Pappa Hardy’s Musings on Life.

Well, the price of gasoline, fuel if you want to call it that, has increased substantially in this good ole United States. The price of commodities has gone such that a basic change is occurring in the economy of this country and I think we are going to see major changes coming in this country. I feel more than ever we now need to be prepared for major changes and dislocations in our economy. As a nation, we have really had it easy up till now. Now, all of the changes, all of the leveling of economic circumstances of people and nations is starting to become evident. I think we are going to have to get used to living with less and it costing more. Life is going to be a challenge for the next generation, and the one after that, and after that. What kind of a world have we left our grandchildren?

Last night I learned that I have a severe case of this disease. I didn’t learn it from a doctor. I didn’t learn it from a therapist or some pundit, or a newspaper person. I didn’t learn it from a critic, or from a member of my family. I did realize it as someone at a reunion described a common malady that strikes anyone that has lived amongst the Chinese people, whether it be as a missionary, a student, or in some other way.

Last night Bonnie and I attended a reunion arranged by the Taiwan Reunion committee.
It was a nice event, but it was there that a speaker indicated that those of us who have lived in China (Taiwan) have fallen hopelessly in love with the people, their humility, and their culture. I then realized that I suffer from this disease. What else impels me to always want to return, to visit with my Chinese friends, to hear beautiful Mandarin spoken in my presence. I am hopelessly addicted and succumbing to this disease. I think we want to hop on the next plain out and get to Taiwan to visit our friends. I love these Chinese people.

I had the experience the other night of sitting and talking to my neighbors while a nice cool breeze was blowing around us. It was what being in a neighborhood should be all about. I enjoyed the time.

That sounds like the name of a movie. Isn’t there a movie with Jimmy Stewart in called “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Well, I had our old cat, Snowball, come out and pester me while I was mowing the lawn today. He is getting really old for a cat, like 18 years old. He has arthritis so bad that he can’t sit down on his hind end like a normal cat. Despite that, he grovels for every and any opportunity to be petted by his subjects. He is so skinny he can hardly move around the yard, and he doesn’t like to move, unless someone is petting him. He hates to leave the safety of the garage, but he does have the energy to go get a pet. He is quite a cat.

Received some not such good news tonight. It seems that my “Atrial Fibrillation” is no longer in control, that there has been a breakthrough. What that means is that in late August I will have to have an Ablation. This is a procedure where they go into your heart, map out the conductivity of the nerves there, discover whats causing the fibrillation, then cauterize the offending nerve. The problem? If this doesn’t work, I am then a candidate for a pace maker. Oh my heavens, this is not where I wanted to be with this thing. I am way to young for this. This is something that only happens to old people. If this doesn’t work, then it is pacemaker time.

This morning Michael and I went golfing at Gladstan Golf Course here in Payson. There is a story behind that name, but I won’t repeat it on this blog. What I do have to say is that once again, this cursed game is after my sanity.

You see, this is how it works. You have these fond memories. In those memories, you hit long drives and birdie lots of holes, and everyone in the kingdom of Golf calls your name blessed. Then the reality of it all sets in. We somehow got to play the back nine, which I told Michael was the most beautiful and challenging holes on the course. We teed up on the 10th hole, and immediately the nightmare began. We were hitting our tee shots into the woods, into the sand, into the water, and of course, a par was something we only dreamed of. Then came some of the later holes, and all of a sudden, you have a shot that makes you want to come back.

Let me tell you about my par on 17. I had a decent drive, putting the shot right behind the green. Ok, now I have a rock collection to hit it over to put it on the green. I swung, the rock collection loomed, and voila, right onto a rock, off the rock it goes, rolls up on the green, and about 3 inches from the hole. Everyone around sung my praises. I can play this game, I think? Yes, the wonderful world of golf.

Saw recently the new Indiana Jones movie. It was OK. I think the major problem was that it was a rehash of a lot of old plot lines, and the intensity just wasn’t there. Harrison Ford is a good actor, but he just didn’t have the intensity he did when he was 40. I guess it reminded me of how old I am getting. I don’t have the same intensity either. Maybe someday, when I am fully resurrected, that old intensity will return.

A few days ago we had the opportunity to have the Sister Missionaries in our home. This is a rarity in the state of Utah, whether it is Sisters or Elders because the missionaries have so many stakes and wards to cover. Outside of Utah, there is normally a set of missionaries in each ward, so the chance to have the “Elders” over is a lot better. They bring a nice spirit to the home, that we have missed since living in Utah.

I fully believe that one reason that Utah seems to have a little bit more difficult time in getting missionaries out in the field is because so many young people don’t get the opportunity to interact with them on a regular basis. I truly believe that the good experience we had with the missionaries being in our home outside of Utah helped get our kids committed to serving a mission, and actually going. It seems to be more of a rarity here in Utah.

At times I feel like I missed my calling in life. Every morning, one of the first things that I do is go to the Princess Cruise Lines website and there, I look at the location of the Golden Princess first and then from there at the other exotic locations that the ships seem to be at. I love the ocean, and I love being at sea. Of course, I went in luxury which could be a difference if I were to choose this life as a profession, but I loved just looking out over the ocean, at the horizon, and I imagined what I would find there. I wonder if I should have been sailing the ocean blue.

I must be in a reminiscing mood because I have sure been thinking about a lot of the things that I truly cherish in my life. One of the things that I cherish is the Love of a Good Woman. I can think of nothing that I enjoy more than to sit and talk with the woman that is my best friend, my true love. I know this sounds kind of syrupy sweet, but I love being around my best friend. She, my wife, is a wonderful woman and she tries to be the best that she can be. I know she would kill me if she new that I was going to post an entry about her, but she is truly what I cherish in life. She is everything I hoped I would have in a wife, and more. She is wonderful and I cherish her love.