A Little Pep Talk

On the way home from work last week I was greeted by these signs stapled to telephone poles along the main road. Not the Rent to Own sign, the other one. I saw the first one and thought it was kind of amusing.

Then on the next block was another sign. I wonder if someone was just trying to help all the people coming home from work and school feel better. About something. Maybe themselves. Maybe homework. Maybe possible terrorist attacks.

Someone was trying to get their point across. I wonder if someone didn't want their Significant Other coming home grumpy?

And if being Happy wasn't a good enough message, there was also this message: "All You Need is Love." Now I'm thinking some Budget-Conscious-Hippie is using not-so-subliminal messages to get their ideas across to the general public, cheaply.

But then I saw this sign and thought "Maybe someone is Posting their Valentines in Public! That must be it!"

While the signs were rather unconventional I found myself in a Happier Mood that afternoon.

I'm a Magician

I am a Magician. I'll bet you didn't know that? But I have been making things disappear at my house since I started working Part-Time:

1. The piles of dirty laundry
2. The dust bunnies of dog hair
3. The TV programs recorded on my DVR
4. The number of Take-out meals
5. The smudges and streaks on the windows
   
6. The dirty dishes in the sink
7. The undone homework of my children
8. The toothpaste scum in the bathroom sinks
9. The pile of ironing
10. The children's lack of chores

Thanks to the possibility of working part time (which can be chalked up to this economy, the job used to be full time) I have time to do the things I hadn't done much of for the last six months. And I love it! I don't ever want to work full time again. And my children's friend's parents have informed me that my children LOVE me being home when they get home from school. That right there makes it worth the teensy paycheck.

Tainted

Today I got this letter from Sam's Club:

"This letter is to inform you that we have learned today that RCBA in cooperation with the FDA has initiated a recall of its Baklava Assortment due to potential contamination of Salmonella.
. . .We request that you review your inventory records and segregate and return the item to your local Sam's Club for a full refund. If you have sold or shipped any of this product, we request that you contact your customers and notify them of the recall.
We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to meeting your needs in the future."

AUUGGGHHHH!!!!! What if you already ate it! We, actually I, bought the baklava for Thanksgiving! We ate it for Thanksgiving! So that's why I got sick after Thanksgiving. I guess I can quit blaming the turkey.

Well, thank goodness that there is no Peanut Butter Baklava. That would be rather disgusting. If I really did get sick from eating it I guess I would have ended up in the hospital. Thank goodness for living in the land of Advanced Medical Care. At least I don't live in Africa. Although if I was rich I could still get great medical care as BrAngelina has shown us.

And that was so kind of Sam's Club to notify me that my two-month-old Baklava is tainted. And it was so kind of them to send a letter out the SAME DAY they learned of the contamination, although I didn't get it for over a week, love Spanish Fork USPS. But their fears were unfounded. I ate most of that Baklava and didn't get a single bit sick, not even from consuming so much sugar and butter within a few days. Just gained another love handle.

The Good in Things

Tonight we got back from a weekend trip. Of course we had a pile of mail waiting for us. Over time the mail has gotten back to normal and hasn't been as traumatic as it had been at first after our accident. But this weekend left us with a few surprises.

First off, Middle Child got his blanket. While still at the funeral he had asked his Grandma to make him a quilt to help remember his big brother, Calvin. Grandma's specialty is quilts, especially for the grandchildren. Grandma and Sister Quilter both made a quilt for the boys. While Baby's quilt came Monday, Middle Child's took it's usual sweet, Spanish Fork, time to get here. Most mail takes several days longer to get to us than to the top of Kilimanjaro. But I detract, DO NOT under any circumstances let me get started on the USPS. (Altho I do love our current postperson. His name is Obi (like Obi Wan Kenobi) and he looks like Shaggy from the old Scooby Doo cartoons! And he loves our dog!) But Middle Child was so happy! He quickly opened the box and proceeded to wear the quilt on his shoulders for the next two hours.

Then we got a letter from the University of Utah Eye Center. I thought they were pedaling Lasik and almost didn't open the letter. But it was something completely different and unexpected and wonderful. While still at the Hospital that horrible October 15 we were confronted with whether to donate Calvin's organs for others. That was an easy decision for us to make. Calvin always loved helping others. So we donated and were prepared to never hear again whether he helped anyone or not. But this letter told us how two people who had previously been blind now have eyesight! I couldn't imagine anything better, except Calvin still being here. These were grown ups and I can't believe how happy they must be! I'm glad this happened in time for Christmas so they can finally see the magical season for the first time.

As horrible as the whole incident has been I am happy to find little things like this where good has come from Calvin, even still.

It's the Little Things That Count

Olaf was out walking the other day and one of Calvin's best friends came running out to tell him that the night before (Oct. 23) the High School Football Team had all painted 'CH' on their calves for the game that night. Not only that but several of them came through the viewing line in their full uniform and brought us a football the whole team had signed. It was so sweet and thoughtful.

I found out that the night before that the Junior High Choir had sung a song in his memory at their concert. The parents said they did a great job but had a hard time getting through this song.

Calvin was the last group to go to Middle School in 6th grade. Then they split the group up into two different Junior Highs the next year and half his friends were in the other school. The first day of school after the accident the kids from the other Junior High who remembered Calvin all dressed up in white shirts and ties for school in remembrance of him.

We are still getting several cards a day from friends and family. This whole tragedy has really struck a chord with a lot of people who have lost loved ones. It's amazing how many people have lost immediate family members. The hardest ones to read are from Calvin's friends. They loved him so much and tell us how happy and nice he was to everyone. They tell us how we must be great parents to have such a wonderful son (don't tell them the truth!). They tell us how much Calvin loved his family and his little brothers.

I'm just so thankful that Calvin is such a good kid and that so many people loved him and that he was able to touch so many people's lives. It really helps to know that he lived such a happy life.

The Day After

When I first woke up after the accident it was quiet. No one was awake yet. The house was silent. I cried. Then I went upstairs to see if my parents were here yet. I knew they wouldn't be because they would have had to leave at about 3am to get there by this time. They weren't here yet. I went back downstairs and went back to sleep. Sleeping was hard. My left shoulder was really banged up from the seat belt. My right ear was sore and bruised. The back of my head had a big gash on it and was sore. I had to sleep on my stomach and left side of my head. Granted I usually sleep that way but I couldn't move very much and I was very sore.

When I woke up a few hours later I could hear people upstairs. I cautiously crept up the stairs, not sure what I'd see. There were two neighbors sitting and visiting in the living room. When they saw me they got up and hugged me and we all started crying. This went on for a few hours with a steady stream of my friends from the neighborhood. It was so nice to know that people cared so much about us and were coming to visit so quickly. One of Calvin's best friends grandparents had also brought over several bags of groceries and stocked the fridge!

I couldn't believe the people that knew what had happened already. They weren't the usual church people, it was my friends. This terrible news didn't travel through the usual church grapevine, people called my friends and let them know what was going on. I was so thankful for my friends coming and visiting me.

I cried so much that first day. When I woke up and looked in the mirror my eyes were swollen. I kind of thought that maybe something was wrong with them. I'm not a crier and for my eyes to be swollen from crying was something I'm not used to seeing. Then my hair was another matter completely. I mentioned I had a big gash on the back of my head. From the front I looked disheveled, like I had a bad night sleeping, but not too bad. My mom did mention my hair was lighter from all the dirt and dust. But when I turned around the back of my hair was all tangled and matted from blood and dirt. And then my clothing was another story completely. I came home in a hospital gown and scrub pants. My mother-in-law had given me a different t-shirt to wear, but that was it. But I didn't even care what I was wearing or how horrible I looked when I visited with people that morning.

I was just thankful that friends were coming to visit, family was coming to stay with me, and someone was taking care of my family because I couldn't right then. So much food was brought over and the vast majority of it was eaten. I had 25+ family members and they were fed. My brother-in-law was a little disappointed. He loves our local hamburger joints and had to go eat by himself. This trip was unexpected for everyone and I'm sure everyone was on a tight budget. Everyone was thankful for the meals. I was amazed by the amount of food brought over and the caring and love shown by everyone around us.

Thank You

Dear Friends and Family,

We were never prepared for this moment in time. One never expects it to happen to them or even someone close. My heart is breaking. A big hole has been ripped out and it will never be whole again. I miss Calvin so much. But it still doesn't feel real. I keep expecting his smiling face to pop around the corner with a goofy comment that will either drive me crazy or make me laugh. Calvin is such a special boy. I miss him so much. The only solace I have is knowing that we are an eternal family, that we will get to be with him again. I know that this earth life is only temporary. I can feel everyone's prayers. They are like a warm blanket around me on a chilly winter night. There is absolutely no way that I could make it through this time without EVERYONE'S love, help, prayers, visits, and calls. His obituary is in the Daily Herald. I made all my sisters and sister-in-laws help me write the thing, I couldn't bear to do it alone. We were laughing for an hour straight at all our remembrances. I know that is how Calvin wants us to remember him. I know he's in Heaven watching us and telling us to quit crying and mourning. My husband was talking to someone about another boy going on a mission and he just got an incredibly peaceful feeling that Calvin was called home early because he had work to do up in Heaven. I'm thankful for my beliefs and the support it gives me. I'm going to post his obituary because it's beautiful. It has to be, Calvin is a beautiful person.

Calvin Christopher Hansen

Calvin Christopher Hansen, born December 22, 1994, in Payson, Utah. Our cherished son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend, and Scout passed away Wednesday, October 15, 2008, as a result of a motor-vehicle accident. His dog, Boomer, also passed away in the accident.

Calvin was in eighth grade at Spanish Fork Junior High School. He had many friends and was involved in many extracurricular activities. He played sports with a smile on his face. He loved to do things with his friends and when he couldn’t, he texted them nonstop. Calvin was full of life. He had an infectious happy personality. We will always remember his adventurous and sensitive spirit. Calvin was always concerned about others and put everyone’s needs before his own.

True to his spirit, he always volunteered to help others. He loved his brothers and his dog, Boomer, and he was very protective of them. He was an avid Scout in Troop 1501. He earned all his merit badges and was preparing to work on his Eagle Scout Project. He earned his Arrow of Light and Duty to God Award. This past summer Calvin attended Timberline National Youth Leadership Training Camp and forged new relationships with other Scouts. He loved the outdoors and all activities; hiking, camping, rock climbing, swimming, geocaching, and hunting. He got his first deer three weeks ago while hunting with his father.

Recently he attended the Priesthood Session of General Conference in Salt Lake City with his best friend, his dad. There has always been a special spirit about Calvin that has touched so many others’ lives. He will be sorely missed but his memories will bring smiles and laughter forever. We appreciate all the people who have taken care of Calvin during his lifetime and know that they all helped to mold him into such a strong and happy person.

We thank everyone for their calls and visits. It means so much to us to know that he touched so many peoples’ lives.

Calvin was survived by his parents, Chris and Donna, brothers, Clayton and Cole, his grandparents, Dena Hansen (Dave Hendrickson), Dan and JoAnn McLean, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Fred Robin Hansen.

There will be a viewing from 6-8pm on Monday, October 20, at Walker Mortuary, 187 South Main, Spanish Fork. Tuesday, October 21, there will be a viewing at the Latter-day Saint Chapel from 9:45 -10:45 am at 870 E. Canyon Rd, Spanish Fork, Utah, followed by the funeral at 11 am.

A fund has been established in Calvin’s name at Central Bank. Anyone wishing to make a contribution may do so at any bank branch.