Derek posted this on June 27 to his Facebook account ... a sweet memory of a helping hand in Hawaii.
We were newlyweds with very little money – about to move to an island where we didn’t know a soul. Until we met Bob.
Danielle and I were just 25 years old when I was offered a full-tuition scholarship to the University of Hawaii to pursue my MBA. I was working in a Provo basement for a tiny 6-person startup called Qualtrics, when I decided it likely wasn’t going to take off. Haha. Whoops! We accepted an offer for graduate school in Honolulu – sold everything we had (which wasn’t much) and boarded a plane.
We literally didn’t know anyone on the island, but my parents mentioned our situation to some couples in their Church congregation. One of them said “I have a brother on O’ahu – here’s his email address – I’m sure he’d be happy to help.” I remember writing an email that basically said, “Hey Bob. You don’t know me – but my wife and I are moving to Honolulu and our flight arrives at 12:30 AM. Uber hasn’t been invented yet, and we wondered if you could pick us up from the airport and let us stay the night in your house, and then drive us to our apartment the next day.” The only thing we had in common was that we were members of the same Church. I sent my email, embarrassed that I was asking so much from someone I had never met.
Five minutes later, I got this reply: “Aloha Derek. Tell me your flight number. I’ll be there.” And he was. By the time we gathered our luggage (not a couple carry-ons – we were moving…this was everything we owned) it was well after 1AM. I got a text message “This is Bob, I’m ready when you are.” We met him outside and he loaded our bags and drove us to his modest home for the night. The next morning, Bob said “let’s get you some Spam and Eggs at McDonalds – you’ve got a big day.” He drove us to McDonalds, bought us breakfast and then to our apartment. We thanked him profusely for his generosity – but it didn’t stop there. “You don’t have a car – how are you going to get groceries?” We’ll walk I guess – I answered. “Hop back in, let’s get you what you need.” Bob then drove us to Foodland and walked with us for an hour as we bought what we’d need to survive our first week in our new place.
I never saw or talked to Bob again after that day – but I’m forever grateful that a perfect stranger would willingly drive in the middle of the night to pick up two scared kids from the mainland and not leave their side until he knew they were okay. President Nelson, the man I believe is the living prophet of God is turning 100 years old this year. As he reflected on the significance of that number, he invited us to consider times that we’ve been the “1” in the parable of the lost sheep. As I thought about this – I immediately thought of Bob, who reached out to my wife and I as we were (quite literally) lost in a new place. Thank you, Bob, for being like the Good Shepherd and ensuring that we made it to safety.
#99plus1
_____________________________________________
Derek has written official articles for the church website before, so I asked him if this had been an assignment. He answered "The church is doing a little 99+1 campaign ... and if I'm being honest, I was asked my some of my leadership to help "model" what members might do if they were to engage with this campaign) - but no assignment, this was on my own. :) "
The Blackham Boys don't write poetry per se ... but there have been some school assignments!
In December 2016, Keaton tried a little experiment, eating a cashew to see if he was still allergic. Yes. Yes he is. When he had to write a poem for his English class the next week, the experience was his inspiration!
I ate cashews
I nearly died
My throat swelled up
My tongue got tied
My eyes dilated
My skin was dried
"I guess I'm still allergic"
I sadly sighed
There was also a limmerick ...
The boy's face was swollen and red.
He was itching all over his head.
He ate a cashew
He's allergic, it's true
Some Benadryl, and then to bed!
In younger years, Cooper liked to "collect" license plates. Trying to see how many states he could find while we'd be out and about. A trip to Seattle really helped his collection (taking pictures and keeping them on his ipod). In 5th grade, this collection inspired a poem (for a school assignment).
License plates, license plates
All across the United States.
As I travel in my car
Whether I’m going near or far
I look at the license plates.
In Utah, our cars show what is in our state
Everyone knows the skiing is great!
Or if you like it dry and hot
Give our National Parks a shot.
There are some license plates are just plain yellow.
Like New Mexico. A good place to go and be mellow.
New York and Alaska have yellow plates too.
But Texas, Indiana and Idaho’s are red, white and blue.
Florida features oranges on its plate.
It is also known as the “Sunshine State.”
Both Ohio and Iowa take time to show
The beautiful land where they plant and grow.
Hawaii shows a rainbow so high
Up against a blue, blue sky.
California and Illinois plates are pretty plain.
Except for the fancy cursive of their name.
South Carolina has a plane. They were “first in flight”.
Wyoming shows a cowboy, putting up a fight.
Oregon features a tall tree of green.
But in Arizona, only a cactus can be seen.
Wisconsin says it’s America’s dairy land.
Washington and Colorado feature mountains grand.
Minnesota features it’s 10,000 lakes.
While Nevada proclaims it’s the “Silver State”
Of course there’s a lot more that we could name.
Like Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Maine.
I keep a look out in my car.
But those states are so very far.
Maybe now you’ll start looking too.
To see different states, many or few.
Make it a contest, make it a game.
None of the license plates are exactly the same.
I found a lot … how about you?
Yes, Mom "helped" some with the poem. Fast forward several years to this week, and once again, Coop had to write a poem for school. You know there are many different types of poetry, with different rhyme patterns, line counts, etc. Have you heard of a "Villanelle" poem? You have likely heard one, even if you weren't aware of the actual name. "Do not go gentle into that good night. Old age should burn and rage at end of day. Rage, rage, against the dying of the light." (see HERE for the full poem). For English class, Cooper had to write his own Villanelle poem. All the classic examples sounded so complex that Coop was a little intimidated. I told him that he could use subjects closer to home, and just follow the six stanza, ABA, repeating line structure. I came up with a couple examples for him ...
... and then he came up with his own (and got an A)
As there has been a focus on Poetry here on the blog recently, I thought I'd feature some poetry from the next generation (to see if it really is in the genes *Ü*). I stuck "poem" into the search bar in the Jensen Journal and found a few to feature here. I also searched Dropbox and found this classic poem from Josh to start us off ...
Good things to come
I love to run
Soccer is fun
That is my poem.
Wendy had saved this little poem Janelle made about Janika ...
Made even more special with the original artwork!
Creative ways to ask/answer for dances would often use rhyme.
Here's a poem from Jase. It got him the date.
Tomorrow - we'll feature some poetry from the Blackham Boys.
We'd love to feature the other families too!
Send pictures/poems to Jen to be showcased in a future post!
There have been quite a few poems featured here on the blog (check out the Poetry label for more) but no one has been as prolific with poems as Chris! He's written 100+ poems for his ProsperityPoems website. Check it out! Here's just a peek ...
Just kidding - the poem featured here is NOT a haiku,
I just liked the alliteration ;)
Hannah and Sylvanus when they were married, and their home in Fairview.
All seven children were born and raised in this house.
Print/Word version at the bottom of the post for easier reading/cut&paste options.
Hannah (Margie's mom's Zada's mom) wrote this poem and had this frame made up for each of her children, so they would remember the house they grew up in. "Up the creek" in Fairview---it was one of the last houses as you head up Fairview Canyon.
Mom/Margie said "I remember I was a young girl when the house finally got a real bathroom and you didn't have to use the outhouse out back!
You can read more about Hannah HERE. In addition to this poem, she wrote a complete autobiography telling all about her life, the birth of all the babies, the house, the bees. A few excerpts are included below. The wedding was June 4, 1913. After a short honeymoon trip ...
We went up the creek to our new home. Sylvanus had bought this place three years before and had it mostly paid for. The house just consisted of two rooms. They had just been wall papered and painted. We bought a new stove and cupboard and put new linoleum in both rooms. Everything was new and looked neat and I kept things shining. Everything was beautiful up the creek. He had planed a nice garden and radishes, green onions, etc. were ready. He had garden sage, rhubarb and asparagus. He also had a large strawberry patch and several raspberry bushes. The whole place (or the better half of it) was in a young orchard. almost every kind of fruit you would want was on the place. He had a large bee yard which consisted of over one hundred stands of bees. It was truly a garden of Eden. I got all the water I used out of a well, or carried it across the highway from the ditch. The following summer we bought our first cow.
After Sylvanus finished high school, he attended Snow College. He then went on to serve a 27-month mission in Colorado from (June 1901 to Jan 1904). After his return, he lived in Salt Lake City, where he worked on the trolly system for several years. He saved his money and was able to purchase his own farm "up the creek" East of Fairview. There was a two-room house with acres of land where he planted and cultivated all kinds of fruit trees, livestock and bees.
Before they knew it, the couple had four little girls with hardly any place to put them. One slept in a trunk, one in a drawer, and one at the foot of the bed. Sylvanus purchased another house and moved it with a team of horses to attach to the original house with a stairway in between. This more than doubled the space they had, and after that, the children slept upstairs in the addition. Three boys were added to the four girls and the family was complete.
Mom/Margie added some additional memories: I remember there was an addition being built on. I vaguely remember the stairs, but I must have hardly ever gone up there. I remember the kitchen, with a kitchen table and a coal stove, and taking baths in a round metal tub as a child----everyone taking turns in the same water. Seems like you'd end up dirtier than you started, if you were the last to bathe! I remember a pendulum wall clock in the kitchen, and the sound it made-----funny how certain sounds and smells bring back certain memories. I remember the living room and the player piano that was there and we would like to pump the foot peddles to make it play. I vaguely remember a creek out back and greenish yellow apples (seems like they were called "transparent apples." I was scared of the bees and afraid I would get stung. There was a little ditch out in front of the house, by the road. We would pick the yellow dandelions with long stems. We would take a bobby pin with a sharp end and make slices down the long stem. Then we would dunk the the stem in the cold ditch and the 3 or stem slits would curl up to the yellow flower. In my other grandma's house in Mt. Pleasant, they had an upstairs too, with a bedroom. I went up there more. When I went back to that house as an adult and went up the homemade stairs, the staircase seemed so tight, I thought a really large person would maybe not even fit to go up and the ceiling of the stairs was so close. Upstairs, the roof of the bedroom was very slanted on the side (from the roof) and if you would sit up in bed and forgot to be careful, you would bump your head. They raised their 5 children in that house. I remember one bedroom on the main floor, and kitchen, living room, and bathroom. There must have been at least one more bedroom, but I don't remember it. They had a little ditch to the side of their house and we used to play there.
Grandma Zada was known for her parkerhouse rolls, homemade candies ... and for her poetry. She wrote lots of little poems. She even wrote a poem about writing poems! This is an excerpt of her "My Life" poem (see Grandma Norman's Autobiography for full poem text) ...
One day I came in just in time for prayer,
and an announcement made:
"Dicky Dicky Dare there were no eggs there".
This was the beginning of the poetry craze
That has stayed with me the rest of my days.
In the English class in my High School Days
I composed a poem that the teacher gave praise.
It was so much fun to get a good mark in her class
By keeping and reading the poem to the class.
In the recent family history project, a couple new poems surfaced.
This first one is fun, as it is recorded in Zada's handwriting.
Many mothers keep the cards, drawings and school assignments their children create. I know I have a box of saved stuff (and also many more scanned and saved online). This precious poem and invitation to a school celebration was saved ... it's likely over 75 years old! This was made by little Lamar for his mother Lucille. Check out the artwork, the poetry, the print, and the cursive! Grandma Lucille probably thought she was hanging onto this cute card for herself, not knowing that many years later future generations would be checking it out.
Here's another card - Another poem for Mother
The picture little LaMar drew is the famous "Whistler's Mother" painting.
Perhaps this is where the Westra kids and grandkids inherited their artistic ability.
The original painting is now worth $140 MILLION dollars!
Hmmm, how much LaMar's rendition is worth?
Derek commented: I loved Dad's poems and Whistler's Mother-style portrait! I remember learning about James McNeil Whistler in A.P. Art History with Mr. Bill. I remember two things: 1) Whistler always painted while wearing a full suit and tie, and 2) Whistler took critique really hard - he couldn't stand any criticism. I remember going on my Senior Trip to the Met in NY with Brian Anderson (who took AP Art with me). We knew enough about the artists and paintings that people started to follow us as we walked through and explained things. We got a big kick out of that. Two 18-year-old dudes were being followed for our deep knowledge of art history!
Derek had an article he wrote featured on the Church website. Shane grabbed a screenshot of it when it was on the main menu. It's the Do You Have the Guts to be a Fixer-Upper? And yes, that IS Derek as the model ;) Derek has been doing a ton of home improvements (with Covid canceling so much, it's been something many have turned to). He said he had written up this article and submitted it a few months ago, and didn't even know it had been published to the church page until someone mentioned it to him.
The link to the church article is above,
but Mom wanted a copy on the blog and in Dropbox... so here it is ;)
Do You Have the Guts to Be a Fixer-Upper?
You
could say I’m almost addicted to all things house flipping (as in: home
renovations that fix up a deteriorating property and culminate in a
jaw-dropping reveal.)
I love all TV shows in this category, whether it’s the more recent shows or the classicones.
To me there is something noble, beautiful, and irresistible about
finding a home that is run down, falling apart, and fraught with issues
but seeing its hidden potential and investing the time to “flip it,”
restoring it to its former (and future) glory.
One
of the most popular of these hit shows starts every episode with the
husband-and-wife dynamic duo stating their objective: “We take the worst
home, in the best neighborhood, and turn it into our clients’ dream
home.” Then they start that episode’s story by asking: “Do you have the
guts to take on a fixer-upper?”
I’ve
often wondered why these shows are so ridiculously popular. Why are there so many of them? There’s a whole network dedicated to giving us as many house-flipping reality TV shows as we can take!
I
remember asking a friend this same question years ago about sci-fi,
fantasy, and superhero movies. “Why are we so obsessed with these
stories?” I asked. “What is it that keeps us coming back for more?”
My
friend’s reply was dripping with the wisdom of someone with decades
more time than I have spent in the scriptures (and also within worlds
like Asgard, Tatooine, and Gotham.)
“The
reason these stories are so popular is because there is something
deeply ‘true’ about the fight between good and evil, and the need for a
hero to save us. It resonates with our spirits. We’re drawn to these
fictions because of their similarity to the very real nonfiction we live
every day.”
I recently realized that this same answer also applies to my other question: “Why are home renovation stories so popular?”
I
believe there is something familiar about the process of recognizing
potential, restoring virtue, and revealing beauty that speaks to our
souls.
Isn’t it inspiring
when someone can recognize the dignity of something that is so badly
broken? Someone with “eyes to see” who can look past the neglected
exterior and the injured insides, and with a confident smile can say, “I
can work with this.”
Fixing
up a damaged and decaying property takes a huge investment of time and
labor. Sometimes the foundation needs to be reinforced. Often the roof
requires repair. Sometimes there are significant structural issues. Some
days are demo-days, where rotten walls and termite-ridden floorboards
are ripped out, exposing the home’s fragile frame. Other days are for
rebuilding, where stabilizing support beams are placed to strengthen the
home and ensure that it remains safe for years to come.
When
the bad parts are cut out and cleared away, it’s time for the designers to truly transform the space. They slowly walk through and look carefully at the various rooms, envisioning what they can become. They take notice of the flow, and how the light hits the walls. They visualize the people who will live there and begin to mentally place a
fireplace here, a dining table there, and porch swings facing the sunset.
When the home is
just about ready, the designers add the finishing touches to make sure
every detail is in place: the landscaping is complete, the pillows are
perfectly positioned and fluffed, and candles are positioned to
accentuate the unique beauty and character of the home.
At
this point the designers ask the homeowner, “Are you ready to see your
fixer-upper?” The renovation is revealed. Jaws drop, tears flow, and
homeowners say things like “It’s not the same house!” and “Thank you for
seeing what this home was capable of becoming!”
Do you recognize this restoration process? These stages are similar to the steps of the Atonement of Jesus in our lives.
I
realize that it is inappropriate to compare the most precious gift ever
given to mankind by the Savior of the world to a home renovation. One
is supernal, the other mundane. One is God-given, the other man-made. I
do this only to say that on some level we intimately know and recognize
this process, and it resonates with our spirits.
The
scriptures are replete with examples of the Jesus’s “renovations.” I
imagine Him at the Sea of Galilee looking at the rough and impulsive
fisherman Simon Peter and envisioning the “rock” upon which He would
build His Church. Then with a confident smile, saying, “I can work with
this.” I imagine the resurrected Lord seeing the powerful potential of
Paul in the small-in-stature Saul, and the yet-to-be-born Jehovah
recognizing the determined drive in Alma the Younger that He knew He
could “flip.”
The process
of cutting away the spiritually rotten and decaying parts of a person
is painful. It takes work to create a masterpiece from mangled and
missing pieces. I believe the ingredient that makes this possible is
mercy.
The scriptures
describe this process of investment, love, and work many times. Here is
one of my favorites: “And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon
them, for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in
his infinite mercy to spare them” (Mosiah 28:4).
Transformations
require tools. Mercy, love, and grace are among the tools Jesus uses to
renovate our lives. In all the scriptures, never did Jesus turn away
from a fixer-upper. Never did He look at a potential restoration project
and say, “That one is too far gone.” No matter how cracked the
foundation or how abused the interior, our Savior always takes the job.
The woman taken in adultery. The blind man. Jarius and his daughter. The
woman with an issue of blood. Lazarus. Mary. Me. You.
If
we allow Him to take us on, and to design our lives, we’ll find that
He—as the Architect, Designer, and Builder—can do so much more with us
than we can with ourselves.
I titled this post "Covid 2020" ... although of course it's actually Covid-19, as the first cases were documented there at the end of 2019. But it was 2020 when most people realized that this coronavirus was going to impact everyone and everything. Shall we start off with some poetry?
COVID Limericks: (by Scott Westra 2020)
Because of the virus Corona
I’ve adopted a different persona
It’s not all that great
To self-isolate
And spend way too much time alona.
It is critical that we all get checked
To insure were not poised to infect
Be up to the task
And wear the darn mask
Or the economy’s sure to get wrecked.
Forgive my cough and my wheeze
Heaven forbid I will sneeze
Just don’t duck for cover
And you will discover
It’s just seasonal allergies!
It was just a little ironic ...
As the year started, "Coronavirus" and "Covid-19" was something many people had heard of, but it was something that was a world away. It got closer. It was January when the news announced that the first case was here in the states. In March, there was a case in Utah. Still, it didn't seem real.
It was March 11 when Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive, and the NBA shut down. (All other sports would follow suit. There was no "March Madness" and the NFL draft was done virtually, no school or community competitions allowed. The 2020 Olympics were postponed). In the following days, everything changed. Schools attempted to move to online learning, churches and temples shut their doors, missionaries came home and countries closed their borders. Employers transitioned to "work at home" for all who could. For a time, playgrounds were taped off. Funerals and weddings could only allow limited attendance. No big graduation ceremony for college/high school seniors. Drive-by parades became the only sort of celebration.
Restaurants were open only for take-out (this was encouraged, to help keep the economy going). Movie theaters, gyms, libraries, salons ... all closed. Disneyland closed and the Las Vegas strip shut down. Only "essential" businesses are allowed to remain open, and most would offer "contactless" shopping (order online and pickup). "Essential Worker" was a new buzzword, as was "social distancing". Other phrases: out of an abundance of caution, super-spreader, uncertain times, flatten the curve, contact tracing, bubble, quaranteam, remote learning, new normal, "blursday" (as time lost its meaning), Zoom and P.P.E (personal protective equipment).
Stores and supplies were hit hard. There were shortages of sanitizer, disinfectant ... toilet paper. Many food items would be very hit and miss, and there were limits placed on most items. Pasta, yeast, flour, sugar, milk, bread. You never knew if you'd be able to get what you wanted/needed. Stores that had previously been open 24-hours now closed for cleaning, rest and restocking. For a time, the number of customers was capped. There were lines outside Costo. There were arrows indicating one-way aisles. Soon masks were mandatory, and there were plexi-glass dividers between workers and customers. Home delivery became very popular! There were other shortages ... bikes, trampolines, game systems, home gym equipment. Almost everything was affected, timelines for manufacturing and shipping were much slower. There was an aluminum shortage that affected cans of soda. Even money ... a coin shortage!
Masks, gloves, face shields, respirators ... there wasn't enough to go around. There was a lot of back and forth about masks. First saying that PPE should be preserved for the medical community, that they weren't really effective for the general public. Many doctors/dentists shut down ("telemed" appointments were encouraged) for all but emergency services, as much to control materials as contact. People started sewing handmade cloth masks, but there were then shortages of elastic and fabric and it was still questioned if they provided protection. The thought was that wearing a mask may not protect the wearer as much as those around them. "I wear my mask for you, you wear your mask for me." A few months in, and masks were mandatory and were being sold everywhere. Reusable (washable) fabric masks and disposable - the more protective N95 masks continued to be in short supply. SO much contention and politicizing of masks and procedures.
As things escalated in March, the Governor of Utah issued a "Stay safe, stay at home" directive for two weeks. Only essential movement outside of the home. This was an attempt to "flatten the curve", knowing that there still would be spread, but trying to control/slow it so that the hospitals would not become overwhelmed. Some obeyed, some pushed back.
Restaurants, gyms and salons opened up again, with restrictions and safety protocols in place. Many people went back to work, but "work at home" will likely never be as limited, often still an option. Some businesses did not survive the shutdown, and unemployment/layoffs were issues for many. A stimulus package put money into most American's bank accounts ($1200). The NBA finally finished the season, with the players staying in a "bubble" with no contact with the world outside. School started up again in August. The Salt Lake School District was only online, but all the other school districts offered options for online or in-person learning. The kids had to wear masks. There were many quarantines and school shut-downs as positive cases were tracked.
In the Spring, everyone watched as the numbers of cases increased ... in Utah, cases topped 100, then 200. Then there were 500 cases in a day. At first, testing was limited. Specific criteria had to be met; certain symptoms, travel from certain locations or contact with a positive person. Still there were long lines for an uncomfortable test (nasal swab). Soon there were options for a saliva test. Tests were required for travel and before medical procedures. As school started, there was required testing (every two weeks) for college students and student-athletes. Now, the norm for daily positive cases was in the thousands (2000-5000), with a number of covid-related deaths reported daily as well. Controversy and conspiracy theories were everywhere (the "plandemic", it's all a ruse, EVERY death is counted as Covid, people are testing positive who didn't take the test, it's all so the government can take away all our freedoms, the virus was made in a lab and released, everything should open/herd immunity, masks are dangerous or just don't work, this medication or that could be a cure, it's just the flu, etc, etc.) There was some good too though, as people attempted to work together, and there were many stories of environmental recovery.
As time went on, most hospitals were at capacity and doctors and nurses were exhausted. Some states had crises earlier on (New York was hit hard in April/May) and every state was attempting control in their own way (as were countries around the world). The Governor of Utah set a second two-week shutdown mid-November. People were encouraged not to gather with family for Thanksgiving or Christmas. As the year ended, a few companies had come out with vaccines, which were starting to be distributed (more controversy), but no one really knows how effective they will be, or if people will even remain immune after recovering from the virus. But there is a feeling of hope ...
Some days, life still felt normal (especially for introverts) ...
Other days you'd open your eyes and see how odd it all was!
The words of one of my favorite poems (and hymn), I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, came into my mind and I pondered again those words and the feelings they conveyed.
As I pondered my thoughts, I penned two additional stanzas/verses to this poem. I shared them with my family on Christmas and share them with you now.
Merry Christmas.
Scott
Text: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807–1882; verses 6 and 7 by Scott Edward Westra, December 25, 2020
As Covid continued, Scott wrote another poem, to the tune of "Part Of This World" from Disney's "Little Mermaid". The full story is not confirmed, but Scott MAY have introduced it to his co-workers, singing some of it during a company Zoom meeting. There may be video proof out there somewhere ... unfortunately none was found at the time of this writing. As 2020 progressed, and Covid made a new world where social distancing is expected, masks are mandatory and hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes are treasures untold, many of us wish we could be part of that old, non-Covid world.
Wish I could be part of that Non-COVID World by Scott Westra/2020
Look at this stuff Isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my collection's complete? Wouldn't you think I'm the guy The guy who has ev'rything? Look at this trove PPE untold How many masks can one earlobe hold? Lookin' around here you'd think (Sure) he's got everything
I've got cameras and speakers aplenty I've got Lysol and Clorox galore (You want hand sanitizer? I got twenty) But who cares? No big deal I want more!
I want to be where the people are I want to see want to see 'em smiling Flashing around those (Whad'ya call 'em?) oh - teeth Gasping for breath you don't get too far Airflow’s required for jumpin', dancin' Working out at those (What's that word again?) gyms.
Out where they walk Out where they run Out where they stay all day in the sun Going mask free! Wish I could be! Part of that world!
What would I give If I could live Back at the office? What would I pay To spend a day Free of my mask? Betcha it’s grand To understand And not reprimanded by our bosses It’s been a while I’m sick of this trial Ready to smile!
And ready to know what the people know Ask 'em my questions And hear their answers What's a hug and how did we Used to shake hands?
What are our plans? What can I do I just wish that it were all through! Going mask free! Wish I could be! Part of that world!
A couple of the girls at Scott's work kicked him out of his office, set up a scene, got costumes and made this video using his custom lyrics ... then it was sent out to the company with this poem (not by Scott)...
Even though we can’t be together this year, The EAC still wanted to spread some holiday cheer. The link below is not a phish, We’re hoping it fulfills your holiday wish. For smiles and laughter… And happily ever after! So enjoy a little humor, And know that no one is as good at this rhyming thing As Westra….
Derek commented how he laughed that those at work call Scott "Westra"
I think most families are familiar with the popular children's book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" featuring a cute little mouse who wants more and more ... and more. The parallel to home projects is pretty predictable (continuing on with my title alliteration). You start with one thing, but changing it makes you realize something else should be changed as well, and so on and so on ...
The Blackham family did some home renovations in 2020 ... as Callahan got married and moved out, Keaton would be taking over that bedroom. But the wall was damaged, so it was necessary to fix the wall. Then that wall needed to be painted, so why not paint the whole room ... I mean the whole basement? With the fresh paint, the old carpet looks awful, so replacing the flooring is next. New lights are next. Where do you stop painting? Best to just continue all the way upstairs, right? The Blackham renovations stopped there. For NOW anyway (the kitchen floors no longer match the new paint, but then the cabinets, which match the floor, would need to be replaced too, then would the furniture match?)
Derek and Danielle had numerous projects in their home during 2020 (with quarantine, there wasn't a whole lot else to do!). In August, in an email he mentioned:
I've had a dumb little idea for a parody children's book for a while. We were talking to our friends about their new sofa, and she was saying: "so, we got the new sofa, and we love it - but it doesn't match our room perfectly, so we needed to get some new throw pillows, and then a rug - but the rug was too big for the space so we had to..." then she proceeded to talk about all the things that resulted from the new sofa. I joked how it was like the kid's book "If You Give A Mouse a Cookie." So I finally sat down and wrote out "If You Give a Spouse a Sofa" in the same style. See attached.
Wendy commented that SHE had also written a parody of this SAME little story based on a drippy-door painting project back in 2009! Here's a link to her blog post about it, and the text included below ...
Have you ever heard the story "If you give a mouse a cookie?" Well, here is our TRUE story of "If you give your husband a request..."
If you ask your husband to put the closet doors back on your daughter's room (that he took off and put in the shed two months ago to paint and never did), then he will go and rent a paint sprayer so that he can spray the door before putting it back on...
And if he rents a spray gun to spray the door, he will decide to spray all of the closet doors that are sitting in the shed before putting them back on...
And if he decides to spray all of the closet doors before putting them back on, he will also take off all of the other doors in the house in order to paint them too (even if his wife tells him over and over not to)...
And if he takes all of the other doors off their hinges, then he will carry them all into the garage and stand them up while he attempts to paint them (even if his wife tells him that it looks very precarious and perhaps he should lean them against the garage wall instead)...
And if he balances the closet doors capriciously, and begins to paint them with the paint sprayer, then right before he is almost finished painting all of them, one will fall over and knock another, which will knock another, which will knock another, until just like dominoes, all of the freshly painted doors are now all over the garage floor with paint everywhere and a husband who is covered from head to toe in splattered white paint...
And if there is a husband covered with splattered white paint and doors all over the ground, then the paint splattered husband will enlist the help of his tired wife who was almost ready to crawl into bed, while he tries to brush the drippy paint (and dirt) off the doors.
And while brushing debris and splattered paint off the doors, the husband will ask his wife if she will hold the doors while he sprays them. The wife, not wanting to be sprayed in the face with a paint sprayer, politely declines but attempts to help brush the drippy paint. But since the wife's painting skills are no better than her husbands, she is not much help.
And after two frustrated tired people try to salvage messy doors, the husband will try again, re-spraying all of the doors making more drippy paint.
And after leaving the doors dripping with paint and the time almost midnight, the husband will ask the wife if he should go paint the outside doors now.
And if the wife exasperatedly vetoes that idea, the next morning, the husband will go check on the doors and inform his wife that all of the doors look like someone just threw a bucket of paint on them and they are now completely ruined.
And if the doors are ruined, the determined husband will still go ahead and begin to paint the outside doors of the house.
And if the husband begins to paint the outside doors of the house, the paint sprayer will start to spray paint in every direction.
And after the paint sprayer starts to spray paint in every direction, the husband will bag the paint sprayer and start to paint with a brush.
And after the husband starts to paint with a brush, he will run out of paint and go to Home Depot to get some more.
And if the husband goes to Home Depot in order to get more paint, they will say that they don't have any more paint in that color.
And after going to Home Depot and being told they don't have any more of that kind of paint, the husband will get very indignant, and blame the sprayer and Home Depot and the doors and say, "I never should have started this project..."
And after the husband frets and complains and blames Home Depot, the sprayer, and the doors; the wife will murmur under her breath...but will refrain from thinking, "This is what I get for marrying a musician/teacher instead of a handyman.."
And after the fretting and murmuring, the husband will tell the sons to go ahead and put the dried drippy doors back on their hinges so that he and his wife can fulfill their obligation at the temple that evening...
And after the boys put the dried drippy doors back on their hinges, the husband hurries and puts the still slightly wet outside doors back on so that the baby will not escape and the kids won't freeze with the approaching evening.
And with the doors back on the hinges, the husband and wife leave the 11 year old son in charge of baby-sitting all of the kids, fixing dinner, and putting on the rest of the doorknobs, since the 13 year old daughter got a last minute invitation to see the movie, "New Moon."
And if the husband and wife get home from the temple and find that all is well (except for having to live with dried drippy doors)...
And if all of this happens on the husband's birthday...then the wife has no choice but to close her eyes so that she doesn't see dried drippy doors and ask her husband to sing her a nice soothing love song...and tell him that someday they will laugh over this day, and that they will celebrate his birthday tomorrow...
And please oh please, if you happen to come visit this particular house, just don't ask who painted the doors!
Check out the Westra Writing ~ Stories and Poetry for other creative contributions over the years! And here's a little look at a little book Derek wrote and had animated ...
