Elberta

Hello Benjamin,

I’m sitting here watching the Utes, they trail Washington st. By two late in the first half. They got off to a rough start, but they seem to be warming up. I’ll keep you updated.

Jake’s buddies are coming over later to watch the Jazz game, Parker and those guys. I haven’t decided if I’m going to watch or not. He was gone last night to the Carver’s cabin for a Priests retreat. So I missed him. 

The Utes are up, 36-31, Parker vandyke just dropped a three, 5:13 left in the first.

I had a rough day emotionally, it really shames me to say that. I hate falling for doubt and fear. I get mean and selfish, I want to be away from those I need to be with. I upset mom. I felt like crap.

I had to get away, so I took my jeep to go look for the Ealberta tunnels. Those were tunnels made for a railroad in the Tintic mining district. I didn’t find the tunnels, mostly because there were a bunch of scouts camping literally in the middle of the road at the turnoff. I didn’t feel like driving through their camp, so I turned back. It’s been cold, and most of the dirt roads I followed were snow packed, but the snow was not deep. Elberta is about 35 miles straight South of here, about 15 miles south of where we used to go shooting in Saratoga Springs. 

45-43 Utes at half

On the way home, there’s a road I wanted to explore on the south shoulder of lake mountain, the mountain by Utah lake. It was snow packed as well. I read this story about a Mexican miner in the late 1800s who shot a guy during a card game in Bingham Utah. His name was Rafael Lopez. He ran from the sheriff. On foot, he walked South to Lehi where he stopped at a ranch house. The ranchers wife offered him dinner. He took a seat where he could see out of the front window. When he saw the deputies coming, he took his rifle and shot one dead, he was a pretty bad guy. He took off South following the base of west mountain. The posse tracked him by his bloody footsteps in the snow, he didn’t have boots and his shoes failed him. Somewhere near that road I was exploring, the posse tracked him to a cave. It was the night before thanksgiving, and no one wanted to stay, so they left one guy to watch the entrance to the cave. He was never seen again. 

The road went west over the mountain to the cedar valley, south of eagle mountain. The road was snow packed but good until about the last ten miles, then it got really rutted and muddy. My jeep was a mess, but it did great.

When I got home, grandma took us to get el pollo loco and krispi kreme, the red light was off...I need say no more.

I washed the jeep and ran errands with mom this afternoon.

The second half is about to start, I’m going to let Joe play games on my iPad for a wile. I’ll let you know the final score after.

The Utes won, 92-79

It’s Sunday evening now, we’re watching AFV. We went to grandmas house. She had hamburgers, just like for your farewell. Today was a busy day at church for me. I really like serving on the Bishopric. As much as I indulged my fears yesterday, today I managed not to think of myself at all. In our come follow me Lesson this morning, we learned to follow the teachings of Christ in the beatitudes. Not one of those is about feeling sorry for yourself. Seems like I’m too old to have to keep learning those lessons Ben. Friday in the temple, I had a thought I had never had before, and I was surprised by that, I was sitting in the endowment session, thinking of my mom, dad, and brother. How I know them, that they’re tangible to me. Then I thought that I’d like to see Christ in that same familiar, tangible way. It’s not that I don’t believe, or understand, or even don’t think he’s my brother. Its just that I’ve never thought of him on that familiar of plane. It really made me happy, and it was a real example of how close He us to us at the temple.

In contrast to yesterday, I have an optimistic, excited feeling about the employment situation. I wonder if I’m bi polar or manic depressive sometimes Ben, but in the spirit of having faith and being hopeful, I think some progress or an opportunity will come up this week. 

If you can use google hangouts, mine is under argeorqui@gmail.com. If not, we’ll look forward to your letter. If you have another way of calling, let us know 

Love you Ben

Pops