One-of-Nine

Oh hi Bakey!

Ben and I are sitting in the small bedroom listening to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, you see, it’s the 50th anniversary of the album. I think I’ve listened to it for at least 40 of those years. It still gives me that feeling of awe and spookiness it did when I first heard it. Even something about all the vinyl record noise brings back those times listening.

It’s Saturday evening, it was a busy day. This morning as per usual we got up to have breakfast with Joey. Then we went through the car wash and headed up to go see grandpa. He’s still in that facility. We got there and met grandma. I guess something happened to his computer so we helped him order one at Best Buy. We visited for a while longer then mom and I did our shopping. While we were visiting a bird crapped all over mom’s windshield, it was so disgusting we went through the car wash again. Then we went to Sam’s and Winco, then we swung by Best Buy to grab grandpa’s new crappy HP laptop. We stopped by the care facility to drop it off, when we got to his room he was just finishing lunch. I think he wanted me to help set it up, but I have no idea what his stuff is or how to set it up. He said something like that in the future your computer will automatically back itself up and transfer your stuff to all of your devices. I kept my mouth shut but thought “welcome to Apple in 2007.” But he listens to your uncle David when it comes to tech. So we left it there. By the time we did all that we had missed Joe’s lunch break. He and Ben had gone to Rancharitos and mom and I went to a trendy place called Cubby’s. I had a burger and mom had some horrendous kale salad and sweet potato fries. I have to admit the sweet potato fries were better than I thought they would be. 

While we were there I saw that Jake Sparks mom had posted a picture of you guys in the visitors center. It was so cool. I remember you cute little boys playing together before we moved to Texas. You’ll need to tell us the story in this week’s letter 🤞🏽.

I helped mom with the groceries, dishes, and laundry after we got home. Then I went out to install some better cross bars on my 4Runner. I wanted something better to carry our orange tent, my High-Lift jack, my gas-can, and a few other accessories on, but I didn’t want to spend the $1,400 that a fancy “overland” style rack would cost. It only took a couple of hours and I suspect it will work well. I do need to find or make the specific mounting points for the above items, but that will be fun to do. 

Mom made these really good cinnamon rolls for fun tonight, I ate one and it’s ruined my dinner, but it was pretty good.

This was a more eventful week for us than most. On Tuesday Artie texted and asked if mom and I wanted his Jazz tickets. I was at work and didn’t think I could pick up Ben, drop off Ben, pick up mom, and make it all the way to Salt Lake in time, so I just decided to meet Ben at the Crown Burger near the arena and head there straight from work. Mom was fine with that and Joey was working, so it worked out. We got there pretty early, but it was fun to be in the arena. Ben and I walked around the concourse to look at the guitars from the big concerts they had there. He was not impressed buy the low end guitars, but it was neat to see the famous bands that had played there. I was thinking of buying some merch, but the current team style doesn’t really appeal to me. I must admit, though, that the stark yellow highlighter color of their uni’s is nothing if not distinct. Jordan Clarkson didn’t play, so predictability the Jazz lost, to the league cellar dwelling Spurs. Oh well, it was fun to watch Markenen and that other guy play. It was fun to hang out with uncle Aaron and Max, and especially fun to be with Ben.

Young mens was on Thursday because we had a tour of the MTC planned. I was my usual apathetic self about going, especially because Joey had to work that night. But there was enough boys that I did have to drive. It’s been almost 38 years since I stepped foot inside of that place. That’s almost as hard for me to say is it is for you to imagine. The old part was nearly identical to how I remember it. The new part is spectacular. Bishop Snarr and bishop Marchant were the other adults there. Bishop Marchant shared this picture with me of that time your Priest’s quorum went with the old, old bishop while Ben was there. There are nine boys in that picture at the MTC. You are the only one of those nine that have served a full and honorable mission. That’s something that even bishop Marchant pointed out. Think about that Jacob, one of nine. All of those boys came from good families, most of those boys thought they were going to serve, one of those boys tried to serve, but made it less than a month. You are the one from that group that committed to serve and toughed it out. You have had to overcome hard things to stay, you continue to fight to live up to your high standards. You’re probably thinking I’m making too much of this kid, but I’m not. You are doing an exceptional job, even though you know you can do a little better. I’m really proud of you. Next time you think that you’re not good enough remember that, you are one-in-nine kid. You are pretty awesome.

We also saw President Howell when we were there. I’m not sure how well he remembered me, but it was sure good to see him. I learned more from him spiritually than probably anyone else outside of the family, ever.

We’re just watching Monk again now. Tomorrow mom and I are going to another one of Mark”s baby blessings. I realized how racist I am today when I mentioned to mom that all of those babies on that side of the family are just standard issue white babies and that I can’t tell them apart. I got the mom look for that.

Uncle Tim told grandma today that Jordan is going to extend. Grandma thinks that’s pretty great. I guess it is, but it also strikes me as a little, well, righteous in the Ben definition of the word. He probably wants to extend for the right reasons, but he may just not be excited about going home. I’ll support you all the way if you want to extend, but I am looking forward to you being home. 

Friday I got good news from my boss. I’m getting a small raise and bonus. The bonus should be enough to get us a head start on our summer vacation IF we don’t owe a ton of taxes. I’ll do them next week to get a better idea. 

Tomorrow my side of the family is coming over for dinner. I’ll finish up this letter after that.

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We just got home from Mark’s baby blessing. That baby is huge, and pretty cute for a standard issue baby — white. His hair pattern is kinda like a little spotty mow hawk. His name is Augustus Mark. Grandma and mom don’t like that name, I think it’s pretty cool. On of my all time favorite fictional cowboy characters name is Augustus. They had a little open house afterwards. Mark’s house looks pretty good. I’m hard on Mark, but he has done a lot and he should be proud.

Mom and Ben are doing dinner prep. Now it seems we have to make our pasta from scratch or it’s not good enough. (Okay I admit it, their homemade pasta is freaking fabulous). Ben asked mom to set a timer for six minutes, ben didn’t want to have Alexa do the timer. Im teasing him by telling him about an article I read stating that Gen Z is befuddled by basic technology. We then decided that Ben is not Gen Z, he’s from the greatest generation but just born 80 years too late.

Well, everyone just went home. Mom had so much food. Ben and Joey made homemade pasta with the pasta making machine. Mom made meatballs with red sauce, Alfredo with grilled chicken tenders, some weird kale salad, and roasted cauliflower. Aunt Patti brought super good homemade bread and rolls. Everything was so good. People stayed long. And to cap off the night your brothers did their jams, and they were good. Everyone was blown away.

Love you Jacob, you are always on my mind. Looking forward to chatting tomorrow.

Pops