Goblin Valley and the Mother’s Day Horde

 Oh hi Jake,

It’s late Saturday night, mom’s snoozing and I’m not tired. I feel bad that we missed your call, Ben and I were somewhere between the San Raphael Swell and Green River on the way to get burgers at Ray’s Tavern after camping near Goblin Valley with the Coopers and Alex, the exchange student from Spain. It was a last minute trip without much planning, but it was glorious. I took yesterday off because I had to go to the passport office and take Joey to his doctors follow up appointment. The passport office went quickly and Joe’s results were negative on his TB test (which is good). I also finished cutting and nailing the Trim on the fireplace mantle. It’s looking good, I’m excited about it. Still have to prep and paint it, then cut down the slab of wood we got for the top. I’m hoping I can finish it up next weekend, but it will more likely take longer. 

I saw that you had a baptism today, you guys all look happy. These are really good times Jacob, be grateful for them. You and your comps and the other missionaries in the photos all look happy. Having joy in your service is the main thing I hoped for you boys to experience on your missions. I didn’t always feel that joy as I served, but I still remember those times that I did, and those times are worth all of the other times, and why I think everyone should serve a mission.

This has been a pretty good and busy week. Monday, as you know, we went to the Pie with Ben for his birthday. That was the first time I ever thought the pizza there was average. Maybe it was an off night.

Tuesday I went to the office in the morning. The network went down for a while and I decided to come work at home. It really doesn’t take much to get me out of there anymore though. Both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings I worked on the fireplace, it’s been an enjoyable project, I love the process of building stuff like that. I do wish I could have finished it before having company over, but there are always hungry mouths to feed, and if we don’t do it for grandma on Mother’s Day, she’ll have to. Also on Wednesday I turn the sprinkler system on. Sure enough our neighbor put his fence posts right on top of some of my pipes and broke them. I’m not going to lie, it bugged the crap out of me and I was pissed when I texted him about it. But then I had a thought, what would brother Allen had done if he was still living there? I felt pretty strongly that he would been kind and helpful about it, so that’s what I decided to do. I’m going to repair the pipes myself try to be nice about it. But always remember this: I HATE PLUMBING,

I’m getting tired now, so I’ll finish up tomorrow.

—————

The hordes have departed and it’s quite again, well, quite as can be with Ben and Joey jamming in the next room. That’s a truly happy noise to me. Everyone on your mom’s side was over, I probably don’t need to say anything about that, the cool part was that Ben and Joey played for the cousins on your mom’s side. Let’s just say that the cool status that the Rivera brothers hold in that group has jumped considerably. It’s also very cool that’s the boys are much more open to playing for them. It will be fun when you are in the band.

We had our classic tostada dinner, as always, it was delicious. Us boys tried to do as much as possible to keep the burden from your mom on Mother’s Day. You’re brothers are highly capable in the kitchen these days. I’m happy being relegated to grunt work and clean up. 

We’re going to grandmas to weed her garden tomorrow. Her little car died on her and almost left her stranded, I know that upset her so I’m going to take my little scan tool over to see if it’s something I can fix. Hopefully I can. She looks a little sadder these days, I wonder if she’s starting to feel the loneliness. Even though grandpa couldn’t have helped her with the car, he would have given her permission to take care of it, and reassured her. It would be so hard to lose your spouse. I hope I can fix it.

The camping trip was fun, Ben and I left around 3:30. We stopped at Harmons for grub and gas. We had talked about meeting the Coopers for dinner, but they were delayed so we stopped at In n Out in Spanish Fork before we headed up the canyon. It’s fun being with Ben, but, he opens up when we’re together. He makes me listen to bob dylan, I’m actually starting to warm up to him. I missed you and Joey though. It may become a rare thing that all four of us go together soon enough. With Joey leaving on his mission and Ben talking about grad school. We need to have a good summer and fall. We got to Goblin about 7:30. Golden hour was just starting. The campground there is constantly full. But we found a cool spot just a half mile to the north of the park and it felt like we were alone. Ben and I set up the tent. I dropped a pin on google maps and went to go find a signal to send to Aaron. It must have gotten through because about an hour later they pulled up. Ben and I had already gotten our camp fire going. I do my fires uncles Tim style with a torch and several squirts of Kingsford starter fluid. Forgot the Boy Scout one match bull crap, napalm is the only way to go.

We got up about 7 the next morning, kinda late for us. But the weather was perfect and it was just so pleasant. I had bought a fancy air mattress that day we went to Antelope Island. I was really looking forward to sleeping on it. I was thick and held air, but I may have over inflated it because my back is still killing me. I felt pleased that I only got up to pee once. When I was out of the tent I thought there was a moth or something on the back of my neck. I reach back and tried to shew it away. I felt it again so I went t swat it down. It felt like a fine string at the back of my neck and in my drowsiness I wondered if I had hung something around my neck before going to sleep. I hadn’t, and as I grasped it with my fingers it twitched. I reacted by flinging whatever it was into the darkness. As my mind sharpened I realized it was probably a small lizard. Then I felt sad because I love lizards and am always trying to catch them. Poor guy, I hope my little reaction didn’t separate him from his tail.

The Coops always get up a little later than we do, it used to annoy me because I’m always trying to fill the day. But I had realized that the fun part was being out with people that I deeply love in a gorgeous setting with perfect weather and just taking it in. We had breakfast, granola bars and apples for Ben and I (no, I’m not getting healthy, it’s that dang blessed medicine I’m on). We’ll need to up our food game when you’re back. 

After we got done and struck camp we went to Goblin Valley. Alex, the Spanish exchange student, kept commenting that he was in the old west and everyone was climbing all over them like when you guys were little. Ben was showing them all the old landmarks and stories from when you guys were little. Those were such happy times and they made Goblin Valley feel like part of our family story.

We were talking about doing some Jeep trails and going to look for some mines, but Ben had organ duties for sacrament meeting and piano duties for primary, so he didn’t want to be out super late. So we decided to go find that old cabin we used to go to, Swazey’s cabin. Again Alex commented on being in the old west. Some of the best western movies were made in Spain in the 60s and 70s so there must be some cultural crossover there. As stated above, we came home via Green River and had yummy burgers at Ray’s on the way home.

We got home early enough for chores, I got the lawn done in the rain. Then we just showered and went to bed.

We’ve decided to amend our Canada trip a little. There’s a national park in Canada just on the other side of the border from Glacier National Park. It’s called Waterton. It looks beautiful with the Canadian Rockies and beautiful lakes. I felt a little stressed because we had so much driving in the schedule going all the way to Banff, now maybe we can spend a little more time looking around and less time in the car. I did invite you to join the Google document we’re using to plan. If you’re allowed to access it, feel free to add any suggestions you have.

That’s about all I have today. Kinda long and rambling, sorry. We’re just sitting here waiting to see if you can call. I know you’re in for a busy day tomorrow. I’ll be looking for your texts and call. I do have a meeting in the morning, but hopefully we can work around that. Good luck with your last comp. And oh boy am I getting excited to see you.

Love,

Pops