Books Read April 2021

 I just finished book ten! Lots of reading this month.

1. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver - this is the book selected by the book club that I belong to (but have only attended once) for May. I had read this book before, maybe around 20ish years ago, but though I remembered that I really liked it, and because of it I read other Kingsolver books, I had forgotten most of it! Like Turtle, her daughter--she is so important to the plot, and yet I had totally forgotten her! It is a good book, and I do recommend it. It was a good second time reading.

2. Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Bates. Another YA book by this author, who really has a compelling style. This book, about a girl named Sawyer and her extended family, is a rags to riches tale for the daughter (while simultaneously riches to rags for her mother) and all the secrets of the past--especially the question of who is Sawyer's father.

3. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. This nonfiction book is so good. I want to read it again because I learned so much from it. Gladwell starts with the death of Sandra Bland, and how the conversation between this woman and the cop who pulled her over went so desperately wrong. He moves from there to various other examples of people reading people incorrectly (for example, Amanda Knox, who was just a little bit too quirky for her own good) and the really disastrous results of failed communication. Then he ends up with Sandra Bland again. Really interesting and thought-provoking. 

4. Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Bates follows up on Sawyer and her dysfunctional family. The ending took be my surprise, not only because of the who and the what and the how and the why, but the forgiveness and understanding extended by Sawyer's grandmother to the culprit. Well, the culprits of both the present and the past. Quite astonishing.

5. Dream Walker by Mary Mauck. This is my niece Mary's second book in a trilogy. I liked the first book better. I did not dislike this book, it just was so much of nothing happening for chapters 1-16. I mean, things happened, just the pace was lagging for me. But it picked up in chapter 17 through the ending, so I am on board to see what happens when book 3 comes out one day. (There was less connection to the dream theme in this book too.)

6. Bank Shot by Donald E. Westlake. I was searching on the internet for good, interesting but comedic TV detective series (something like Republic of Doyle, which I really liked) and instead came across a list of books. This one (written in 1972) was in our library, so I chose to read it. It did not disappoint. The bank robbers in this story don't ROB a bank, they STEAL a bank. Like, the whole thing. It is a lot of work! And at the end, they do not get much of a reward, except knowing that they did it!

7. Closing In by Kerry Blair. This was another reread for me. I read this probably a decade or more ago. I was hoping to find more of the author's Nightshade Detective Agency books (which are funny and also suspenseful) so I tried this title. And as I read it, I realized that I had already read it, but I read it again. She creates some fun characters and a nice mystery to solve.

8. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Jansen. This memoir was a fun read. Rhoda had left her Mennonite upbringing, but after a botched surgery, her husband leaving her for Bob from Gay.com, and a terrible car accident, Rhoda ends up at home with her parents, recuperating. While she can no longer be a practicing Mennonite, Rhoda has maintained her faith in God and love of her people and culture. A delightful read, although she can be a bit scathing in poking fun at people she loves.

9. Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen. Look at me, reading all these adult fiction books instead of YA or JUV. This was a lovely, gentle book. A once-famous photographer can no longer afford to live in her NYC apartment so she moved to a cottage in the woods. She goes from hating her new life to embracing it. She makes wonderful new friends and strengthens family relationships. 

10. Badgerblood: Awakening is book one of what looks to be an epic quest story like Lloyd Alexander's Taran Wanderer--not quite up to Lord of the Rings. But along the lines of both. S.C. Monson, the author, is a family/friend. (We are distantly related and closely friends. She is closely related to my sister's husband.) I was pleasantly impressed, given that Shannon and her husband self-published this novel, Shannon as the writer and Steve doing the art work, designing the web site and things like that. Probably the most tightly edited self-published novel I have ever read. (Better edited than some commercially published novels, honestly.) Even before I got to the "end" I was ready to find out what happens next. I don't know how soon Shannon will finish the next one!

So it was a unique month of reading with TWO books by young women who I know personally on the list. I am proud of both of them for chasing their dreams and just doing it. A good month of reading.

Cat Fight

 I was just falling asleep last night (which is often a long process for me) when I was jolted back to fully awake hearing what could only be a cat fight, coming from inside the house! I put on my glasses (albeit the wrong ones) and rushed downstairs.

Josie was holding Cleo. Maisie was sitting on the floor all puffed up, her tail HUGE. Cinnamon was nowhere to be seen. She is still so little, I was worried about her. But apparently she was not in the fight. Instead, she found a good place to hide!

Josie said all the cats were just laying around. Cleo was in the window of Patrick's room. And suddenly, Cleo growled, Maisie went in search of Cleo, then lots of cat fight noises.

Josie had to remove this claw from Cleo's back:

I am glad that Josie did it while I held the light, because I could not see it well enough to see which angle to pull it from. She used tweezers.

Maisie is without two little nails like this. One front, one back. We don't know where the other one is--it was not in Cleo.

As best as Josie can figure, there must have been a neighborhood cat at the window, which was the reason for Cleo's original growl. She doesn't like neighborhood cats peeking in the windows. Then, Maisie must have startled Cleo when she went in there to investigate. Cleo can be not very nice to Maisie for no reason, so if she had a reason (startling) then she may have, in her agitated state, gotten physical, and Maisie defended herself. But we will never know.

Fortunately, they both survived with minimal injury. Josie separated them at night, and in the morning, they were acting as they usually do--Cleo doing her best to stay far away from Maisie, and Maisie scared and hiding. And Cinnamon her normal, inquisitive self, too.

Good Neighbors

 It shouldn't take a death to make a person write down appreciation for good neighbors.  But the death of Stephanie Hemple Pope this morning has caused me to spend the day thinking about the Hemple family, and I am definitely going to take the opportunity to write to her parents and express that to them, along with condolences on the loss of their daughter.

Stephanie and her husband both contracted COVID-19, and Stephanie was hospitalized on April 9. I don't know if Spencer is completely well yet, but after being moved to the ICU, and her disease turning into pneumonia and then ARDS, Stephanie slipped away. She posted a beautiful testimony of Jesus Christ and message of hope on Facebook on April 16. Such a kind, beautiful person.

It is hard that she is Nancy's age; they both have five children. I think of all of Nancy's friends and their little children. I think of Mother's Day coming a few weeks from now, and how that day is going to be awkward for Stephanie's children. I think of the hole in the lives of so many people that will never be filled. 

The Hemples lived in the cul-de-sac across the street from our house in north Orem. Their mom, Darlene, was my visiting teaching, along with Bobbi Lauret. We had a sweet friendship. One important memory I have is how excited Darlene was when she and her husband were able to have a reunion with all TEN of their children!! And they had not been all together for ten years! At the time I was like--wow--how is it even possible to have ten years go by without seeing all of your children together?! (Now I am like--Darlene, I see your ten, and raise you another ten. Since we are sitting at twenty years since all our children were together with us. It was February 2001.) And today, I am sad because now Darlene will never have all ten of her children together with her in one place during this life. 

I can't say that Nancy and Stephanie were particularly close during high school, but I can say that Stephanie was always nice to Nancy, and to everyone in our family. She was just a nice person. 

She was the secretary at UVU's Institute of Religion. Nancy probably ran into her there during her time at UVU. When David returned from his mission, and our family went to President Christiansen's UVU Institute office for David's release, it was Stephanie who greeted us so cheerfully, so welcoming, on that memorable occasion.

Our children were always welcome in the Hemple home. Patrick and Brian (sometimes Nathan, too) were good friends; and Josie was very much adored by the youngest Hemple, Michael, who was a year or two younger. He would start to call before she got out of school--it was very funny! "Isn't she home YET?" Also the Hemples had a pool, and they were very nice about inviting my children there to swim. My children are all fish, and they really appreciated having that invitation extended to them.

The year that David left on his mission, so 2002(?) the Hemples were going to move to Arizona, so Josie wanted one of their kittens. One day, she just came home with that tiny kitten, who grew up to be Winter, that ferocious but beautiful white cat of the many kittens. Then, bonus, Hemples ended up NOT moving--which made both Patrick and Josie happy, and made me wonder "Now WHY exactly do we have this cat?" (They did move the next year or so later.)

Patrick went to Arizona to visit while Brian was living there. He and Garion were Patrick's two best friends during his junior high years. I am thankful for those boys.

The last time I saw Stephanie (though I have talked with her/kept in touch via Facebook) was when Brian left on his mission. Brian had been living with Spencer and Stephanie, so his farewell (or, his not-farewell!) was in their ward. His parents were living in Utah then--they are back in Arizona now. Bruce and I and Patrick and Josie went and Stephanie invited us back to their house. We were the only ones there--just Hemples and Popes and us. We had a great time, just visiting and catching up.

The next longest recent conversation I had with Stephanie was over her need for a nanny--she was interested in Josie, but Josie didn't drive, so it wouldn't work. (Randomly, Janae Thompson was interested in Josie as a nanny, but Josie didn't drive, so it wouldn't work. Now Josie says -- 100% do not be interested in me as a nanny, because look what happens--a parent dies. (We know this is a coincidence. But still.))

The Hemple story about Patrick--this also fits with Police nastiness, another theme of the day, or month, or year. So, Patrick and Joe Krueger were at Hemples and also some other boys, and they were messing around, and this one boy (not Patrick or Joe or any of the Hemple boys) decided to moon some girls out the window. 

When I grew up, mooning was just stupid. In 2000 whatever it was, it was stupid AND a criminal offense. So the first I knew about it was a policeman came to our door on a Wednesday and asked to speak to Patrick. He was asking what kind of underwear Patrick wore (thank goodness for his whitey-tighties!) and then asking what happened. He kept saying "last night" and Patrick kept saying "Nothing happened last night..." and the police officer would interrupt (rudely) and keep insisting that Patrick tell him what happened last night.

Patrick was frustrated and crying, and after the policeman left (leaving a card and to call him if Patrick "remembered" anything) he said that something DID happen on MONDAY. He was trying to tell the police man but the police man WOULD NOT listen. 

Then Jennifer Krueger called me because she and Joe were also frustrated with the visit from the copper. Joe and Patrick both knew who did it and when, but were not ALLOWED to speak; that copper would just cut them off and yell about "last night" at them. 

So, I called the cop on behalf of me and Jennifer, and from the safety of the phone told him off quite soundly. I was pretty mad. I said words to the effect that he needed to listen! That both boys had helpful information and no reason not to share it, but he kept hammering home "last night" when nothing happened then! And they were trying to tell him, but he would not listen, and he was being pretty disrespectful about not listening, too. (I guess that Jennifer and I were very lucky that this happened 15 years ago, and our sons were white!) 

Anyways, once the policeman was chastised and was asking the right questions, all of the boys--Joe, Patrick, Nathan, Brian--could point him to the young man who needed --well, in my opinion, didn't need to be threatened with arrest because mooning is just stupid. I still don't think it should be a crime. So sue me.

That story--that was a shared worry for Darlene, Jennifer and I!! And that story aside, I am grateful for the Hemple kids for their friendship with my children, and to Darlene for her friendship with me. They were great kids. My kids needed them. Moving to that particular neighborhood was not easy. I have no way of knowing if any other neighborhood would have been easier, but I do know that one was hard, so I am so grateful for the Hemples and others there who were good to my kids. My favorite people are people who are good to my kids.

So this was really disjointed and blathery. But at least it is written down!

Sheep Story

I swear, we need to get Jeanne Nalder McInelly's Raymond stories published. They are just so precious. Here is one from today that maybe Nancy can use with her children.

The Sheep Man

Some people are soft hearted especially when it comes to caring for animals in need. Arlie Hudson of Raymond was a man with a soft spot for lambs - ones who were in trouble. Sometimes ewes reject one of their offspring and will not let them nurse. If Arlie would see this, he would rescue baby lamby and bottle feed it on the back porch for months. Often his wife would come home to find some tiny wooly creatures warming up in her oven. "What else could I do, dear, they were freezing out there!" One day the Hudson children found a few lambs sleeping in the warmth of the family bath tub. No water, but covered in quilts to stop their shivering.

One fall, Arlie had 50 rescued lambs called "feeder sheep" in a pen back of his place where the soccer fields are now. He would tend them every day with food, water and tender words because they felt like his little charges. As he was serving on the Town Council, when Halloween night came these men were assigned to watch for mischief makers on main street. In the meantime, some rascals thought of another trick and sneaking into Hudson's back yard, let all 50 of Arlie's lambs out and scattered them all over the neighborhood. Frantic, his wife called the Town Hall for Arlie to hurry home and help in the round-up. She recruited her neighbors and her children to find the little sheep who were who-knows-where by now. No luck.

Arlie was in no hurry because he knew what he knew... When he arrived home, he casually walked about a block west to the intersection and started to call his little darlings, "Come to Daddy. Come to Daddy," he sang in his soft voice.

Well, the sheep heard his voice and in the darkness came running from every direction. Out of yards, behind bushes, down alleys. Soon all fifty were surrounding the shepherd and in no time at all were following him in a neat line back to their shelter. They knew in their little sheepy brains WHO loved them, fed them and talked to them. They loved the sound of his voice and they would follow him anywhere.

Haven't we heard a version of this story before? Maybe in a parable in John 10:4 when the Savior says, " the sheep follow him for they know his voice."

Ubiquitous Raymondites

I just love the stories that Jeanne Nalder McInelly posts in the "Raymond & Area Discussion Group" on Facebook. I would honestly strongly dislike that group because there is so much politics, antimasking, anti-vaxing, bickering there, but Jeanne just blythely goes on posting stories every couple of days. (My cousin Kerry is like me--hates the negativity that can be found there, but loves Jeanne's stories. They are so good! I think she should compile them in a book.) 

Here was today's story: When We Meet in Sweet Siberia

John Galbraith, a Raymond boy who loved to run track in high school, served his mission in France in his youth. He married his high school sweet-heart, Carole Bingham, of Raymond. Much later, he was employed as Dean of the College of Foreign Languages at B.Y.U. Idaho. After hosting some Russian-speaking students in their home, he got interested in promoting Russian language instruction on campus. He recruited some teachers from Ohio State who could teach this very difficult but important language. When those classes were in place, he began thinking that he too should study Russian. (Who embarks on tough tasks like this in their 40's?)

But John did and found that, unlike French or Spanish, learning to read and speak Russian was "tres difficile." For example, nouns can change their spelling six different ways depending on how they are used in the sentence. But he kept studying and practicing with any Russian speakers he could corral.

Fast forward a year and a half and he and Carole are invited to meet with Pres. Oaks in Salt Lake City. Sweaty palms, shallow breathing.... The result? John was called to be the Mission President in Siberia, Russia.

They served in that position for three years and then when the Kyiev, Ukraine temple was finished, John and Carole were asked to be temple president and matron there in this Russian language-speaking country.

Here's where the Raymond connection comes in. When the Kyiev Temple was dedicated, Bill Walker, Raymond native, was there as an administrator. Wendy Watson Nelson attended with her husband, Pres. Nelson, and John and Carole Galbraith were there as the new temple Presidents. How often do that many Raymondites meet up half the world away from Southern Alberta?

It was a great reunion of Raymond kids that day in Kyiev, Ukraine. They were all grown up now with big-time responsibilities but fondly remembered their roots far away in a little farming town on the Canadian prairie.

My cousin Mary Phillips was the first commenter on this post. She wrote: Beautiful memory...Carole and l reconnected when after reading about the Teton Dam broke loose and article in The Friend, l called her and she recognized my voice on phone...the connection was wonderful and so goes many sweet Memories...Hugs..Hugs....Love

Next my cousin Kerry: Sweet Write-up! Have heard the statement before that “Raymond is the center of the universe” haha! Love hearing these stories!! Thank you!

Then my cousin Mary: Kerry Navratil Allred that is true about Raymond being "center of the Universe". And the stories are wonderful, l hope there is a book printed...

Several more people commented, and then a person called Roxy Wright wrote: 2 years ago we were in Baltimore picking up our son from his mission. In church that Sunday in RS I introduced myself as a visitor. In the same RS room was another person from Southern Alberta. She asked if I knew so-and-so. It was my next door neighbour!!!!

Abra's kindergarten teacher, Nancy Evans Webster, wrote: Love this. Thank you Jeanne.

And then I wrote, because I have a story on this topic. I don't remember if I have written it down before:

 
Loved this!! My mom, Pearl Hancock Conrad, always said that no matter where you went to an LDS church in the world, there would be someone there who was from Raymond. I scoffed at her--that was just silly! She said, no, it was true. Even in France, where she had visited several times to various branches, there had always been someone from Raymond. At the time of this conversation my family and I lived in El Cajon, California. My sister lived in La Mesa, CA, and mom could point out who was from Raymond in La Mesa Second Ward. "Well," I said, "I know everyone in THIS ward (El Cajon First) and there is nobody from Raymond." So we went to church. She and I are sitting in Relief Society, and the teacher was Juanita Something (I have forgotten her name). Mom leaned over and said, "I think that is Juanita Wall!" I said, "No, Mom, that is Juanita (insert name I have forgotten) and she has lived in El Cajon for a long time. They moved here from New York." But Mom disagreed; she just knew that this was her elementary school friend, Juanita Wall. So Relief Society ended, and Mom gets up and makes a beeline for the teacher, and says "Juanita Wall?" And Juanita looks at her in shock and says "Peal Hancock?!" Juanita had moved with her family from Raymond to New York when she was about 8 years old. And yet she and my mom both recognized each other. And my mother was right--those Raymondites are everywhere!! Fast forward all these years, and my only child who was born in Raymond, therefore a Raymondite, Nancy (who was named after two kindergarten teachers named Nancy, one of which was Nancy Evans) has lived all over the world, therefore helping to lend truth to my mom's assertion. Nancy has been the Raymondite in Burnaby and Port Coquitlam B.C., in  Voronezh, Russia, in Amman, Jordan, in Cairo, Egypt, in Durham, North Carolina, and in Peachtree Corners, Georgia.

What is so funny to me is that now, all these years later, I have the most difficult time remembering Juanita Woodfield (I remembered finally!) and always think of her as Juanita Wall, even though when I KNEW her, I ONLY knew her as Juanita Woodfield. But this story has outlived my relationship with Juanita, and she has become Juanita Wall to me thanks to my mother!

Later (9 AM this morning) Jeanne commented on my little story: What a cool story you shared with us, Myrna. Thanks. Pete Witbeck was in a hotel elevator in Athens, Greece once and a person yelled out, "Hello Raymond!" I can't remember who it was but he knew Pete from their childhood in Raymond.