Old Volcano and Older Fighter Pilot

 Oh hi Bakey,

I’m going to start this letter a wee bit earlier than normal, then I’ll finish it after we get home from grandmas. As you know, it Memorial Day weekend and we get tomorrow off, except Joey that is. Im hanging out with mom upstairs right now. She’s watching hallmark, I’m doing this.

This week has had a wee bit more going on than normal. I was waiting for a big freelance project to come in last month and i was going to buy this really cool high-end rack for the 4Runner. The project never came through, but I want a rack for this trip I’m planning with Aaron in a few weeks. So instead of the high dollar cool overlanding rack I got a super low-end roof rack from the king of all fart smelling dad stores, HarborFreight. It literally cost 1/10 if what I was planning on spending. I’ve spent a few days modding it up as I tend to do. The primary reason for it is I needed a place to mount my gas can. I like the idea of have reserve gasoline on long trips.  I built a gas can mount out of a metal bracket I found at Home Depot. I’m pretty proud of it because I cut it, drill semi accurate holes in it, and painted it to match the rack perfectly. I used cable and pipe hangers to fix it to the rack. It seems solid enough, though I’ll want to test it before the trip. I also got a cheap duffle bag to put out toilet stuff in to put on the rack, along with trash. I’m hoping to also have some room for firewood and maybe something to strap our orange tent to. Eventually, if it doesn’t rust away, I want to permanently mount my HAM radio antenna and some lights to. It’s not mounted up yet, but it’s close. I’ll send pics when it’s done. There are a few other things on the car that I’m hoping to get done before we go, but the rack is the main thing.

Speaking of the trip, I’m not sure if your brothers are coming. Ben has that new job and he’s trying to make a good impression at and Joey finds my trips boring. I’m not sure he’s wrong is the thing. I guess it’s only fair though. His buddies invited him to go to st George after school let out. There were parents going, but the boys were going to drive alone. The two things that came to mind were the guidance from the church on no sleep overs and teagans accident. Both probably unreasonable and overly paranoid. He felt bad but I also got the feeling he expected a “no”. I made it clear that it was just because he was too young. If you or Ben wanted to do something like that, I encourage it. I do wish Benjamin would get out a little more.

Wednesday night for young mens we did service. There was a fair turnout and we did two yards, the Butlers and the Hales. I was proud of Joey, he worked hard without goofing off. Bishop impressed me too, he was working his butt off and I was having a tough time keeping up with him. This is still top secret, but bishop said he was going to call Joey as Priests First Assistant. I’ve heard that you did a really good job at that, so I suspect Joey will too.

Friday was a big day at our house. Mom got a new job at Riverton Elementary school. She’s pretty happy about it and I’m very proud of her. She becoming a legend in Jordan school district. We went to celebrate for dinner, we ate at La haceienda. It was just okay. Now mom is taking training and looking into certification, she really never eases off.

Friday I took my staff to go see the new Top Gun movie. I must admit that I had low expectations for that movie. The original was pretty 80s corny and the flying was not that great. I told your mom that the only part of that movie I really liked was the soundtrack. I tease mom about the beach volleyball scenes, her response is always about how short Tom cruise is. Anyway the new movie was incredible, the fighter jet scenes were all done with practical effects, real flying. It was sorta like Ford vs Ferrari but with jets. We ended up going again as a family last night. We went to the 9:20 showing. I can’t remember the last time I was out that late, plus, I didn’t even fall asleep.

We’re leaving for grandmas now. I’m not excited about this, your aunt is cooking 🤮. I’ll finish this later.

_____

Well, we’re back. We dodged a bullet and it was all grandmas cooking. So i didn’t have to sit there with grease running down my arms and chin having to force a grin on my face and pretend like it’s best thing ever cooked in the history of the galaxy. Grandmas house gets crowded, her family seems to be multiplying. I’m never comfortable over there anymore. I did tell Mark that I was abolishing male hugs in the family, he seemed crest fallen.

Yesterday was one of those desert trail runs I like to go on. Truth be told, it was a bit boring. But a day in the desert with uncle Tim and ben beats a Saturday at Sam’s club and Costco anytime. We went to a place called Fumarole butte down near Delta. It’s an old volcano core and actually pretty cool. Ben climbed to the top and uncle Tim and I walked all the way around. After, uncle Tim was supposed to be back to go see Top Gun with his family. On our way home, just south of Saratoga Springs, the road was closed. Turns out the was a wreck where two people had been killed. That stuff always has an effect on me, it’s so sad to think about what those families have to go through. So we had to backtrack and go through elberta and santaquin where we ate at this random Mexican restaurant, it was good, but probably mostly because we were starving.

We finally got home about 6:30 and mom and I went to Sam’s club. On the way home we decided to take your brothers to Top Gun as I said above. It’s been a long time since theirs been an old fashioned summer movie like that. As I sat in the theater I was really missing you. I still, and probably always will, think of us in five’s, meaning I tend to order five tickets etc.

I had a hard time getting to sleep afterwards, therefore I slept in embarrassingly late…it was awesome. It’s been raining and cool, maybe the last of the spring, so I’m enjoying it while it lasts. 

Well kid, we look forward to Mondays. Most of will be around, so call/contact us when you can, please know how much I love you. There’s never a time I’m not thinking of you or praying for you.

Love,

Pops