Black Friday

                             WHAT IS THIS THING" CALLED BLACK FRIDAY"
                                                   Well it is NOT THE DOG!
   Of course like many things, to rationally discuss Black Friday could place you in a group of people who love the "modern "something for nothing group, or the "nothing is free" buy now pay later group'. I suppose both of the groups are true in one way or another
   I, being born during the depression and now being (at least in thought) a member of the (Black Friday) group Vicariously, I often which group I enjoyed the most?
   My first thought was that I cannot really judge that, because they were different, different places and many different people?
    The name "Black Friday" actually took hold in the 1950's and was an immediate hit for the merchants.
   I even broke down and bought my first car in the 1950"s. and so did many other people who were just trying to get there lives together after the War.
   Well back to Black Friday!!
   Advertising told us we could "buy it now and pay for it later. Almost anything was fair game. You could fight your way to be first into the store, fight your way to the check stand and if you were the first one in line it was FREE-- /well maybe?
   One of the big come-on's was, come on buy it now and keep it a month. If you don't like it bring it back.
   I keep digressing? Back to "Black Friday." Is it all bad?--In my opinion "NO". However perhaps we could find a better name for it--to me somehow Black and Friday do not seem names to ring in the Christmas Season with!
   Actually I remember the Beginning of Christmas a lot better than I do BLACK FRIDAY. with all the rushing, trying to get in and out, people shoving, trying to get in and out of traffic, some people actually fighting. Then there are the people who seemed to have been born, just to be rude. And No I am not a SCROOGE.
   I love the family groups, that mingle together in their own neighborhoods , sing carols and tell stories. We have a family group who have come caroling for years and I think the are more people than myself that wait each year for them?
   Well this started out as an epistle on Black Friday and I guess and perhaps for me to vent about a lot of things I miss about the Christmas season
   And of course NOW you pick almost anything you want, order it, pay for it by phone, have it delivered to your home, pay for it in advance and start looking for another item to buy.
   Somehow Black Friday does not make me feel all fuzzy and tingly, especially when it is tied so much  with Our Savior Jesus Christ. .

IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

       IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

          IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (ALMOST)

It was the night before Christmas

And all through the house

old Max was tipping over everything,

while chasing a big mouse.

The Dad of the house, usually serene,

had turned into a Monster, who was very mean.

He swung at the mouse with an Andiron Poker,

which turned the fire place into a great big smoker.

By now Max was chastised, his head between his legs.

It looked like forgiveness. He had stated to beg?

Then the back door flew open, and in stomped Meg.

Tell me I am in the wrong house she started to beg.

Grandpa set by the TV asleep, so it seems.

Then one eye popped open, and he let out a scream.

“Where is my Jitterbug, the phone that I love.”

“Meg said, Look out Gramp, it’ falling from above”.

As the phone hit the floor, with its incessant ring

Someone said,  “turn off that blasted thing”!

Meg. hurrying, stumbled and fell on her nose,

And now there was red stuff all over her clothes.

There was a large BOOM and the door did fall.

Then the people inside started to yell.

The police told Meg it was not blood, just cranberries.

The door rang again and Meg. Answered it and yelled----

  DAD IT’S THE HOME TEACHER’S!!!!!

W.R.Baldwin  Nov. 2019

               

Happiness / vs/ Joy

        Happiness /vs/ Joy

   I Met an old acquaintance and after giving each other a big clap on the back, we were both grinning like “the Old Proverbial Cat.”

   After chatting a few minutes “Terrell”, made the comment”, Bill you were always the happy guy in our school years and I always wondered how you kept up that big joyous smile. In fact even in our old age, a few of us have commented about how happy you always were? I recall you used to call it your “Joy Smile”. And of course all of your friends called it your “trouble smile”

   We chatted a while and then parted ways as he went down the street with his “smile of joy and I went across the street with my happy face.

   I had only gone a short way when my inquisitive mind started working. The question that popped out was two-fold, “what is Joy, and what is happiness, and are they different for everyone or are they just different for certain people? Or perhaps they are not different at all”?

   Then I wondered are they built into everyone’s Psyshe ,
and does it change as we get older? Then the question arises---“When are you the happiest? Then Does Happiness and Joy both change as we get older and do they change together?

    Do you have friends or a job, or siblings that make you happy or sad just by having them, as friends?

   Are we HUMANS constantly or even occasionally, changing the written meaning of happiness and joy? If we are not do we at least change some?

   Then a Big question? Would you like someone like you for a friend? Would you like to associate with the person you are RIGHT NOW?

   As we travel down memory lanes do we end up on different paths of happiness or joy, for different reasons?

   One example would be I had a stroke several months ago. While I was in the care center I imagined several times that someone came in and borrowed some of my memory bank and they have not yet brought it back! Then a while later they came back and got part of my vision, so I OWE the people who stood by me a GREAT BIG THANK YOU.

   At this point I am not sure how much of my JOY & HAPPINESS I have regained, but I do know I have regained my sense of humor and I want to thank all of you who have put up with me and my so-called sense of humor.

THANK YOU 

Wally or Wallace or Touche

9 November 2019   

THE EMPTY HOUSE

THE EMPTY HOUSE

   Yes it is an empty house. Well it is empty of people at least. No people have lived here since the last Baldwin left in 2019. The last Baldwin to live there was the Dad. He suffered a stroke in 2019 and moved in to an apartment at the home of his eldest daughter. The Wife, Mother, Grand Mother and Great Grandma (all the same person) all left us in 2012. Then the Big Brother of the family left us in 2013. Our youngest Grand Daughter left just 4 days old in 2008.

   So has the old house been sitting empty? No it sits inside four walls so to speak, but it is not empty. It is full of memories and perhaps even some Spirits on the other side? The Father probably feels the loneliness the most. After all he has lived there longer in that old house than any of the rest of the family has?

   So what does he do in his spare time, when he used to read, write and   study? He does a lot of the same things. He reads, writes, studies. He also likes to visit, reminisce, dream dreams and look for dead people in his computer. Looking for dead people is kind of a family joke that is the answer to MANY Genealogy questions.

   The Dad loves to talk and he does so with anyone who even gives him the slightest open to rattle on about any subject you would desire! He also assure’s the family he DOES talk with he departed wife.

   When he goes around opening closed doors and windows in the old empty house, he does not know what he will find because most of the time he does not know what he is looking for?

   The family says to keep watch when at the old house as you will probably always get a hug.

   Different thoughts and actions burst in on you as you enter the different rooms and Dad’s office. The office is a gold mine for information about the family----and some of it is probably even true?

   Imagine most of the toys that were purchased for the “Seven Littles” have now been passed on and replaced by more and different ones. Of course you may still find a teddy bear, baby doll, or piggy bank  if you search hard enough in the “old junk-room or under the old fold up bed.  

   However I think most “stuff” has been recycled or replaced or just  transferred to new homes.

   The center of attraction in the Old Empty House, and has been for many years is a sliding rocking chair, in the front room. I am sure that since I have left, the old “glider has also or soon will”. I suppose it will be sorted out to some family member, friend, children or that receiver of all things old, the Garbage Truck.

   But when the infamous day comes when the last old; treasure is gone the Earth will still keep turning; Life will still keep moving on. I suppose some things with sentimental value will perhaps pass on to be kept, or perhaps not?

Life in Mohrland & Hiawatha JPG

                    LIFE IN MOHRLAND & HIAWATHA

I was born in my parents’ home, on the side of a hill.

My Mother’s name was Bertrude, and my Dad was Bill.

There was no hospital in the town you see.

But it was good enough for the birth of my friends and me.

My dad taught school there for several years.

Would we have enough to eat was one of our fears,

Especially during the cold depression years,

Sometimes a lack of food caused us real fears.

In my teens things got better, food seemed to abound,

But of course, not in the winter, in that cold white ground.

I started School there with the best kids in the State

And our athletic teams also deemed the best in the State.

My first adventure on a sleigh was no fun at all.

On the same hill I was born on I took a great fall.

The sleigh I was riding, was made to be slick and fast

But the garbage can lid was anchored like a big mast.

I have worn a scar on my nose,--- 70 years now it seems,

Perhaps to remind me, of my sleigh-riding dreams.

I sit here with Myrtle, her pictures and stuff

And it makes me realize that life was not so rough!

         (myrtle is the name of my computer)

       Wallace R. Baldwin 23 October 2019

An Oquirrh LakeTale

Everyone knew there was something strange about Oquirrh Lake from the first time they saw it up until the present day. I am not talking about the name, which is strange in itself. I am talking about some of the happenings that have come to light recently! Of course everyone did not become acquainted with Oquirrh Lake at the same time but it seems many people have a story to tell?

When people get together in the community of Daybreak it just seems like Oquirrh Lake seems to become one of the topics of conversation?

No matter how many people get together just to talk they all seem to have a story or a tale about the big lake at Daybreak.

I guess first of all the question needs to be asked, “who ever heard of a lake with a plastic bottom?”

Well John J.___ knows why it was built that way and he does not think it is the reason that they tell us? They tell us it was built that way to keep the water from seeping out, but John knows different! When they were first digging the big hole, even before they put the plastic down and started to fill it with water John had an experience he does not like to talk about and even tries not to remember.

He was walking his dog one night and as he looked over toward the big hole in the ground that was soon to become Oquirrh Lake he saw a strange sight. There was smoke coming out of the cracks in the ground. It looked like smoke but John says it also looked like steam and it seemed to give off a vapor. In fact it looked moist and it had a horrid smell.

John decided to walk over and have a look to see if he could tell what was going on. When he took his first step into the hole he heard a blood curdling noise that did not sound human but it also did not sound like an animal?

Needless to say the dog walking was over for the night and John almost ran all the way home dragging his dog behind him. The dog kept stopping and turning back toward the hole and barking and yelping then putting his tail down and running right along with John.

Of course John thinks the plastic it to keep whatever is under the lake there forever. He has told me he hopes he never sees it or hears it again!

John would probably never thought about it again if he had not been talking to Cory B.__ down by the elementary school one day and he casually mentioned the story to Cory.

Cory then told him his story-----. I was coming home from the airport one night and it was late. Actually a little after midnight and as I passed the lake I thought I thought I heard a siren so I pulled over to the side of the road and stopped as I had been taught to do. However no one passed me and I could not see an emergency vehicle anywhere but I could still hear the wailing.

I opened the door to see if I could determine where the noise was coming from. Not only was the screeching, siren type noise still there I also saw a vile green mist rising out of the lake and moving toward the road where I was parked. I rushed back to the car and opened the door and jumped in but then I realized the green mist had already started to seep into the car. I slammed the door. As I did there was a shrieking scream like I have never heard before and never hope to hear again. The only thing I can imagine was that when I slammed the door it must have caught whatever the green mist was and that was what set off the scream.

Of course Cory had never mentioned to anyone because he did not think they would believe him. However he knows the thing is still there because he has seen that green vapor-like mist from an airplane as he has flown into Salt Lake on late night flights. He says, “No I do not know what it is, but I hope I never see or hear it up close again.”

In 1938 there was a miner by the name of Ralph Jones who worked at Kennecott. He lived down by the Jordan River. He did not have a car so he rode his horse to work at the mine. He rode it up and back every day, winter and summer.

Ralph stayed to himself and never bothered anybody and he was a good conscientious worker. Everyone liked Ralph and his boss at the mine always said he could do the work of two men.

That is why it was so strange to everyone when one day Ralph did not show up to work. After he did not show up for three days a couple of the guys decided they would follow his horse tracks to his old home and see if they could find out what had happened to him.

It was early spring, March I think, and the ground was moist so it was easy to follow the tracks of Ralph and his horse. He and his horse had been coming and going on this same trail for several years but because of the moist ground it would be easy for the men to tell which were, the new hoof prints.

Well just as planned after work that night a couple of the guys left the mine and followed Ralph’s tracks until they were almost to his house. They went up a little hill and down into a small ravine and in the bottom the tracks just ended? No more tracks, no more Ralph and no more clues.

That is there were no more clues for years until a couple of months ago? Nancy M.__ and Jan C.___ were out jogging around the lake and they noticed some bubbles coming up in the water out near the middle by the bridge. They also noticed that all the seagulls flew off and none would go back to that spot on the lake. They kept flying around and around and squawking at each other but they would not land on the water.

Well Nancy was the adventurous type and she told Jan they should go down by the lake and see if they could tell what was causing the bubbles? Jan was not so sure she wanted to go. All the squawking of the gulls had made her a little uneasy. However she did not want Nancy to think she was a “wimp” so she said. “OK let’s go.”

As they took a few steps toward the lake Jan stopped in her tracks and yelled to Nancy, “did you hear a horse noise that sounded like he was in pain or something?” Nancy told her she thought she had heard something but she was sure it was just the wind. Jan thought to herself, “what wind?” Then they both thought to themselves, “How could a horse be in the lake?”

Since they had started toward the lake they decided they might as well try and find out what was causing the bubbles coming up out of Oquirrh Lake? They got close to the edge and the water started to boil, it turned a murky green color, steam come to the surface and the putrid smell almost made them sick. Then they heard the horse noise again and the voice of a man that was almost not human. It was a scream and a bellow and a yell all at the same time. It sounded like someone or something caught in a trap. “LET ME OUT, I CANNOT STAND IT FOR ANOTHER MINUTE. I HAVE BEEN PUNISHED ENOUGH! I AM RALPH JONES AND I HAVE LIVED IN THIS HELL HOLE WAY TO LONG! HELP ME OUT NOW OR BOTH OF YOU WILL REGRET IT!”

Of course no one knew why Nancy and Jan’s families moved to Cedar Hills so quickly? I suppose no one would ever have known their story if someone from Daybreak had not met them in the mall one day and heard their story. They said they finally decided to move for several reasons? They never could understand why, after that night only their windows would shake and rattle when there was no wind blowing. They also wondered why the mist would come out along their sidewalks and not near anyone else’s?

I suppose Ralph and his horse are still under Oquirrh Lake and on a breezy summer night the smell sifts through Daybreak. Of course everyone says it is the compost operation out to the south west but Nancy and Jan swear it smells just like the lake did on THAT NIGHT.

W.R. Baldwin

THE GREENHORN

                               THE GREENHORN

   Sometime a while back (actually a long time back) I was day dreaming about some experiences I have had with horses.

   The first thought or word that came to my mind was (Greenhorn.). Now I am pretty sure that everyone who hears the word also forms a different image in their mind,

   Of course there were the Greenhorns in “Bonanza” on TV several years ago. Also the word Greenhorn is often used to describe a real live person who is trying to accomplish something that he or she has not been trained to do.

   The people and horses I write about were real People and Real horses and most of the things did really happened perhaps with a little embellishment. These things will not show up on my list in the order they happened, but rather in the order I recall them.

   Maybe I also should let everyone know that my teacher, instructor or whatever you want to call him was a real live cattle rancher, cowboy, farmer or whatever you want to call him. It did take me a while to realize that, but eventually I did.

                   HERE WE GO FOR A WILD RIDE

   I had rode a house around the corral, in the street and a little way from the house in the past but today we were going to move the cattle herd from the City Farm to a holding pasture a short way up the canyon. And yes I was all ready (I thought).

   I got all ready and checked out before we got the horses in the trailer. As I got in the truck the “Boss” said, ’you got new Levis Huh? I kind of laughed and said yes I did. I did not have anything but old junky looking ones. He grinned and said, “they would have been better today.” You got new boots also it looks like, and a Brand New BASEBALL hat?

   One of the younger son’s kind if smirked and said, “Come on

Dad let’s get going.”

   Well about five hours in the “sun” my cheeks and ears were scarlet red, my fancy new Levis, that had ever never been worn before had worn the skin off every place they had touched my body and that was a lot of places you do not think about!

   I am sure the whispers and giggles from the Boy’s were all directed right at me.

   During the lunch break one of the boys explained to me that the reason I got to ride “Dapple” was because she was the softest horse of all of them.

   Well I survived the first day and finally after a few years I think I may have been promoted to “First Class Greenhorn.”

   Over the years I got to where I could survive on a “ride” as they were called, when there was work to be done.  

     HERE ARE A FEW THINGS I LEARNED OVER THE      YEARS.

*I think ALL horses hold their breath when you put their saddle cinch on?

*When the boys tell you that they will toss the hay up on the wagon and you can do the easy part of arranging it on the wagon—Not true, they immediately start looking for a snake to

toss up with the hay.

*Branding really stinks, more ways than one. My daughters went one time and ONE TIME & ONE TIME EVER!!

*My wife and I were told we could go to the pasture to ride horses for the day. We left early in the morning so we could have a good days ride. We finally gave up and went home because we could not catch the horses.

*The next day “the Real Rancher” went with us. When we got to the pasture he took out a burlap sack from the back of the truck. It was half-full of oats, he shook it-and yelled as loud as he could and the horses came right to him. As they stuck their muzzle into the sack he slipped a lead rope on them and they were all his!  

*Of course most of the things in this Blog happened many years ago and things were different then. A lot of people rode their horse to the post office, the, drug store and even to get their hair cut. One thing I learned the hard way was interesting. I went to the barber shop, and like a lot of people did in those days, I just tied the horse to a rail. While I was in getting my trim, my horse left a little present on the sidewalk. I don’t know if I was getting harassed or if it was an unwritten rule, but after a couple of the guys got a good laugh, one of the guys pointed to an old beat up truck and said,” That old trucks got a scoop shovel in the back if you want to use it?”

*I learned to never “bridle-tie” a wise old Mare. She will just turn her head (so she does not step on the reins) and take off for home –without you.

*I never could tell if one cow was missing—they all looked alike to me.

*And finally an episode I probably never forget. We were gathering cows, down the river, and we run onto a Heifer that was having a hard time giving birth to a calf. What do you do?

Well you wait and watch for a while until it comes to the point, where she obviously needs help. You get off the horse and play OB-GYN until you have delivered the calf. Then you hope that all will turn out OK for the calf and the Heifer. You have just helped a calf be born, that weighed in about 75-80 pounds, and, you walk to the river to wash and clean up and go on like it was just another normal day?

   I think I gradually graduated from a “Greenhorn to a under graduate Ranch Trainee.” However that may not be true because in all the years we rode in the mountains, the river and deserts one of my trainers seemed to always teach me something new.

THOUGHTS ONE EVENING

   THOUGHTS ONE EVENING

Yes, his name is BALDWIN

And his head is bald the same.

They say when he was younger                      

That his hair looked like a Mane?

He was born in a home in a Coal Camp

That was tucked among the hills.

To get there in the Winter Time

Caused some real, real thrills.

Men came from many nations I hear,

And pulled coal from the mines with fear.

Amongst the wild animals

The Elk, cougars, Bears and Deer.

This little town, like many back then  

Provided medical care for all its women and men

We had a store, a school and an entertainment hall.

And several courts, to play all kinds of ball.

We all had guns in those days of yore

Sometimes in a closet and some behind a door.

Sometimes for plinking at cans and such

Sometimes food for the table, but usually not much.

The world was in turmoil, way back then

Imagine Armageddon, if you can!

The times and actions, brought on deprivation,

And Baldwin joined in protecting our great Nation.

The War we had that was to end all wars

Was WW II and it left many scars!

Some dreamed of a new life with new toys and cars

And some came home with changed attitudes and scars.

Some became politicians, with thoughts they thought profound,

And some were poor and slept on the ground.

The majority were happy, or so it seems,

As they went out in the world, chasing new dreams.

Some are now 70, 80 or 90 I hear.

And set on the porch, with dreams and no fear.

Most who fought in the war to end all wars

Wonder how can I get to MacDonald’s without my old car?

W.R.Baldwin 8 September 2019 

THE PEOPLE PEEPER

 The title of this blog may sound like something weird, but the only thing weird about it is the Author. I have been a watcher of weird things and people for a long time. And they seem to grow as I get older. Now that I am home alone I have become a full blown people watcher. I also have found a favorite new place for my hobby.

Murray City Park has always had an attraction for me and now that I am alone I spend a lot of prime time watching people and things there.

I usually never get to know a persons name and most of the time we might say only a few words to each other, or only give each other a People Watcher Wave.   

As I sat here today I thought of an exception. While on one of my visits, while sitting on my favorite bench, I was approached by a young boy who asked if I came to the Park very often? I answered that I did and that I had even seen him there a few times with his Mom. He corrected me, that it must have been his Sister because his Mom hardly went any place. He told me his name was Thad and I told him mine was Jim.

Then he asked me if I had seem a black and white dog, because he lost his yesterday. He said he took him off the leash to put him in the truck and he run away. I saw him running real fast on the other side if the creek, until I could not see him anymore.

I was sad all the way home because my sister would not help me look for him and we finally had to go home.

Thad told Jim that his Mom was named Angie and that she was over by the truck waiting while I looked for Pepper, who was my dog.

Jim and Thad waved to Angie as she had started to walk toward us. We all introduced ourselves and Angie said they needed to get on their way home.

Thad was not to happy about leaving, and made some comment about it not even being long enough yet for their prayers to work, and no one would miss them because no one ever came to their house anyway.

Then as they say, Out of the Blue Sky Jim told them maybe he could help because he knew a man who worked at the city with the stray animals, and he would call and see if he had been picked up.

After a couple of phone calls from Jim of course they found Pepper, and after a few more calls they had Pepper in the car and were ready to head for home.

As Angie was getting in the car Thad hollered at Jim,"could you come and visit with us and Pepper some time ?"  

Well do you think those two or three Murray Park People Peeper's keep in contact?" They probably did --but that may be for another Blog?


W.R.Baldwin 
4 August 2019

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

                          

                                          

 His oldest daughter had just given him a hug, said “Good Night Dad” and headed for her car. She was the last to leave. We were just finishing up our traditional task of “putting up” the annual Christmas Tree.

He could not remember when the family had started putting up the tree on the 7^th of December, which was his Birthday. He only remembered it had been many years ago.

As his daughter closed the door and got in her car he took a big breath and thought to himself, “thank heaven that is over for another year.”

But was he happy?

In just a few minutes he had picked up a few odds and ends, dropped them on the kitchen table and walked down the hall turning off each light, as he passed them. As he walked, the thought came again, am I tired or just excited?” I am not really tired, and I do not have to do anything tomorrow unless I want too.”

A little grin came on his face as he turned around and went back up the hall, turning the lights on as he passed them. A thought came to his mind about Christmas’s past. In fact many thoughts did and before he knew it he had told himself, I do not have to go to bed, I can get a snack, sit in my favorite chair and think and reminisce of past Christmas’s  that we have celebrated in our home.

He sat down and got his rocker going and squeaking, and just as he thought they would, memories started coming. He had turned on the tree lights again and just as he thought they would, the memories and a few sad times popped into his head.

The first thing on the tree that caught his eye was the two Santa ornaments. There were 12 in the package when we bought them back in the 1960’s,  but there were only two left and they were a treasure---If they only could talk? I think they were made out of a material called gilt. He snickered to himself again and thought how, did they survive this long with all the little hands  that had played with them over the years.

On the kitchen cupboard stood Mr. and Mrs. Claus who was crocheted by his Mother in the 1970’s. And yes they also are a family treasure.

He looked at the porcelain Nativity set and a lot of pictures, and thought maybe it was time to go to bed. I would have plenty of time to reminisce between now and Christmas.

He thought about his “Magnificent Seven” his pet name for his seven Great Grand Children. And just an hour ago his old house was rumbling with children’s noises, just as it has in the past. The next thought was,” how could seven little people make THAT MUCH noise?” And the interesting thing was they could pass it on from one generation to the next.

He chuckled again as he recalled the years past when Santa came to our home on Christmas and brought everyone a present. To receive your gift each person had to sit on Santa’s lap and report that they had been good! One year when he sat on Santa’s lap and Santa asked if he had been good, all the children shouted. NO, but as Santa reached for a lump of coal for Grandpa’s  gift his oldest Grandchild yelled He is good, he is always good. And I think she had a tear drop or two fall, as she grabbed the lump of coal and hid it in the basement.   

Oh how many memories and how many good times were held in their home throughout the years and now in his old age they are only memories.

After sitting in his favorite chair and reminisced about his favorite time of year, he slowly got up and walked down the hall----Not with memories of sugar plums dancing in his head---but wishing that his wife (who was the spark-plug of the family) could have been here to celebrate with us.—But then who knows ----PERHAPS SHE WAS?   MEMORIES

                                

Moments of True Joy

                      

                  MOMENTS OF TRUE JOY

   
   Have you ever written a few words on a piece of paper and then went back and filled in your thoughts?

   I did this one night, and remember I am 87 years old, so I have had more than a few experiences in many things, during my life time and of course I have lost a few thoughts also.

   I could have changed a few words in the title and came up with a completely different blog, Such as FEAR, or LOVE.

    And come to think of it “what is a Blog?” There was no such word or action in my day that would sum-up the meaning of a Blog.

   So let’s play a little: I penned True Friend on my paper. What is a True Friend? Is it someone who picked you off of a mailing list? When you picked this person were you younger, middle age or older? Or perhaps all of the above? I leave that for you to answer, and see what ends up written on your paper?  

   Of course I picked Joy as it is my Blog. And yes you can try it and pick one for you.

   Of course I picked Joy and I picked several other words and emotions and it was a fun activity for an evening. I chose joy because of my loving wife who was the person who brought so many joyful and happy events into my life.

   Donnie was really a joy to many people and I was the one to have her around to cheer me up, and dispense her wisdom to me when I went astray, If I ever did—I must have at least once Ha Ha.

   Yes I am sure other people will come and go, but I am sure no one will ever replace her. She was the epitome of joy in my life, especially in our later years.

   So I recall many joys and many Blogs about US, Donnie and I. I list a few just to get my gray matter moving around in my head.

   The joy of waking up in the morning, to the sounds sights and smells in a beautiful green forest would be hard to beat as a memorable Blog.

   A blog about riding a sparkling, well trained horse is almost a singular Blog in itself. A Pinto if possible please?

Rushing down a white water river cannot be explained unless you have done it at least once yourself. It might not be a JOY but it will definitely be something you will remember.

   It most assuredly is pure joy to sit in an LDS Temple and meditate with No Time Limit to disturb you.

W.R. Baldwin 21 August 2019

Blog on Joy   

LIFE IS GOOD

LIFE IS GOOD

                                                  

    Because of some health problems recently I have taken to pondering life in general along with some specific things that have meaning to me, but perhaps they do not to others?                                        

   Every year, for the past 40 or 50 years a group of people of different  ages and nationalities who worked and lived in Hiawatha, Utah, have gotten together for a town reunion. There is no format at the meeting, Just a group of people who get together for old times’ sake. 

   We just visit, talk about old times, eat KFC chicken and talk about friends who are no longer with us. I think everyone there enjoys it?

   The thing that; clicked in my mind, and prompted me to do this blog was the feeling we all seemed to have for this little old town coal town;.

   Many commented that for any age, in the group they seemed to remember it as a place where life was good.

As I sat and pondered it reminded me of another friend, from another city who used a little different saying when he got upset. He would say “life is good, and then you die” His saying it in turn upset his wife also and then they both would sulk-Ha Ha.

   Then Co-incidence –or not, on this August 10^th we had our Hiawatha Day Reunion. Everyone seemed to visit with a lot of old friends. The conversation was about old friends, old cars, who had passed away since last year and who was still standing up.

   I am sure they were as surprised as I was when we got the news that, one of our Hiawatha friends had passed away just two days after our get together.

   At the time I read the Obituary I recalled the old saying:

  I guess we could change the old saying about life to read:

  LIFE IS FRIENDS:

  LIFE IS FAMILY:

  LIFE IS GOOD:

I am only 87 and my Doc. says he thinks I have a while to go—but there are no promises

WR BALDWIN

16 AUG 2019