Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013

The weather has officially changed here in Utah. That must mean Christmas is nearing and I need to write something. I find myself at work often standing up from my desk to stretch. I make my way over to the south facing windows to catch a glimpse of the Sun low in the horizon and gaze out over the permafrost. I imagine the look on my face probably approaches that of a pet-store animal longing for liberty and the warmth of some other clime. It is often during these moments of quiet introspection that I receive inspiration on a new hair comb-over technique I should try.

Lenore's time this year has mostly been consumed with being fabulous. She excels and there's not much left after that. We have the whole Salt Lake Smith family together weekly for dinner. Lenore cooks every other week and does a wonderful job as hostess of these lovely get-togethers. She is still teaching and cleaning and sometimes gets a paycheck.

As a family we have enjoyed a couple of trips to Saint George (to visit grandma and grandpa Lillywhite) and our annual vacation in San Clemente pretending that we are still Californians. When we stop at the Agricultural Inspection checkpoint in Yermo on our way into the Southland, the agents look over our papers with the assiduity of a former Soviet era border guard and examine us and our belongings thoroughly with a steely eye. It is getting increasingly harder to prove we are cool enough to enter. Maybe if we ditch the 18-year old car for something newer and make sure we top off our suntans before vacation.

Earlier in the Spring Ailsa signed with a literary agent. And, once again we have high hopes that she will soon be joining the published set. She is a prodigious writer. So, whoever eventually gets her has a bunch of editing and marketing to look forward to. She is applying to law school for next year. She already thinks she is smarter than the rest of us. Maybe soon she will have proof. Unfortunately she has fallen victim to the malaise of the “X” Generation. Meaning eXcept for our lousy economy she could have a really good job by now. She's working as a barista, and we like to tease her by ordering strange decaf chai lattes and such from her drive-up window... then we don't leave a tip and instead leave a note about how we are religious people and don't approve of her lifestyle.

Jensen is set to graduate from BYU right before Christmas with a major in Theater Arts and a minor in Illustration (what was I saying earlier about a good job?) In reality she has had some great experiences along the way. She has worked with a BAFTA award winner and on a show that was EMMY nominated and also on an animated short that won a student EMMY. We are planning on contacting the world record folks because she will end up with 221 college credits, no kidding. She could have a PhD with that much school attendance. Early in the New Year she plans to begin her missionary service. We REALLY will miss having her around. She comes home often from Provo and always brightens up the home like a flood of sunshine. She belongs to Generation “Y”. “WHY are you still in school?” But, we love having her around.

Laney actually is smarter than the rest of us and would really like us all to just accept that fact and submit humbly and peacefully to her rule. She completely enjoyed daily surfing sessions on our vacation this year. She was quite game even on the gloomy cold mornings. “Kiddo” is Generation Z, as in video game Zombie. She is fully-plugged-in-tuned-out-victim-of-the-blue-pill matricized. We could feel more justified in curbing these extracurricular activities if she weren't otherwise such a good student.

As we move each year through the tedious, the trivial, and the mundane we often find real gems of love and beauty and aspect. They surround us always, although they are usually met with our ignorance and inattention. We take this moment to step back and recognize that we have seen breathtaking views of the heavens and the wonder of the earth. We have been made to reflect on the greatness of those who have lived among us and have slipped our grasp. We believe these experiences are common to man. Thus, you have also seen that sunset during that same time of evening and that same time of year. You have breathed the scent of salt water in the air. You have felt the loss of people great and dear. You have felt the blessing of being His children and heirs to His glory. We hope you feel as abundantly blessed in these events as we do. We don't know what awaits us from God. But, know it is even better than this.

“At the end of things, The Blessed will say, “We have never lived anywhere except in Heaven.” C.S. Lewis

The Lillywhites

Jensen Costume Pictures

Click here.

Letter to Teal Buchi

We moved into Murray in September 1991. You may not know we were in the South Cottonwood ward with your family until a ward boundary change in June of 1995. I remember meeting Craig at a ward softball game soon after we moved in.

It wasn't long after that we had some kind of Ward activity, maybe a dinner or something. Afterward there were some young men playing basketball and Craig and I started shooting baskets with them. Soon enough the young men (I think it was Mark Boyle and one of the Baugh kids) challenged us to a two-on-two game. Well, we were way out of practice and out of playing shape. I was 34 or 35 and Craig was two years older and we felt like the younger fresher kids had a big advantage over us. We played hard and pulled out a win. Craig was very happy with that and several times over the years he or I would bring it up in our conversation. “Remember when we beat those young bucks?”

I have been a cycling aficionado at some level or another since my college years. In 1995 I started commuting regularly to and from work. I did this pretty consistently during the warmer part of the year until 2002 when I had my own accident with a car. About five times at least I saw Craig driving home from work or somewhere else while I was on my bike. Almost every time he would say “you've got to help me get a bike so I can get out and start riding” or something similar. It was very heartening to see you and your dad get into cycling and do so well and enjoy it so much.

More often than not I ride alone. When I did ride with others your dad was probably my most consistent partner. Your dad seemed to stay in top form pretty much year round. I let myself get out of shape in the winter. He was still happy to ride with me when I wasn't up to snuff.

There were many good rides/memories with your dad. The most memorable is similar to the story you told of riding with him at Bear Lake. It was early September a year ago. I had gone out by myself and was trying for a new PB on my favorite route. Craig encountered me when I was about 18 miles into my ride and we were coming back on 7^th east. We were stopped by the light at 114^th south and I told him I was trying to go as fast as possible. So we traded pulls and encouraged each other on and averaged about 25/26 mph the rest of the way home. It was a glorious ride. I will always remember the farewell salutes and handshakes as we parted ways after each ride at his last turn for home: "Great riding with you. Catch you next time.”

Teal, you may be inclined to give up road cycling, and if you do I completely understand. But, if you continue and ever need someone to ride with I am happy and honored  to share the road with you.

The Gospel can provide us with great solace at times like these.  It is true. Heavenly Father lives. Jesus is our Savior. They have provided a way for us to return to Celestial glory. While I am deeply saddened by our loss, I am comforted greatly by the fact that I will be able to associate again with your fantastic father when I make my last turn for Home.

The Hole Left by His Passing

Monday morning looking at some Salt Lake news articles I saw one about a local cyclist who was killed in a crash. It gave his age and I briefly thought if I knew who it could be. Later, Laverne Storch messaged me that it was Craig Buchi. It took a little while for the fact to sink in. This news was devastating.

I called Lenore and cried a little. I went home early and wept some more during dinner. Craig is probably the closest thing I have to a friend outside of family, excluding Kyle Christensen and Steve and Michelle Young and perhaps some others. He was my go-to guy for a bike riding partner. I think we only rode once this year (since I was riding WAY more consistently in the morning our schedules didn't really match up well this year.)

I met Craig shortly after we moved to Murray. We were in the same ward for the first couple of years. He used to see me riding to and from work and say that he needed to get into cycling. It was really good to see him and Teal take to it so well. Craig and I were quite well matched on the bike. So, he was a good one to ride with. Lately, he had been trying to find a convenient time to borrow our tandem bike so Tina could try it out with him.

Such a great loss. I am deeply saddened for the missed future opportunities to associate with him. He was such a good man, very amiable, very easy going. I think a big hole will go unfilled for some time.

San Clemente 2013

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in San Clemente again last month. We were able to drive the Brown Explorer again. But, I'm not so sure it is “fresh” enough (with 185,000 miles) to make the trip again loaded down with all the family and stuff.

Since Laney has gotten to the point where she is pretty good in the water and was quite game at trying the surfboard last year, I decided to do a lot more surfing. Pretty consistently throughout the Spring I exercised my upper body as much as I could find time for so that I would be able to do the work part of surfing without too much trouble and concentrate on getting back into it. I think that really paid off and I recommend that approach to anyone thinking of trying surfing, prepare first by getting a little bit of upper body strength.

I had to spend Sunday evening rounding up the surfboards again. But, we had a very nice time visiting with Sean and his family and Kim and the Sister missionaries who were visiting her. We also bought a $100 Costco soft top surfboard to round out our quiver and provide one board that was a little less dangerous. I managed to surf a little every day, usually only for an hour or hour and a half (it's a lot of work for a 55 year old man.) The waves were quite small the WHOLE time. But, that is probably best. The upshot of that is that I only went bodysurfing on the first Saturday afternoon, right after we arrived.

The kids also had fun surfing. It looked like there might be a little bit of a rise in the surf on the last Thursday. So, we got up early and went to Doheny before 6am. I had stopped by there on my bike ride the day before and there were pretty consistent 2 foot-ish waves and a LOT of people on the one break next to the jetty. Still, it looked like fun. So, I was hoping the kids would also get to experience that place. No such luck. The waves were only about 6 inches when we showed up.

So, we went to Olds Man's (still quite early in the morning.) There was only one break really doing anything there too and about 30-40 people surfing it. We paddled out into extremely cold water and I caught a couple of waves and so did Ailsa and Jensen. But, then I turned to Ailsa and I said it was a lot more fun at the SC pier. So, we packed up and got donuts in town and called it a day.

We did see a lot of birds feeding most days. Especially one day while we were out surfing it seemed every 15 seconds or so a pelican or a tern was diving for a catch.

The second Sunday we went to Kim's ward in Fountain Valley because Roan Naumann was getting blessed. So, it was fun to attend that and then go to Kim's and see everyone, have yummy food, and ditch the last part of the Sunday meetings.

The last day there always borders on a little melancholy. Most of us walked down to Riviera beach and just enjoyed being together.

I did not see the old running man this year.

Hoaxsters

When the environmental movement first started, the bugaboo was "pollution." Who can be for pollution? I think it didn't take long to realize two things. Pollution is really more a third world problem than a first world problem. That is not to say that we don't pollute. But our pollution as compared to our output is very low. Nations who are struggling to come out of poverty lay a heavy burden on their environments. Look at India and China. So, fighting pollution hurts the wrong people. Also, there is more money to be made in the environmental industry from the richer nations. So, the bugaboo became "global warming" and then "climate change." That makes the industrialized nations the culprits and the marks. Problem is the whole movement seems to be losing traction. I think we have swung back to "pollution." Just today I have heard or seen the word two or three times in news stories. Keep an ear to the ground.

NSA and the Verizon Phone Records

Back in the day this would get you an en suite at Leavenworth.

I think we need a do over. I'm not sure we can get back to where we need to be by just rolling back things. It's going to take a do over. Things are so far gone.

Kimber 2013

Bring Him Home

He's like the son I might have known, If God had granted me a son.

Jens has been having a lot of fun with her Theater make up class. She came home last night sporting this beard. So we decided to do a side by side comparison. I didn't realize how much she is trying to emulate her father.

Majestic Tommy