My grandpa Parker passed away in 1997. He fought in WWII in a submarine as a 17 yr old. He rebuilt lots of cars with my dad and owned one of 1500 Rambler Rebels (a very light and powerful car from the late 1950’s). I always liked coming down to Hurricane to visit he and grandma. They were always so kind and loving. Grandma would stuff you full of food and grandpa would direct you to the candy dish or read to you any time.
I’ve visited this place many many times but never met the neigbors until two days ago. Al next door has been cutting my grandma’s grass since 1997 when grandpa passed away. I had no idea someone was taking such care to help one of my family members. I was blessed with the opportunity to mow Al’s lawn Monday he is recovering from heart surgery. He said that my grandma is a very neat person. He’s right. The biggest surprise however was meeting Al’s wife. When I met her she said “you’re Ray’s grandson, it’s the eyebrows, I can tell”. Then she said we had beautiful eyes. I thought that was funny, but hey when you got, you got it . Sonya’s career was in nursing and she was the first on the scene when grandpa fell off the ladder. She tried to revive him but said he was gone before he got into the ambulence.
What a neat experience to get to know my own family better through close friends of theirs. I could/would/should really be back in Provo right now being responsible but I’d give up lots of money to hear more 1st hand accounts about my grandfather. When we meet people like that it’s not by chance. We need to hold onto and record those events.
Not much. I probably follow this advice/thought to a flaw and there are those who think I’m crazy. Let’s take my life right now for example: Betting a lot of cash (as in student loans yes!) that I can sell a product to Walmart and/or college bookstores nationwide and/or get a large organization to do their printing through me. I don’t regret a minute of it. Live like you’re dying, folks.
I’ll just have to quote my friend’s blog again here. Remember to have fun!
Recently I talked to an old friend and it was really fun! I went to the world’s largest water balloon fight this morning and it was SO fun! Recently Parker Planners received more orders than I thought would come so soon, that was fun!
“To those predictors of doom, I relay what an old friend once passed on to me. At a certain point in the process, no credit will be given for predicting rain. The only credit will be for helping to build an ark”
This was one on one of my friend’s facebook pages. It’s good stuff, I’m a fan. Although to find a child to touch my hair once a day might be a little tricky, I’d probably have some weirded out parents on my hands.
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day…
This picture is on my grandma’s wall by the kitchen. I imagine my grandfather put it up there because he had that kind of humor. They have lived in the same house since I have been alive, so this picture has sort of been a constant for me. It makes me laugh but also makes me think. Maybe it’s where I get my entrepreneur tenacity?
“No” is never the end unless you give up. I say that all “no” means is that you got their attention. The second “no” means that you might be serious, the third one means you actually want it, the fourth “no” means that you’re determined to get it, and the fifth “no” means that you understand persistence. There usually aren’t more than 5 “no’s”.
It’s hard to stay positive. They say attitude is altitude and I’m a firm believer in that. The other week I went to sacrament meeting in the room where the BYU Cougarette dance team practices. They have won many national championships. Most people would think the really positive stuff they have on their walls is cheesy, corny, etc. It’s great stuff! I love going into that room because I can only imagine the great attitudes of happy champions much less the person who teaches and leads them. Way to be excellent, you dancing people.
It’s absurd to look at a three year old toddler and say, “this kid can’t read or do math or even string together a coherent paragraph. He’s a dolt and he’s never going to amount to anything.” No, we don’t say that because we know we can teach and motivate and cajole the typical kid to be able to do all of these things.
Why is it okay, then, to look at a teenager and say, “this kid will never be a leader, never run a significant organization, never save a life, never inspire or create…”
Just because it’s difficult to grade doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taught.
Never mind a teenager. I think it’s wrong to say that about someone who’s fifty.
Isn’t it absurd to focus so much energy on ‘practical’ skills that prep someone for a life of following instructions but relentlessly avoid the difficult work necessary to push someone to reinvent themselves into becoming someone who makes a difference?
And isn’t it even worse to write off a person or an organization merely because of what they are instead of what they might become?
. Sonya’s career was in nursing and she was the first on the scene when grandpa fell off the ladder. She tried to revive him but said he was gone before he got into the ambulence. 
