Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Fun Times at the fire station-

If you're looking for an interesting and exciting expedition to do with industrious 8 year old boys, the fire station should be on your list. Firemen are great role models and they give great tours.

Here in San Luis Obispo, we have 4 fire stations. Charles and I were actually quite overwhelmed with the number of fire stations around here when we first moved to the area, and found out they're actually going to propose the building of another fire station because of the number of calls they get. 

While we were with the scouts, in the classroom of our local fire station, the boys were asked if they had any questions. One of the boys raised his hand, and asked "How many people a year do you not save?" If I had been drinking anything at that moment, it would have come out of my nose. What a question to ask a fireman. They risk their lives and safety all the time for others, and that had to be the first question the scouts asked.

This question actually brings me to a meeting we had with our mission president, in our tiny branch building, with four missionaries and some other leaders of the ward. Our mission president was making a point about bringing people back to church.

He asked who on our list of people we had not seen at church, would we like to bring back to church. Well everybody, was the answer. We would like to save everyone on the list. That answer, humbly given and thoughtfully promoted, is our goal. Isn't it the main message of Jesus Christ? To save everyone?

Shouldn't we be nice to all people? Shouldn't we try harder to be kinder to those people we struggle talking with?

Well, the fireman at the front, explained to those scouts some qualifiers for saving people. He said sometimes an older person might have already have died or all their units might be out on another emergency when calls came in. He said they did their best with what they had. I would like to add, that we must also help others to help themselves. I try to do that as often as I can. It's important to maintain self reliance but to not be prideful. My pride is quite formidable at times.

Actually, lately I have come to more fully understand the reliance we have on others. When we are sad, it takes a village to buoy us up. When we are low on taco Tuesday, it's the taco sponsors that bring you up. If you feel sad, sometimes it's the puppies in a pumpkin that sweeten your day. And sometimes you just need a hug. So look around you for people who need hugs. They're all over the place, and sometimes a puppy in a pumpkin is hard to locate.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Hip. Hip hop. Hip hop. Anonymous?

Serious amounts of acid reflux going on over here. It's Taco Tuesday and I had some tacos. I take full responsibility for eating them. And yet, I've done it before and I'll do it again. Ah, tacos.

It brings to memory all my good times of being young and crazy. Bon, do you remember climbing under the magazine table at our piano teacher's house, while refusing to ever come out? I tried to coax you out for your lesson, truly I did. I myself was jealous of your innovative thought process. Honestly, sometimes I still think about climbing under tables. Like tonight.

Tonight we host the tri-monthly Hunger Games otherwise known as scouts. Usually known to breed bigger, faster, stronger teenage humans who will masterfully take over the conversational world one word at a time. Also known as It is always difficult to keep one's hands to oneself Day. We shall see how that goes.

We will be cutting open nothing, as they are not allowed to use knives as Wolves. For good reason. We will be wrestling only with their minds, inasmuch as through fruitless countermeasures of speech these young cubs converse only toward other cubs, not with adults of any kind. We will be speaking only in metaphors of death and extreme violence, as somehow this is the language of tiny male children.

The activity will be strewn about as though no thought had been put into it. Then the children will wish to play a game, as only physical exertion with exercise equipment is classified as a worthwhile game. Then we will cherish dreams of talking about real life experiences, as we discuss toppling thieves with giant bowling balls and flatulence.

Those who asked us to serve never said it would make sense to teach these growing minds. Who would publicly spout such nonsense? And yet I miss the ones who left. Is that how it is to have kids? Can I do it? Do I dare? Will I feel so fruitless as a teacher of my own spawn, while sitting in a strawberry rhubarb pie covered with vanilla ice cream? Of course I dare! I dare to pack fake maps with fake soap and fake whistles to glorify the call of being prepared. I hereby pack paper symbolizing sunscreen into an imagined wilderness bag tonight and all nights!!!!!

And now, the woodwinds. Do you hear their sweet song of harmony? The little blue bird of mercy is singing your name. All of these things begin again, as we remember the forgiveness of a loving piano teacher and Bonnie crawling under the table. Ah to be young again. Now, please put down that knife little one and grab some spare double A's. We're fake hike packing, and if you don't bring the flashlight and tweezers, we'll never get that tick out of what's his name's armpit.