I’ve never seen anyone actually come over the table at someone.

 October 13, 2021

Oh hi kid!

I sure have been thinking of you a lot. I think a lot of it is because I miss you, another big part is because I’m a bit jealous of your experiences (note, I’m not jealous of the way your guts are operating, I’ve done that before in Mexico, don’t need to do it again). And maybe I’m a teensy bit worried about you. That drives me not only to think about you, but also to pray for you a lot, mostly because other than bug you by email, that’s really all I know how to do for you.

This is the first Wednesday that I haven’t had to struggle to write you a whole letter.

Let’s start with the story I started earlier this week. Imagine this scene. There are seven of us sitting in a crowded rustic restaurant in the heart of old Taos. We’ve had a long and fun day exploring my aunts home town as well as visiting a lot of the places where my dad grew up. We drove an extra hour or so to Taos to eat. It was a place just off the plaza called El Azteca. Now this town of Taos has probably not yet been part of the USA as long as it was part of Mexico. And honestly before that the Utes had a dwelling there longer than both of those times combined.So even though it’s been overrun by hipsters and so called artists, it’s pretty Mexican. It was a busy place, and the food was good, partially because we were starving. Up to this point, my aunt Stella had paid for everything and we were all feeling bad about it. So Artie took some initiative and slipped the waiter his card long before the end of the meal. When he brought the card and check back to Artie, aunt Stella insisted that she get the check. Artie tried to explain that it was covered, but she was insistent, to the point that she climbed onto the table to grab it. I was sitting right next to her and I was dumbfounded. Her knees were up on the table before we could convince her that it was paid, your great aunt is 85 years old, but this was no act of old age, this was our determination and fiestieness. If I had her spunk at that age, I’d be okay with that.

Other that eating and sleeping, the trip was all driving, but it was the most insanely beautiful fall drive I have ever experienced, I wish I could have filmed the whole thing because I cannot describe it.

We had all planned on staying through Tuesday, but the people on our side of the family were not around so we decided to come home. Since we all had Tuesday off, we decided to have a movie day yesterday. Mom had bought two large pork butts so Ben decided to make carnitas out of one of them he roasted it in the oven all day and grilled them at the end. He and Artie made this insane green salsa and all of the other fixings including beans, auntie Selena made rice. It was so fun. We watched The Godfather during the day (don’t worry, mom condemned us for it tonight). It’s one of the all time great movies though. In the evening my side of the family came over. It was really fun to be together. We watched the movie Warrior, and I think that’s why I expected to see you with us all. I actually felt sad you weren’t there.

I think our family on that side is getting closer, which makes me really happy. I see Artie and Ben forming a real friendship which I’m sure you’ll also be a part of when you finish your mission. When we were in Texas, aunt patti and aunt Selena were not getting along. Since the aunt patti has gone through her terrible divorce from uncle Patrick and we keep hearing despicable things that he’s doing. Plus that whole family has had massive trials of all kinds. But yesterday and on the trip, your aunts were in the back chatting up a storm and were happy, loving sisters. Some of the trials are on going, but everyone was happy. I felt the Spirit there Jacob, not like in the temple, but the way it should be as a family and as joy should be.

Today was back to work, it was busy but not as crazy as I feared. Maybe tomorrow. 

One unexpected thing though. I came back to another request for an interview via LinkedIn messenger. I responded, almost thinking that it was some sort of a solicitation from someone trying to sell me something. But it was a recruiter from a software company in Irvine California (not too far from Disneyland). I think the interview went well. It pays more than my Texas job, it’s remote so we wouldn’t move (I don’t think I’d every want to do that again). I think I have a good chance to get a second interview with the hiring manager, but I figure my chances of landing it in the single digit percentage. Still, it’s worth following up on and I’ll keep you posted.

Artie invited us to the game Saturday. I wish I was as excited as you brothers about it. But it’s at 8pm and it’s supposed to be cold. I know, I’m old. It will be fun when you’re home and the 4 of you can go. I will be perfectly happy to be left behind on my big screen couch with the top of my belly full of crumbs. The Utes are predicted to win, if just barely. It is the biggest game of the last two seasons so far. I’ll keep you updated the best I can.

I think I’m going to fast tomorrow. I’ve got a lot of confusion in my mind regarding my job and that interview. I’ve sort of been unhappy with my boss lately, and I feel like I need to do whatever I can to change that. Don’t get me wrong, it’s no moberly situation, but I don’t want to get anywhere near that. Plus, I want to be offered that new job, even though I don’t know if I even want it yet. Maybe I just want to feel like I can still do a high level job like that. Lately I don’t feel that way, and I think that’s wrong. I think that I need to find and trust the confident me, not the insecure me. I’ll be fasting for you too. Mostly, because that’s about all I can do for you from here.

I found this picture on Facebook today, I laughed then I thought of you. He’s a legend.

I sure love you Jacob. I sense your progression, though it may be harder for you to sense it. Keep going, I have full confidence in you, so does your Heavenly Father.

6

Pops