"Dr Ross

Dog food is dog-gone Good!

WOOF!"

We heard that 50's commercial more than a few times in Missouri. 
Gary, Dan, and the three older kids were all driving home in one car and were laughing when we met up with them.  Gary had been entertaining them the whole drive with jingles or one-liners from old commercials.  As anyone who knows Gary can testify, if you get him started and encourage him with your laughter, he really gets on a roll. 

Here are some classics we heard from him and then from the kids.   (I think it was a very wise law that banned cigarette commercials.  These three stuck with Gary, even though he's not a smoker.)

"Winston tastes good (smack, smack) 

like a cigarette should."

  
"I'd rather fight than switch!"

This was probably the kids favorite:

"Bryl-creem, a little dab'll do ya,

Bryl-creem, you'll look so debonair.

Bryl-creem, the gals will all pursue ya,

They'll love to RUN their fingers through your hair."

 

 I'll end with this classic theme song.  

If you don't know the words, you were born after 1965.

 Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed

A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed,
Then one day he was shootin at some food,
And up through the ground came a bubblin crude.

Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

Well the first thing you know ol Jed's a millionaire,
Kinfolk said "Jed move away from there"
Said "Californy is the place you ought to be"
So they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.

Hills, that is. Swimmin pools, movie stars . . .

We went to the

movie, "17 Miracles" today.  We were interested in seeing it, not only because of the story, but because our friend and neighbor is an actor in it.  It was a beautifully done movie, that forcefully reminded me of the sacrifices made by many people of great faith.  

The movie depicts experiences from the Willie-Martin Handcart Company, one of the many handcart companies that came west across America.  Many of them were immigrants from Europe and had already suffered much hardship in their journeys.  But their purpose was to establish a settlement, free from persecution, for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I have ancestors who traveled from Scotland and were part of the handcart exodus.  They were not part of the Willie-Martin Handcart company, but I'm sure they had experiences much like those depicted in the movie. 

I've heard and read of pioneer experiences, but seeing it brought to life in the movie made it more real to me.  Although, "more real" is actually a relative term.   Because, honestly, I cannot fathom how they did it.   The physical hardships of starvation, exhaustion, extreme weather, along with the emotional loss of losing loved ones, just seems like it would be too much to bear.

I'm afraid I would have lasted about one day, had I even been willing to go at all.  I've often said, when I talk of ancestors who were pioneers, that I can't believe I'm related to anyone who had the strength to do it.  Just last week in Missouri, when I was walking short distances in the 100 degree heat, I thought of them.  Here I was, physically dragging, as I walked around Six Flags Resort being entertained.    Hardly a comparison to ancestors who were driven from Nauvoo or made the trek across the country in covered wagons or handcarts.

I guess the answer lies in the title of the movie.  

They had great faith, and faith precedes the Miracles.  

They wouldn't have made it without the Miracles, 

and the Miracles came because of the faith.  

I'm just go grateful that  I wasn't born at a time when I had to show my faith in that way.   And I'm also very grateful for those who did.    

Fun and more

fun, most of it in the SUN.

Jackson's team won both tournaments they were in.

And, the excellent batboys, Harrison and Hyrum, got trophies, too.

Here is Hyrum, #99, as catcher and then at bat.

Harrison at bat

 Random shots from the week.

 Gary fighting Jackson for a chance to use the mower.

He won out eventually

 

 Heading to Six Flags

Unfortunately, I got a little too much sun and got a little heat exhaustion and dehydration.  Fortunately I didn't feel the effects of it until the last couple of days, I felt badly I had to miss one of Jackson's games where he pitched the whole game with no hits.  Hyrum was a very thoughtful and good babysitter for me when I had to miss out and stay home.

Gary commented to me that he couldn't believe he had a grandson old enough to play on a regulation baseball field.  I feel the same way, not about the field, but that I have 9 grandchildren who are so individual and amazing.  It brings tears to my eyes. 

It all began when

we pulled out of the driveway and Gary said, 

"I hope this isn't an ill-fated trip."   

Actually the story began before that, when Misty asked me to help her plant her front flower garden.  I suggested we get some big rocks to add to the height and character. 

All went well as we traveled down to a creek bed outside of Jonesburg.  We spotted several very large rocks as we traveled the gravel roads, but we kept going as we sought the perfect rocks.  We came to little stream that crossed the road and felt we could navigate it with no problem.  Well, that is where the "ill-fated" part of the trip started. 

After much trial and tribulation, we realized that we needed help.  We called Dan at work, who then drove home (45 minute drive) to pick up his Dad and his Dad's truck, and made their way out to our destination.

In the meantime, we didn't let a little stuck car ruin our fun.  During the three hours we waited, the kids made "lemonade out of lemons," and in fact had a great time. 

Jackson, who claims to have a "Masters Degree" in "Rock Skipping,"

showed us the finer arts of picking the perfect rock.

take notice of the rock I'm sitting on,

you'll see it at the end of the story.

We were very happy when our

  fearless and much appreciated help arrived.

After much analyzing,

it was determined that pulling it out backwards 

would be the best approach.

Ahh, a sigh of relief.

I thought Misty was kind of pushing her luck 

when she insisted that we load the truck with rocks.  

But she is a very determined woman.

We weren't quite out of the woods yet, though.

As we started down the road,  

Dan noticed that the car was driving a little bumpy,

even for traveling on a gravel road.

 Marshall just "hung loose," and 

was pretty unfazed by the whole event.

Fast forward to today.

Here are Misty and I sitting on that same rock,

only this time it's in her garden bed.

Was it worth it?

Well, I guess it depends on who you ask.

(Gary says I'm putting way too positive of a spin on it)