Bringing Back The Memories...

 I saw the poster hanging at a local pizza joint. It was flashy and bright and had an attention-grabbing photo. The sole purpose (or main purpose...) of the poster is to get you excited to the point that you will go out and order tickets to the event.

To me, the poster transported me back about fifty or so years.

I doubt those creating the poster thought it would have that affect on anyone.

In the early 1970s, my father worked as a civilian contractor at Hill Air Force Base. Unfortunately, he passed away before I could get to know all the things he did, but I do know one of the perks of his job was scoring tickets to the local rodeos and demolition derbies that took place a few miles from our home.

Yes, I remember going to those events at the grandstand at Lagoon Amusement Park.

Many of the "old timers" remember it, too.

If I remember (and it's been a while...), Friday night was demolition derby night and the rodeos were on Saturdays. If you look in the photo of the field, the grandstand is visible in the lower right-hand corner. They tore out the rodeo fence and fairground buildings before this photo was taken. Going to the fair each summer was a lot of fun as well.

In a few days, people will gather including families, to watch and enjoy people climb into vehicles and crash the crap out of them. I wonder if those kids will see a poster advertising an event and remember back when they were young and they went to a demolition derby at the Box Elder County Fairgrounds in Tremonton, Utah.

I hope so. Those will most likely be great memories.

Is There A Cooler Store Than Smith And Edwards...? I Think Not

 Every driver and/or passenger traveling either north or south on Interstate-15 in Northern Utah, you've driven by a surplus store called Smith and Edwards. If you've never stopped and entered the store, you've missed out on a shopping experience like few others.

I mean, when you have a section in the store labeled "Zombie Apocalypse," you know it's not your everyday store.

I can't exactly remember the first time I went to Smith and Edwards. It might have been when my father was alive. If so, it was around fifty years ago. I think I went there as a teenager with my friends. I do remember that when I used to go, the place was kind of frumpy, meaning, it was a little run-down. 

This is no longer the case. The place was clean, organized, and had just about anything you need. In fact, I believe a slogan the store used to have (and possibly still does...) was, "If we don't have it, you don't need it." That's a perfect way to describe what is inside the building.

We checked out the games, the military clothes, the food. It was the only place we know of that has organic root beer extract. Looks like we'll be making some homemade root beer in the future. They sell firearms, camping gear, and other outdoor equipment. We didn't have time to check out the entire store--that would have taken at least several hours.

If you are familiar with the store, you know what I'm talking about. If not, I recommend you check it out. It's a few miles north of Ogden right before you enter Box Elder County. If you're thinking it probably has nothing that you really need, I think you'll be surprised.

Give Thanks...Tremonton's Summer Reading Kickoff Party

 

I missed it last year, and I vowed I would not make that mistake again. This time I contacted the library with enough time to put me on the author list. They even gave me a pirate name and a cool drinking glass.

The event--the Tremonton Library's Summer Reading Kickoff Party.

So glad I went.

The worst thing about missing last year was hearing how great it was from fellow authors who traveled some up to a hundred miles or more to attend. I, on the other hand, traveled about five miles to our town's library (built in 1929...). When I arrived I spotted a fellow author (and fellow Immortal Works author...) Steven Heumann, who brought his entire family, and I noticed an empty table next to him. 

Score!

I then noticed another writer friend, Ben Simmons and his dad setting up on the other side of the table.

Double score!

The evening was crisp and windy...a perfect night for the community to come out and support the library. The theme of the event--pirates. A few cosplayers added ambiance to the festivities. Lots of kids came around. They passed by my table when I told them I did not have a scavenger hunt clue to help them on their treasure hunt.

There were a few other authors I knew and many I did not. Many said that they don't necessarily come to this event to make a lot of sales. No, they come for the atmosphere, the people, the fun. I'm grateful to live in a community that still had a library run by workers who understand the importance of what they do. They didn't have to put in all the effort for the event, but the did and you can tell they not only love what they do, but the people they serve.

This was my first year at the Tremonton Library Summer Reading Kickoff Party. Hopefully, it won't be my last.

Rite Of Passage...

 After an hour's wait, our son emerged, a big smile on his face. He successfully navigated the first obstacle in his quest to become a legal driver.

A rite of passage.

Around forty years ago, I walked into a similar state building, took a similar test, and came out with a piece of paper. A few months later, I had in my hand a piece of paper wrapped in plastic It had on it my name, date of birth, weight, eye color, hair color (back when I had hair...), and the address where I lived.

It also represented something, something a teenager most desperately wanted...

Freedom.

It's hard to express what a drivers license meant to a high school kid. Back when entertainment had to be visited...it did not come to you. Well, some did, but not everything. You wanted to see a movie, you had to go to it. To see a concert--same thing. It meant hanging out with friends, going to dances, to sporting events, to school not on a bus. It was glorious. It meant we were becoming adults.

Times have changed. Driving seems to have lost its shine to the younger generation. That's foreign to me, can't imagine it. My son wanted to get his learners permit. He wants to learn how to drive and get his license. I'm glad he does...almost as glad as he looked coming out of that building.

I Mean, How Do We Know What's Real, Anymore...?

 I guess I'm on a Harry potter kick, today.

A few days ago I watched the latest installment of the HP universe, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. I filmed the last scene of the film with my phone...terrible quality, I admit. But, I wanted to capture something that noticed in the film.

The scene ends with a close-up of Albus Dumbledore. We see a wizard unsure of what he's lost, unsure of where he's going. He begins walking on a lonely street, the shot changes, we see the solitary figure take steps into the unknown as the music rises and the scene fades to black.

Just how much of that last scene was real?

The film--like many modern films--looks spectacular. The effects are well done. Throughout the film, something looked...off. So many sets, so many locations that would be almost impossible to replicate in real life. Okay, not impossible, but very very expensive. And why build sets when a computer can make them look almost as good? At times, it was distracting.

Of course, the role for the audience for many films is the willing suspension of our disbelief. The role for the creators is to do their best to allow this to happen. I look at that last scene, the man walking up the street. It's almost as if nothing in that scene is real...the computer could have even generated Dumbledore (maybe it did...). 

I'm amazed at the technical achievements of these films. They are some of the best in the industry. Still, at times, even the best...seems well, not authentic enough.

The Morning Breaks...

 Sunrise...never the same thing twice.

June arrived this week, the month with the longest day of the year, at least in this hemisphere. It's the month where the sun rises and gets to work before I do, on those days I work, that is. It's the month that when it concludes, half the calendar year is over...

It's also the month where everyone tells at least one other person, "I can't believe this year's almost half over."

June, a month where summer takes hold, where temperatures flirt with triple digits, where children are released from their secular religious studies and where they run freely in fields, in playgrounds, in basements where the "running" occurs electronically. It's also a month where pollen levels begin to subside--thankfully.

This morning's sunrise will differ from the one scheduled to take place (where we live...) in just under eight hours. The earth will shift just enough to allow direct sunlight to hit our house a few seconds earlier than when it did this morning. This will continue until the summer solstice when the entire process reverses itself and the days become ever so slightly shorter.

Yes, tomorrow the morning will once again break. Because I'm not required to be at my desk working, I will most likely miss it. However, those on I-15 and I-84 in front of our home will not miss it as they fly by either at or above the posted speed limit...they'll see it. They'll feel the temperature rise on their skin as sunlight floods their cars, trucks, even motorcycles. I wonder if they'll acknowledge the miracle occurring in the east as they travel, or will they simply adjust the visor?

Can't really blame them, nor can I judge them. At least they'll be up, and I'll be--hopefully--still asleep.

Random Headstones...And A Way To Find Them All

 On Sunday, our family gathered at the Farmington Cemetery in Farmington, Utah. It's a place that has headstones for my father, mother, and most recently, my little and only sister. It's an incredibly beautiful place with mountains to the east and a lake to the west.

There's also many friends and family of friends with their names etched in stone.

I've visited the cemetery hundreds of times over the half century I lived in town. Unfortunately, I can no longer hope in my car (or bike or walk...) the mile or so south and pay my respects. Now it's an hour drive there and an hour drive back. 

Still worth it.

We visited the family graves...my side and my wife's. I also snapped a couple of photos of headstones for people I've never met--at least, not that I know. Each have stories upon stories behind the names and dates. Each hold incredible importance to many.

As we left, I came across the map of the cemetery with each plot identified by number (space...) and letter (section...). An invaluable tool.

I wish I could spend more time there. I'd love to be able to walk the entire cemetery, checking out all those names and dates. The place used to scare the crap out of me as a kid. Now, well...things have changed.