Pappa Hardy's Musings on Life.

We have two members of our family that I have not discussed up to this point. The first is our long term resident and Ruler of the Universe, HIF (His Imperial Furriness, aka Snowball). Snowball is still a little paranoid about living at this house, but he seems to be more comfortable about the house and the garage. I was coming home the other night and as I turned the corner I could see the garage light was on in the garage with the garage door wide opened. As I watched, the two large next door neighbors dogs went running in the garage. Before I could even do anything, I saw the two dogs running quickly back out of the garage, followed by one enraged pussy cat. HIF does not allow any one bad animal to trespass in his domain.

We also have a new member. He has been called Shadowfax by Dad and Gandalf the Gray by Michael. While the jury is out regarding the naming of our new cockatiel, we are grateful to our son Brian for sharing him with us. He made the trip to Utah safely, and while he is still adjusting to his new home, we think he will work out just fine. Our animals round out our home.

Family is sure what is all about when it comes to our being here on this planet. Of all the relationships that we have, this one I personally believe is the most fulfilling. I sat at Litza�s Pizza on Saturday night and admired my children. I really enjoy being in their company and it is nice being with people you enjoy. I sure hope that we can work hard on keeping the family the centerpiece of our relationships. It makes life worth living.

Yesterday was a Family Day. I love family, and often they can help you find you way out of a difficult situation. Such a wonderful member of our Extended family is Ross. Ross, and Kaitlyn

came to our rescue yesterday. Ross fixed our 1987 Blue Camry, and Kaitlyn kept our spirits up. Such is wonderful presence of family. Each family member possesses talents that they contribute to the well being of the whole. I wish I had more talents I brought to the mix.

Winter has always been a challenge for me, particularly since I quit the wonderful sport of skiing. It wasn’t until we moved to Michigan that I began to understand cabin fever. The days are too short, the nights too long, and I usually very easily get a terrible, urgent, compelling case of Cabin Fever.

Such was the day I was experiencing today. We had a long weekend, and Bonnie and I had planned on going somewhere to celebrate our 31st Wedding Anniversay, staying over night, and doing a lot of fun things. Instead, this morning I found myself sitting in the house with a terrible case of cabin fever. It wasn’t Bonnie’s fault that she got sick, but because she was sick that shut down my plans.

What to do? What do to? I considered doing nothing, but quickly I passed that by. I thought of all kinds of things I could and should do around the house, but that wasn’t fun either. I had a case of cabin fever. Finally, I made up a list of alternatives. However, Bonnie came to my rescue. She said she could probably go out for a little while. That is how I came to see House of Flying Daggers at Thanksgiving Point. I love China, I love the Chinese, and since my mission in Taiwan, I have loved sword flicks. The difference between this one and the old ones in my missionary days was that they are better done now. The plots, production values, and cinematography rival and sometimes exceed western films.

This movie took me to a far away world in a China long gone. It was a world where people can fly, where Mandarin Chinese is the language spoken, where 2 can fight and beat 15 or 20. I loved it. It was funny too, because it was so typically Chinese, with normal, typical Chinese themes. There was revenge, there unrequited love, and there was that beautiful spoken language of Mandarin.

The movie took me on a trip back to my mission from 1970 to 1972. It made me remember the trips our family took when I was just a young kid. In my mind I revisted the places we toured and the people we met. This movie allowed me to experience again all of that. I left, no longer with cabin fever, courtesy of a bunch of flying daggers.

I had just looked up at the sky last night and came in the house when what should I discover but coverage of the Cassini Huygens probe and its landing on the moon of Saturn called Titan. What is really ironic is just before I turned on the computer to read about the landing on Titan, I had picked up a book from downstairs by James Hogan called Cradle of Saturn. It is about Titan, among other things.

Looking at the pictures today reminded me of an event many years ago in 1969. I was at the National Jamoboree of the Boy Scouts of America. I had gone their with my friend Richard Egan and we were serving on the Service Corps staff for the Jamboree.

On July 20, 1969, I sat in my tent at about 12:30pm MDT, listening by radio to the first landing of man on the moon. I remember later going to a meeting in the Jamboree arena, looking up at the moon, and realizing that men were on the surface of that heavenly body.

Later that evening, I watched on a black and white TV in the mess hall as Niel Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon. What a different world we live in today. Still, the wonder of exploring in the heavens has my attention. Perhaps, someday….

Maybe I will visit Titan….

I walked out of the bank tonight shortly after 5:15pm. I looked to the west and there was a beautiful sunset that was happening. The beginnings of a new moon were evident, just a crescent in the western sky. The sky was a million shades of blue with some red, and going to dark blue in the east. I looked to the south and the east and saw beautiful snow capped mountains.

I had a feeling of serenity overcome me as I drove on home, looking at the mountains that surround this city of Payson. What a beautiful place and I get to live here. As I pulled up to our home, I looked into the heavens and saw a brand new moon revealing itself to me. I looked around and thought, life is good, despite the challenges that face us every day. I am glad I am alive.

Well, I just finished watching all three original Star Wars Movies. The last movie of the 6 movie epic is coming out in May, and I wanted to revisit the Star Wars saga before the Revenge of the Sith comes out.

Watching those movies brought back a lot of memories. Memories of my children, of the delight in new and fun entertainment, and of course, of the space opera of my youth.

I used to get up on Saturday mornings when I was a young child of 8, turn on the TV to the one of three channels that we could view, and watch the latest episode of Flash Gordon.

I have ever since held a fascination with space opera. Watching Star Wars reminded me of a less complicated time, when good men were able to always overcome evil. In times like we know today, that isn’t always the case. However, I still believe that eventually good overcomes evil. I hope we leave our children a better place.

Here it is another Monday. Time on a weekend just flows by too fast. I so much enjoyed this last weekend, and I was able to even get a few things done around the house.

I used to think I would never like to retire. Now, I can’t wait for the time when I can spend all day, every day, doing what I want to do instead of doing what my employer wants me to do. I would love to be able to just enjoy each day as it comes.

Alas, I must earn my dollar, so I will go to work and try to make the best of it.

Well, since all Blog users are now Time’s persons of the year, maybe I should become a Person of the Year. This is a new year, and it seems a good time to start new things. It also helps that my Personal computer advisor is visiting us this week so I can bug him to help how to do this. I sure appreciate my kids, and they have all been a blessing to me. I am so grateful for all of these wonderful people I know.

I suppose that this time of the year makes a lot of us think about where we want to be going, how we got here, and what lies in store. We have had family with us for the last few weeks and as we move down the road of life it is always family that brings us a lot of comfort.

I certainly have found that life has had a lot of surprises in store for me. I am grateful for who I am, for the family that I have, and for the constant support of friends. We don’t always reach all of the lofty goals that we set for ourselves when we are younger, but we do become much of what we plan to become.

I have enjoyed living in different places, but it is good to be home in the state of Utah, where I grew up and where in some respects I discovered who I am and what is important to me. I know my children don’t understand my affinity for this place, but I love it nevertheless. I also love that person that I am planning on spending eternity with. I love her so much.

I plan on spending a little of this space in discussing who I am, and what I want from life. I hope that any who might read this will be tolerant of what may be viewed as self indulgent.