Down Memory Lane at Paradise Bakery

Several months ago I wrote about what a tough time I had deciding which college to attend. Today I had a delightful lunch with 2 of the people whose friendship reconfirms in my mind that I made the right decision. Back in the early 90's I saw these 2 everyday and sometimes twice a day! They haven't changed too much except Denice now has short hair and Angela's is long. The three of us plus seven others were called to be Executive Officers in the Upsilon Lambda Delta Sigma Sorority. We preferred "Execs". Here is a chart so you don't get lost (I love charts). For 1 year we were in charge of organizing events for about 600-800 University of Utah Co-eds. We worked very, very hard for those months planning Rush, firesides, dances, service projects, parties and more but in between the stress we laughed, teased, played, cried, talked and had a fantastic time being college gals!

Shopping for a few hundred with Jenn and Denice. Fun. And good training for shopping for 5 boys!

All of us were given nicknames by Angela or Anhela. I was Kay-ye. Don't ask me why. Ask Angela. There was also Denicky, Ho, Shoelster, Lawa, Hen, Heeder, and so on. I am amazed I remember that many.

It is a bit of a tricky situation to be an Exec because we are called from our "home" chapter to work with 9 girls from the other chapters. We didn't know each other and we had to rely on each other to do what we were called to do and try to become friends while still planning and carrying out the events. It could have made for an uncomfortable year but it ended up being a fantastic one instead. One memory stands out in my mind that happened right after we were put into office. We were at an LDSSA convention with several other universities up at USU. We had a lot of responsibilities that we were taking care of and all of a sudden we were told 30 minutes before show time that we were in charge of a skit to introduce all of the University of Utah chapters in front of all these other schools. crap. Well we did it. We pulled together a fun, short skit complete with song and dance to introduce our chapters. I remember thinking after that skit that we would do just fine, come what may.

It was quite a learning experience working in that capacity. I had no idea the drama and chaos that can reign when working with that large of a group. Take for instance the fall dance.

A Casual Dance

For years the Lambda Delt officers had done 2 large dances a year. Both Formal. Well we decided that it would be fun to do at least one of the dances casual. Good idea, no? Well apparently it was the most controversial and confusing thing that had ever happened in these girls lives. We had to actually go to 10 different chapter meetings and define casual for them. We had to dress up in a variety of outfits and show them what was acceptable and what was not. We had to reassure them that they could indeed dress for, attend AND enjoy a casual dance. I am sure that it is still living in infamy in the institute as "The Casual DanceDilemma of 1990"! The things that we learned in our different callings changed our lives. For example Jen was in school learning to be and already working as an accountant. She was our treasurer. Now she is a hair stylist. I think trying to maintain a budget for us and train and help 10 chapter treasurers killed the accountant bug for her! Angela is now a high school history teacher and she proceeded to tell me that after a year as the communications officer and doing countless bulletin boards that she will not do them in her classroom. She hates bulletin boards. Here is one that she did and I wish we had a closeup. It is a hundred little cut out people participating in an epic battle. It was a ton of work no wonder she still has a bit of burnout. See? changed her life. Here she is playing a practical joke on me pretending she and Steve were engaged. They even kissed. Ewww. It freaked me out.

It was great to reminisce with these friends about Spring Break (John Carlyle was the 3rd boy Angela) and Disneyland trips and sleeping in the office because it was just ridiculous to go home and then turn around an hour later to come back. It was great to hear what they have been doing lately and to realize that although I don't see them twice a day or even twice a year that I still consider them great friends and my life is better because of them.

Top 10 Must Visit Spots...

I love traveling. Or at least I think would love traveling if I ever did actually travel. There are places that I would really like to visit someday. Exotic locales that every world traveler would call a must see! I will go and it will be incredible and some places I will love and want to visit again.

However there are already certain places that I return to again and again. They are my Wailing Wall, my Jerusalem, my Mecca. I go because I feel connected to these places and because they are part of my history. They are reminders of where I come from and where I want to be. I hope all of you have places like this.

I went to one of these places a few weeks ago. I doubt you have ever been there and if you haven't then most likely you never ever will. I don't know the real address but to me it would be addressed as:

My Blue Heaven or Bide a While Haven
Wasatch Resort
The Canyon

While in the canyon I visit a museum that could not be more impressive to me than the Met or the Louvre. Over here are some steps made of massive stones put into place by my great-grandfather. I know because I sat on one of those steps looking at an old picture of him putting it into place while my grandmother told me the story.

The rocks themselves talk of the history of this place. My children can tell you of how the men working at the temple quarry would drill into the rocks and pour in water and the the water would freeze and crack the rocks. The put their fingers into the holes left in some rocks as we take our walks. The massive rocks have thousands of stories to tell. Climbing rocks, naming rocks, discovering rocks, conquering rocks and even losing rocks is all part of the experience. We lost Table Rock in the floods of '83. This massive, flat and beautiful granite rock that sat at the side of the creek where we would all climb up on was the scene of many a lunch.

The ancient trails that are known only by a select few. It is so entertaining to see hikers and bikers travel on their beaten path right past Cool Water where freezing cold water bubbles right out of the earth in a beautiful shaded area. The Water Tower where we used to be amazed as our intrepid Uncle Mitch would climb up and reach way down with his pink and white round cup and get us all a drink.

Up the canyon even the cups have historical significance. There are the baby blue/white, pink/white thick plastic cups that are in Grandmas cabin. But the ultimate drinking experience comes from the dented metal cups in the main cabin. There is a joy that comes from filling up these cups with the glacier-licious water that comes straight from the tap. The cups instantly become the temperature of the water which just heightens the anticipation of that first sip. Mmmm. It is so cold.

The fine amenities of the 5 star resorts are not be found here. Indeed some of the best parts of the canyon are the windows that stick and the floor that slants. There is also an unwritten rule that although there is a TV and DVD player available they are never to be turned on. You have to find your own entertainment. There are lizards to be caught and rocks to be thrown. There is the fort you made last year that you have to find, repair and improve upon. It is here the kids learn to play Monopoly and PIT. At night you play kick the can and it is the best because there are so many places to hide and it is so dark! The creek is a dangerous focal point of our trip. It is gloriously powerful right now so it is a bit of a worry because water+unlimited rocks= boys paradise. I enjoy it more when it slows down to a lazy trickle and the pools fill up and you can jump from rock to rock to rock. Or you can add a bit of an adventure and throw big rocks into the little pools and totally soak your unsuspecting brother who is standing nearby!The best part of the creek is the noise it makes when you are sleeping. There is nothing more relaxing in the world than that sound and combined with the cool summer breeze that blows in the old wood windows is the best medicine for any insomniac!All of these attractions are nothing compared to the connection that I feel with family while I am there. The entire place is a treasure box where I store little snippets of memories of family. Each memory as unique and wonderful as the person who gave it to me. Great-grandma Ashton sitting at her kitchen table tatting, Grandpa Carter repairing something, Grandma taking us to visit her cousins down the road, aunts playing PIT, uncles climbing rocks, cousins playing kick the can, 2nd cousins teaching me Solitaire, great-aunts bringing cherries to munch on, Mom taking us on hikes, brothers having waterfights and sisters swinging on the swing and talking until late into the night and now my kids and their cousins are filling their own memory box. I love hearing them reminisce about their adventures on the ride home. Each of these memories tie me to these marvelous people and I feel stronger when I leave there. What other place in the world can do that for me?

NSAH V My first job.

It is time for another edition of This Was My Life.When I was 16 I got my first job or rather my dad got me my first job. You see spring and early summer were spent at the Centerville Ballpark. Dad coached, the boys played, Mom cheered and the rest of us were along for the ride. So it came about naturally that Tricia and I would work at the snack shack where we ate most of our dinners anyway. We worked with 2 other girls JoAnn and Amy. Our boss was named Horton and he was a gruff man with a softer side and a strange sense of humor. I remember he always paid us under the table so he wouldn't have to pay taxes. I won't mention his last name because I am pretty sure the IRS reads this blog often and I would hate to get him in trouble. We worked 2 girls per evening and had 2 shifts on Saturday so we all worked that day. We were kept very busy selling licorice ropes, candy bars, and about a million other sugar filled snacks. We were also known to invent strange flavors of sno-cones to sell. Bubble-gum with a sprite kicker was a popular one I invented. I am pretty sure they named it "The Kelli Special" after I retired. We had the usual ball-park fare of hotdogs, popcorn and nachos. None of which makes a very healthy meal but those were your choices. One of the best meal variations that I loved was popcorn with nacho cheese on it! Cheese corn! Loved it.

We had a back door where the teams would line up after their games and the coaches would buy them a treat. Usually it was just a sno-cone but every night there was at least 1 coach who bought the whole team a meal! I sometime yearn for those days when I am the treat mom at baseball because I always seem to forget and have to run to the store at the last minute.

The park also had a standing policy that for every returned foul ball that went over the fences the kid who returned it would get a sno-cone. I loved to watch the junior spectators jump off the bleachers at a dead run whenever a foul ball was hit! To this day when we are at a game and a foul ball is hit I will tell my kids "Run, go get it!" Only to realize when they just look at me incredulously that our park doesn't reward them so why would that be considered fun!

The umpires also got free drinks after their games. I remember some of them were a little bit demanding and would yell from the diamond for us to bring them their drinks.

The worst part of the job was the clean up every night. Cleaning that nacho pan was nothing less than nasty and slimy. We did keep the place really clean which as a mother now I really appreciate. On the flip side the best part of the job was the cute baseball players that we got to watch and flirt with while we worked. Really it was the perfect job for this 16 year old girl

The Doctor is In! NSAH IV

Ok. Pretend it is Wednesday. The question for this week is...

Did your family have any home cures for hiccups, warts, cold, flu, sore throat etc?

My hiccups are horrible. I get them once and then I get them all day long! They also hurt. And according to my boys they are LOUD. My dad had a foolproof cure for the hiccups. He would scare us. It worked every time. He would notice we had the hiccups and then boom he would yell our name or jump out at us. It never failed!

Wait, let me give you some background. Dad worked for the LDS church in the fleet department. He was in charge of the cars in many missions all over the world. I remember once he called me at work when I was about 20 and I had a bad case of the hiccups. He started telling me that he had some bad news. He told me there had been a car accident in one of the missions and the missionaries were hurt. My heart stopped because I had a lot of boys that I cared about that were serving missions at the time. He said that one of the missionaries was one of my close friends! I was honestly almost in tears. Then he stops and says "Are your hiccups gone?" and they were! Then he proceeded to tell me the real reason he called. Torture maybe, but it did get rid of the hiccups.

My mom has her own cures for things. If you have a sore throat you should gargle salt water. As soon as you stop gagging it works! Just teasing Mom. Mom is all about prevention. She talks about eating healthy and getting enough sleep and exercising! Those are the first things she will tell you! Then the salt water gargle and also a humidifier. Absolutely you must have a humidifier. I don't remember going to doctor ever (except my junior high checkup!) so the healthy living must have worked!

What's in a Name? NSAHIII

What is your name? How did you get it? What does it mean?My name is Kelli. Spelled with an i. It has become a pet peeve of mine to have my named spelled with a y. I think because I went to school with a boy named Kelly so I always thought that was the boy way to spell my name. In my baby book that Mom filled out while expecting my arrival it had a space for that names you were planning on for the baby. It has Bradley for a boy name and Amy for a girl name. The story goes that Dad took one look at me and said that I was a Kelli with an "i" and for a middle name Lyn with 1 "n" not 2. That is how I got my name. I am the only one that Dad named as far as I know. In most baby name books (which by the way I still love to browse in my spare time) Kelli means "warrior woman" or "fighter" or "defender". Now growing up I must admit I hated the definition of my name. I wanted something a little more feminine or romantic but by college I grew to love it. Though every time I am in a bookstore and see a baby name book I look to see if Kelli has anything added to it like "beautiful talented warrior"!

**Guess what in trying to find graphics I went online and I found several new meanings. "Brave, Lively and Bright-headed" have all been added to my name meaning. There was even one obscure one that said "Farm by a meadow". Weird. I betcha that enough Kellis complained that they had to add some splash to the meaning. I don't know really who "they" are but they were awfully nice to add some pizazz. By the way "bright-headed" means brilliant. According to me.**

The origin if my name varies. Some books say Irish some English. I prefer the books which say Celtic or Gaelic myself. Much more romantic! I guess my real name origin is "Irv".

Apparently Dad was really ahead of the times because Kelli became popular for what looks likes 1 month in 1970 and immediately declined from there. Which is fine with me because I liked being the only female Kelli in my class. It made it easy to know if people were talking about me. Which in reality nobody ever was doing! I was just never meant to be a Jennifer. (no offense Jennifers) (Jenn might actually read this so I really mean no offense)

Kelli is a good name and I like it better than Amy (no offense Amy) (I don't think any Amy's will actually read this but better to be safe...). I really like to write my name also. I have a great looking "K"!
Now I am starting to ramble. Goodbye for now.

Kelli Lyn

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 11 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Not so Ancient History II

I am doing great on my New Year's Resolution to start my personal history. Here it is already week 2 and I am still going strong!

The topic for this week is...

Your first car! How did you get it? What make and model was it? Any fun stories?

My first car was a truck. I think my dad arranged that on purpose. He knew I was going to need something big and beefy to survive. It is truly sad but I have no earthly idea what the make and model were. I wish my dad was alive so I could fill in that little bit of info. I do know it was a lovely shade of burgundy. I drove a burgundy truck.

One of the results of having a truck was that during my senior year I was the designated riser driver for our Madrigal group. The very first time the boys loaded them into the back they just stacked them straight up and therefore the last few risers were hanging over edge of the tailgate. I didn't realize this until I was driving home with Wendy B. I turned the corner and she started screaming that the risers were falling out! I turned to look back at them and apparently I turned the steering wheel as well. I turned back just in time to drive over the curb and ram my right headlight into a big tree!

I distinctly remember watching Wendy bounce up and hit her head on the roof of the truck. I think it broke her clip that she was wearing in her hair. I dropped her off and started to head for home. I had 2 thoughts. The first was I had avoided the wrath of Miss M. (the choir teacher) by not losing the risers out of the back of my truck. Well done on my part! The second thought was it wouldn't do me any good because my dad was going to KILL me.

I got home and as luck would have it Dad was in the garage AND he was holding a hammer. I remember getting out of that burgundy truck and just walking up to him and blurting out. "I hit a tree." He started waving the hammer around and yelling all kinds of questions and I fled into the safety of the house and had a good cry! I did go back later to get some tree pieces for my scrapbook which I have yet to put together.

One year later Dennis was driving my truck home from school at the U and a cute little old man who had no business driving pulled into our lane going about 10 miles an hour. We ran into the back of him going 50. I thought we had killed them! Dennis got out and checked on them to make sure they were ok while I sat in the truck and commenced with the freaking out! After he reported that they were fine I started to face the reality that I was going to have to tell my dad! I think Dennis was thinking about the same thing because we both start pacing up and down the median waiting for the police.

It actually worked out great for me because Dennis dropped me off at work and then went to my house to break the news to my dad. I don't think Dad yelled at him. Dad called me later at work and told me that he was glad that we weren't hurt and that we were much more important than any car or any burgundy truck for that matter. I think I liked that second accident better.

It was a good truck. But obviously not good enought to take a bunch of pictures of to share with you!

Not so Ancient History!

Who was the First Love of your Life?

Our eyes met across a crowded bench and it was love at first sight. He was the blonde on the end of the bench. See our eyes meeting! Our families were old friends (well we had known each other for about 5 years!). We all lived in Memphis Tennessee and the year was about 1974. His name was Kenny although I hear he goes by Ken now, go figure. Kenny was very handsome as you can tell by this photo. We were the best of friends and spent a lot of time together. When my family was getting ready to move to Houston I can remember crying so hard at the thought of leaving Kenny. I climbed a tree and hid from my parents so that I wouldn't have to leave. Of course being only 6 I didn't have a lot of options. I remember that as we were leaving Kenny and I went around the side of the house and kissed me! So sweet.

His family would come out to Utah every year of so for vacation and I would always be giddy and giggly and we would always share a goodbye kiss! This romance would continue right up until we were about 11 and it would actually start to count as a real kiss! We lost contact for a few years. In high school we became pen pals and I learned that he loved gymnastics and he eventually got a scholarship to the Y in gymnastics. We actually went on 1 real date in college when I asked him to come to a sorority party. The next memory I have of him was going to his wedding reception and when he caught my eye as I was waiting in line he got that familiar grin on his face as he loudly announced to his bride and all around us "This is Kelli! The first girl I ever kissed!" I still look forward to his family Christmas card every year to hear how he is doing and see his latest cute picture!

Aahh. Kenny.

Project for the New Year!

First of all I think it is funny I am just now starting to think of what I want to do this year! Maybe stop procrastinating should be my project! Actually I think I have that one every single year. Anyway back to the actual topic of this post....

Do you know what your grandfather did for a living? How did your great-grandmother meet your great-grandfather? Do you know what your parents did on their first date? What is your mothers most embarrassing moment? Do you know the answers to these important questions? I know some of them but only because my relative wrote a personal history. I have been thinking a lot about personal histories and how grateful that I am that my relatives took the time to sit down and remember and then put pen to paper or fingertips to old typewriters! They wrote stuff down! A few years ago my dad started writing his and I remember thinking that he was getting a great head start on getting his history done. He would send it to me and ask me for suggestions and I would send it back with questions I wanted answered. I can not tell you how much that history means to my family. I only wish I had written 1000 or so more questions for him to answer.Clifford and Irv playing.

I have been encouraging my grandparents to write their histories! (Hi Grandma and Grandpa!! Love you!) Grandma has compiled several histories of other generations that I read, use and enjoy immensely but now I want theirs! Grandma has made the comment that she can't remember anymore and that got me thinking about how I can't remember anymore either so I am in real trouble in 40 years.

That leads to my topic. (Wow that was a huge intro!) I am going to start on my history!! I am not a good journal writer (this blog is pretty much the only writing I do!) so I really need to have a history of some sort. I am going to incorporate the blog though! Every Wednesday I am going to post the question of the week and I may or may not actually write my answer on the blog but I will answer it somewhere that day!

Join me if you like. Answer the questions on your blog or in your history or in your journal but answer it. It will be fun. I hope.

I will be stealing some of my questions from my good friend Anita's book that she wrote called "Self Preservation". Thanks Anita!

The topic for this week is: Who would you say is your first love?

I will answer my own question later today. I hope. Man if I don't I will be so sad that I can't even complete the first one. Somebody call me if I don't post by 11 pm! I need serious help!