both turned out to be Terry’s niece’s. Our meeting took place in Terry’s childhood home where his mother still lived with Terry’s brother’s family. We sat there at the piano and I played perhaps a few chords when Terry asked me if I sang. I confessed that I had no singing talent whatsoever and had never really tried. He took over at the piano bench and then began to have me try a few exercises. He attempted for hours to get beyond my modesty (my attempt to cover a poor voice). After several hours, Elena’s lesson turned into an reworking of my thinking concerning singing. For the most part of which he was very successful at rewiring. Afterward I remember Elena being upset that her lesson was all about a lesson for me.

Terry had me commit to come to a lesson with him in a studio apartment he was using within about a mile from his home. It was a little bedroom in the loft and a little living room below with a couch and piano. I seem to remember a small kitchen and bathroom in the entry level. We descended into the little living room about a week later and he sat on the couch and I sat in the chair. Terry always had it a bit on the cool side but it definitely was cozy. He then spent about an hour teaching me the doctrine of singing. I remember him offering a prayer that seemed to turn my heart to complete mush. I was so overwhelmed at such a powerful experience. Coming from an inactive LDS home, I had no real clue what it was I was experiencing. I had prayed before, and even seen prayers answered, but never had I experienced what I did that day. Heaven literally descended and engulfed us that day.

After teaching me on the doctrines of the restoration of all things and of singing he then went on to teach me what he knew and how he knew it. He bore powerful testimony of what it was he was teaching that day. I remember openly weeping for the joy that engulfed my heart and how I recognized my life changing before my very eyes. My very nature was changing in that room. We then went to the piano and he began to unravel to me some of my physical nature. I admit I understood more the nature of my throat, singing, and of life then than at any point in my life, probably even since. It was interesting how he always framed everything with a view for eternity and the building of Zion.

What came from my mouth, from my very heart, was so beautiful we both wept. Terry sang a song for me that even today haunts me with how beautiful it was. He then sang a song from Rigoletto that was simply amazing. He sat at the piano and I sang a song that day which I have not been able to sing since. It haunts me how beautifully I sang and it kills me I have not been able to sing like that since. There was such an outpouring of the Spirit. I do not know if I can ever share what happened that day. The gifts of the Spirit were present and angels ministered to us.

We met many, many times again in that little elevator to the heavens. Sadly, I don’t know what happened after a couple of months. Whether it was my pride or influences in his life, but it began to falter. We started meeting again in his parents house and doing lessons there which were interrupted and never of much value. We then started meeting in his home, the old out garage converted into a studio/living room connected to a trailer. It was never quite the same. I really don’t know why to this day.

My Senior year at Minico brought the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I don’t remember how many lessons before the play I had with Terry but I had such a zeal with singing now I auditioned for the play. I had been singing in the choir now for a little while. I totally bombed the audition but somehow I was still put in as one of the brother’s. Honestly, I did so poorly I didn’t know if they would let me even be a dancer. That is how badly I auditioned vocally. I could never translate how I could sing in lessons to doing it in front of other people. I was terrible when anyone else listened. Even the State Solo Competition I sang for and did so poorly I didn’t even finish the song. The choir helped me some. Good thing it was an open class.

Terry helped a number of us quite a bit with our singing for that play. I improved considerably under Terry but never could find the voice I had in our lessons on stage. It drove me completely crazy to know how heavenly it could be and it just never translated outside the studio. Our lessons continued and I learned a great deal. We continued to cover the history of music and the mechanics of the voice. All of which I still feel like I have a pretty good handle since I was learning them from a spiritual perspective.

Minico ended and my whole life had now become engulfed in music. I had my musical training from band all the way from 6th grade. I could read and understood basics of music. I had taught myself a half dozen new instruments in high school and I wrapped up high school putting on finishing touches to play the piano in the mission and learning the master the voice.

I went to Utah State knowing how much I loved music but I would not be pursuing a degree in anything related to it. It was completely my hobby. I went home at least every couple of weeks. Due to situations at home I would either stay with my Grandma or I would stay with Terry. We often spent all Friday night in a lesson. It was something about the two of us that somehow we connected and heaven was with us. I don’t know if he had these experiences with others. I know he had in the past but I sensed it wasn’t happening with others at the time. He often expressed his frustration with me at how he wished others wanted to learn just for the sake of learning rather than trying to do it for publicity, pride, or money. He knew I had nothing to pay him and I wasn’t about to ask my parents for more money since they were helping me through school. I think that is one thing that changed later. When his situation got a bit more desperate and he needed money I had nothing to offer and he was required to spend his time teaching paying students.

The time came for the mission and I was prepared. My own research and experience on my own time had gained me many experiences with the Spirit. I had come to gain a personal testimony of the Bible, Book of Mormon, Prophets and Apostles, Priesthood, and a bunch more. I think one thing that was unique is that Terry had opened me up to a very different side of religion. It wasn’t just the knowledge of it or doctrines, but it was the personal experiences with it. Through college our lessons moved from the vocal aspects to mostly discussing religion and sharing experiences. I had obtained many new experiences with heaven and Terry had a wealth of them to share as well. I think many thought I was a bit crazy with how literally I was experiencing my associations with the other side of the veil but Terry always understood. I remember my Grandma would get so excited when I told her about some of the experiences. She would tell me of some of her own. Mom I instantly recognized was out to kill or denounce anything of which I was experiencing. She quickly would tell me how it was a cult and I was being brainwashed. When I would confront her about how literally some of my experiences were she would chalk it up to hallucinating or something else. Terry and Grandma were two who understood.

It was such an interesting road. My roommates at college I don’t think knew how to take what was happening. Some were very understanding at the beginning, others finally warmed to it. By the end of the school year at Utah State we had all experienced some things together. The turmoil and emotions of the year were difficult with my parents divorcing and the changing face in so many relations. The roommates weathered all those and were very understanding. But the thing I remember most is the little spiritual times I had with each of them and interestingly have bonded each of us together since. All four of them we continue to feel very closely united even despite distance and time.

Terry offered to have someone provide the musical number for the mission farewell. He did and I was very grateful. Surprisingly, he offered some money to help pay for the mission that makes me blush that he would give it to me. He never wrote a letter, I don’t think I ever wrote him a letter during those two years, but we had communication. I remember one night I had a dream of a phone call to Terry while I served in Eccles. It was after my Grandmother had passed away. We chatted about a few things and I told him of my experiences with Grandma after she passed away. He told me of some of the experiences he had with his own father after he passed away. It helped confirm what I was experiencing. In the dream he told me to get a copy of Parley P Pratt’s Autobiography and to read it. After I returned home from the mission and had been home a few weeks, Terry called me. What I had totally passed off as a powerfully spiritual dream came very close to home when he asked if I enjoyed Brother Pratt’s book. That is just the way Terry was.

Terry asked me to come to visit him in Branson, Missouri after I returned from the mission. I went to visit him in a heartbeat. Terry wanted to start lessons again and asked me to move to Branson. I went back home and made arrangements and headed out for Missouri. It turned out to be a wonderful experience. I thoroughly loved my time while I was there. He mentioned that I was there for two purposes: To learn to love in a way unselfishly and to gain some great experience to carry me throughout my life. He proved to be very prophetic on both accounts. I learned to love in several ways which hurt terribly. I definitely learned some lessons there. I learned some valuable lessons in management, the corporate world, missionary work outside the mission, and family history.

Terry and I both lived under the same roof with several other families the first year I was there. It turned to be a very wonderful experience. I had three families I could call my own in the same house. Each of them taught me some very important lessons. Without going into details, it proved to be a time I still find myself thankful for in prayer.

I remember one night I had a dream where I had a dream in answer to a prayer. I woke up afterwards and immediately went to knock on Terry’s door. At 3:00 AM in the morning I recounted to him my experience and we both wept for joy. He shared with me an experience where one of his prayers had been answered by dream just nights before. This was the type of connection I had with Terry.

Interestingly, it is how merciful heaven is in dealing with us. Terry definitely had a personality. Some characteristics I will openly admit drove me crazy. His little antics sometimes were detestable at how he treated others. Even me a couple of times. At other times I could not help but feel sorry for him with the struggles he had on so many fronts. He had a temper. He had his bias nature. He had all his imperfections. He was not a physically beautiful man by any real means. However, his heart was something different. I sat in on many lessons and it was interesting how completely different some of them were. Some of them it seemed he was trying to impress them so he could gain their trust. Some it seemed he had to debase himself to get the heart. Others it appeared he had to bully them. Every lesson was very different. I never understood if he was catering to the personality of each or what it was. My lessons were very direct, even almost unspoken at times. It was not uncommon for a look to communicate everything.

When it came time for my leaving Branson, we both knew. I only saw Terry a couple of times after that. In fact, I think it was only twice after. Once was in Utah and the last time was a year ago as Amanda and I drove on our way to Virginia. We stopped and spent several hours with him.

I spoke with him on the phone for over an hour just a month or so ago and he was in good spirits. It was with a bit of shock I received the phone call telling me he had passed the night before. Somehow though, it seems like it would be the way Terry would do it though. My first reaction was that little scoundrel did this on purpose. But then I sensed a peace about the whole thing and it was meant to be.

In looking back, Terry always introduced me to people as the one with a pure soul. I don’t know if it is true or not, but I always wanted to be a little better with that title. Terry always had people who either loved or hated him. People somehow switched those sides often with him. I never understood why. But something about the man endeared people and also brought on some of the strongest criticism. But in the end he usually weathered it well.

I haven’t had any experiences with Terry spiritually for a couple of years now. Perhaps we just grew apart. But now that he has passed, I anticipate something small, at least for a temporary good bye. If not, this is my little pushing off the ship of a good friend. I will see you later mate. I love your soul.

Tuesday, 2 January 2007 by Sagacity

Good bye to 2006

Another year has passed. Has it really? It doesn’t feel like it. I don’t feel any older. I don’t think I look any older. What really happened in 2006? Did it really exist? I know it did. I have the memories of it and the evidence. (I won’t be like some nations claiming that you cannot prove the past, like the Holocaust).A former President has died ending the year. I remember meeting President Ford in Twin Falls, Idaho. I must have only been about 10 or
12 at the time. I guess he liked to golf once and a while at the course down in the canyon. (Sad, I don’t even remember the name of it. (Perhaps I am getting older….)

Who else died this year? I read a few of Milton Friedman’s books. I still sing to myself the music of Malcolm Arnold, especially River Kwai. I remember joking about what it must be like to be Robert C Baker, but now I would feel bad joking of chicken nuggets. Buck Owens who I saw in Branson passed away. We can’t forget political leaders like President Ford, Senator Stafford, or Congressman Sonny Montgomery. Ed Bradley who I liked to watch. 60 Minutes just won’t be the same anymore without Bradley and Wallace. Who were some not so notable, or infamous, Mr. Lay, Jeff Lundgren, Saddam. It has been a year for deaths! Oh, I about forgot Steve Irwin. It seemed every little kid in England talked of Steve.

A couple of family members have passed away. Ebertha Lutz of my Van Leeuwen line. Dean Sharp just passed away last week. His funeral is on Thursday up in Pasco, Washington. That doesn’t leave many of the Sharp family around either. I know Grandpa is struggling with his death. Dad, Jan, and Grandpa are going up to the funeral. I hope when my time comes, it will go as well. He wasn’t feeling well, and went to the hospital. His oxygen was low, so they put him on oxygen and he wanted to go home. He was resting and Lois heard him make a noise and saw his oxygen was off. She went over and he was gone. Quick, painless, and comfortable.

I only visited with Dean two weeks ago. I called him to ask him some family history questions about his parents and recollections of Mary Ann Stoker, aka Lillian Musgrave. He told me characteristics of his parents, Edward Sharp and Lillie East. He always had a cool little laugh when he finished speaking. Don’t know if it was a nervous laugh, something he picked up, but it always made me feel relaxed. He never
knew his grandmother, I had to get that information elsewhere. Good bye Dean.

I received an e-mail from a Terry McHugh in South Carolina. He was searching information on the Stoker line. I filled him on information I
had, and gleaned quite a bit from him. It was good to focus some more on the Stoker line. I still have yet to figure out why my Mary Ann
Stoker (married Sharp) went by Lily (Lillian) Musgrave for a spell.

I called Grandpa and he shared a few memories with me. He said she was fairly tall, I am not sure what that means. Grandpa is not necessarily tall. He used to walk past her house every day on the way to school. He would stop in on his way home when she was alive. It is the same house my Aunt Caroline lives in now.

She would have him put the hooks in the holes for her shoe laces. She also had him pull the strings on her girdle for her. He used to ask why
she needed the thing; after all she was so skinny. She would just sigh and ask him to pull them just a little tighter. It sounded like it was sweet memories. She had a horn for hearing. She went deafer over the years. Grandpa would ask why she needed that horn and she would say it was because he wasn’t speaking loud enough. It was interesting that June Streeter had memories of Lily, but didn’t know who she was. It wasn’t until a few months back talking with her daughter that I cleared that up in her mind.

Life changed considerably for Amanda and me this year. I again made a move across the country. One thing is for sure, get married and the
physical baggage multiplies! You would think that my trunk full of possessions would only double. Some reason or another, women are not
confined to a Spartan life. But add a marriage to it, and the making of a home, and things grow exponentially. There are ways I would like to
go more Spartan, but Amanda won’t have any of that. Probably a good thing.

Dad had his operation and seems to be back to normal. Indeed, he is better than he has been for the last five years. I am glad he has made
such a recovery, even improvement. Jan had her operation on her back. For some reason I cannot recall if that was earlier this year or not.
Yes, I think it was, pretty sure it was. She is doing much better. Her progress has not been as quick as Dad’s but she is doing better.

Overall it has been a good year. Even the few dreams I have had have all been good. There is one that repeated some over the year. Have yet no idea what it could possibly mean. I am back living at Kasota Road. But I have to go to the dentist. I go, and it is Garrison Keillor who
is the dentist. We end up chatting about a few things. By the time the appointment is done, he has split a tooth in half, and pulled it. Having removed a tooth, I am concerned and discuss my issues with him. He takes and makes me a new tooth and screws it back into the top of my mouth. I am shocked that I can notice no difference from the old to the new tooth. I am impressed there is no swelling and no pain. He doesn’t even use pain killers. It is his reasoning that makes things work so well despite my little idiosyncrasies. Perhaps it is just that I need
to reason and talk through more things in life. I almost laugh in the mornings when I realize I am dreaming of going to the dentist, spending
the conversation with Keillor, and then arise to find life is great. Perhaps it is just a happy dream. Don’t know why I find it so ironic that the dentist and Keillor make me happy, but I won’t complain. (Now people will think I am more off my rocker than ever!)

Well, I think I will sign off. I look forward to what 2007 has to bring. I am sure it will have many surprises and interesting things to mention. It will be the first year in a long time that I am planning, for the most part, of staying in the same state. Since graduation I have hopped between states every year.

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