Pappa Hardy’s Musings on Life.

We often talk about the past as a simpler time. We think of it a time when life was not so complicated, when people lived more of the really important values, core values if you will, that we hold dear today. We believe that life was not so demanding, that it was not so complicated. Well, was it that way really.

During our recent vacation trip to Vancouver, we saw some tall ships in Vancouver harbor. They were beautiful things, their masts unfurled, catching the wind, crossing the waves gracefully. Was that time a simpler time?

We discussed the people that crossed the oceans in those ships. We discussed the lives of “Saints”, our progrenitors, who would risk their lives and their fortunes to take a ship ride in one of those ships, that could end up taking their lives.

After they arrived in America, in a strange land, they then had to make their way and forge a new life in a new land, often with a new langauge, and where their former skills may not be ueseable. The same thing happens today with many of my Chinese friends who emigrate to Canada or even the states. Was I simpler then? Perhaps it was. But the challenges and demands on them were no less difficult, just different. We fight to stay alive today, to generate an income so we can enjoy all of the creature comforts that we now enjoy. They fought then, to stay alive and provide a better life for their children. More complicated now, perhaps, more demanding and challenging, not necessarily. We, the human race, have always been fighting our way through life. I just hope that we don’t forget to take the time to stop and smell the roses. That I believe is what we are doing today with our computers and our frantic lifestyle. We aren’t taking time to enjoy who we are, and we are sometimes forgetting the real core values that make us human.

Recently was to Seattle.

Shot of the Space Needle from the bottom Up!!

From our recent trip to Seattle:

Well, today I went real high up, real high up on the top of Seattle in the Space Needle. Why would I do that? Well, because my youngest had never been up in the needle and as a result, we wanted to get him there. I tagged along to take pictures and do all that kind of stuff. I really did it for him, not for myself. Hah.

Well, we had worried that the weather would be bad today, but instead, the weather was gorgeous, for the 2nd Saturday in a row in Seattle. Bill Cosby used to argue that everyone up here was a Bruin (whatever that is). But, it hasn’t been too bad here and it makes me almost want to move up here (Melanie says hurrah). Well, the altittude did not bother me, and I loved looking out.

My youngest son goes into the MTC today in Provo, for a second and I hope longer time than the last time, which was cut short by illness. I have lots of feelings about this. One is pride in his perseverence. Second, sadness, that we will loose him for two years. The third is memories that have come roaring back on my mission. The following is a reflection of how I felt about our recent trip to Canada, and how it ties into this event today.

Papa and Mama Ho

We have been visiting with Papa and Mamma Ho and staying with them. We have Bonnie, Michael, and Mom Cox and I staying at their house. This has pointed out two things to me. The first is how much love transcends race and culture. I love these people and it is so good to be in their presence again. I know they have seen tons of missionaries over the years, and while I am not certain what place I have in their hearts, I do know the place they have in my heart. I love this whole family. I have always been treated like Royalty by them, and always have felt their family to be mine. I love them. However, I do know how bad my Mandarin Chinese has become. That was very self evident after visiting with them. That leads to my second thought.

Two families become as one

I found myself yearning for my missionary days. I knew who I was, and what I was supposed to be doing. As a missionary, I was not about supporting myself, and fighting the daily battle of living. Rather, I was preaching the gospel. I had a structured day every day. I knew I was going to get up by 6am, get cleaned up, and then study the gospel and then study the langauge. I would have opportunities all day long to proselyte, teach the gospel, and do branch work. I met wonderful people every day, and I was in a branch of people that I loved very much. I now realize that is why I was so angry when President Jackson transferred me to San Chung. He had taken me away from family, and while I made new friends in San Chung, none of the relationships were as long lasting and sweet as those I made in Chung Li. Little did I know when he transferred me to Chung Li that this one assignment would change my life so much. My world view, my family view, was forever altered and changed. I came to love another people as my own. It was all so much simpler then. I wasn’t worried about family, about supporting myself and suriving. Those thoughts occupy my mind contantly now,and I wonder if I can stay the course for the rest of my life. I have learned somewhat what enduring to the end means.

In some ways I envy my son. He will have a sweet experience, but not without challenges and lots of hard work. Oh, how I long for the time when the daily work day will be over and I can be with and appreciate family all of the time.

As the old song says, “Those Were the Days, My Friends”.

At least you would have thought so from the reaction of some of my neighbors who sat in a church leadership meeting with me this morning. Our local ecclesiastical leader, our Bishop, asked how we felt about the recent “Fire” event that we all had shared. I vented my frustration about the event and how some of my fellow citizens and government had responded. The majority (you might say I was the only one in the minority) talked about how well things had went.

Well, I guess I have learned two things. First, there is always differeing points of view and ways of looking at things, and we need to respect those differences. I have certainly dwelt on the things that didn’t go well. Some dwelt on the things and acts of charity that were experienced.

Second, we weren’t prepared for this event, either as an individual (me) a Family (the Hardys), a neighborhood (Greenfield) or church (Page Ward of the LDS Church). They say practice makes perfect, and as a group, and as a person, we all have a lot of practicing to do.

We live in Utah on top of what is known to Seismologists (earthquake doctors) as the Wasatch Fault. Some that know this area well say that our home, the Hardy homestead, is built almost right on top of the fault line. I don’t think that is true but then what do I know.

In any event, what happened did prove, at least to me, that we as a people have no clue and are not organized to respond to a major, or minor, natural or other kind of disaster. They keep telling us that the “big one” is bound to happen at any time here in Utah. I just hope we are prepared. I am convinced we need to practice prepardness and how we would handle such a trial, but apparently I am still in the minority. Just let us go on our happy, hope it doesn’t happen in my lifetime, way. Maybe I was right, and maybe I was wrong. Only the time and the vagaries of nature will tell.

The other night was a surreal experience. On the one hand, I was afraid and concerned about the fate of my home. We weren’t in great danger, because we had a canal and the canal service road, a row of homes, and then a street and one more home between our home and the danger.

However, on the other there is nothing to wake you up like the possibility that neighbors and friends might loose their homes, and then you might be next. I knew almost everyone whose homes were being threatened. I interacted with them socially at Block parties, at church, and as neighbors. That what makes me real mad.

I am mad because when all of this was happening, it was like a carnival had occured in the good old city of Payson. When the lightning strike occured, it was reported almost immediately. City firefighters, who are volunteers, and the police were notified.

We watched them on the hill, and they weren’t doing anything. No one was down here advising the residents what we should be doing. No one was organizing anything. No one was limiting access to the neighborhood. All of a sudden it was as if a party was occuring. We had people pulling up in their cars, parking in front of our homes and driveways, gawking and watching the flames come down the ridge.

It was a carnival. It was time to see someone or something happen. Some even ridiculed residents (us for instance) who were taking action to take care of their property. There were those, mainly neighbors and families, who helped those who were in the most dire need. However, the city was clogging up the neighborhood. It was a festive atmosphere for many of them. As for me, I am mad at the authorities because they did a poor job, yet to the media made it sound as if everything was preplanned and entirely under control.

No security was provided, no direction given, until nearly the wall of flames was at the homes and the gawkers fleeing because of the sudden perceived threat to their lives.

Yes, it was surreal. It wakes you up to what is important in your life when you are walking through your home, realizing that you may be saying goodbye to your possessions and seeing them, the things, for the last time. It does make you realize what is important, what you need to have with you if you need to bug out (my laptop is happy to know I wanted it) and what you don’t really need.

It was an experience I shall remember for a long time. People that have never had this experience haven’t got an idea as to what it was really like. A whole new area of understanding and comprehension has been opened up for me.

It was simply to close for comfort. There is something about a wall of fire 20-30 feet hall rushing toward your home that causes a fit of concern.

There was a lighting strike on the ridge above our home at about 6:00pm last night. By 7:30 we had the wall of fire about half way down our ridge.

That is when it got scarry. The fire had not been moving too fast, and then the wind shifted and it started our direction at a higer rate.

We had got all of our stuff together that really mattered ready to move it into our Van and bug out. Suddenly, the wind shift became more pronouced and it rushed down the hill, covering the last half in about 5 minutes.

We were wetting our roof down, the smoke was choking us, and ash and soot was falling all over. I turned and looked and saw a wall of fire at 30 feet high, only 50 yards from our home, rushing towards all the homes on the canal. The canal was the only thing that saved those homes, and possibly ours, as it was just wide enough that the fire didn’t jump it next to the homes. About a 150 yard distance to the south of us it did jump the canal. It was a very upsetting time.

We had two concerns. They call it Rocky Ridge (Because of the boulders). Why is it that it took so long to get to dropping fire retardants on the hill. Second, why does every yokel in Payson need to come and clog our streets and watch our homes endangered. I was pretty mad that we had no crowd control until it was almost too late.

The one and only interesting thing that happened. Our home can be seen, if you look closely, on the local news channel during some footage they had of the event. I don’t want to make the news this way though. It was too close of a call. This is how the hill looked only 2.5 hours after it all started, and the smoke started to clear.

After the sun went down, you could see the hill lit up like a Christmas tree, all of the hot spots still burning and flaming.

Bonnie and I had to take a shower because we smelled like fire, soot, and ash. I won’t forget this night very soon.

I wrote the following essay while thinking about the state of marriage during our recent trip to Washington. It is only incidental that this comes up as a hot debate rages on sirch’s blog.

I love the state of marriage. Why is it such a wonderful institution and relationship. You might ask that questions because in today’s world, many say that the institution of marriage is out of place, out of practice, and can acutally be something that could be detrimental to the individual What then is marriage, and why is it so important?

1) It is wonderful to wake up in the morning and be next to your best friend. It is wonderful to have someone to talk to, that will listen to you and not pre-judge you. It is wonderful to have someone that is always on your side, rather than on someone else’s side.

2) Being married is a Bond–It is a bond because you two have promised before your friends and your families to become one. It is hard to become one with someone and to have their wants and needs be paramount to yours. It is a relationship where the two of you can become one.

3) Commitment is another big part of marriage. My adopted mom taught me a great lesson once. I was dating her daughter (now my wife) and she asked me what I thought the proposition of marriage was about. I told her it was a 50-50 relationship. She told me that it was 100-0. The spouse was 100, me zero. If we considered the commitment to be 50-50, we would always be waiting for our partner to do their 50%, then we would do ours. When that happened, we would always find fault with our spouse, because they weren’t doing there part. When you do everything for your friend, expecting nothing in return, then you woudl be happiest.

4) Covenants are another important part of the marriage relationship. You make a covenant between that person, your God, and yourself that you will always be faithful to them. You will always have the interests of the relationship and the family paramount in the relationship. You will always make sure that your partner and friend is your partner and friend forever.

5) Family is forever. You have relationships which if you are true, can never be broken. You have friends that will always be yours, if you will only be true to them. It is wonderful to have family members who are your friends and always will be your best friend.

6) Blessings flow from beng married. You have the blessing of seeing your spouse accomplish great things, of seeing your children make names for themselves in the world, and of seeing the family name go from generation to generation. Blessings come from marriage.

Why be married? Be married because it is the best thing that can happen to us in this world where not everyone is our friend. It is a place of refuge from the cares and trails of the world. No wonder Satan does not want us to be happy and be married. No wonder that people now days make fun of this commitment, of this bond of marriage. Instead, they believe the lies of Satan, that you should not make a commitment to one you love, but instead you should think only of yourself. Families are forever!!!

The following comments were made after having resided for a few days in Seattle, Washington while recently their on vacation:

Earlier this year we (Bonnie, Mom Cox, Ross, Mary, Kaitlyn and I) took a trip to Yuma, Arizona, on our annual trek to get medications in Los Algodones, Mexico. One of the things that was so incredible was seeing how green the desert was.

Now we are in Seattle, Washington. Talk about a green place. Those of you who have never visited or lived in the northwest would not believe just how green it is, everywhere, all the time. The vegatation is every where. There are huge tall trees, drapped with moss and lots of leaves. Stands of them exist behind, in front of, and all around Ron and Melanie’s home. Then there plants and bushes and all of that stuff. It is just so green. I am continually amazed when I look outside and see all of the green and the pretty colors and plants.

Michigan was a fun state to live. It was green too, the trees everywhere. The dirt was rich with nutrients, allowing trees, bushes, and gardens to literally jump out of the earth. Weeds of course did well too. We had wonderful gardens, and the trees in the fall where a riot of color. It was a wonderful place to be. The summer and fall were wonderful in Michigan, except for the occassional humid wet periods.

Why am I living in Utah then, when I have liked all of these other places?

What keeps us in this place?

Well, I love Utah because of:

1) The mountains. I love the opportunity to wake up and see these massive mounds of stone and dirt shooting up in the sky, painting the horizon with their majesty. It is incredible to see the mountains with snow, particularly on the 4th of July when we normally wouldn’t see these massive mountains capped by a cover of some snow. I love the way they dominate the valley floor, reminding those of us who live here of the strength of the everlasting mountains of the Lord.

2) The weather is wonderful. I love the fact that I have four seasons, a real winter, a real spring of reawakening beauty and carpets of green. The heat of the summer is part of it all. I love day after day when we have clear, blue skies, the sun making the plants grow. Then there is the beautiful fall, with wonderful days and pleasant nights. Finally, there is winter. It is so wonderful to have snow and if you are a skier, it is fun to ski in the majestic mountains. I love the changes in weather.

3) Most importantly, I love Utah because my parents are there, and so is Mom Cox. It is so nice to have my mom and dad close by to go and see them at the drop of a hat. I love traveling, but after setting in a car for 16 hours on Friday I am glad I can go seem them in a half hour. It is fun having my mom and dad so close by.

Well, I have been thinking about this blog thing. Up to this point, I have been trying to emulate the wittiness and intelligence of another blogger, namely my son sirch. I have finally realized that I must be my self, write for myself, and what I write about won’t reflect what sirch writes about. Afterall, he is probably more witty than I am, certainly is a better computer person, writes better, and I doubt you will ever read a book or movie review on this blog. At least, you won’t in the future. I am going to go my own direction, and I don’t really care if any of my supposed readership actually reads this thing. I will, as I always have done with my diary, write this for myself and to heck with the rest of you. If you like it, you can read on, and if you don’t, well then, sirch’s blog is only a click away. I certainly won�t try to imitate him, at least any more. That said, read or not read, as it may suit you. If you read, you will find out what I am thinking about, even if it is sentimental in nature. That is where I am now, a sentimental spot, because I have less time on this earth probably, than I have been here already.

The following commens were made after about 800 miles of travel:

Spent a lot of time sitting in the car today. It was uncomfortable after a while, not because of the people I was with, but more because of the same position that we had to keep mile, after mile, after mile.

It was the same position, despite the wonderful talk and getting to know our co-car riders better. We were in the same place hour, after hour, after hour. It was so hard on the back. You could tell that people started to get uncomfortable. People would squirm in their seats, trying valiantly to get comfortable but never finding the right spot. You would move up in your seat, then back in your seat. Your tail bone would get tired, and would hurt. It gets worse when you are older, because you already have enough places that hurt without making more places for pain buddies to come and get together and have a party, at your expense. I hope someday that the pain buddies will find that my house is no the place to be. Will that day ever come when you are sitting in a car for all day.

I can say that the day was a long one. I kept looking up at the sky, wondering when or ever we would see the sun set. We covered a lot of america while the sun was still up. Despite the pain, it was a wonderful trip.