Technology and Death.

So I remember the feeling I had when I received a letter on the mission. It was like Christmas day. The joy was two-fold if it was written. Appreciating the fact that someone took the time to find a piece of paper, find a pen, jot down thoughts, feelings, whatever. Eventually slapping a stamp on an envelope. Licking that horrible tasting glue and mailing it out.

I don't know why that same joy is not felt with digital media. I don't grin with I see Inbox(3). Even if they are "letters" and not mailing list spam or online receipts.

In one way it works out when you're getting less than ideal news. I was sitting in a hotel lobby in Cancun when I got an e-mail from my mom. It said that my uncle had passed away. Earlier today (actually yesterday, didn't finish writing this up) I was in a car flipping through e-mails and I learned that my friend's father passed away. One positive, the "sterile" quality of digital communication meant it was easier to take the news. Neither passing was exactly a surprise. So that probably helped in the "ease of swallowing the news".

After each message, I thought about it. There were no fond memories of sporting events, fishing, golfing, whatever. They were there. I was there. They were like 40 years older than I was...

So I thought... and thought.

This is what I came up with.

I knew my grandfather died when my mom was a teenager (or there abouts). Apparently it was my Uncle Billy who took on the role of raising the family (I never put two and two together). So thanks to my Uncle, my mom was able to finish high school and have a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear and never had to learn how to smuggle 4 apples, a blouse and a box out of a store under her sweater.

There were Christmas presents growing up. A box full of Top Flite golf balls (that'll eventually be scattered into streams/ponds/tall grass/etc). Thanks Uncle Billy.

So my initial memory of my friend's father was him flipping channels while I passed through the door. Unless my friends' fathers liked baseball or hockey. There was very little "social" interaction with them.

After some contemplation. I realized he was probably the priesthood role model in my life. Growing up learned as we went on this whole priesthood thing. But there were a great deal of Priesthood sessions spent sitting next JD and his father.

Eventually at one point, he was our home teacher and we got a pie for the holidays. Thanks for being there and the pies. So in honor of John. All the home teachees get a pie... or a cookie. Can't let them get fat on a whole pie.

Salt Lake City, UT Oct 2-5

Back to the land of well... um. 5.5 years of my life.

But there was something new (to me at least), Gilgal Garden.

Thanks to a month of exploring thanks to Lonely Planet. I turned to the site to see if they had any information that I didn't know about.

Hello Gilgal. It was different.

The Sphinx represents Child's belief that the answers to life's great questions cannot be discovered with the intellect, but only through faith. The sphinx is an ancient symbol of riddles and mystery. Joesph Smith's face symbolizes Child's conviction that the LDS Priesthood reveals to mankind the answers to life's mysteries.

In this self-portrait Child conveys his great love for the masonry trade and for his religion. The figure of Child holds a Bible under his right arm and blueprints under his left.

Mish friend, friend-in-law?, friend, me.

Old mish comp, Wells. Prior to moving to Texas.

David doesn't understand, "hey look at the camera" apparently.

SL,UT Library. It's a nice library.

Good ole Crown.

Chicago Sept 27-29

So I liked Chicago. Big City, decent mass transit and good food that isn't ridiculously expensive.



Portillos hot dog and Italian beef.

I'd be there like every other day (or once a week).... or once a month.


They have baseball and a Western Conference NHL team. So thats two SJ/Chicago games a year.


Sears Tower. For some reason, I was fine with this. When I was walking on the bridge over the river... got a shiver up my spine. Go figure.

Boston Sept 25-27

Boston was an interesting place. Slept on the Liberty Clipper in the harbor. Not everyday you get to sleep on tall ship. Went into Boston after the Caribbean, kind of a big climate change. From High 80s to low 60s. Was walking around in jeans and flip flops and people are walking around in peacoats.


The Boston Ghosts and Graves tour. It was alright, entertaining, but not as entertaining as the San Diego one I did.

Bridge.

US Constitution

Redcoats

Graves




Liberty Clipper

DC/Baltimore Sept 23-25

So in 1997 I had a few hours to explore DC with Juan and David. This was the first time back since then. About the only thing I'm not a fan of is the Metro's all day pass doesn't kick in til 9:30 am. So... my longest ride on the metro was from Dulles on the 24th to downtown and I had to fork out the cash for it. Everything else I could just walk to and fro.

Big fan of the Smithsonian... huge, free. could spend a whole day there for FREE.

Got to see Nationals Park and Oriole Park. Nice parks. Not so great teams... Poor DC.

Mexico Sept 18-23

Merida Temple

Cenote Cuzama

So there was this mule railway in the middle of nowhere Cuzama where they took you to three different cenotes. Two had stairwells into the depths, one had a ladder. The one with the ladder was easily the favorite. But it was a wild experience splish splashing around in "underground" pools.

Climbing down into said cenote

clouds preventing awesome slithering snake effect on Chichen Itza

So if you wander down to Chichen Itza during the spring/fall solstice. A shadow is cast on the side of the stairwell making a "slithering snake" effect. People gather around and wait and wait. Which is cool, unless it's overcast. Then you only kinda sorta see it... sometimes.

Nevertheless, it was interesting.

Chichen Itza

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is way nicer than Cancun. Sure you have to drive a little ways after landing at the airport in Cancun.

Tulum

Ruins next to the ocean. Kind of interesting to see. Not quite on the level of some other ruins.

Tulum

Cancun

Cancun Ironman

Cancun