Thanks, Grandma

Sometimes I look around and realize how big this world really is, and then I notice how small I feel in comparison. Not that I mind being small, just that it's a bit overwhelming to realize how many individuals there are in this world. Am I not complicated enough as one person, even if I do consider myself simple at that?

And then I look at what a big difference a few people have made and continue to make in my small & simple life. Like my grandma Burton. She passed away this morning after almost 97 years of going strong in this world. What an amazing lady. She introduced me to so much of what I've loved and appreciated in life. Like bowling. And Whiffle ball. And the Spaghetti Factory. And Swedish hotcakes. And family. ...Mainly family.

When I was a kid, my dear grandma never gave me reason to believe there was anything to her life but being there for and loving her grandchildren. She seldom missed a softball or basketball game or drama performance or any other kind of event in which her grandchildren were involved (and that's saying quite a bit with how active some of us were). Whenever we performed we just looked out into the audience or crowd for "the lady with the big white hair," and there she was, cheering us on.

Well, If her main objectives with her grandchildren were to help us know we were loved and cared for, to support us, to enable us to know and develop a greater love for our cousins, and to provide us with countless happy memories, then Mission accomplished, grandma. But you did far more than this. You taught me to hold fast to what I believe in. You taught me to make family and friends the top priorities in my life. I learned from you the rich blessing people are in life, and a little bit of how to lead, and how to support, and I learned independence, as well as (by your bad example since you were no good at it) that it's ok to receive help as well. And I learned a little bit about the great quality of optimism. And there was more. And as Aunt Val pointed out to me today, the lessons don't end here. I'll continue to learn from the legacy you've left, and the close relationship we've been blessed to have.

In ways, saying goodbye to my grandma has been far more difficult than I imagined. I know it's not over, I'll just miss her for the time being. It's hard to realize I'll never hear her cheerful voice again in this life. But in other ways it has been easier than I expected. There is an abiding peace in knowing that both my grandma and I worked on our relationship with each other, and that it’s not over here. I'll always treasure the sleepovers at her place as a kid and the many outings she took us on. I 'll value the weekly dinners and calls to Val we made during the years I lived in Sugarhouse. I'll treasure the 70's gold and orange chairs and the table she gave me to thank me for those times. And I'll treasure every other memory I've had with her throughout my life.

Thanks, Grandma. In this vast world, I'm grateful that you have been such an integral part of my small and simple life. God be with you till we meet again.

Telluride Revisited... with a side trip to Moab

Last year Christian and I loaded up the Vacura(so titled because the "A" for Acura on his trunk was turned upside down thus becoming a V) and headed to Telluride for the bluegrass festival. It was fantastic! We saw the Counting Crows, Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck, Guster, Sam Bush, and others. When the concert trip was over I had fallen in love with that little town, and we decided we needed to make a return trip the next year but with more people. I thought those words were said in vain, but it actually happened.







The Vacura returned for trip 2 last week, and we brought along my dad's pick-up (in order to deliver some clothes for Kuhl to sell in their booth at the festival) as well as Brian, Connie, and Cherissa. The concerts we hit this year were Arlo Guthrie, Ani DeFranco, and Ryan Adams. All were excellent. Arlo kept us laughing with his left wing humor, Ani kept me mesmerized with her amazing guitar playing abilities, and Ryan had quite the variety of music in store for us.



We had a fantastic camp spot just outside of Moab at Ken's Lake. I highly recommend this campground... just don't miss it like we did. It was midnight and we couldn't find the entrance... It took us over an hour, but we did get to it quite by accident in the end and it was well worth the wait.


Below are pictures of the concert at Telluride, and of the best corn on earth.






Just outside Telluride at a lookout spot. This was the most beautiful drive and though the picture doesn't do it justice, I did get to use my new gorillapod. That thing rocks!

And our last moment in Colorado was also in Arizona, Utah, and for my first time: New Mexico. Yep, we paid the $3 each to stand on a stone that declared the only point where four states meet. Hey, It's good to do once.

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********Memorable moments from the whole 72 hour trip:*********

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* Not only do I get my first speeding ticket in 12 years simply from following someone and not paying attention, but it was in practically the same spot my bro Mike got a ticket 24 hours before. We really are twins.

* Girl at Telluide passes out right in front of us, foaming at the mouth... (not a pleasant memory)

* Free Kuhl clothes

* Arlo: If we lived in a world filled with peace and love it would be a heck of a lot more difficult to make a positive contribution in this world.

* We went to Moab to watch a movie (Get Smart) -- cuz there was nothing else to do

* Kicked out of a restaurant in Moab

* Hiking to Delicate Arch in the moonlight at midnight = Awesome!

* Sleeping in the back of the pick-up

* Genevieve and I having to be rescued in the river: both the most exciting and the most frightening moment of the trip all in one.

* Christian: "I just don't look that good in a Camelbak"

Fondue Time!

Our annual fondue party strikes again. Well, I don't know if it's annual. But we do it every so often so we'll call it that because it makes it sound more official.

Marinda, Mike, Dave, Jen, I and a few other friends started this tradition several years back and we keep it going no matter how many times we end up saying we shouldn't eat so poorly. When the main items are cheese & chocolate (two of my favorite food choices), cream puffs, bread, berries, veggies, bananas... it's not exactly the four food groups nor the best diet plan, but Hey! It's tasty. We invite a few new people each time and try different recipes. And we always end up vowing not to eat so much the next time. Fortunately by the time "next time" comes around we've already forgotten, so all is well.