Old fat rock stars

 Oh hi mr Jacob,

Your mission President just posted a picture of you and your comp with him and sister President. You look really good, if a bit thin. Your features are manly now, your baby looks are gone. Your mission experience has turned you from boy to man. I can’t wait to get to know that man, I can’t wait to get my boy back.

Today was Garett Blattman’s farewell talk. He did well, but he was very emotional. He’s gone through a lot this year, he’s taking the right path. So many of the current priests are so self centered, which is natural. Choosing God and serving others is not. I was pretty clueless when I decided to go. But every day God gives you the opportunity to recommit, even today I get to.

Seems like every day this week I got a text from someone at church wanting this or asking for that. Missionary lessons, church cleaning assignments, endless Christmas party chores. Every single time I grumble, either inwardly or outwardly. God piles my blessings high, like a thanksgiving dinner plate, yet I still grumble. Funny thing is, most of the time, I enjoy the things that make me grumble.

It seems like two weeks since last Sunday. In a way it was. The first part of the week was all about work and getting ready to meet the new boss. I met her and she was cool, seemed really smart, asked good questions. I’m interested, and trepidations, about what’s coming. Must feel a little like you just before transfer. That’s the only constant in life Jake, change. 

Tuesday night there was a company party at the aquarium. Mom and I got Mexican food in Draper before, it was decent. It was fun to see some people from work, it was more fun to walk the aquarium with your mother. Most of our dates these days are at Sam’s or Costco. Your mom is still really fun and girlish on a proper date. I’m also extremely proud to introduce her as my wife. Sometimes I think she’s my only redeeming quality. I love her so Jacob. That’s the next step for you and Ben. But you have time. Better to get this one right than to get to it fast. But, and Ben’s sick of this lecture, it’s not a bad idea to date and get to know girls. I don’t care how complex Ben’s physics and math classes are, women are far more complicated. 

Thanksgiving was nice, just the right size. There were twelve of us, we were all able to fit at the table. Mom’s food was incredible as always, as was the stuff aunt Patti brought. The only thing I hate about thanksgiving is how fast the meal goes. It was fun to sit and chat afterwards, without having to only talk about Superman and stupid movies. It was also pleasant to have people help with clean up. In fact mom had to text me to come help before it all got cleaned up.

Friday mom made us breakfast after Joey and Ben went Black Friday shopping. Afterwards mom and I did a little shopping. Then I loaded some of my old shop tools into the trailer for the DI. That let me clean up a really messy corner of the garage. That garage will never be tidy, but every little bit helps. We met Joe for his lunch break at some taco place. Mom is obsessed with finding authentic Mexican food. I don’t know how authentic this was, but it was drenched in fat and grease and I really didn’t care for it. That night after Joey got home we listened to The Game album we got on sale at Walmart by Queen on vinyl. It was pretty good, lots of songs I hadn’t heard before. After that, we listened to The Beatles Let it Be album For the first time that I got last year for Christmas. That album sounded soo great, super high quality. I need to stop buying Walmart vinyl. I need to spend more time listening, especially with you guys. I used to listen that way with you uncle Art (my brother) and aunt Patti. It’s like watching a movie together, but somehow different, somehow deeper.

Saturday we got up super early to do baptisms, then we went to grandmas to put up her tree. Your brothers make quick work of that. She took us to breakfast afterwards, it’s really special to be treated to breakfast by your sweet grandmother. I want to be more like her. Ben’s on a quest for this hot sauce he had in San Francisco so we went to the Salt lake china town to look for some. No luck but it was fun. The aisles in that store are so narrow I felt very big there, so I waited in the hallway.

We got home and watched football for the entire rest of the day. I generally can’t watch that much football but it was a pivotal day for the Utes. I was doing my hobbies for most of the Oregon/Oregon state game, and I thought Oregon was going to win, they were up by 17 for crap sake. But then Oregon state had a goal line stand and came back! Wow, so exciting. Ucla had beaten cal the night before, then the Utes killed, as expected, Colorado. So we watched the Washington, Washington state game. There was a lot of back and forth, but Washington held on. OH MY GOODNESS JACOB, THE UTES ARE GOING TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP! All season I had it in mind that we would go to Vegas for that game, but since it was on Friday instead of Saturday like I thought, none of us felt good about taking two days of work off on short notice. Which is probably for the best since we got a bill from the IRS for more taxes we owe. So Friday will be busy with work, then we have to clean the church, then the game at six. I’ll keep you updated.

Bishop Marchant sent me the this text, he sure loves and admires you.

I’ve been thinking about Jacob today. It seems brutally fitting that Utah would make the rose bowl the two years he is on his mission. If they win on Friday, I’ll have to send him a note to thank him for his sacrifice that paved the way :).

Today was Sunday. Ben smoked some turkey for dinner. We finished re watching Andor. I think you’ll like it. I don’t think I’ll need to watch it again till you get home though. I still have my cold, but I finally see progress. I hope I can shake it. We’re watching the final US concert by Elton John on Disney+ right now. It’s weird to see the super stars as old fat men. It’s weirder to think that you guys only know these rock star’s as old men. Seems like the stuff our generation loved and had in abundance like great music and rock stars hasn’t really been passed down to your generation. You guys still follow the same stuff we did.

Well anyway kid (insert typical dad last paragraph of the letter here). But I do love, admire, and miss you. Good luck with transfers, whatever they brought you.

Pops