Author: admin

Canceled class
Missionary letters
Running on the beach
Real grated cheese
Seasider sandwiches

Guess Who?

“We honor and remember the the nearly 3,000 men, women and children killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93, as well as the six people killed in the February 1993 World Trade Center bombing.”
-Washington DC State Legislature Leaders Foundation

You know how old people used to always say, “Back in the good ole days…” “Back when I was a kid…” “I remember when…” and they were things like the Great Depression and World War 2 and times before electricity and such? Well, turns out that for me what seems “current” is actually history. Like, I swear Sept. 11 was like 3 years ago. But it was 10 years ago! And the ’90s are no longer current either. Weird!

So now my “I remember when…” is I remember when I heard about the attack on the Twin Towers. I was in 4th grade, and my teacher Mr. Rencher gave us a very important talk about it, with personal connections due to his experiences in the Vietnam War. I will also never forget the recurring image of the Towers blowing up, shown over and over and over again. And watching live news of the families and friends of those in the buildings, as they waited anxiously to hear any news at all. Then seeing cemetery gatherings of tribute, commemoration, and extreme sorrow.

It affected the entire country, (I remember when airports were entirely different than they are now. Back in the good ole days we used to be able to meet people right outside the terminal. And we didn’t have to hand over our entire lives and beings as we went through ‘security’.) but individual lives even more. Imagine the family who lost a father, or a mother, or a brother. Maybe the newly married wife who would never see her husband again. It’s interesting to think about how all the history we learn about is actually a collection of many personal histories. And that’s what it’s all about.

I will never forget, and I’ll try to remember each year about the magnificent effect this event had on individual lives.

*This is long. So don’t bother reading it if you don’t have 3 minutes, or a listening ear for my personal triumph.

All growing up, I never watched TV for one simple reason: we didn’t have one. Then I went to college, my friend Sara showed me an episode of the Office, I thought it was super funny, I got the 1-month free Netflix trial, and I was hooked. Suddenly, I had instant access to a delightfully relaxing and humorous form of entertainment. So of course I had to get my own Netfix account after the trial ended. …
Michael Scott: World’s Best Boss?

The Office was really funny. Really funny. I’m sure I can’t appreciate it as much as someone like my dad, because I haven’t actually worked in an office, but I know that’s a big part of the humor. The whole “mockumentary” deal is what really got me. I could at least understand that they were making fun of reality TV, and doing it in a very expert sort of way.

Why is Kelly standing on a chair?

As the show went on, and the characters became more developed, and we grew to love Pam and Jim, hate Meredith and Angela, and groan at every single thing Michael and Dwight ever did or said, that became the real draw, because we knew the characters well enough to predict what they would do, and laugh at their occasional/ frequent stupidity/ absurdity. This is an example of how attached to the characters one can become. And that is why I loved the show so much: I knew the characters so well that it was just kind of enjoyable to watch whatever random and ridiculous things they did.

Pam and Jim: one of the greatest couples of all time.

Unfortunately, as may or may not be inevitable at this day in age, the dry humor wasn’t enough to keep a wide enough audience, so drastic measures had to be taken. Of course the obvious answer would be to entertain the crazy viewers of our day, who require humor of a most distasteful range.

Blast.

My inner struggle can only be imagined. Ooh, that’s pretty bad. Dwight! Agh! Don’t be the moron that you are! Ahh! Look away! YES! Pam and Jim! Finally! Whoa. Meredith. Whoa. Andy is the best! I love Kevin! Ohhhh Michael. Oh wow. Hahahahahaha!

That’s the way it went over. Cognitive dissonance in a major way.

And so I’ve come to a new resolve. And this is it:

“I love the Office and I think it’s really funny. However, much of the humor is inappropriate, and it’s gotten wrse as the show has gone on. I remain uncomfortable with that kind of humor, and to prevent further exposure, I deem it wise to entertain myself with alternate shows and/ or (preferably) entirely other forms of entertainment. I also add that the show has lost a huge amount of appeal with the absence of Michael, and also with the significantly less (if not complete loss of) interest with Pam and Jim. For all these reasons, and also for the sake of spending both my time and mental capacity in better ways, I end my consistent viewing of it with the exit of Michael Scott (aka Steve Carrell). I will allow myself to watch the future episode with none other than Josh Groban, and possibly a few of the old classics (Casino Night and Fun Run specifically) but this must happen.”

Are you proud? That feels good.

Amber!

How are you? I couldn’t wait to write a letter to you today, which is a P-day. Life in MTC is pretty good. I already could feel God’s power the second day in MTC. Well, another thing is, I have got many friends now. They were really nice and funny, especially a missionary called Elder Vea, who is from Tonga. Just now we were tackling each other and he held me upside down becuase I was too small compared to him.

My companion is called Elder Hodson. He is from BYUH too. His frist name is Alex. I don’t know if you know him. He is smart and nice. But sometimes he is kind of cool to me. He doesnt’ talk as much as he does to his other friends.

I read the scripture you gave me whcih was awesome. In case you forgot what scripture you gave me, it was Alma 26. That was a really good missionary attitude. I like the part where it said how much power the God has. God has so much power that can overcome our weaknesses. Amber, I think you are going to love your mission too, I promise.

Well, I miss you and I am waiting for your letter. 🙂 Thanks for the compliment you gave me on the last letter. 🙂 And you should know that you are awesome too, and you are really nice to people. Thanks for picking me up from the airport and the awesome tour in the Temple Square. Tell me all the fun things you did recently. And I love you! I love all you guys. (it’s hard for my culture to say I love you, but I think I have to learn to say it.) Keep in touch!

*if you zoom in on this picture, you’ll note that the time is 1:52 a.m. Yes, this is a reflection on my freshmen year. Also, Lug, I say nice things about you in this, so you’d do well to read it.

SO ALL THE KIDS CAME BACK. And then some. I had lunch with Lucy and Aileen today, (well, rather, I watched them eat lunch) and in so doing, encountered about 800 freshmen skipping about.

Hey, welcome to Provo. Glad you could make it.

As I’ve watched them all drift in this week, I can sense their excitement, mixed with apprehension, uncertainty, possibly terror, and maybe shock. But honestly, college is awesome! They’re going to love it. I remember the Christmas before I graduated from high school housed some very traumatic feelings for me. This is my last Christmas as a kid! My life is pretty much ending after this! I’m not ever gonna have any fun! This is it! But in truth, I was just getting off the ski lift! This past year’s run had some intense moguls, a few patches of ice, and a couple of hidden jumps, but it was an awesome ride, and I can’t wait to run it again!

I learned a lot about myself and the outside world. It’s amazing what you can find when you leave Utah. It’s also amazing how misunderstood my poor hometown is. (I may or may not be way too defensive of my beloved motherland that is Provo.) I had some fabulous classes, made a bunch of wonderful friends, realized that Lucy and Aileen are my best friends in the whole world, realized that I have the most wonderful family ever, wrote like a zillion papers, strengthened my left hippocampus… Yeah. It was a great year. Oh, and I live in Hawaii. Just thought I’d mention that. I’m also going on a mission in 16 months.

1. “I’m 16. What’s such a baby about that?” -Leisel, The Sound of Music
2. “I’m 16 years old! I’m not a child anymore!” -Ariel, The Little Mermaid
3.

This is a video of the original, just so you can have it in your head.

Hey where did you go,

Back from the Mittons

Down in the Riverbottoms,

Ridin’ a new bike

Laughing and a biking hey, hey

Without a helmet.

In the Emergency Room with

Our hearts a thumpin’ and you

My black eyed girl,

You my black eyed girl.

You were just biking

On Wednesday and so fast

Going down Univsersity

With dozens of cars moving past.

Standing in the intersection laughing,

Impervious to all traffic,

Slipping and sliding [not sloppy though]

Into that curb, it’s you

My black eyed girl,

You my black eyed girl.

Do you remember what your name is?

Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da

So hard to find your way,

When you have no idea who you are.

I saw you just the other day,

My how your face has grown,

Cast your memory back there, Lug

Try to remember who you are

I’m not in Hawaii,

I’m in the hospital with you

My black eyed girl

You my black eyed girl

Do you remember anything about your past?

Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da.