Crinkled Oranges

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Richard


There is much I want to share, but I'll wait until I have more time to think and write. 

Charlene wrote this beautiful obituary for Richard.  




Richard Brian Anderson February 10, 1942 - November 27, 2017 

Richard Brian Anderson, age 75, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and teacher passed away on Monday, November 27, 2017 from complications of a stroke. Richard was born to Golden and Charlet Anderson in Green River, Wyoming on February 10, 1942. He lived in Green River until he was 2 years old when his family moved to Provo, Utah where he was raised and graduated from Provo High School and BrighamYoung University. Richard was married to Carol Anne Day from1963 to 1985. They had two daughters, Cheryl Hollinger and Jan Anderson, and remained life-long friends. He was married to Laraine Sharpton from 1996 to 2013. 

Richard moved to Salt Lake City after graduating from BYU where for over 30 years he taught English at both Skyline and Granger High School. Ten of the 30 years were spent teaching in the Home Instruction Program. He loved and was so proud of his chosen profession, and felt blessed to be able to enrich the lives of his students. 

During the years he was teaching he also obtained a Master’s Degree in Literature from the University of Utah. Richard loved to write poetry, histories, and short-stories. His writings were beautiful, soulful, honest, and inspiring. He had a few of his poems published for which he was very honored. He was a veracious reader, which is evident in his library of books. 

Fishing at Mirror Lake, hiking in his treasured red rocks of Southern Utah and the Wasatch Mountains, and traveling with his family were some of his greatest joys. He and his family traveled to Europe several years over summer breaks, primarily to England where they walked in the shadows of the great poets, playwrights and authors. 

Richard is survived by his beloved daughters, Cheryl Hollinger and Jan Anderson; his grandchildren, Kylee Edwards (Spencer) and Mason Hollinger; his great-granddaughter, Jordyn Edwards, his sisters, Annette Anderson Ashton (Gary) and Charlene Anderson Rynders (Greg); brother, TomAnderson (Lynn); and sister-in-law, Lynn Anderson (Gary). He was also loved by his many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Gary; and his parents, Golden and Charlet Anderson. 

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Chapel, 4760 S. State Street in Murray, Utah. Visitation with family will begin at 12:00 p.m. followed by a celebration of his life at 1:00 p.m. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com Events VISITATION 2 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Dec Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home - Murray 4760 S State Street, Murray, UT 84107 CELEBRATION OF LIFE 2 1:00 PM Dec Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home - Murray 4760 S State Street, Murray, UT 84107 

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Richard

This was the view from the car on 
the way home from visiting Richard tonight,
It was comforting through my tears.
 

 


      My thoughts went to the poem written by Richard the summer of 1994 when we went as a family to the beach house (the year after dad died and the year before mom died).  It was very bittersweet at the time, and even more so today.  

Richard's thoughts as he watched Mom looking at a Sunset

The sun slowly sinks
Beyond the sea
Parting with the day
In radiant display

She’s done her job well:
Given light,
Held us all snug within
Her arms, kept us warm
And spared us endless night

Within the sojourn
Of her day
She chased away
The darkest shadows
Of our grievings
And our fears
And brightened
Children’s faces
In their laughter
And their play

How like us to notice most
When she’s about to go
But then, at her summit
All were busily engaged:
She the energy
Of our lives
We converting it
To work and play
She’d have it no other way

How ripe she now stands
Full of maturity and age
Poised on the horizon
Set to launch to other lands
Benediction of those beyond
Beatitude for waiting hands

Darkness for us then
But we’ll make it through
Sustained by resilience
Of her love and the truth
That she’s eclipsed only
For a while from view

But for this time
For now
Let us rejoice
In the fullness of her being:
Golden crown above the sea
Abiding Mother of mankind

How full of wonder
And woe
Her odyssey
How dazzling
In poignancy
And awe
Her departing
Curtsy


by Richard Anderson



      On Tuesday, I got the call that Richard had fallen and was being taken to the hospital.  It turns out it was more than a fall.   Once at the hospital, the doctors quickly confirmed to Cheryl and Charlene
that he had had a stroke and brain bleed.  They told us he would not be able to recover. 

      It has been so sad and heart wrenching.  I went up on Wednesday and spent the morning at the hospital.  They determined they could send him back to his place at Legacy and could have hospice care come there.  Charlene and his daughters, Cheryl and Jan, have been so good to him in all these transitions.  

     I went up this morning after the Bishops left (more about their visit and Thanksgiving later).  He has not been conscious since the stroke, but it was comforting to see him in his room, surrounded by the things he loves --  His Monet prints on the wall, the desk dad built, many pictures of his family.   He looks so much like Gary and Dad that it is haunting.  It is so comforting to know that they and Mom will be there to greet him.   

     I take comfort in Richard's words, even if I am having a difficult time processing that this is really happening.


"How ripe she he now stands
Full of maturity and age
Poised on the horizon
Set to launch to other lands
Benediction of those beyond
Beatitude for waiting hands"




















Monday, November 20, 2017

Friday, November 17, 2017

Caramel Pretzels,

Fudge, Pumpkin Rolls, mini apple pies . . .

Getting a head start on Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

At our Sunday dinner Sunday

we started the habit of telling 1 thing we learned in the last week. 

It was fun to actually hear from everyone.  It was our BYU YSA Stake Conference, and there were so many inspiring messages.

Let's see if I can remember the thought I shared. 

Do the right thing.
Do the hard right thing.
Do the ______
Do the right thing right now.

I'll have to look at my notes.  

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Thankful for

all the good people in the world. 

As I attended my friend, Lynne's funeral, visited with friends, and attended our Stake Conference Saturday night meeting, I'm reminded of how grateful I am for people who share and give their love so freely.   

Friday, November 10, 2017

November Blessings: Friends

It was such an enjoyable night Wednesday, when 8 of us high school friends (and Amies Toujours club members) went up Snowbird for an overnight stay.  It was filled with fun and lots of eating and talking.

Here was the view at sunset.



Here is the view from our selfie.





Friday, November 3, 2017

I'm feeling

a loss tonight.  My friend, Lynne, passed away this evening.

Just a little over a month ago she was diagnosed with Leukemia.  She was immediately admitted to LDS Hospital and started treatment.  Early testing showed that her leukemia was slow moving and treatable, so we were all so optimistic.

She was supposed to come home earlier this week and continue chemo here in Provo, but she was having a lot of pain and so they didn't release her.  I talked with her on the phone on Tuesday, and she was still optimistic but sad she wasn't able to come home yet.   Then last night she took a turn for the worse, and she passed away tonight.

I've been her visiting teacher for about 10 years, and I always left our visits feeling nurtured and loved .  She took the responsibility of sending a weekly email with the notes from Sacrament Meeting and Relief Society and was a true believer in the importance of supporting and loving each other.

She always wrote notes of love, appreciation, and encouragement to everyone she knew.  And they were always personal and meaningful. I've tried to emulate her in that regard, but have failed miserably.  In her honor, I will do my best to follow her example.   

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

You know,

as I get older I'm really realizing that life would be simpler if  I didn't put up, and and then have to take down, holiday decorations.   One of these days . . .







Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Halloween around

our house.

Waiting for trick or treaters.  

Jackson doing the fall cleanup.

Gary replacing the outside electrical sockets

Monday, October 30, 2017

Week One

Well, I've finished week 1 of the Healthy Habits Challenge.

Being accountable is definitely making a difference, but what makes the biggest difference is just being aware.  The two hardest have been my the ones I set for myself.  I only did Flylady and Scanning for 3 of 6, but I can also look at it as being 3 more than I would have done without the goals.

Also challenging was the 3 servings of veggies and 2 of fruit.  The fruit I have no problem with, but getting veggies in takes much more effort.  I've even found myself getting a bowl of carrots just to get another serving in.  Now that is a first!  So only 4 of 6 for that.

No unhealthy foods -- that was a challenge, too.  I do like my sweets.  But what has helped has been the no eating after 9 pm or dinner, whichever is first.  I've been known to be eating popcorn in bed at 1 a.m. (just a few times a week or so), and I haven't done that, so that is progress.   Gary thanks me for that.

I am such an "all or nothing" person that it is actually kind of nice the way goals are set up, because it allows for flexibility and if not doing well in one goal, you can still do well in others.

And of course the journaling, which I am doing with my blog.  I've been much more consistent with that.

So, all in all, it has been a good week and it feels good to be making positive changes.