6/13/11 - 6/19/11
Hayley and I had the singular experience of attending a "celebration of life" memorial service for a person we'd never met along with a family we don't know. A nineteen-year-old girl died in a car accident and her family - recently moved to Idaho Falls from New York - have very few connections here in our local area. So a call was made by our bishop for as many members of our church to attend the memorial service as possible so the family didn't have to feel so alone. I believe there were only 9 or 10 people in attendance who knew the girl who passed away - yet there were more than 50 people who showed up. Hayley and I represented the Ridley family at the commemorative service since it didn't sound good to bring the Destructo-Boys to such a solemn meeting where they would have to sit still. Grief notwithstanding, it really was a good meeting! Along with life sketches from the family, people from the congregation were invited to the pulpit. They shared their condolences from their own experiences with grieving and loss of loved ones. Stories were told, scriptures were read, assurances were shared. That the departed is in a better place was the most oft repeated message of the evening. People who didn't even know the girl who passed shared genuine tears together. The bishop's counselor admonished the bereft to remember the precious moments they had with her as a gift from God. Meanwhile, Hayley and I worked to distract/calm a little girl in the row ahead of us who kept urging her mother to let her out in the isle to play. Then we were all invited to retire to the cultural hall for refreshments and Hayley chatted pleasantly with an older couple who were obviously impressed with her. As they left, they confided to me what a charming daughter I have. We stayed there eating cookies and punch until most of the mourners had gone home - then took down the chairs and went home ourselves.
Emily had a birthday this week. On Birthday Eve, she got to visit the farmer's market where a friend made her some gluten free doughnuts (pasteries she can eat without getting sick! How wonderful!) Then she and I both had what I was told was a Sweedish massage. Since this was my first venture into massage, I cannot tell you what makes it Sweedish. Emily said it caused her to feel very peaceful and relaxed. It triggered anxiety for me at times. Overall it was good, but very odd for me. It made me much more aware of the big knots in my shoulders and between my shoulder blades (where I now have slight bruises instead of knots). Emily said she was impressed with the quality of the place and the service itself. For any of you who are in Idaho Falls, we now have a supply of free one-hour massage coupons to hand out, so let us know if you are interested.
On Birthday Morn, Emily got to lounge about in bed for a while - I would say "sleep", but she's not one to actually sleep when anyone is up rattling those pots and pans. Dishes were done and a fairly-new creation - the omelette pizza - was created. With the help of our children, we added a bowl of cereal, grapes, freshly-stirred lemon-aid, and a granola bar to her tray and was about to take it up to her when she emerged, showered and dressed for the day. So much for breakfast in bed. She said she preferred to eat at a table anyway. Not long after that, the doorbell rang and another friend - one Jennifer Owen - appeared, singing and bringing yet more gluten free pastries. She enjoyed phone calls and online well-wishes from many of her adoring fans. Emily got to go to a movie with Mary Jo, watch some baseball, catch some live bluegrass music with the family down by the river, and eat a measure of a Friendy's Reces Ice Cream Cake which is reminiscent of her younger-years in Connecticut.
On the Post-Birthday Morn, Nathan and Matthew woke up at a very early hour and raised such a clatter that we arose from our beds to see what was the matter. Then, since we were up anyway, Emily used what eggs we had left after her omelette pizza to create the Father's Day Breakfast - two egg, cheese, and bacon English muffins. Tasty! Then Emily retired for a nap before church. My daughter presented me with a card she made at her Activity Days - complete with pop-out coupons and other hidden treasures. My sons made me a giant wooden train track in the shape of a "'D' for 'Dad'" or "'D' for 'Don't you love our Track'?" Fun times! Then Emily got to go up to bed to take a nap. We got to go to church and I got to tech BOTH Gospel Principles AND Elder's Quorum lessons. Then we had a four-generation potato dinner - with my grandfather, two uncles, myself, and our children (and our respective families). Phone calls to and from various family members - including Mom and Verl on their mission in New York, and Casey who called to help me (unsuccessfully) figure out how to place a call to our Dad in the Philippines - rounded out the day.
Also notable events of this week: Nathan lost another tooth! That makes...5 gone at once? Apples now present a more daunting challenge than ever. Matthew received many lessons in the use of diplomacy rather than whining (with mild-to-moderate success). Hayley made significant progress toward her own line of knitted head wear. Emily preserved her uncanny youth and good looks, defying her chronological age. And I conducted an heroic rescue of a small bird that had fallen into a window well of our house.
Tune in next week when we do more stuff!
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- David Ridley
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