Lessons from Old Men

Back in the day when I worked at Naples Cafe, I made friends with the old men who came in daily to drink coffee. In my last week in Vernal I decided that I really needed to go in and visit with them. Its amazing how 70-80 year old men can be some of the best friends you'll ever had. One old man named Nord is headed down hill pretty quick and I will be a sad little girl when he is gone. Friday when I was down visiting he got really dizzy and had to take one of his nitroglycerin pills and it didn't help much. I don't think he will make it through the winter. So long as he makes it to the 23rd he says he can die happy. It will be his 70th birthday. For having such a huge age gap those old men have taught me little things that I will never forget. An example is even though I'm more than 50 years younger than most of them they still treat me as an equal and listen to my opinion the exact same way they listen to each other. Another old man named Thom gave me his number today so I could keep him posted on his "favorite grandkid" while I'm at school. They don't look at me as a little girl that doesn't have enough experience to know about life, they look at me as a young adult that can give them a different point of view. I hope as a teacher I can take that into my classroom. And they never look down on me if I disagree. They challenge me instead to back up my opinion and teach them why I think what I do. Even if they don't agree at all with each other they still respect that everyone has a different head to think with and maybe their point is more correct than their own. And as far as guys walking past and making crude comments to me, it doesn't happen. One boy thought he was funny and said something perverted about me and he had five old men ready to rip him to shreds. And they let him know in no uncertain terms that he was to apologize to me and learn not only manners but respect for women. On top of them respecting my opinion they call me ma'am as if I'd earned it and always open the door. It's all but a race to see who can pay first for the whole group. The little things that they do out of habit never cease to amaze me. Even though they sit out on the porch they all stand up to push a chair over for me when I get there. I hope that when I get out on my own I can give someone the same high opinion of me that I have of them. I hope I can take their ideals of respect and communication into a classroom and teach some teenagers the same things that these old men have taught me. I've written down a list of the things I have learned from them that I think that all teenagers should learn. If everyone could share ideas like they do the world would be a much better place. Here's to you Nord, Thom, Tim, Troy, Clint, and George.

Well...

Here I go... Less than two weeks from fly time. Luke and I broke up on Sunday so I could adjust to being without him for school. We agreed that since I'm "doing good" we can still hang out til I go, just not near as much. I was real confused and hurt, but its starting to make sense. I think it might be for the best. I don't want to get down there and sit in my dorm all the time wishing I was home with him. Growing up is getting old. On the up-side I think I'm getting 'er figured. :) I'm starting to almost get excited to get down there and find out just what I'm made of. The only part that scares me now is I don't know if I even remember how to make friends. Good old Wal-Mart approved my transfer and gave me a job offer (in Wal-Mart speak that means they have a position for me to fill). I have somewhere to live and my classes all lined out. I'm going to be a busy little goose. I'm taking Spanish, Math 1010, Public Speaking, P.E., History of England, and some freshman orientation thing. And on top of that I have to get a 3.5 this semester. EEK!!! I know I can do it though. I guess this is just the first day of the rest of my life... Wild how its going to happen all over again tomorrow :)

Once Upon A Time in Vernal

the Red Fleet

Split Mountain

On top of Pitt's Hill

Overlook from Pitt's

Doc's Beach

Oh the cowboy...

I snapped pictures for an hour when I got a smile :)

On the way home from the wedding

The poor guy was sicker than a dog but he was a trooper for me.

He even ASKED me to dance!!!

New Years Eve '09



For all the ups and downs and from the moments that I want to scream at him to the moments that I don't know how he could possibly make me any happier, this boy is something else. All you can say is he really is a cowboy...

Angry!!!

I've discovered a really, really, truly disturbing thing. When I'm so angry that I'm about to lose my temper, listening to the same christmas songs that we decorate our tree to every year calms me down. Its magic. So its not really disturbing, but I thought it was weird that I even tried it in July. I figured I would tell all of you just in case any of you wanted to try the Statler Brothers for anger management. They are surprisingly effective :)

Guts...

just so everyone knows my guts have knots in them so tight not even a scout could get them un-done. I just flat hurt. I know its not somethin I ate cuz I haven't ate today but whatever it is I sure wish it would go away already. ANYWAY!!! I transfered to the bakery a few weeks ago to get adjusted to sleeping at night and it sure got me sleeping. My normal shift is from 5 am to 2 pm. I heat the prefried donuts and decorate them. Its like every little kids dream job... All I do is play with frosting all day. Its great :) Ok... My guts hurt like... Nevermind... The ladies I work with are so dramatic that I look like an incredibly low key, laid back, unstrung person. And that is saying something. I seriously do not have any idea how they can live with so much drama constantly. Something as small as a hangnail requires major surgery and being ten minutes behind in their work is the equivalent to being ten weeks behind. Its REDONKULOUS!!! O well. I suppose I ought to get to bed. GOOD NIGHT!!!

Riding The Hide