Squaw Peak Road

Oh hi trainer elder Ben!

Been thinking of you today, what a memorable day for you and your new companion. I remember my first day in the mission field vividly, from sleeping in the mission home with the awkward breakfast with the mission president and his wife and the other disoriented missionaries, the little unnecessary matchup game with the new companionships (nobody knew each other anyway), the long drive to our area (over three hours), going tracking before anything else and doing my first door approach (I cannot imagine how I sounded), stopping by the sisters apartment to borrow a blanket (I didn’t have my bedding yet and the stores closed early in Canada in those days, I still remember how scratchy that dang blanket was), I remember how black the bathtub was (I’ve never before or since seen anything so disgusting). Some days just stay in your memory, some, like many of those from the last several months, don’t leave anything behind at all.

Of course, I will want all of the details about your new trainee.

Today I had one of my little mini adventures. When you asked about adventures the other day, I didn’t really consider my half day escapes. But today I invited uncle Aaron to take our Jeeps over Squaw Peak Road. It’s the road in the mountains just above Provo. We used to go there to take family portraits when you guys were little. We would only go as far as the Squaw Peak overlook in those days because after that the road gets pretty rough after that. We found out just how rough today. It’s not technical or precarious or anything like that, it’s just so deteriorated. There were deep ruts and pits created during the muddy season, some areas were extremely rocky. I dragged my hitch going down into a mud bog. So as you can tell , it was a total blast! Additionally, the autumn colors are just starting to get bright. The maples are in full flame right now with the aspens just starting to turn. The road is right up near the peaks on both sides, and the clouds were skimming over them like water over rocks in river rapids. The road ended in Cobble Creek Canyon, just to the east of Springville. We thought about continuing up to Strawberry Reservoir, but I stopped and asked an old timer direction and conditions. I liked the way he worded his answer, “You’ll make it, but it’s pretty torn up and you’ll have to work for it...it’ll take a while.” We hadn’t really brought any provisions, so I fallowed my appetite for Two-Jack’s rather than my appetite for further adventure for the day. I’d make that choice again, the pizza was as good as always.

Other than that, I’m just prepping for the new gig. I’ve gathered up most of my paperwork (I just need to dig up my social security card) and I’ll be ready for Monday. Somebody asked me the other day if I was excited, I told them I’m too old to get excited, but I sure am ready.

I’m sure looking forward to conference this weekend. The buzz is all about upcoming changes. I have to say that I’m just looking forward to hearing the messages. So many times throughout this downtime I’d be looking for hope, so many times I found it in those General Conference talks, often the talks that you would refer to me. Those talks we so personal to me that often as a read the it felt as if those men and women knew me and my situation so well that I would often imagine the sitting with me and talking directly to me. They were profoundly comforting.

Well, I’ll sign off on that note. Please know that my thoughts are with you always and you are a blessing in our lives.

Pops