Three Down, One to Go!

 Oh hi that one elder kid,

It hit me this afternoon that this is your third of four General Conferences. In October, you will almost be home, we’ll be so excited, mom will be getting things ready. Things will be so different from when you left. Ben will be in Connecticut, Jake will be at the U, mom will have her BYU job, and hopefully I’ll not be new anymore at my next job.

Speaking of jobs, I have two leads right now. One at the Church which I'm really interested in, and I think well qualified for, plus I have some connections there. I’m meeting with one of these connections tomorrow. The other is for a job at a company called Asea, a creative director position. The job description matches my experience pretty much perfectly. And one of the people I used to manage at Neways works there and is really encouraging me and talking me up to her boss, which will be managing this role. So I’m feeling some amount of hopefulness, trying not to be overly expectant. I’m hoping not to have to dip into my retirement savings, which is already dwindling due to the economic disaster spelled t r u m p. That f***** *******. Sorry about that elder.

Speaking of that looser, your brothers made me proud. Yesterday nation wide protests were held to protest the utter destruction that Trump and musk are doing to the economy and our national standing. They were held in cities and towns all over the country, including at the State capitol in Salt Lake. The cool thing is that your brothers went to protest. I think peaceful protests are a key ingredient to our democracy, nearly as important as voting. There was a big turnout according to Jacob, around 10,000 or so. Next week Bernie Sanders is coming for a rally at the huntsman center. I hope he fills the place. If the boys weren’t going to be in Japan I’d go with them. Heck, I’d like to go anyway. 

So Wednesday is the big day for them. I’m taking them in the morning. Actually Ben has to accept an award at the U in the morning, so I’ll take him to that then we’ll go to the airport. They are so excited, I’m excited for them. I look forward to hearing from them and seeing their pictures. I’m going to miss them, it feels like a preview of our future. But I think it’s cool that they are going and having adventures and living life. Jacob really wants to go to Mexico with you when you’re back. Your mother and I don’t seem to be part of those plans.

This week has been very nice for me because your mother has been home on spring break. It’s so nice to have her around even if we didn’t do anything special. She’s just been so busy and I’ve felt pretty alone. With your mother, even mundane stuff like going shopping is fun, eating lunch together is a happy experience, and dinners with her and your brothers are just special. Look for someone like that to marry Joe, but not right now.

Uncle Aaron and aunt Stella are recovering. I went to help aunt Stella Friday night, your bros came with me. She is almost herself.

It rained and snowed earlier in the week, but the weather is perfect now. Yesterday I continued my conference Saturday tradition of doing projects while listening to the talks. This time I did two projects. I finally painted the little hallway by our bedroom. Mom and I had a misunderstanding about the color, it ended up the same gray as the kitchen and family room. I did that because I thought the dark color of our bedroom would be too dark. But I moved a light fixture that I had in my office to that hallway, and that thing is bright. Now I wish I had done it the darker color. But it’s probably going to stay the light color for a while.

I also did the first mow of the year on the lawn. That’s a busy one because I have to remove the garden debris, get the lawn tools working, edge, trim, mow, and sweep. Actually, I find it gratifying. I love the sounds and smells of yard work, I love the way the yard looks when it’s done. I’ve been thinking about getting a new lawnmower, actually worrying about it in my current situation. My Husquavarna lawnmower is over 10 years old now, I bought it in Texas. I rarely maintain it. But that beast fired up first pull yesterday. So I think it should make it through the year. I do need to replace the front wheels really soon, they deteriorate more and more every time I mow. But they ain’t as  expensive as a new mower.

Today was a very calm conference Sunday. I didn’t fall asleep once, but I still look forward to reading my way through the talks. This may sound cliche, but hearing from and seeing the prophet is so comforting to me. He really is a miracle 

Next week is going to be kinda lonely, mom will be back to work, your brothers in Japan. I need to do the taxes which I’m a little nervous about. And I have some freelance work which I’m grateful for. So I’ll be busy enough.

Well kid, another week down. I sure love you.

Pops