HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY!

Well mom where do I start. I guess some of my earliest memories goback to when we lived in American Falls. I would go with you to work sometimes and end up taking naps in an unused examination room. Although there were rocky times between us you were always concerned about my well-being. If it wasn't shot it was making sure that I was warmly dressed. I have memories of my snow boots being pulled on and that was a tight fit but you managed. There was then the coat with a scarf. And of course there were the mittens. The ones kept in place with the suspender clips.When we moved to Portland and lived out on North Greeley you saved cans and boxes, all opened from the bottom so Becky and I could play store and learn about change and money. We had the little play cash register that we would play with. Then Walla Walla, ah yes, I had the hardest time mastering spelling words. We would set at the kitchen table and work on rote memory to get the words down. It drove me to tears, yet it reached the point that I wasn't the last one picked for spelling contests in my English class. Again we were in Portland, o.k. Milwaukie, with the tail of the typhoon that caused so much concern as well as that earthquake. Then I cut my finger with a pocket knife and you took me to the doctor that was just down the street again always looking after me. You worked so hard with all three of us to prepare us for talks in church. We also got to know more of your family with Uncle Paul and Aunt Ruth. Wonderful times all. Back to Walla Walla, this time to the house on Cookerly. This is where I gave you a few early gray hair – it was the time when I was learning to drive. You got the brunt of the experience. It was decided that I would learn to play the piano in my sophomore year. I would ride the bus and my lesson was on Thursday the same day I had to dress in uniform for ROTC. Sadly the lessons didn't last long. In retrospect Iwish I had of had a little more stick to it. I'll have to learn that skill at some point in the eternities. As I grew older I was all of 16 or 17 and you and dad went to Portland and I was going to stay alone - some big tough guy I turned out to be. I sure was glad when you returned home. I never realized how much my going on a mission meant to you and every week you had a letter waiting there for me. With encouragement, and news. I was not much of a letter writer, I guess that I still lack many of the finer qualities in that area. But it is great to have had your support. It seems that no matter how old I get I still am glad that you are there to visit with. Our relationship is more that of islands of occasional interaction that can be pointed to and so it is hard to pick out specific instances of events that over all stick out. You were there to protect me, to comfort me, to guide and support. Our lives have been deeply intertwined in a rich colorful cloth ofuninterrupted life. These have not been events that happen here and there but are a smooth ongoing process. As I get older I can appreciate more and more how our bodies age but our feelings and thoughts are still young.
Thanks mom for the gospel and life.
Chuck