Waving with Coconuts

I meet regularly with a woman in our neighborhood who says the most brainless things. She cracks me up now that I know her better, but if you didn't you wouldn't know how to react.

Tonight we were meeting with the stake young men's presidency, and one of the counselors mentioned that he grew up in Hawaii. Dan and I just returned from there over the weekend, so I expressed how we loved the laid back attitude, among everything else. So this woman, who doesn't think her thoughts all the way through, then said, "Yeah, I loved how mellow everyone is. It's like everyone just sitting in their palm trees, waving with their coconuts."

Big pause.

"Um, yeah. I guess you could say that." says the guy from Hawaii.

You really have to be proud of me for not laughing out loud at that moment. She means well.

When You Know it's Time to Stay Inside

Dan has a friend, Steve, who has quite the history of injuries... especially as of late. A few years ago he rolled his jeep multiple times and broke his neck. He only survived because of a birth defect with his spine that he didn't even know about. (sorry, not a doctor so I don't know those details)

Earlier this year, Steve was driving home from Idaho when he rolled his jeep (a different one) again. This time, he was Life-Flighted to the Univ. Hospital. He had a bunch of bolts put in, since who knows what was left from before, and was in a brace for quite a while. As soon as he healed, he was back to his regular playin'.

Just a few weeks ago, Steve had his pelvis crushed by some drywall he was unloading at work. LifeFlight was called again, and as Steve was being loaded, recognized the crew from his 2nd crash. He even said, "Hey, aren't you the guys who picked me up in Idaho?" The reply was, "Oh yeah, aren't you Steve?"

Steve, why are you still alive?

Making the Most

I was driving up to Sugarhouse to retrieve my son today when I was reminded why election season annoys me so much. Here are families of candidates who may not be so outgoing, or even like their candidate-relative very much, but are posted on every street corner waving signs and cheering to those driving by. I am amazed there aren't more accidents.

Today, though, one set of over-used relatives made me giggle. Just west of the freeway entrance, bearing signs of who-knows and who cares, were 2 teenage boys. One was facing away from me, and I got a glimpse of some wording that had been handwritten on the back. In big, boy-handwriting lettering was "Hi. I think you are pretty!"

I'd vote for this kid for making the most of his wasted afternoon, just because he is related to someone who needs family support just to gain position.

"Hi. I think you are pretty!"