Letter to Margriet D. 19 July 2008
07/20/2008 05:29 a.m.
Dear Margriet,

I made it home from the Reunion last night at 3:00 a.m. It was a long drive. No, it wasn't by Flaming Gorge, though Jan's brothers (Ted and Quinn) both live on the road (Lone Tree Cutoff) that goes to Flaming Gorge (Flaming Gorge is about 100 miles away to the east). We were on Blacks Fork which is the river that flows through the Fort Bridger area (the North Slope of the Uintas). Flaming Gorge is on the east side of the Uinta Mountains.

Ironically, when we got up there to go up the Blacks Fork access road, it was closed--blocked off by barricades and Uinta County Sheriffs. We were forbidden to go up--there was a forest fire. As we approached from the Northwest (a ridge now covered with power generating windmills), I told Jan, I thought I could see smoke. We ended up spending Thursday night at Ted's in Mountain View. We drove out through Robertson to the road in the morning, and it was still closed. Though they told us they had made real progress on the fire during the night (much of the forest is dead from "bug kill") when it had died down. So, we went to Fort Bridger for a few hours (it's an excellent little historical site and museum--authentic and interesting). While we were there, Jan's brother called and said that he had contacted the Sheriff's Department, and it would be ok for us to come up (only to "Aspen Springs"--where their land is located and where the reunion was being held). So, we met Therina at the junction drove on up together. It really was a pleasant "reunion" time. The little nieces and nephews are cute and fun to be around. Quinn's boy Logan especially likes me--he likes to learn about plants etc. After dinner, I drove home. I did stop and rest three times in the three hours--which made the ride longer, but not "too sleepy."

This morning I taught plants down to Camp Fife with Cathy. It was fun and successful. I talked about plants and why they're important and what they need and how we classify them (in the process sang a couple of funny songs I got off the Net that teach the same ideas). Then we went out and walked around camp to actually teach "in the field". I taught probably close to 40 plants, but talked about why they are useful or told little stories about how and why I learned them, or where I had encountered them elsewhere. Really, it was just "fun with a purpose." At the end I sent them out on a "quest" to find 10 plants that they had learned. They brought them back, and it was like both a test and a final review. I hope Cathy learned them too. I think I enjoyed it most because I was simply sharing what I really know and think--simply sharing how I see and think when I walk outdoors, anyway. Several of the leaders had been students of mine at Bear River. It's always fun to see them again, and it was fun to teach them something new in an entirely different area (they had no idea that I knew that kind of knowledge too).

This evening I have done the watering, gone through the Gospel Doctrine lesson on Korrihor, again, and I'm going to bed a bit earlier. Tomorrow I drive up to Camp Loll in the afternoon--evening.

I enjoyed your letter. It's true, Germany is so interesting. I would like to go to the Beyreuth Wagner Festival, but it is terribly expensive, and you sometimes need to get tickets years in advance. My parents will appreciate a letter. The DVD's didn't work on their machine, but I'll bring my international one from school so that they can see them.

We agree, McCain is not strong enough. I don't trust him enough (even a lot of "baggage" from the last election). But Obama really is not experienced in areas that a President should have real background (though many people would like to see him as a new "hope" for America). Also, some of his views (like abortion) are too "liberal" for me, and where there is another choice, I can't support him. Yes, we wish (again--like last election) that we had other better choices. But it is not a good world, and that is reflected in the politics and the choices made through the political process. And the economic situation here is simply "frightening."

I'm glad to hear that Hank's boys are progressing beyond their Iraq experience. Yes, it is a bad situation, but the alternative would have been much worse. Thank goodness for families and young men like the Rogers' who are willing to serve both God and Country. Yes, we know the name Geddes. One of the cousins on the Simmons side, Nordeth (her brother is President Simmons of the Seventy and Logan Temple President) is married to a Geddes from northern Cache Valley.

I guess that's all for now. I probably won't write tomorrow (I'll leave for camp after church and lunch). I hope you have a good week. I should be back on the 23rd (Wednesday). I have both school and Young Men's. Thursday morning I also have early irrigation in Brigham City (really, the garden down there is wonderful!).

Greetings to Ruud.

Until next time, as always,

L
I am currently Tired
I am listening to The Swamp Cooler and the Dryer