Nostalgic

I’ve been feeling a little bit nostalgic lately, so yesterday I pulled out some of my photo albums and scanned some photos of me as a tyke.

Enjoy:

This is me when I was about 5, I think I just lost my first tooth. I remember being in a gymnastics class at about this time, and looking in the mirror in my leotard while wiggling my tooth with my tongue.


When my parents got divorced last year the thing that made me the most sad was not being able to go on family trips anymore. Here I am at Arches when I was about 9, with my brother and sister. Arches National Park was a standard family trip as long as I can remember.



I loved my Sailor dress when I was 8, and I always wore bows in my hair. I remember one time at figure skating practice a older girl saying she was 'too old' for bows. I clearly remember thinking 'I'll never be too old for bows!'



This photo was taken when I was 15, and was the only time in my life that I cared about how my hair was styled. At this point in my life I actually showered every day. I loved to work on homework, and drink OJ while my hair curled.




And this is how it turned out, pretty damn cute if I do say so myself!

Birthday wishes-

This time of year it happens, it happens every year. I am super excited for spring, I feel energized and happy. Today it’s snowing like mad, but that can’t ruin my mood. I want to travel, read, laugh, and sing. I also like thinking about my birthday. I really hate to get older, I’m happy where I am at, but that doesn’t mean I can’t pretend I’m a kid and get excited for presents and birthday cake!

So, here is what I’m thinking I want:
1. Couch- I hate our upstairs couch, it is uncomfortable and just annoying. Now that my mom is working at Ikea, I want to get a new couch. Something wonderful yet simple, and really comfortable.

2. Kit’s Table and Chairs- I am really enjoying collecting American Girl dolls right now, and have always wanted a complete collection of any single doll. Now that I’ve chosen Kit, I want to get her table and chairs.

3. Kit’s Birthday Linens, Party Treats, and Grace- Trying to collect an entire collection is hard, so I take it in small steps, and want to get Kit’s birthday collection for my own birthday.

4. Unconditional love and incredible health (hey, isn’t that what everyone wants?)

Here is a favorite photo I took two years ago in London in March:

On a side note, this is my 100th post - go me!!

Changing Seasons

Well after two weeks of unseasonably warm weather, Utah finally reminded us it was winter. Yesterday E and I wanted to get out of the house, and do something for the long weekend. We drove up to the Uinta Mountains (about 90 minutes away) and went snowshoeing. This was after a huge discussion on if we should go snowshoeing, because everything felt so springy. E wanted to go biking, or hiking, and I wanted to snowshoe (we finally decided to snowshoe). Anyway, on the trial we were both so warm we didn’t wear hats, gloves, coats, etc. We both hiked in our T-shirts! I couldn’t believe how little snow was there, and how quickly it was melting.

I looked out my window yesterday at our beautiful silver maple. The buds were coming out, and it was ready to start spring! E and I commented that this warm weather can’t be good for our snow pack, yet we were loving it!

This morning I woke up late (no work on President’s Day!) and peaked out the window. Utah reminded us, and our tree, that is still in fact winter. I snapped these photos out of the reading nook, because I mentioned in my previous post that the reader (or the napper) can watch the changing seasons, and this is a perfect example.

Valentine's Day

The last two years, Valentine’s was tough. Last year with my parent’s divorce, and the year before E saw a child get hit by a car, and was not responsive (luckily the child made it).

This year E and I were waiting for the worst to happen, and it did, on February 12, 2007. In Salt Lake City five innocent people were shot and killed at Trolley Square, a mall E and I love. Four of the five fatal deaths happened in a card store I love! I’ve bought birthday presents there, trinkets, and most recently, my Christmas cards.

It is so scary when a place that is familiar and safe turns into such horror. E and I both have been really hurt by this incident. And, a man I worked with about a year ago was shot in the incident, and is still in critical condition at the ICU.

However, Valentines Day was peaceful enough. E gave me a beautiful card and surprised me with a dozen roses.

The card he gave me had a caring heartfelt message inside, too personal to share here, but here is a part of it: “I think everyday how lucky I am to be married to such a wonderful beautiful person.” I have the best husband ever.

Last night we had my family over for a Valentines party, and had a really nice time.

Now I’m ready for spring!

Today is the day

One year ago my parents announced their divorce. I remember it like yesterday, I started to cry, and my perfect little family that I had always thought would survive anything would never be the same. For me, the divorce was hard. For months, I thought about never going on family trips again, never spending Christmas with my entire family in one place, and the thought of my brother and sister having to jump between two homes.

One year later I am better, I don’t get as upset about the divorce. I am happy starting my own little family with Ethan and hope and pray that we will always be happy together. It will take work, but I’m willing to fight for something I believe in, my family.

Yeeehaw!

My weekend in Texas for work went well. I can’t believe I worked through the entire weekend, and now its Monday again, and I’m back to work. The weekend was long, and tiring, and cold, but I did enjoy my time there. My client is fantastic, and I look forward to the work we’ll do for them in the future.

Well, giddy-up, I’m outa here!

An Ode to the Reading Nook

When it is cold and gray outside there is not greater pleasure in the world then to climb into the reading nook and take a long afternoon nap. The soft green walls match the thick fleece blanket. The pillows are deep and comfortable. A large window lines one edge, where the reader (or more likely the napper) can keep an eye on the weather, the changing seasons, or the sunset.

I just love my little reading nook.

When E and I moved into our place, we new instantly that we wanted the large window seat in the upstairs bedroom to become the reading nook. We covered the carpeted seat with blankets; we piled pillows into it, and hung a pretty little picture that spoke of such special places. We tried to read, we really did, but the reading nook took hold. Now, jokingly E and I call the reading nook the napping nook, because no actual reading ever gets done there.

Whenever I feel like the world has taken hold, or when I feel sad, or happy, or in love, or tired, I climb into the reading nook and life seems better. Last weekend was slow, which was wonderful because E and I are usually so busy. Both Saturday and Sunday I climbed into the reading nook and took a beautiful, long nap. Life couldn’t be better.


The reading nook yesterday, on a sunny winter afternoon.

American America

I saw V of Vendetta a couple weeks ago, and it scared me. It is crazy how much this country is turning into the fictional fascism that movie portrayed right before my eyes. I was horrified to find out the President of this country did illegal wire taps without a warrant, and the government did nothing to stop it. I was even more horrified to see him lie to the American public yet again about “weapons of mass destruction” and that Iraq is not a total and utter failure. But what I was overwhelmed me the most was that the Bush Administration wanted Grand Canyon National Park to teach visitors that it was created by Noah’s Arch flood, not geological forces that took thousands upon thousands of years. You’ve got to be kidding me!! What are we going to say next, dinosaurs didn’t exist? Holy crap, American is going to hell in a hand basket! Thank God the Democrats took over the congress.

So, on another note (but still related), I went down to Sanpete county last weekend! The air was cold and clear, and the cheep hotel was surprising nice (but I did sleep with earplugs, however). We traveled all the roads, enjoyed the sunshine and small town cooking, and kept our eye out for bald eagles, which migrate here each winter. And to our surprise, we found some beautiful eagles, and so I wanted to share my favorite photo I took of our national bird:

Damn it is cold!

It’s been a cold few weeks in Salt Lake City, or should I say freezing? Today’s high is only expected to be in the teens, and the low was below zero. Last weekend the air was bitter cold, and the roads were icy. E and I wanted to get out of the house, so what did we decide? Snowshoeing!

Yes, we’re crazy, but we had a really fun time. It was quite cold, and my nose was a frozen numb thing by the time we were done, but we did get a workout and actually breathe some fresh air.

Of course I brought my camera along, and snapped some quick photos, here are the best:




E and I on Saturday snowshoeing

Also, I went to Ohio last week for business. The trip was long and tiring, but I’m really looking forward to the work we’ll do with this client, and overall I had a great time. I’d never been to Ohio, and I love to see new places.

Now I better get back to work, and try to warm my frozen hands.

We painted our office

E and I painted our office. Over the long holiday weekend, with everything else going on, we decided to take on the huge task of cleaning out all the crap in our office, painting it, and putting the entire thing back together. As you can guess, we are quite tired, but the finished product looks great.


Before


After


Before


After

Memorial

The memorial for my Grandpa was yesterday, and it was perfect. The memorial captured what he was all about perfectly. I was honored to be a speaker, here is what I had to say:

Hello. For those who don’t know me, I am Jessica, Joe’s oldest grandchild.

One thing that makes me very happy is that my Grandpa could be there on my wedding day in Yosemite. He even did my flowers for that day, and that is something I will never forget. Something that makes me a sad, is that my future children will never know the wonderful man, my Grandpa.

My Grandpa led a full and wonderful life. Just over two weeks ago, when we found out the cancer and moved into his lungs, I said to him, this is scary and horrible, but one day, when I am 78, I hope to look back and realize I did half as many incredible things as you. You traveled the world, you married your true love, you had three beautiful children, you celebrated your 50th anniversary in Africa with your entire family, and you changed many many people’s lives for the better.

The reason I am up here today is not to tell sad stories, but to tell happy, funny stories about the wonderful man I knew as Grandpa Joe. As many of you know, Joe and Barbara traveled the world together. They would often leave the country for two or more weeks to explore places many of us only dream of going. When they left, they needed to have someone watch their house, garden and dog. My husband E and I loved this job.

But, the thing we loved the most was my Grandpa’s hot tub in the backyard. It was a tiny little thing, in the middle of a beautiful wooded area of the yard. My Grandpa loved this little hot tub, and soaked in it everyday at 4:00 pm. When he was away, E and I loved it just as much. Grandpa knew this, and was happy to have us use the hot tub, but he had one rule- no swimsuits! Can you imagine my then boyfriend’s face when he is getting instructions from my Grandfather “you can use the hot tub- but no swimsuits allowed!” E was mortified; he couldn’t believe that my Grandpa was telling him to soak naked, with his granddaughter, who was also supposed to be naked! So, of coarse, we followed directions, we really had no choice!

The next time we were over, getting directions to house-sit, my Grandpa looked both E and I in the eyes, and said, “Remember, no swimsuits in the hot tub! Last time, I think you wore them (which we had not) and swimsuits make the water cloudy” E and I still laugh about those conversations to this day, and it is one of my favorite memories of my Grandpa.

Another favorite memory is when we celebrated Grandpa Joe’s birthday on the Serengeti in Africa. Joe and Barbara decided to take the entire family to Africa to celebrate their 50th anniversary. While there, Grandpa turned 77, we ate, sang, drank and laughed under the incredible African night sky. It is something I will never forget.

I want to end with a poem that my Grandpa enjoyed. He safely tucked it into a file that was supposed to be opened after he died, so, these are some words from his heart:

Don't cry at my grave, because I won't be there
I'll be in the breeze that ruffles your hair
I'll be in the sunshine, I'll be in the snow
I'll be in the places we used to go
I'll be in the memories, and in the funny things
I'll be in your shadow, and there in your dreams
I'll be in your greetings, but not in your goodbyes
I'll be in the reflection of your loving eyes
I'll always love you, and I'll always care
So don't cry at my grave site, because I won't be there

Joseph Wood Meyer

Joseph Wood Meyer 1928 ~ 2006
I am in love with this world, I have nestled lovingly in it, I have climbed its mountains, roamed its forests, felt the sting of its frosts, the oppression of its heats, the drench of its rains, the fury of its winds, and always have beauty and joy waited upon my goings and comings - John Burroughs

Joe Meyer, a mountain of a man, died peacefully December 30, 2006 from complications related to bladder cancer. He will be sorely missed by Barbara, his best friend, companion and wife for over 51 years, family and friends.

Joe was born July 8, 1928 in Salt Lake City to Joe and Mary Meyer. He grew up with his older sisters, Mildred (Hicks) and Lucille (Greer). Joe attended South High School and the University of Utah where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Art Education and a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology and Counseling.

Joe will be remembered by his distinguished career of service and compassion. As a teacher, high school counselor and school district coordinator, Joe helped support and improve the lives of hundreds of students and staff members. He celebrated each person's individuality and uniqueness and sensitively helped others pursue their dreams and follow their hearts. Joe lit up every arena of his life with a contagious sense of humor, compassion and ability to build immediate connections. Because of Joe, this world is more humane and gracious.

With an eye for beauty, Joe enhanced his home and garden. He created stunning paintings, stained glass windows and welcoming gardens that demonstrated a life of artistry. Creative pursuits throughout his life made each surrounding a more beautiful place. Joe radiated a sense of adventure and joy of discovery. He organized camping, backpacking, and hiking experiences in addition to adventuresome travels around the globe. Long before roof top carriers were available, the Meyer family often strapped a canvas cover on the station wagon and drove off to explore countless trails and National Parks.

The support and protection of the environment were of utmost importance throughout his life. Above all, Joe's devotion to and love of his family defined his life. Joe is survived by Barbara, his loving wife; Lucille Greer, sister; Deborah, daughter; David (Penny), son; Laura (Michael), daughter; Jessica (Ethan), Brandon, Melissa, Chandler, Taylor and Kendra, grandchildren; and his devoted Golden Retriever, Willow.

The Meyer family appreciates the sensitive and professional care from the Utah Cancer Specialists, Western Urological Clinic, St. Mark's Hospital and Community Nursing Hospice Services. During this critical time, the empathy and support given to Joe and his family have provided a soothing life line. Joe and Barbara have always had the gift of transforming every event into a special occasion. Joe would like his memorial service to reflect this hospitality. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Joe's life at the Red Butte Garden Orangerie. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Nature Conservancy would be appreciated.

I miss you Grandpa.