Reflections of an Old Bear and his Honey: Running to catch up/June 15, 2014

Seems like we are always running to catch up. The time is going so quickly. It has been three weeks since our last post. We took you up to Memorial Day in the last post. As if we had not had enough flooding with what happened at the archives, we came home from our work at the archives the day after Memorial Day to find our apartment was flooded. A pipe in the wall between the kitchen and the one bathroom had broken and had been pouring out under the bathroom sink for heaven knows how long. Both bathrooms, half way into our bedroom and closet, part way into the extra bedroom and the kitchen had standing water about to inches. We got ahold of the manager and she got the maintenance man and the carpet guys headed out way. Had to shut off the water of course. The pipe was fixed after cutting into the wall. The carpet was sucked out. We slept with fans for a couple of nights to dry out the carpet. Another maintenance man came to repair the wall in the bathroom and kitchen and it was two days before we could use that bathroom again. Quite an experience that was indeed. We just worked our capturing and preparation work at the archives the rest of the week.

Our Field Supervisor, Chuck Titus, came to train and help us from June 2nd to the 5th. He was a big help in getting some updates and easier ways to do our work. He is a great guy. He was our Supervisor when we were in Illinois also. We went out to lunch and had him over for dinner while he as here.

Starting Sunday June 8th the Olympia 1st Ward is and will be meeting with a different Ward, Olympia 4th Ward, and at the same time in their chapel while some renovation and upgrades on our chapel inside and outside will be done. It is a real new and different experience. Olympia 1st ward started out being the ones to conduct and teach. This will be every other week for the next 3 months.
It is very interesting having two active wards meet. It is like going to Stake Conference each week. Sacrament meeting overflows from the chapel into the back of the cultural hall. They use two sacrament tables and a full force of deacons and teachers to pass the sacrament. And yes, all of the Aaronic Priesthood dress in white shirts and ties and suits. Quite wonderful to see them like this.

We have met two very interesting and wonderful people that we have been helping with things they need to have done. They live just down the street in "The Firs" a retirement living apartments. Don Erickson, who is 85 years old and June Rose Doyle, Just turned 99 years young on June 11th. They both have lost their spouses and met at The Firs. Don was able to teach June the gospel and she was baptized about 6 months ago. She is still in the learning process about the church. There was a special birthday party for her at The Firs on Saturday.

Don was born in Provo, Utah and grew up in Vernal. His family had a farm and ranch on the land where Steinaker Reservoir now is, it was Steinaker Draw then. He left for college, then the Navy and has only been back to Vernal once or twice in the last 40 years since living here in Olympia. He was so excited to find out we were from Vernal. He has quite a memory and remembers name of many of the old folks we have heard of from when he lived in Vernal.

June was raised here in Washington on an island in the northern part of the state. She does not look or act 99 years old. Has a really good memory and it is fun to hear the stories of her growing up.

Since being up here I have made contact with my brother Greg's daughter from his first marriage, Michelle Warren. I had not seen here since she was a little girl. She use to spend quite a bit of time at my mother's and was close to her. I knew she lived in this part of the country so called her and on Saturday, June 14th Dad & I met her in Chehalis, Washington for lunch at Applebee's. She lives in Longview, Washington, but it is out of our mission so we could not go to Longview and she suggested meeting in Chehalis. We had a real good visit and shared pictures. She does not have many from her time with my mother, so told her I would send her some pictures when I get back home. We will have a hard time getting together after this week because she is starting a new job and will be working Friday, Saturday and Sunday and every other Thursday from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am. We will do it when we can though.

Sister Martin has been doing preparation work for Jake since there has not been any preparation with Elder Martins books Now Elder Martin is doing Probate Records and I have had some preparation on the 5 boxes he has to do, but I finished the preparation Friday, so am out of work for awhile so guess I will have to learn how to capture to help him. With my preparation work I have been sitting on a wooden chair. It has been a little hard sometimes on my bony bottom. Smile! Elder Martin has his feet go to sleep while standing sometimes so has to sit down and rest them to get circulation in them or walk around.

There is a wall clock in the room that chimes every hour and every half hour. It reminds me of home with my grandmother clock.

We will include some pictures of the things we have been working on to give you an idea of what we do.

Dad's cart of Big books