Barbara finally got her computer back from the shop this week, and Saturday, I re-installed it. That doesn't sound like much until you realize that it was taken apart by AJ when he was in a bad mood (meaning that he exercised less than prudent caution [as evidence by the internet connection with one end pulled out not only out of the modem but completely out of the cabinet, and the other end with a bent connector]). Further, not all the pieces were in the pile left in Barbara's cabinet, nor was everything labeled and I didn't get to see where they were originally positioned. It was one of those three dimensional puzzles that took about two hours to solve. Unfortunately, while lying on my side and struggling to pull the wire from the computer to the modem, I re-injured my (reputedly) broken rib. Does it sound like I'm whining? Actually, I am getting better, and (other than my inability to cough, sneeze, or sleep on my left side) things have pretty much returned to normal.
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I have my share of problems and many of them seem quite insoluble. I sometimes tend to think this is unfair, until I encounter the problems belonging to other people. This last week a nice grandmother of five hobbled into my place of employment using her walker, and requested that I draw her blood. I make it a habit of carrying on casual conversation with my patients, and in the course of this exchange she mentioned she had recently been hospitalized. When I inquired as to the cause, she laid it on the line. She said she became enraged at someone, and under the influence of this excess of emotion, consumed a complete gallon of wine. I am somewhat naive in this area, but the results were a bit beyond my expectations. She was transported (via ambulance) from Mammoth to the hospital in Oro Valley. During this trip, she died once and was then revived. She died again, and was again revived. Then she died a third time and was once again revived. Once at the hospital, they transferred her to the intensive care unit where she remained for the next fourteen days. After another week in a regular unit, she was released, and the blood draw we were doing was part of the follow up treatment regime. (Fortunately for her, she is on access, so the State picked up the tab and she is not half a million in debt.) Now, I have experienced what seemed to me to be "burning anger," but this persons experience makes my fussing and fuming seem trivial.
That scenario seemed a bit unrealistic so I attempted some BAC (blood alcohol concentration) calculations. Unfortunately, (since I lack absorption/elimination rates) they produced unbelievable results and I'm left solely with her story.
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I am attempting to learn to appreciate all that life has to offer, but I continue to have problems developing any sort of in-depth enjoyment of winter. Other than the fact that water coming out of the faucet is cold enough to drink and most mosquito larva have frozen to death, I have failed to identify any significant redeeming virtues associated with this season. This is the scene that now greets me as I walk out of work at quitting time, and since December 21 is the shortest day of the year (and the first day of winter) it will be a full two months before we reach this day length again with the days getting longer. All my daylight hours have been sold to my employer, a fact that tends to make my weekends much more valuable.
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Barbara persists in feeding all the stray cats in the neighborhood, so howling yowling cat fights outside our back door have become a fact of life. The other night there was a more persistent than usual racket, so I opened the door to scatter the critters in the hopes of enjoying quiet for a short time. Does this beast look like he/she/it is ready to abandon the food and flee?
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My camera is not very good at capturing images in the dark (using a flash), but it is evident which tree our backyard raccoons prefer to use in attempting to escape. Barbara expressed reluctance to believe it when I told her our nighttime visitors climbed the pole supporting the roof over the washing machine, until she saw it for herself. I think the family is composed of five members, but they make enough racket for 15. Of course, there is the possibility that I am harshly judging them. The night after I took the above photo, I opened the door to stop the noise, and was confronted by a half dozen javalena.
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This is a phrase in AJ's letter from last week that we have yet to translate. I can't seem to locate "quidnunc" in my dictionary. Anyone care want to venture a guess? I believe this to be the complete thought, not related to any idea in the sentences before or after.
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Here is AJ's latest letter:
11-13-06
Dad & Mom,
The inoculation I received was tetanus and diphtheria booster. But it was not at the MTC Med. Room that is sponsored by BYU.
My companion is from Sacramento Cal.
No, I am tired from sitting in class for so long. My brain is drained but I am learning so much.
Dad, I have a week and I am off to Washington.
Dad, what time on the 20th of Nov was I born? [AJ and I have a bet as to whether he will reach the Washington Everett mission before he turns 19 years old.]
I am in a district with three other missionaries going to Washington and four Missionaries going to Boston. But no they are not random missionaries. They are ordained of God.
I study and prepare from the P of GP and B of M all day and study to teach the lessons.
So, it snowed today and the MTC looks cool. So, I took a picture.
One of the cool things about MTC food is they have orange soda!! And ice cream bars at meals.
So you should be happy. I received 3 letters today and am writing you first.
I am studying my scriptures so much. I also go to a lot of meetings and listen to returned missionaries.
You remember that you said I would not use all the shoe polish? Well, I am OUT!!! Because I shine everyone's shoes because I am the best and I love shinning shoes.
Well, I am off to class.
Did you put my check in my bank yet?
I love you and miss you.
Elder Hatch
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