Apparently, mom’s a Mega Maga

 Oh hi elder Rivera,

I hope this letter finds you well. If I recall, transfers are next week. This may be a big one for you, at least I hope so. I just got notification that you were following me on Duolingo. I haven’t done that for a while, but if you want to do any challenges or anything to help motivate you, I’m game.

I’ve been sick as a dog all day. Last night mom and I went to get our shingles booster. While we were there, we also got our tetanus shot, and a hepatitis B shot. Since I’m over 50, I got another Covid booster. Mom got the same, minus the Covid booster. I teased her about being a Mega Maga, she didn’t think that was funny. There are so many cases of Covid right now though, so I that’s why I got one. Last night, both my shoulders hurt, it felt like I had been punched hard in each one. This morning, I had the chills and a fever and slept till noon. I stayed home from church, which was nice. My fever got up to 101.8, so at least no one can say I was faking. Mom’s feeling it now. We’re upstairs on the couches, mom’s napping, I can here your brothers downstairs playing ping pong. We just got done with Sunday dinner—roast beef, loaded mashed potatoes made by Joey, and Rhodes rolls. Your brothers are doing a ton of the cooking these days.

This was a short week because of memorial day weekend. As usual, we didn’t go anywhere, it’s just too crowded. Monday it rained so we went to my parents and brothers and grandmas grave. Usually it’s packed on Memorial Day, but because of the rain we had it to ourselves. Then we went to go have breakfast at aunt Patti’s house. It’s nice to be with her and Artie. The seems so happy since the divorce ended. Their neighbors were there, they were super nice. After that we stopped by aunt Stella and uncle Temmy’s house. Uncle Timmy was showing me some of his coins. They are so cool and he knows all of the history behind them. 

This week at work has been fairly busy, which is good. I went in on Tuesday but not on Thursday. Wednesday night Joey went to lagoon with his buddies for his birthday. So I went to young mens without him. We just had a planning meeting. Speaking of the Priests quorum, Joey was officially called as first assistant. He’s not super happy about it. I know bishop really considered it. When we went to that camp we talked about each boys individually, so I was grateful to know bishops perspective. He works really hard to know and help those young men. I think Joe will do a good job, I told him I’d help.

I’ve been working to get my 4Runner and my gear ready for the trip to Oregon with Uncle Aaron. I’m sad because it doesn’t look like your brothers have made arrangements to come with me, but I do understand. I got my rack with the gas can mounted. It looks good. I think I’ll take it off between adventures though. Since I’m going alone I’m making a little platform to sleep in the back, it will save me from having to set up a tent by myself every night. We’re planning on eating freeze dried foods…we’ll see how that goes. Aside from your brothers not coming, I’m looking forward to it.

I’ve been pretty good at keeping up my walks, I’m sending some pictures of a really pretty morning on Tuesday. I’m also sending a picture of a random guy waiting at domino’s for pizza, he looked like wilford brimley. I took it for your mother.

Saturday morning we met aunt Patti at the dunford donuts store, then went shopping and did errands, not a very productive day, but at least I was with your mom and ben most of the day. I also had two lunches. One without some high school buddies, three old farts even though they seemed the same to me. Then we met Joe for another lunch at arbys, they have a new burger I wanted to try. It was pretty okay but I gave half to Joey.

Your brothers are on a pretty intense Star Wars kick these days. With the new Obi Wan Kenobi series and everything. It pretty good if you ask me.

Oh, I officially finished my F15, only 30 months in the making for a very ordinary outcome. But it was fun. The pictures I have aren’t great, but they’re okay.

Joe was wondering if you could call at about 3:30 our time tomorrow, that’s his work break. If you need to call at a different time, let us know and maybe he can adjust his schedule. Joey seems valued there. He talks about his old timer bosses a lot and he seems to really care for them. Speaking of bosses, mine told me this week that I was by far the best person they’ve ever had in this role. This is not my dream job, but it is nice to be appreciated.

Thursday night after I prayed and was dozing off I got the strongest prompting to pray for you, so I prayed hard, asking for you to be okay and asking Heavenly Father to give you what you needed. I’m not sure what that was about, if anything. But I want you to know that you are always near my thoughts. Lately, I find myself missing you, then I think of how much you are growing and that I fully expect to see you again. I look forward to seeing that growth and seeing you becoming a man and making your own choices. Then I think of brother brown and think how much he must miss Teagan and how much that loss would hurt. I haven’t spoken to brother brown much, I feel bad about that, but I do think of and pray for him a lot, because I never want to experience his pain and loss. I really need you boys to be okay, you are my legacy and I really want for you to have the kind of life you want. You doing what you are doing right now is no small part of that. I feel sad for those boys that choose not to have this experience.

Well dude, just know that I adore you, I pray for your well being, and I’m impressed by your growth. Keep going, 

Love,

Your proud dad