PIONEER DAY!

 

I come from Pioneer stock.  

My ancestors on both my mom's and my dad's side of the family came West with the Mormon Pioneers in the mid 19th Century.  That is a fact that I have always been proud of.  My parents both spoke so highly of the stupendous accomplishment their grandparents and great grandparents two or three generations back who pretty much walked the 1,000 plus miles from Illinois to Utah--and some of them did that barefoot!

So, when hard things have happened in my life, I often remarked that I come from Pioneer stock, if they could do hard things, so can I.  And I have often reminded my own children, when they have been in the face of difficulty or are being confronted by challenges that seem overwhelming, with the same reminder of their Pioneer heritage.

Today is PIONEER DAY .  It marks the day the first members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley as emigrants.  That was in 1847.  Their guiding principles continue as the great qualities which have marked sacrifices for countries, families, members of congregations, and for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide.

Though our contemporary challenges are different from those faced by earlier pioneers, many are just as dangerous or difficult, or formidable as were theirs.  Just clothed a little differently.  Here are just a few.

WOLVES:  not prowling animals, but drug dealers, pornographers, and unsavory video and audio experiences in music, movies, and video games.

ILLNESS:  we have the blessings of modern medicine to help cure us from disease and accidents, but we have recently suffered a pandemic which kept the world confined and off-kilter.

PHYSICAL HUNGER:  now we could face spiritual hunger if we choose to listen to the world's rhetoric

WORK:  pioneer children did incredibly hard physical labor to survive their surroundings.  Now many of our children face the ABSENCE of hard work.  This absence has brought about a change in "discipline, responsibility, and self-worth".

And what was it that enabled those early pioneers to wade through so much adversity?  FAITH!

To quote Dallin H. Oaks, "They stepped forward into the unknown:  a new religion, a new land, a new way of doing things....they stood fast against formidable opposition."  Their efforts were part of what made their still fairly new nation great in a unique way, and in turn also changed the world.

Many other great qualities are evident in these pioneer ancestors.  They are a lack of selfishness, unflinching service, cooperative unity, and persistence to continue in the face of adversity as they patiently continued onward mile after mile after mile across the Great American Desert and endured to the end.  They also left a legacy of inclusion:  no one was left behind (they went back for those who couldn't leave initially) and on the trail no day ended until everyone was accounted for--including the stragglers.

As my children were growing up, we looked forward to celebrating Pioneer Day.  It was one of our favorite Nichols Family parties.  We played pioneer games, ate pioneer food on tin plates, wore pioneer clothes, and ate out on our "prairie", then enjoyed favorite pioneer stories and songs around our "campfire".  Sometimes we invited the neighbors who also joined in the fun with a true pioneer spirit. I miss those days with my children and grandchildren celebrating this important occasion.  

Today it is just Louis and I, but I have had a true Pioneer spirit as I reflected on the enduring principles that continue to have a profound effect on how I meet my current challenges.  How blessed I am!

Long live the pioneers...anyone who prepares a way for others to follow!

TALKING A LITTLE ABOUT THE WEATHER....

When Jeremy was a small boy and I would suggest maybe he might like to go out and play on a beautiful summer day, he would say, "It's too hot outside."  And, on a cooler day when I made the same suggestion, he would usually say, "It's too cold outside."  One day in frustration, I asked him just what kind of day he would like.  

"Medium.   I just want it to be medium."  

And that is exactly how I feel!  I would just like a nice 85 degree day in the summer with pleasant sun, no wind, and beautiful blue sky.  

But the bad thing about weather in the Rocky Mountain West is that it is constantly changing.  What is forecast in the morning--for example a lovely day, not too hot and not too cold--can be totally different by noon.  Sometimes I find the forecast has changed to something entirely opposite: windy with possible thundershowers and only partial sun.   There is always something about the weather that isn't stable.  And it can't be depended on for any length of time.

However, I recently saw a weather forecast that never changes.  It was on the marquee of one of the local churches in the area.  

WEATHER FORECAST

GOD REIGNS

JESUS CHRIST ALWAYS SHINES

Now THAT's the kind of forecast I like!

And how about this weather forecast that gives others around us something they can depend on.

THE BEST TEMPERATURE YEAR 'ROUND 

  IS A WARM HEART AND A COOL HEAD!

No wonder researchers say that "weather" is the number one topic of conversation!  There's always a little something to talk about....

...and then COVID

Yup!  We had a great vacation, fast-paced as it was--so it was no surprise that just a couple of days after we got home, I began to feel ill.  At first, I thought it was because I was worn down from all the fun we had.  But as more and more of my body felt like I had had a run-in with a MAC truck, the headache was intense, and my eyes hurt even to move them from side to side I started to think maybe I was sick "for reals", like my kids used to say.  

I told Louis that if I didn't feel better by Sunday night (this was Thursday) I would make an appointment and go to the doctor.  He said I was foolish.  If I were sick, I should go to one of the urgent care centers.  No, I like MY doctor.  I said I would wait.  

But by Saturday morning, I was really feeling bad, so I went online to see which urgent care center took my insurance.  Then I got into the car and drove myself there.  Five minute wait and I was talking to the doctor.  Maybe they could give me a strep infection test?  That was the way I felt--like all the times I've had strep infection over the years.  Okay.  And we'll do a COVID test, too.

Well, the strep test was negative.  The COVID test was not.  I had COVID.  A whole different sickness than when I had it in January 2020 before all the hoopla and the quarantines and the pandemic.  Whole different way my body reacted.  So, I spent the next few days in bed or on top of the bed resting.  Yet, I could not sleep day OR night, and I felt like I was going to go crazy from lack of sleep.  

Soon, though, I was up and about and even went out after the proper time period the CDC now recommends.  Although I still don't feel 100% like I do when I am totally well, I am trying to get back on track after the hiatus of routine during my heart procedure just prior to our trip to Savannah and then being sick for several days after we returned home.

Someone asked me where I thought I might have contracted COVID.  Well...let's see 

• six flights
• four major airports
• two graduations
• hundreds of people 

It's anyone's guess.  I'm sure somewhere in all of that there was probably someone who passed the virus to me.  It's okay.  I got it.  I got over it.  This time it was more like a bad case of the flu.  I'm sure there will be more bouts of the "flu" before I come to the end.

But sometimes, it's kind of nice not being expected to do anything, to be productive, to contribute.  We all need a rest like that at some time once in a while.  This was my time.  

BUT I'M GLAD IT'S OVER...

                    CORONA VIRUS

VACATION!

 

RIVERBOAT CRUISE

Going up the gangplank for a lovely evening on the river!

It was our last night in Savannah...

Louis and I usually take a little trip to celebrate our May 12th anniversary.  But the last couple of years, COVID made things a little difficult with the pandemic and all the travel restrictions.  We like to pick a place we have never been, but also a city where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has built a temple.

In 2020 we decided to go to Nova Scotia.  Every time I had a trip scheduled out of Newark to fly there as a flight attendant for United Airlines, something happened.  We got reassigned.  The flight was cancelled.  We missed our connection.   Always some different reason.  Obviously, I never made it there.  And... there is a temple in Halifax.  Fit our criteria perfectly!

I also told Louis to BUY the tickets. Newark is the only city that United flies from to Nova Scotia, so I wanted to make sure we had seats--NO STANDBY!  He did.  Then he arranged for a hotel, a rental car, and we made plans of where we wanted to go besides the temple.  Going to be a great vacation!

However, about a week before we were supposed to leave, Canada closed its borders.  Most of my trips that spring had been to Canada--Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto--and as flight crews we were able to fly in and out of Canada without any ruckus.  Not so for vacationers.  Not welcome!

We ended up driving to Albuquerque.  We had a nice time, and they didn't have a mandatory face mask mandate at that time.

In 2021 we just went to a brand-new hotel in Boulder and spent a Saturday morning walking around Boulder and going to a Farmers' Market.   Again, we had fun even though both those little anniversary trips were pretty low key.  

By 2022 we were ready for adventure and started looking for someplace other than Canada which still had some restrictions.  Forget that.  We talked a little about Panama.  I had been there for United a few times and always wished Louis were on my layovers because he spent time there in the Army as a Ranger.  Somehow, though, we mis-communicated and struck that off our list.  Next under consideration was Ireland.  We could get there but getting home looked kind of iffy with their travel restrictions.

Louis asked for more suggestions of where I would like to go.  Savannah?  In all my travels for work in Corporate America, and my trips with United, I had never been to the Georgia coast including Savannah.

Savannah it was, then!  And Louis made reservations for us to spend Saturday to Saturday there starting on Memorial Day weekend so he had to take only four vacation days.

We had a terrific vacation, including a quick trip up to Cincinnati for 36 hours for our grand boy's high school graduation!  Visiting a beautiful city and celebrating with family--life doesn't get much better than that!

While in Savannah we went on a trolley tour of the city and were completely pleased to see the beautiful "Squares" like mini parks practically every other block.  These garden-like city blocks were full of historical bits of information about people and events that happened from the establishment of the city.  

One square that was of particular interest to me was one which had a history board about Lowell Mason.  I mused to Louis if this might be the Lowell Mason who wrote some of the hymns in our hymnbook.  It was!  He lived in Savannah for about 15 years and was affiliated with one of the churches there.  The hymn I recognized him for is "Nearer My God to Thee", one of my favorites!  That was a nice little plus for me during the sight-seeing tour.

We also went to a fabulous museum that was on par with the Smithsonian which chronicled the training and combat tours of the 8th Air Force something or other during WWII..  We could have spent three days there and not touched it all.  Also, for me, this museum filled in some of the background for the WWII history that I am so keen about.  

One day we drove up to Hilton Head in South Carolina.  Not even an hour away.  Nice, but very crowded and pretty commercialized.  I thought the Channel Islands in Georgia were much more attractive, like Tybee Island and Jekyll Island which we also visited.  White sand beaches but not so crowded and trim cottages with fresh paint.  Very inviting even for the NON-water/beach person that I am.

The rest of the time we just did some touring on our own with stops at shops and restaurants along the way. And spent a lot of money on little gifts to take home like Georgia Peach Butter.  In fact, everything peachy--like the ice cream--tasted delicious.  UM UM GOOD!  

All too soon, our Southern adventure was almost over.  I was glad we had saved the best for last, an evening riverboat tour complete with buffet dinner.  It was a beautiful evening, warm with a great view of the city's lighted shoreline.  What a memorable cap to a great week!  

Now instead of telling people I had never even been to Georgia until I was 50 years old and had NEVER been to Savannah, now I can tell people I have been there and give an enthusiastic thumbs up as a testimony if you're looking for a great vacation.

THAT'S ALL, Y'ALL!

NEWBIE

 I recently began a new job.  There is no financial remuneration, but it pays so much in the form of spiritual remuneration I think I will keep it. Trouble is I just don't like being the newest person on the shift team.  That makes me feel awkward.

From now on, I will be at the Fort Collins Temple serving as an ordinance worker on Wednesday mornings, first shift which begins at 6:30 a.m. and is completed at noon.  Wednesday morning temple attendance was my go-to time anyway.  Why not make it count?  So, I did.

It was kind of a tough decision for me to make.  I didn't feel like I was on a par with the women I see who serve there.  But then I thought the same thing when I went to work at United as a Flight Attendant.  I figured EVERYONE was better qualified than I was.  

Maybe they were.  Maybe they weren't.  But at United, and then again at the Fort Collins Temple, I decided I probably wouldn't be the best, but I wouldn't be the worst either.  And I'm not.  Amazing how I have already learned so many things--that I didn't know I already knew.  Hopefully, a year from now I will look back and chuckle at what a little mouse I was in the beginning.  Just have to keep remembering, I won't be a "newbie" forever!

Here's to yet another "season" in my life...

This is how I see the temple when I arrive at 6:30 a.m.
with the sun shining on the east side.
It's a great place to work!

A ZIP TRIP...

Louis and Georgia
 at the Washington DC Temple

 

 Louis and I recently went to Washington DC to attend an open house for the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Kensington, Maryland, near the Capital Beltway (495) around Washington DC.  Since the temple was completed in the early 70's, this is the first time it has been open to the public in nearly 50 years.  But it has long been an integral part of the Washington DC landscape and is a beloved landmark for residents in the area.  Many people are excited they will finally be able to get a glimpse of this building which has dominated the beltway skyline for so long.

This temple has special significance for Louis, as it was the first temple he attended after he was baptized in his West Virginia hometown.  Then during the years he was stationed in Washington DC with the Army (attached to the Pentagon because of his assignment with the Special Forces), he had many opportunities to go there and serve.

The temple has undergone some renovation and modernization since the project began in 2018.  The first couple of weeks for the open house were limited to the media, influencers, government officials, and other dignitaries of church and state.  Then the open house was expanded to include everyone.  It is free, but tickets have to be reserved for the parking areas.  The open house ends June 11th.

Our slotted time was Monday, May 9th at 2:30 p.m.  We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather.  It had rained the entire previous week with cool temperatures.  However, when we got up on Monday morning, the sky was bright blue and it was a pleasant 70 degrees.  What luck!

After an inspiring tour through the temple with streams of other visitors--all aspects of the tour were well-managed and not over-crowded--we took a minute to take some pictures of ourselves in front of the temple and sit on one of the many stone benches just contemplating the magnitude and majesty of this beautiful edifice dedicated to Jesus Christ who is the symbol of our faith.  We also talked about some of the conversations we had with other visitors during the tour and their sincerity in coming to see the temple and learn of the significance the temple has for the eternal status of families.  

In all, the tour was a really uplifting experience.

The next day, I told Louis I wanted the "Short Tour" of Washington DC.  He has told me over the years that when his friends and family came to visit while he lived there, he would give them two choices.  The  Long Tour was when they picked some of the places they wanted to visit and then actually went into them.  The Short Tour was just drive around and see the landmarks from the comfort of their car.

I have been to Washington DC many times over the years.  First when we lived in Newport News on the Virginia Peninsula, next when I worked in corporate America, and then when I had DC layovers with United Airlines.  I've been there and seen most of that.  But I did ask if we could go to Mount Vernon.  It has been over 40 years since I was there. That was a good choice for me.  And I also went to a new addition to the Smithsonian Museum Group--the Native American Museum.  The rest of the landmarks I enjoyed looking at as we drove by.  The Capitol Building (has scaffolding on the front of it, to restore stone and other surfaces), the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, the White House, the rest of the Smithsonian, and most of the other Memorials.

It was a packed 60 hours, but well worth the long wait at airports and cramped seats on the planes, plus arriving there and home in the wee hours of the morning.  However, we did enjoy travel perks in the United Club at Dulles International Airport.  I ate more than my fair share of the tasty buffet of salad, soup, sandwiches, desserts, and other snack foods.  That segment wasn't so bad. Over all, a positive experience for sure.

This was a ZIP TRIP extraordinaire!   

The Big Five-OH!

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                  Yesterday I celebrated fifty years of marriage.  

By myself, because I had to do it in two laps....29 years with Ross Nichols and 21 years with Louis Bateman.

Clearly, this wasn't an anniversary celebration.  Just a personal celebration that I finally have been married for fifty years.  Many, many of my friends passed that milestone years ago--with the same husband.  I hoped that someday I would be the person who could say that, even though it wouldn't be with the same husband.

I fully expected my first marriage to last 50 plus years.  I used to joke that we went to our wedding in Ross' brand new 1968 Mustang Fastback with the Boss 302 engine, and we would go to our 50th anniversary wedding celebration in the same car--even if we had to put it up on blocks in the back yard until that big event rolled around!

Well, Ross sold the Mustang after 19.5 years.  Said he got his money's worth and change.  Then ten years later he sold himself to another woman.  Obviously, I had to discard that notion of a 50th hoopla with him.

When I married Louis, twenty-one years sounded like a long time before I would make it to that coveted occasion of fifty years marriage for me.  As it turned out, the time nearly flew by.  But I don't think Louis and I are going to make it to a 50th anniversary either.  I would be 106 years old!  Nope.  Not going to hang around THAT long just to say, "I did it!" with the same guy.  

However, to mark this 50-year event for me, I invited my favorite next-door neighbor and friend Cathy from my Arvada period to have lunch with me, as she knew our family during the first 29 years, and during the subsequent 21 years, as well.  It was easy to talk about old times and funny anecdotes because she knew the experiences I reminisced about.  Sometimes, I think it just nice to know there's someone out there who knows my history, that I didn't just begin life when I got married the second time and moved to Northern Colorado.

So, here's to fifty years that were chock full of fun, the not so fun, pain, sorrow, joy, satisfaction, happiness, companionship, and everything in between, especially love.  It was worth every minute I invested in that two-lap accomplishment.  

Now I'm cheering for myself.  

"Hip, hip, hooray! I did it!"