TWO POSTS IN ONE DAY!

You may have seen a video in my earlier blog. It was supposed to be Kyle receiving his diploma but didn't turn out that way. I thought I was being so clever to figure out how to put a video on. If only it had been the right one. Sigh.

I wanted to show you all the picture Brother Frazier made for me of the Navajo Twins and Sunbonnnet Rock in Bluff. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out a way to take a picture straight on without getting a reflection of the flash so the picture is a little distorted but here it is. I am thrilled to have original artwork of this icon of Bluff!

GRADUATION AND MEMORIAL BENCH

I am off to Wales again in two days and never even posted anything about our European trip in April. Nor did I post anything about my trip to Utah in February to testify in the preliminary hearing in the murder trial of Jerry Hicker. It's been a busy year and all I got posted was pictures of old bedroom furniture. So I shall attempt a quick update on my latest trip with the help of Uploading Pictures to a blog for Dummies.

This trip had two main purposes: 1) To attend Kyle's graduation and 2) To put up a memorial bench in my mother's honor in the Bluff cemetery. Both things were done so the trip was a success.

Kyle received his Master's Degree in Computer Science on August 14th.



On Sunday I drove Kyle and Jess to the airport and then went on to Pocatello to spend the night with Karen before driving on to Rexburg in the morning. All was going according to plan until Monday morning when I was five miles outside of Pocatello and Leonard (the '95 Subaru) gave up the ghost. Thank heavens for cell phones and AAA. Eventually Leonard was towed back to Pocatello and Megan came down from Rexburg and picked me up. A day and a thousand dollars later, Megan and I were on our way back to Provo.

Chad came down on Friday and on Saturday we went to closing night of the theater under the stars at Sundance where Chad's brother was performing in The Fantasticks.


Sunday we all went for a picnic up Provo Canyon and made s'mores.
Will and Sawyer opened some belated birthday gifts from Megan and Chad.
And Sawyer really enjoyed his corn on the cob.

Monday night, Karen and Tom came down to Orem and on Tuesday morning we were off to Bluff. We met the rest of the family there and got busy installing the bench on Bluff's cemetery hill.

So there it is. Tangible proof that Mom was once a part of the Bluff scene. I don't know why things are now being underlined. My blog seems to have taken on a mind of it's own, so I guess I'll post this much

My Retro-Room

Hi Megan,

I am trying out your Uploading Pictures to a Blog for Dummies but so far I have been unsuccessful. Everything was going so well until I got to "upload picture" and it turned out to be just a bunch of meaningless symbols. I am trying again.

I seem to have encountered something not in your script. Apparently I had to click on "compose" to see my pictures but on "Edit Html" to write. I'll see if I can add another picture. Yes, I have added another picture but not where I wanted.


This is my retro-room furnished with Grandma and Grandpa's old bedroom set c. 1940


This is the vintage bedspread that aunt Joyce sent me.

When I was walking a few weeks ago, there was a bunch of old furniture out by the curb in fronts of Vess' house and I did a double-take as I walked by. They had this exact headboard and footboard! We drove all the way to Utah to pick this up and two houses away our neighbor was throwing out the exact same thing!! I couldn't think of any reason to take it so I left it there but now am wishing I had brought it home. I might have been able to figure out a way to take the veneer off the headboard and use it to repair the top of the vanity which is in pretty rough shape.

Even though I don't plan to leave this furniture in this little room permanently, it doesn't look quite as cramped as I feared. Actually, I am quite pleased with it. I like the way Grandpa's desk fits in the bay window.

Here's the chest of drawers along with the convex picture frame I am hoping to put a picture of Grandma and Grandpa in.

I guess I did all right for my first attempt at putting my own pictures on my blog! Maybe I will get ambitious and try a post about our trip to Europe or Kyle's wedding - but not tonight.

Back To Utah

After five trips to Utah last year, I was not planning to return before the end of the summer when Kyle hopes to be awarded his Masters Degree from BYU. However, the Great State of Utah sent me greetings last month in the form of a subpoena and requires my presence from the 24th to the 26th of February.

I am scheduled to testify in a preliminary hearing for the trial of Jerry Hicker who is accused of murdering my former roommate, Barbara Rocky. (See earlier post) I really don't know what information I have that is worth the $1080 the are paying for my airfare (they won't reimburse me if I buy my own ticket on Southwest for $240) along with my hotel expense and food vouchers. I think my testimony helps to establish a time-line and points out some inconsistencies in the defendant's story but I really don't know much. I had been waiting to hear if the hearing was going forward because the defendant had health problems, but my ticket and hotel room have now been reserved.

The hearing could still be postponed, but I am committed to going out now because my sisters are planning to meet me in Utah for some sisters' time. It may turn out to be a good thing that I was forced back since it appears there may be a buyer for my mother's house. This will give us one last chance to go through her things and save or make copies of any documents and paperwork we are interested in before the house is cleaned out. It will also likely be my last chance to spend time in Utah with free housing. I've been able to stay at my parents' home for the last 34 years so it will be strange to find someone else living there. (Of course, I can stay with Erin but her accommodations have less privacy and a lot more commotion and I feel like I am intruding on their family.)

I thought my story about testifying in a murder trial was pretty out of the ordinary, but I recently talked to someone whose story was lots more interesting than mine. He was an actual suspect in the Boston Strangler murders! I won't give his name here because I don't want him to be led to my blog if he decides to google his name, but his initials are K.R. and he hangs around with Guido at church. He told me that his name was mentioned in the Boston Strangler book so I googled him and he was right about that. He said he has never read the book and it took a long time for him to quit having nightmares about the whole thing.

Apparently while he was a student in Boston some guy came to his door asking where Joann Graff lived and he told them she lived down a floor. The next day he came home to a flurry of police activity and his wife told him that Joanna Graff had been murdered. I could understand why police would want to question him but didn't understand why he would have been considered a suspect until I did a little more on-line research and discovered that at the time of the first murder he had lived across the street from that victim. I suppose when you move around and just happen to live right by two of the victims it might seem a little fishy. He said they hauled him in and after hours of questioning tried to convince him that he had murdered these women but just didn't remember doing it. (Even after all this time, it was clearly not something he wanted to talk about - but, inquiring minds want to know). He felt that the police were under so much pressure to arrest someone by then (Joann was the 12th victim) that they really weren't as interested in finding the right guy as they were in just making an arrest. They never did solve the case. It was just closed when Albert DeSalvo who was already in jail on other charges admitted to the murders. Many remain unconvinced that he actually committed the murders as there was no evidence to tie him to any of the crimes other than his own admission of guilt. Hard to imagine someone wanting to take credit for murdering a bunch of people but I guess there are people like that. Anyway, many investigators feel the real Boston Strangler was never caught.

Well, that is my story for today.

Christmas in Idaho

This is the poem I read on Christmas Eve that I wrote while still safely home in Connecticut before we left on our Christmas odyssey. I could update it but Megan has written a version reflecting what really happened in Idaho.



CHRISTMAS IN IDAHO

"Twas the night before Christmas and all through the cabin
The family was waiting to see what would happen.

The stockings were hung on the railing with care,
In hopes that Saint Nicholas would know we were there.

The children were restless in rented-out beds
While thoughts of Connecticut danced in their heads.

And I in my bathrobe and Dad in his garments
Were praying for safety from grizzly bear varmints.

When out by the chimney there rose such clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the stairway I flew in a flash,
To find out the source of that terrible crash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a three-yr-old boy with his eyes wide with fear.

He'd snuck out of bed 'cause he couldn't wait longer
But now wished his wee, little hands had been stronger.

The damage was done now and he had been caught
Dropping a truck labeled "Sawyer J. Ott".

I sent him to bed with a threat of no presents
Then wished that I hadn't been quite so unpleasant.

I lay down again but still sleep wouldn't come.
The upstairs emitted a rather strange hum.

I trudged up the stairs till I got to the loft
But nobody noticed until I had coughed.

And then there were Evan, and Michael, and Kyle,
Each looking up with a mischievous smile.

Their laptops were humming and clicking and tapping
When I had supposed they were all upstairs napping.

"Get to sleep", I admonished, "for dawn will come early
"Without proper rest you are apt to be surly."

I dragged back toward bed, but I wasn't there yet
When I found still another one hooked to the 'net.

Mollie was woefully writing a post
About how this Christmas was prob'bly the most
Inadequate holiday she'd ever had
And it all was because of twin, Megan, and Chad.

I told her I knew that the break from tradition
Has caused her to sink to this gloomy condition.

Next year we'd be back in our home I assured her,
And hoped that my promise of Cromwell had cured her.

Then back to my bed I did wearily crawl
When I found that another noise came from the hall.

What was that racket that kept me from slumber?
Why Megan was playing a clarinet number!

"Now, Megan I realize that practice you must
But it's quarter to four!" I fumed and I fussed.

"I'm old and I'm tired and I must have my sleep
But the spirit of Christmas I'm trying to keep."

Then back to my bedroom I dragged o'er the flooring
To find that my husband was blissfully snoring.

And finally my head on my pillow I laid
And stewed about holiday bills to be paid.

And was just dropping off when I jerked back awake.
Something was wrong. There could be no mistake.

Someone was puking and retching and gagging.
This couldn't be so when my eyelids were sagging!

But it was, yes it was, oh yes, Erin was sick.
She'd returned to her yesteryears holidays trick.

She never could celebrate any event
Without her last meal being forcefully sent
Back out of her stomach and onto the floor.
But at least she could now do her own clean-up chore.

But wait, maybe this really isn't just nerves.
She's been know to throw us some Christmas Eve curves.

Maybe a new little Ott baby's forming,
And she will be breaking the news in the morning.

I pulled up my covers and laid down my head
And comfortably settled back down in my bed.

I'm fin'lly exhausted enough now to sleep,
And the cabin is quiet, I don't hear a peep.

But what is that light now beginning to glow?
Christmas is dawning? How can it be so?

Then rang through the cabin without any warning
"Get up now! It's Christmas! Please hurry. It's morning!"

And there was sweet William all raring to go
Tear open the presents he saw down below.

But first there were pictures that had to be taken.
We're still missing Evan if I'm not mistaken.

And finally we've got the whole crew on the stairs.
There really is quite a large group posing there.

There's Michael and Evan and Mollie and Kyle
All looking disgusted in Dickerson style.

There's Megan and Chad, who was added this year,
And still seems confused by the sarcasm here.

There's William and Bryce and our cute little Sawyer
And Erin, our daughter, the passed-the-bar lawyer.

And there they all are. Every face I hold dear.
The family we've raised for the last thirty years.

They're talented, witty, intelligent too
Generous, thoughtful and kind through and through.

But where are the babies that dozed on my shoulder?
And how can it be that we're all so much older?

Oh, time marches on without skipping a beat
And though we might like to, we cannot retreat.

The future is waiting. We have to move on
And cherish the memories of days that are gone.

And soon with the wrappings the house will be trashed
And we'll know that another year's Christmas has passed.

But Idaho taught us a lesson worth learning.
We don't need our house with a real wood fire burning.

We don't need a marching band hung from the mantel.
We don't need a pine-scented, green Yankee Candle.

We don't need the girl in the red velvet dress,
We really can get by with quite a bit less.

For Christmas is more than the wreath up above.
To have a great Christmas, you only need love!


Author's note. If you are a Dickerson you understand all the references in the poem. If not, I can't imagine why you'd be reading this, but you should know:
As a child, Erin got sick for pretty much every holiday
Both of Erin's pregnancies were announced on Christmas Eve
Megan is a music education major who plays clarinet and is required to practice two
hours per day.
We have an electronic, musical decoration called "Santa's Marching Band" that we
hang from the mantel every year.
The "girl in the red velvet dress" is another Christmas decoration that Mollie got
when she was three or four.
Erin passed the Utah bar in 2008.
We always have a real wood fire in our fireplace on Christmas Eve. (The fireplace in
the cabin was gas.)
We went to Idaho because Megan's new husband, Chad, didn't have any vacation time
and we wanted them to be with us for Christmas.
All children are required to pose on the stairs Christmas morning before opening
presents. Evan is usually the last one there.

HIP HIP HOORAY The house is ours today!

It seems to have been a long time since I've written but it hasn't been because nothing was going on. On the contrary, there has been so much happening that there wasn't time. Here's the very abridged version of events: In February and March I was in Utah to babysit while Erin studied for the bar but ended up caring for my mother who was very ill instead. Got my mom moved into an assisted living facility. Went into high gear for wedding preparations after Megan announced her engagement in March. Went back to Utah when my mother had a stroke in May. Stayed in Utah to help with my mom until going to Idaho for Megan's wedding in June. Came home for her reception in CT and to get Mollie shipped off to England for a study abroad program Then back to Utah when my mom died in July.

It was a difficult time and I felt bad that Megan's wedding was overshadowed by my mother's impending death. The stroke left her unable to swallow (or speak) so we knew her death was not far off. (We weren't going to put a feeding tube in a 90-yr-old woman who was already in poor health.) I'm sorry Meg and I didn't get to spend more time together doing wedding things but it couldn't be helped.

But the big news today is that we got our release of mortgage and we finally own our house! We went out to eat to celebrate. We went to a Mexican restaurant where we had a buy one, get one free coupon. Do we know how to celebrate or what?

Unfortunately, now it is time to spend $10,000 for a new roof. We had monsoon-like rain last weekend and had a steady leak from the light in our bedroom onto our bed. I slept on the couch that night because I didn't want to be dripped on but Allan stuck it out in the bedroom. I've slept in tents that were drier in a downpour. What a boring thing to have to spend money on.

We're heading out to Utah via Arkansas in a couple of weeks. We will visit Allan's family in Arkansas and then drive on out to pick up some things from my mother's estate. Then we will be back out there in December. I have rented a cabin in Idaho so we can have the whole family together for Christmas. Chad will not have any time off so they wouldn't be able to come home. I have been in Utah a lot the last couple of years but this will make five trips this year which I think is a record.

That's all for now.

Christmas 2007

Well, the holidays are over. You look forward to them for so long and spend so much time preparing and then suddenly they are over. It seems we are taking kids back to the airport the day after we pick them up. Anyway, Ill try to recap the Dickerson Christmas.

The weekend after we got back from being in Utah for Thanksgiving, (the first weekend in December) we went to Stockbridge. MA to see their annual re-creation of Norman Rockwell's Christmas in Stockbridge painting. Here is Dad standing in front of the Red Lion Inn with the old car as seen in the painting.


They close off Main Street to traffic and bring in the old cars and it is very festive with carolers and horse-drawn wagon rides, street performers and Santa. It started to snow while we were there which put us in a very Christmas frame of mind.





We got a couple of good snowstorms at home in mid-December which set the stage for a white Christmas. The second one left about 3/8 "of ice over the snow which kept the snow from totally melting when the weather turned warmer. Without that we would have had a brown Christmas, but see how wintry things looked when we got home from the airport with Megan and Evan. (Evan flew in from Denver around 9:00 on the 15th but Megan didn't get in til midnight so we drove around northern CT to kill time and especially enjoyed the decorations on the old New England houses in Sufiield.)


This is our front yard and the front of the house which didn't show up well in the dark













I put up lots of decorations this year to make the house seem like a Holiday Inn when the kids came home. I even put a wreath on each bedroom door to bring the festive feeling upstairs.






















Mollie and Kyle both flew in on the 19th and Michael flew to New York and took the train to New Haven on the 20th. The family was home! (Erin and Bryce stayed in Utah this year and enjoyed Christmas with Bryce's family. We definitely missed Will's enthusiasm.)

Christmas Eve we had our usual program after traveling to the Clements in Berlin to have our band play a couple of carols for them. Megan even got Evan to play a guitar duet of "O Holy Night" with her. We served the usual snacks and opened the gifts from the kids which these days are getting to be better than the Santa gifts.




























Then it was Christmas morning. Megan had to beat Michael and Evan with an empty tube from wrapping paper to get them up but eventually everyone assembled at the bottom of the stairs for the obligatory picture. Then on to emptying the stockings.

Evan displays his usual excitement. We all enjoyed Michael's purple and yellow "Sugar Daddy " pants.





































































Megan finds that people from Idaho get potatoes in the toes of their stockings instead on an orange.























On to the family room!

















Mollie unwraps a chest full of Harry Potter books.














Michael received numerous books from his Amazon wishlist.











Evan got a motorcycle jack. Probably not the right one but Santa needed something for him to unwrap and Evan wouldn't provide any suggestions.



Wii at Last! Wii at last! Thank God Almighty Wii at last!

Kyle wanted this last Christmas but there were none to be had. This year I just happened to be in Wal-Mart right after they got a delivery so Kyle lucked out.








Dad tries to figure out his new SLR digital camera.




















Michael got a light meter for his fancy photographic work.





















Megan opens a new laptop.













Thanks to Guitar Hero III there was a little game playing before everyone returned to bed to nap away most of the day.

Well I'm going to post this now and finish later because I don't know what I'm doing and it gets more complicated to add pictures as I go. I will have to finish later.

Merry Christmas