Melon tours 40 years ago

...During these early years my hero was my brother Linc. He, of course, couldn’t stand to have me tag along or copy his every action. But I couldn’t help it. He was so cool. I was rather short and he was tall. I was blonde with fair skin; he was tall with dark hair and eyes with olive skin. In the summer he would wear nothing but a pair of cut offs. His skin would turn dark brown and his feet turned to moccasins. I tried, but my nose was always in a state of burn and peel and I couldn’t get used to not wearing shoes. My oldest brother Jeff was in another world by now – the world of wide belts, suede boots, Nauru shirts, and other stuff that didn’t seem important to me...

Mathew on my mind

Last week I read a parable in Mathew and can't seem to get it out of my head. Maybe if I post it I can get some peace. First the parable in bold, then Jesus' explanation in italics.

The sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed,

(1) some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.

(2) Some fell upon stony places where they had not much earth: and forthwith sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. ...the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

(3) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: ... is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

(4) But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. ...is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

There, now I'll take a nap.

A Wedding

My wanderlust nephew Adam fell in love with this beautiful, intelligent, well-grounded girl named Amy. They were married in the Bountiful Temple last Saturday. Adam's mission president performed the ceremony and it was a unique, emotional, and spiritual experience. I had not visited the Bountiful Temple since when Dave and Natalie lived in Farmington. it was a perfect spring day with multi-colored tulips, fragrant blossoms, and lots of picturesque brides.Linc wanted a picture with the tulips so I consented and he looks pretty good with the flowers!

Of course, Cole spent most of his time driving cars around the facility. Cassie, Clint's girl, brought him a nice orange Dodge Viper for the occasion.

All of Jeff's clan was on hand for the Luncheon. Jeff and Terri came up from Globe, Sam drove in from Elko (tech on gold mining equipment), Jessica flew in from Dallas, and Erin came in from St. George.

Summer of 65'

...Dad and Mom continued to go to school during the summer, usually in Provo but at times in Salt Lake City or even Denver. But, the summer of 1965 was spent at Grandpa and Grandma Dalton’s house (I don’t think mom was there). Dad and we boys helped Grandpa “haul hay” in Springville, Mapleton and Sanpete County. Grandpa wore Levi 501s and denim shirts with pearl snaps, pull on work boots and a cowboy hat. He was a man of the cattle trade. I was pretty small so would be relegated to driving the tractor or truck while my older brothers and uncles would buck bales. I recall how difficult it was to drive that truck! The International Harvester had a throttle that was set at high idle. I was instructed to sit on the edge of the seat and slowly let the clutch out when Uncle Jan yelled, “GO.” The truck would start forward and I was to drive slowly across the field while the uncles and brothers threw bails of hay onto the back of the truck and stacked them on the flat bed. When someone yelled, “WO” I was to push the clutch in and the truck would slow or stop. The clutch seemed to get stiffer and stiffer as the day wore on. Pretty soon my leg was shaking and my foot was fast asleep. Suddenly, my foot slipped off the clutch and the truck lurched forward sending a couple of bodies and bails off the flat bed to the ground. I pushed the clutch back in, but not before I was cursed severely! On another occasion I was instructed to take a tractor to another field to pick up a trailer. While the clutch on the trailer was easier to use, the throttle had been set much higher so I found myself driving at a pretty fast clip across the furrows of the field. Soon I was bounced completely off the tractor. Uncle Jan recounts that all that was hurt was my pride because I promptly took the hat off my head and threw it to the ground! Everyone else got a pretty big laugh out of this...