remember

I had to eat cardboard as a child.
Yes, we were so poor we ate cardboard for food. It’s a sad story that I have to constantly remind my children about.

We were visiting my parents and of course, the kids had to ask if we really ate cardboard for food when I was little. Mom looked at me and said “Stephen, what are you telling these kids?” Dad of course said “Yep, we made them eat card board to make them tough and so that they would be miserable not only when they were walking to and from school in the snow up hill both ways.”

More facts came out this week about my cardboard eating days. Turns out we would hang out behind icecream shops to eat the old cardboard ice cream containers. They were a treat. Also, I ate card board until I was 14 and was only 2.5 feet tall from eating card board. I grew very quickly when I finally started eating real food.

Just a little family story I thought I would share.

Some days have special significance, a major event, anniversary or birthday. Today is of major significance for me for several reasons.

Those of us in the know, know that today is really Christmas. There is much historical evidence to support this but the best source is the revealed word. Interestingly enough, it is also the day Jesus celebrated the last supper and suffered for the sins of all the universe.

Fast forward 1800 years more or less and it is the day the restored Church of Jesus Christ was again organized on the face of the earth.

Go forward another 135 years and today is the birthday of my best friend, Scott. He and I have been close friends since we were kids. We probably exchange a dozen emails a day and I always visit when I go home for things. Scott has always been a true and good friend, always there for me, always saying what I need to hear instead of what I want to hear.

Go forward another 24 years and today is the birthday of my oldest son, Richard. My son is 16 today. I am so proud of him. He is an awesome kid. 16 years ago, I was still in college and we were in the process of moving into an apartment where we would be assistant managers. I had left to return the truck and when I came back, Sue told me her water broke. Holy Cow!!! It started. I have to laugh at how silly I was about the whole thing back then. I was still just a kid myself back then too. Labor was pretty normal up to the point where Richard dropped down but then he stopped. For an hour Sue pushed and Richard would not come. Finally, a wise Dr decided to help things out and he pulled my son into the world at around 4:00 in the morning. My son, my perfect little baby son. He has been a joy and an adventure for 16 years.

April 6th is a great day.

Okay, it’s not a paper journal but it’s a start.

It’s full of crap that even I wouldn’t want to read again but it’s a start.

Why am I constantly seeing signs that tell me I must begin to do this? It’s almost a feeling of urgency. But why? Why is it so urgent?

Why do I resist?

Sit, think, write. Perhaps another day.

My son needs a new journal. Maybe, I will buy two.

Good idea, eh!?

Isn’t it odd that I don’t have an entry about keeping a journal?
I thought it was.
I tried blogging but that does not work for me.
May have to try pen and paper…oh how old fashioned.

Wilford Woodruff, I wish I could be as diligent as you were.