Kobe Bryant

Oh hi kid!

Don’t know if much of anything happened since I last wrote, but I’ll write on regardless.

You’ve probably heard this by now, and I’m sorta surprised that I’m having a response to this at all. Today Kobe Bryant was killed when his helicopter crashed. He was on his way with his daughter to one of her ball games. It’s shocking when someone you’ve heard about for so long and so alive and vibrant dies. It collectively and culturally shocking. Things in life can change so quickly. It reminds me a little of my brothers accident,in that they’ll always be young. I don’t say that in a way to glorify youth...I mean it in a way that they’re both missing out on so many of life’s experiences. Those experiences are so rich, even in their mundanity, even in the trials we have to face. We’ll never see old, fat, living in the past Kobe. I think it will raise his already lofty standing in the ranks of great basketball players.

The Utes are back into their groove after a 4 game loosing streak. They beat the Washington teams at home. Rylon Jones, or our 12 year old guard, hit 30 on Saturday. This kid is amazing, he really does look 12, baby pudge and all. He’s listed at 6 foot, if he’s six feet tall I’m 6’5”. Bill Walton refers to him as “Dennis the menace”. He a freshman guard out of Olympus high and the son of one of our assistants, but he can play. He’s the toughest kid on the team and so fun to watch.

Yesterday I met some friends and uncle Aaron for breakfast to discuss the upcoming Death Valley trip. One friend is someone I worked with 30 years ago while still in college. I’ve seen him here and there over that time, and thanks to social media, have kept up some contact. Through that minimal contact And a mutual friend I knew he was into jeeps. So on a whim I added him to this trip. Anyway, that was just a long set up to say that friendship is something that I think I’ve under appreciated for a long time. Even after all this time we could tell stories and laugh about things we experienced together. It’s also amazing to me how fast time passes. Those stories we told are still so sharp in my memory. We all stayed in this little hole-in-the wall restaurant for over two hours. We were those classic old guys telling stories at breakfast on a Saturday morning. There is great pleasure in those experiences for me now.

Speaking of relationships. We had grandma and grandpa, aunt Patti and Artie, and the coopers over for dinner tonight. Once again I paused to appreciate the fun and pleasure of just being with loved ones. I imagine that if we can appreciate it, that that joy we feel together is a taste of the joy in the celestial kingdom. 

Aunt patti’s Chrones disease is flaring up. She’s been fighting that for 30 or 40 years. She is the toughest person I know. I have so much respect for her ability to fight through these waves of trials and still trust her faith, still keep striving, still find happiness. She asked for a blessing and the Spirit was so strong and positive. She really loves your letters too.

Work has been busy, and I feel stress and I feel behind. But I also feel challenged and supported, and even liked there. I still feel so grateful for the job and haven’t yet wished for something different. I just want to get up to speed.

As always, I look forward to Monday to hear from you. Let me know when you’re Greek bible gets there and how that’s coming.

Sure love ya kid,

Pops