I stand somewhat corrected!

As Willie and I drove into the junior high parking lot this morning, we carefully checked and read all signs. One sign, on the right side of the parking lot entrance, states, "This parking lot is NOT a student drop off." Please note that the sign is bent and twisted and not obviously visible. I guess I will need to reconsider my thoughts from yesterday. However, there is no sign that indicates, "If you come in this parking lot, a mean teacher will harass you and scold you!"

I stand somewhat corrected!

Have a nice day!

For the past couple of weeks Willie and I have been exposed to the "mean and nasty teachers" at the junior high school. I choose to drop Willie off in the faculty parking lot where the parents who just need to make a quick drop off tend to go. (Parents needing to linger longer in the parking lot and watch their students socialize and then walk into the school, drop their students off in the east lot.) There are a couple of signs in the faculty lot that say, "Faculty Lot," "Student Drop Off East Parking Lot," -- but there is no sign that says what the mean teachers want it to say, "Parents are not allowed to drop their students off in this parking lot, and if they do they will be yelled at by us!" An explanation -- when we arrive in the morning at the same time as any one of these 3 mean teachers (they have all pointed at me and then pointed to the east parking lot like I am suppose to feel bad about what I am doing). Teacher A must be arriving at school earlier -- we haven't been reprimanded by her for quite some time. But Teacher B is determined to set me straight, and the anger has not stopped with me (the parent), now Willie is getting harassed. Teacher B has scolded him twice now as he is walking in the school --"tell your mother she needs to drop you off in the other parking lot!" This morning was even more exciting, Teacher C, left her parked car and aggressively approached the driver of each car dropping off students and shook her hand at them in disgust. One parent just drove right by her and two parents actually rolled down their windows and engaged her. Guess what, I was one of the lucky recipients of her angst, and I refused to roll my window down for her, and all I could do in response was mouth a nice message to her, "Have a nice day!"

My greatest concern is that these 3 angry teachers, A, B, and C, go into the school to teach our students. You can't tell me that they magically transition into kind and loving teachers when they enter the classroom. I doubt their attitudes are left in the parking lot. My, my, my, . . . I hope they can soon find a cause that is more rewarding than scolding parents and kids who enter the faculty parking lot for school. I hope they can find a way to "have a nice day".

Curses, foiled again!

The Utes are getting better and better. The shots are there, the defense is tight, the coach is intense and a little crazy, and the games are close! The game tonight was a battle until the end and the Cougs came out on top! Curses, foiled again, but not for long. The Utah b-ball program is turning around, and it looks good, and I love it. The b-ball game is my favorite -- always has been, always will be!

Oh what condition my condition is in . . .

I am a little slow posting about the Utah High School 5A State Swim Meet. It was held last Saturday, February 9, at BYU. My kids and I have been attending for 7-8 years to watch the very capable nieces and nephew compete as the top swimmers in the state. Each year the meet is held at BYU, and I have to chuckle at all of the rules and conditions spectators face as they participate. The most obnoxious is the 1 by 2 and 1/2 inch piece of paper ticket-holders receive as they enter the swimming pool venue. I am so surprised that BYU management feels so compelled to instruct and in the first person, no less. It's like taking the "creed of conditions", hmmmmm . . . .

I think I am losing my mind . . . .

I know the mind deteriorates with age -- but, I am not that old --

But, every day something happens that leads me to believe I am losing my mind. I forget meetings, I can't remember from one hour to the next (even from one minute to the next) what I am doing or suppose to be doing. I can't seem to get a handle on things and it's kind of scary. I have always had a very good memory -- names, dates, places, events, and so on.

Is it dementia? Not sure -- I couldn't remember how to spell it to find the information below. You be the judge ---

Dementia (from Latin de- "apart, away" + mens (genitive mentis) "mind") is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging. Although dementia is far more common in the geriatric population, it may occur in any stage of adulthood. This age cutoff is by definition, as similar sets of symptoms due to organic brain dysfunction are given different names, such as developmental disorders, in populations younger than adulthood.

In dementia, affected areas in cognition may be memory, attention, language, and problem solving. Especially in the later stages of the condition, affected persons may be disoriented in time (not knowing what day of the week, day of the month, month, or even what year it is), in place (not knowing where they are), and in person (not knowing who they are).

Maybe I am not quite there -- I do know who I am and I know where I am . . . at least for today!

A few thoughts . . .

President Hinckley -- his impact will last forever . . .

It seems that everyone is posting something on their blogs about President Hinckley. I have enjoyed reading the postings.

The funeral service today was very powerful and tender. I was very impressed that all five Hinckley children participated -- youngest daughter, Jane, offered the family prayer; son, Clark offered the opening prayer; middle daughter, Virginia, was the first speaker; oldest daughter, Kathy, offered the closing prayer; and, oldest son, Richard, dedicated the grave. In the first few rows of the conference center were those five children and their spouses, twenty-five grandchildren and their spouses, and sixty-two great-grandchildren. I never met President Hinckley, but I have met his daughter,Virginia, and his son, Richard. They are good people. The Hinckley family is a strong family -- the plan of salvation in action.

I enjoyed Elder Packer's comments as he referenced President Hinckley's October 2004 conference talk -- "The Women in Our Lives". This talk came six months after Sister Hinckley passed away. It was a nice tribute to Sister Hinckley and his daughters. The quote Elder Packer used was one I clearly remember.

As a father, do I love my daughters less than I love my sons? No. If I am guilty of any imbalance, it is in favor of my girls. I have said that when a man gets old he had better have daughters about him. They are so kind and good and thoughtful. I think I can say that my sons are able and wise. My daughters are clever and kind. And "my cup runneth over" (Psalm 23:5) because of this.

Women are such a necessary part of the plan of happiness which our Heavenly Father has outlined for us. That plan cannot operate without them.

I hope I can be the kind of daughter (and mother and wife) to which President Hinckley so clearly referred in so many of his talks and writings.

Extra effort ----

Many of the issues and problems students and families bring to schools could easily be resolved if the folks at the schools would make a little, tiny, minimal, extra effort. Take for example a parent I met with this morning. Her son is a junior student in one of our high schools, a good student. He really wants to take occupational drafting and pre-architecture classes, and his high school doesn't offer them.

I actually got a call from this mother about the whole dilemma on Wednesday this week. I told her I would call the counselor, have her talk with the student to see if going to another high school for just those classes would fit into his schedule. The counselor responded by telling me that she had already given the student the other high school's telephone number and told him to call the school -- slacker indicator number #1. The counselor has the primary responsibility to help create the best schedule possible for every student in her caseload even if that means making arrangements with another school for a few classes. I decided to turn the conversation into a teaching moment, I strongly suggested that she call the school for the student and make the arrangements for him.

So, this morning the mother came to me indicating that she wanted to take her son out of the unhelpful school and special permit him to the school that had the drafting classes. She had received no help at the school (even after my call to the counselor, she didn't make the extra effort for the student) and felt like the school did not want to help her son. I made a few calls (like the counselor could have) and made arrangements for the mother to meet with the new school's assistant principal for a special attendance permit.

The mother was so appreciative. She then proceded to tell me the rest of the story ---
She and her husband moved to the US from Central America eighteen years ago. Her husband had a good job, they had a nice home, everything was great until the homeland security/INS folks tracked him down for being here illegally. They had paid an attorney many years ago to get their "paperwork" in order. They have social security numbers and work cards, but for some reason the "attorney" took advantage of their naivite and abscounded with the money for her husband's legal status process. So, eighteen months ago, he was deported. She lost their house and pretty much everything else and is now living in a basement apartment. She and her son (only child) miss their hunband/dad like crazy. She was just so appreciative that someone was willing to help her out. Tears trickled down her face as she thanked me.

No sure what is going to happen, but I am so glad I gave a little extra to her this morning. Helping others and being kind about it is really a good thing to do.