Unity of Purpose--What I Saw Wednesday

I start with a quote from Tarzan "This is something to put in your fricken' blog."

It all started when Tarzan decided our son-in-law needed to borrow his tractor. We had no idea how difficult it would be to get it there. After two days of phone calls and being told repeatedly that the cost would be over $800 or that--what we wanted to do was not allowed--he finally made a personal trip to U-Haul and was assured that his pickup would pull the trailer they rented him and that a 1,000 pound tractor added to it would be fine--all for just $90.

Are you getting the picture?

When I got home from work Friday night, Tarzan had our little 6-banger Dodge pickup loaded with the tractor strapped down on the trailer. We packed up some food, drink, ice, and dog (Dottie) and started on the short and familiar 4 1/2 hour trip.

We were not able to go over 45 miles per hour. Each time we approached 45 mph, the trailer started to sway left and right. It was like being on a ride at Disneyland only scarier because we had so little control.

I hope you can picture it in you mind--freeway, large semi's going too fast, impatient fellow drivers in cars, trucks and motorcycles, honking and waving at us inviting us to get off the road. We left home at 6:00 p.m. we arrived at the half way point at 1:00 a.m. 7 hours and we were only half way on a 4 1/2 hour trip.

We stopped and spent the night at a truck stop motel. We took Dottie into the room with us and didn't ask permission. Tarzan went out and hunted for food while I crashed in the room. We were still speaking to each other.

Here is an interesting little tidbit about our weekend. I forgot to bring any hair products including a pick so not only did I have dirty hair, I had tangled hair. Stopping at a drug store was not on the list of possibilities. AND we could not turn on the air conditioning because it took needed power from the engine AND it was over 100 degrees all day and just barely down to 100 after the sun went down. Are you getting a better picture now?

Saturday morning we started out at 5:00 a.m. and another 7 hours later, the pickup decided it could not possibly pull the tractor another inch. I tried praying and repeating "I think I can, I think I can" but the answer to our prayers came in the way so many prayers are answered, someone came to our rescue...

There we were stopped going up hill (only 5 feet from the top) and the clutch started to smoke. The truck was going nowhere but backward down the hill. I called the kids to let them know but lost reception before I could tell them. Tarzan, got out and put rocks behind the wheels of the trailer so it wouldn't roll back down the hill. I got out and directed traffic.

The hill curved right at the bottom and left at the top, there was a double yellow line and people were just whizzing around us with no thought of what was coming over the hill toward them. I saw two near accidents. I began stopping traffic coming up behind us when there were cars coming over the hill toward us and averted any incidents.

I no sooner stepped out to direct traffic then our son-in-law came down the hill. He may as well have been on a white horse wearing a coat of armor. However, if it had not been a Clydesdale it would not have been an answer to our prayers. He has a big, high powered, SUV and they had just put a hitch on the back of it the day before.

The two men unhooked the trailer from our pickup and you could physically see our pickup bounce into position with relief from the load. We were able to move the pickup and hook up the SUV. It easily pulled the tractor over the hill and the final short distance to their home.

Another 7 hours and Tarzan and I were still speaking to each other.

We unloaded the tractor, played with the grand kids, hugged the kids and took off for a faster trip home.

But wait, not so fast--literally.

We still had the trailer connected to our truck to be returned to the dealer that evening. If we were dragging an elephant before, we were now dragging at least a hippopotamus. We never were able to get up to 70 mph and we didn't realize how exhausted we were.

We stopped after less than 100 miles. We decided we needed to get rid of the trailer before we ruined the clutch on the pickup. However, U-Haul had no interest in a return to a location where we did not pick it up and were going to TRIPLE the charges for renting the trailer if we left it there rather than drag it all the way back home. We left in disgust and decided to chance it with the trailer.

We knew we couldn't make it any further that night and got another motel room. We dragged ourselves to dinner and crashed at 8:00 p.m. We slept through the night without moving, even Dottie was worn out but we were still speaking to each other.

We got up and started home at 6:00 a.m. I had washed my hair with the shampoo and creme rinse in the room and combed through it with my fingers. Now, I had clean hair but with windows down, I soon looked like a crazy woman from a silent movie. We started out with, what would normally take us, just over 3 hours left on our trip. It took 6 hours to arrive home and we were still speaking to each other.

When we have a unity of purpose, we both have the ability to put everything else out of the picture and focus on what we have to accomplish and remember our family motto "If we are not having fun, why bother."

We are home safe, still speaking and even laughing at ourselves for making such a dangerous trip. One of Tarzan's fishing buddies called us while we were on the road and after Tarzan explained what we had been through, he asked to speak to me. He said, "I want a woman like you." I can't type the rest of what he said but in his way it was a great compliment to my ability to take what Tarzan dishes out.

What a ride...

• 6:30 a.m. dropped off Tarzan at the airport for a trip to see his Mom in Memphis, TN
• 7:30 a.m. phone call. Tarzan did not have a seat on the flight. They had overbooked and even though he was there 2 hours early, he was on standby.
• 7:45 a.m. phone call. Tarzan is informed that they had standby passangers who had been delayed on another flight and they got priority seating.
• 8:00 a.m. Tarzan had a seat.
• 8:30 a.m. Tarzan called from the plane
• 8:45 a.m. Tarzan was in the terminal again. They got all ready to go and had no pilot
• 9:00 a.m. Tarzan was back on the airplane and ready for takeoff.
• 11:45 a.m. Tarzan was back in Arizona. The got about 20 minutes out and the pilot announced they had problems with the flaps and he was going back. Tarzan reported the hardest landing he has ever experienced in his life. He kissed the ground when he got off the plane.
• 1:15 p.m. Tarzan is having lunch in the Arizona terminal. He was given a $5.00 voucher by the Airlines. His lunch cost $9.00.
• 1:30 p.m. Tarzan is now getting to know his fellow passengers and having a good time. They are working on the airplane.
• 2:00 p.m. I called Tarzan, no news, they are all just sitting around waiting.
• 2:15 p.m. I called Tarzan and his voice mail was on. I hope he is on the airplane.
• 2:30 p.m. only voice mail available
• 4:00 p.m. only voice mail available
• 4:30 p.m. watching news to see if their have been any airplane wrecks today
• 4:37 p.m. "WORST FLIGHT OF MY LIFE" Tarzan says he was in an exit row, the seats did not recline, there was no tray for your drink he had a little "trainer tray." There was a big 300 pound guy sitting next to him trying to help with his little tray making him feel like an idiot, the seat was hard and his (excuse me here) ass is numb so someone could pick his pocket and he wouldn't even know it. Needless to say, he was not in a good mood. I just hope the Hertz agent is friendly.

Getting control of my life--Long post

Those who know me well know that I have been frazzled lately. The past two weekends we have visited our grandchildren (which of course meant we got to visit our children as well). This has been a stress relieving experience. The level of love extended to us was unbelievable. Our grandchildren just wanted to be with us, nothing special, just time with us. We were going to do something grand with the grandchildren like go fishing, or take them to the zoo or go shopping, all they wanted to do was spend time with us.

First, we went to see the southern California families. The tradition with those families is to take the grandchildren to a hotel, give them the remote control, order room service and let them jump on the beds until they fall asleep with exhaustion. Everyone has grown past the bed jumping phase and now we only have pillow fights. They wanted to spend their time with us in the hotel. We bought some board games and played all afternoon then went to Chucky Cheese. While we were there one of the machines ran out of tickets so we called for help. When the boys came to help cute little Kylee they filled the machine with tickets and set it to automatically feed. It started spitting out tickets and she got over 200 tickets. She was jumping up and down and throwing tickets in the air and wrapping them around her neck like a scarf, it was adorable. She split them with her cousins. Dau, who is 12, learned long ago that the prizes are cheap and just fall apart, so he was not really interested in prizes, but loved the food and games. Lee and Kylee each got things they loved, rings, bracelets, balls, games, candy. It was great fun.

This video is three of the four of them playing Piranha. Lee eats Kylee's fish and everyone laughs, even Kylee, just not in this video.

Next, we visited our Northern California grandchildren and I took a bazillion pictures with my phone camera. The only clear picture I got was of my knee. While there we were able to discuss business matters that have been pressing on us and get a whole new outlook on the approach we want to take with our new business. We had dinner at the peer and took a little time to watch some soccor. Here are some out of focus pictures of a fun time. (Oh, yes, Brian has a swimming pool inside his house, so there was a swimming party while we were there.)

Sasha and Nami getting awards. They tied for the championship.

Tristan after his game, they won the championship game.

All three Northerners

Now, see what I mean, I have got to perfect this self-portrait thing, my daughter-in-law is adorable, and just look at how lame this picture is.

The swimming party. There were lots more children than this picture expresses.

And finally, Tarzan and Brian deep in political discussion as we walk along the peer listening to the sea otters bark.

We returned home to the joy of a visit from our Texas grandchildren at our home. They visited for 2 days and I forgot to take any pictures, but based on what you see above, it's not much of a loss. Harris and Tarzan spent quite a bit of time together and in particular, Harris got to ride in the trailer as Tarzan pulled him down the hill to lock the gate. He was thrilled and said that was one of the best days ever. Maddison and Amber are so grown up, it is fun to be with them. We had a great time, they are fun people.

So, to end this long post, we are relaxed and enjoying our new venture with no stress added to our lives. Brian was very helpful in putting things in perspective for us and gave us some fantastic advice. Thanks son.

Where have you been?

I have been to:
--Ireland
--Germany
--France
--Amersterdam
--see the Tulip festival in Holland
--Norway, Denmark and Sweden
--Italy
--England with Flat Maddison
--Mexico
--Cancun with Celia
--Grand Canyon with Lee and his Mom, Nellie Bagley
--Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Hawaii, Illinois, California, Washington State, Washington DC, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Tennessee, Arizona, Alaska and Pennsylvania
--Navajo Reservation
--Apache Reservation
--Arlington Cemetery
--a rodeo
--a Phoenix Suns game, a Cardinals game, a Rattler's game, Diamondback's game and a Coyote game
--the Electronic Show in Las Vegas
--a boxing match with my Dad when I was 8
--Real Estate Convention in New Mexico
--Bermuda
--Disneyland
--the Statue of Liberty
--the Eiffel Tower
--the Leaning Tower of Pisa
--the Arch de Triomphe
--the Roman Coliseum
--the Louvre
--Japan
--Singapore

I have been in:
--the Mesa Arizona Temple, Manti Temple, Salt Lake Temple, Logan Temple and Dallas Temple
--the Vatican
--an art class
--heaven in ecstasy
--the deepest pits of self-pity
--restaurants that treat you like royalty
--restaurants that were simply holes in the wall
--two different bands
--the desert
--an infomercial
--an audition for Warner Brothers
--a Sylvester costume for Warner Brothers
--the presence of new life

I have been:
--swimming in the Mediterranean
--on the roof of the Temple in Bern Switzerland
--at the top of a Mayan Temple
--kayaking
--riding on a zip line
--blessed by a Mayan Priest
--swimming in a Cenote
--white water rafting
--performing live on a stage as an actress, dancer, singer, and guest speaker
--a witness to 2 accidents where someone died
--swimming in the Great Salt Lake
--afraid
--healed by the power of Priesthood
--playing the tabernacle organ
--camping
--flying in an airplane
--jumping out of an airplane
--riding on a bicycle
--riding on a train
--riding on a bus
--riding on a horse
--hoeing loco
--herding cattle
--fishing in the ocean
--on two cruises
--dancing on a table
--riding on a motorcycle
--riding in a limousine
--riding in a Hummer
--riding in an Air Force transport plan strapped in on a webbed seat that runs along the side of the plane with a Hummer strapped in the back of the plane being send to the US for repairs
--hopping on a pogo stick
--on more than one mountain top
--watching a life end
--deathly ill
--the picture of health
--among the beautiful things in the world
--among the ugly things in the world
--filled with the Holy Ghost