Christmas 2011 Newsletter

Every year I write a newsletter to my family and friends. This year it was a last minute effort, but I did sum up what happened in a somewhat uneventful year. Maybe it seems uneventful because I couldn't remember everything I did, so this what I came up with.

Dear Family,

It is a week before Christmas and I am finally getting around to writing the annual newsletter or form letter as I sometimes I want to call it. It has been a rather boring year as far as traveling goes. I didn’t leave the state of Utah all year. Mary did not visit, but Laura and her family did, which prompted me to leave Salt Lake County to watch “17 Miracles” in Davis County.
John did help get me around this year even though his car is ageing faster than most UTA buses. He took me to Riverton to see the dentist and a few trips to Costco. He also drove Jay and me to Park City in August, which is in Summit County. Okay I left the county twice. Jay and Tina, a friend from high school ran the Park City Half Marathon. While we were waiting for the race to begin, we visited with an old neighbor from the ward we all moved from. Of course, I had hot chocolate at McDonalds while we waited for Jay and Tina to cross the finish line. There is just something about a cold August morning in Park City.
All of us are still working at the same place and attending the same wards. I doubt that will change in the coming year, but you never know. But there were a few changes. The annual rivalry game was held in September instead of November. It just wasn’t the same and it wasn’t just different dates for both teams. BYU was independent and Utah was in the PAC-12. But I did enjoy a rivalry of sorts with Dana, when his Dawgs (Huskies) played my Utes. I am officially his auntie now.
Even though I was in Utah when the earthquake on East Coast occurred; I did experience it. I was talking to one of the borrowers when suddenly I heard some rattling in the background. Over the phone, it sounded like tea cups shaking in a china cabinet. She did confirm that it was earthquake and Washington DC doesn’t get earthquakes.
I did take up drawing, but not in the usual artistic way. But more in the therapeutic way: definitely in a way to express myself. I am not ready to call my self artist, probably because I use a pencil and scratch paper to draw my subject. I started my art therapy at work on the last day that student could pay their tuition before their classes were dropped. The events of the day gave me my inspiration for bad.artIst@woRk label. I have since drawn quite a few, some not so nice and others, just for laughs. Some I have included in my blog (http://idahoinutah.blogspot.com) that I started at the end of January. Right now the heading reads “Life on a Single Road”. I may be single, but I do have some stories to share. Some are current like OJ story (February) and Morning in Park City (August); others are memories like His Greatest Race (October) and the Walking Around the Block (also February).
I understand that the world will end in 2012. Well, I have news for you; I plan to be around for 2013, so I hope the upcoming year goes better than predicted. Take care and enjoy the Holidays. That includes Christmas and New Years. Ciao!

Christmas Memories

I woke up alone this morning. Jay went to Idaho with John. I have to admit it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I went to the church at 10:30, since I was the only librarian in the ward (which is why I stayed behind.) It was nice to have a peaceful morning. First thing I did was log onto Facebook. I know I am addicted to Facebook, but I had a cousin who was born on Christmas. I posted quite a few likes and watched a YouTube video that my sister shared. It was Simon & Garfunkel singing "Silent Night", one of my favorite Christmas carols. I liked the simplicity of their arrangement. It was just them singing and the piano playing. I also saw some pictures that a family friend posted. The picture of the stockings laid out on couch brought the memories back. Chelsey was continuing a tradition that Kevin's family has had for years. Kevin's mom, Jewel would hang a stocking for each family member on the fireplace. Santa would fill the stockings. Little Mark (Kevin's brother) twice saw her fill the stockings at 3am and even saw his dad, Chuck bring the gifts from the garage. So I am surprised that Mark believed in Santa after that. The Pughs also had a tradition that the youngest opened their present first. One Christmas when Crystal was 6 or 7, she asked her dad if the order could be changed. I guess she was tired of being first and probably she would always be first. That Christmas, Chuck was the first to open his presents.

I saw a neighbors' child at church. She will be a year old in January, so she is celebrating her first Christmas. I remembered Jay's first Christmas. He was bewildered at all the chaos. One of Jay's presents was a squeaky toy. He stared at the toy as Mom squeaked in his face. Or maybe Jay was bewildered at us older children being too rambunctious. And maybe he wasn't quite awake yet. John liked to get up at 4am, maybe it was 5am, but he was always way wired for Christmas morning. Some years I was too. I remember once, getting up on the hour every hour to see if it was time. That had to be the longest night for my mom. Growing up, we always did a Christmas program on Christmas Eve. My mom probably thought of idea as way to keep up later.  John would always read "The Night Before Christmas" and Mom would read "The Fourth Wiseman". We would sing Christmas songs from the hymn book or another song book that we got from King's in Rupert. Someone would recite Luke 2 and maybe some of Matthew.

Probably the Christmas that I remember the best is when the furnace broke. I was in 1st grade and Mom was expecting Jay. Mom bundled us up and took a trip into town. Not sure if we went to Paul, Burley or Rupert. When we got home, she sent us to bed. The electricity had gone out also. She called the furnace man, but he couldn't come out until the electricity came back on. I remember waking up, it was dark, but I could the hall light shine beneath the door. I could hear noise, so I asked my sister, Mary what it was and she said it was Santa. I believed her and I still do. The furnace man gave up his time with his family to fix our furnace, just so we could wake up early to open presents from another Santa.

Why Christmas?

This is not my own story at all. I had a rare opportunity to go to Relief Society this past Sunday and the teacher shared this story as part of her lesson. I was so grateful that she printed hand outs of the story.
There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let others know how he felt about religious holidays, like Christmas. His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also faith in God and Jesus Christ, despite his disparaging comments.One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come, but he refused. "That's ridiculous!" So she and the children left and he stayed at home.Awhile later, the winds grew stronger,and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window; then another thump. He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese.Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed. The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn or realize what it could mean for them.The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a breadcrumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on. Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe. "Why don't they follow me?!" he exclaimed. "Can't they see this is the only place they can survive the storm?" He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human. "If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said out loud.Then he had an idea. He went into the barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn- one by one the other geese followed it to safety. He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: "if only I were a goose, then I could save them!" Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. "Why would God want to be like us? That's ridiculous!"Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese- blind, lost, perishing. God has His Son become like us so He could show us the way and save us. That was the meaning of Christmas, he realized. As the winds and the blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood what Christmas was all about, why Christ had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer: "Thank you God, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!"

Author unknown

It’s Done???

Believe it or not, my Christmas shopping is done and I did most of this week. I bought some calendars sometime this fall. One I gave away at the work Christmas party at Ruby River. My boss loves it; she has a thing for cupcakes. But despite my early start, I felt like I was a point zero until Friday when I got home and pulled out my to-do shopping list. I started the list Satruday when on a whim I picked up a few items. Tuesday the bookstore had their annual employee appreciation day. From 3pm to closing time, everything in the store was 30% off, but only to those who showed their staff ID. I came home with a few items, none which will go to family, since most are BYU fans. Earlier in the week, I had asked for Friday off. When my co-workers were reporting to work, I was buying a gift card online. Then I hopped on the bus, caught Max and headed toward Valley Fair Mall. Except I never got to the mall, I stopped in at Staples to use the restroom and before I left I bought more gift cards. Then it was to the eye doctor’s place where I picked up my glasses. That was the real reason for heading out to West Valley. I saw Deseret Book in the Valley Fair Mall and decided against it, I wanted to take the Green Line to downtown. While I was downtown I bought another gift card and an actual gift. Then I ate at JB’s where I bought some gift certificates for my Mom’s birthday, which is in January. She likes the JB’s in Burley where they treat her like a queen.
Yesterday, Jay put up the tree. It is now decorated with lights and some garland. It isn’t finished yet because none of the ornaments are on the tree. Jay usually does the tree; I haven’t had much to do with the decorating, except for providing a helping hand when needed. When I started working at the University six years ago, the loan collectors told me that I had to put up the tree since I was the newest employee. That did not set well with me and as a consequence, I became a scrooge when it comes to decorating the tree. Even in my later years, I get rebellious when I feel forced to do something. But I am still glad the tree is up and people have decorated their yards. Christmas lights make a dark December seem more joyous. Yes, the Dove Wrapper has it right when it reads “Joy is contagious.”

My New Toy

On Thanksgiving weekend I bought an iPad. Since late January or early February when Lisa, the head boss over Income Accounting made an executive decision that we could no longer check our personal email,Facebook accounts and other pleasures online, I began to seriously consider buying an iPad or laptop. Needless to say, the laptop didn’t get too much consideration. It would easier to put an iPad in my bag than a laptop.
Every once and awhile I would stop in to the bookstore on campus and ask questions. After talking to my sister, Mary, I decided that I would buy it from BestBuy, which is just a very short walk from one of the Trax stations, so that even made it more attractive. Darren and Mark, my friends who are iPad owners were helpful in the final days. Especially Darren, who answered quite a few texts and even returned a call, and I was convinced when I saw a BestBuy insert in the Thanksgiving edition of the Tribune. When I was buying it, one of the salesperson commented that iPads are never on sale. Even the computer specialist at the bookstore who sold me a carry bag for my iPad agreed. Once a year the bookstore has a sale tax free day on PC’s and such. The picture above basically says it all. It was one of the few I have taken with my iPad. The quality isn't that great, but the look explains my curiosity and confusion with my iPad.
My adventure in acquiring an iPad ended but the education adventure has just begun. The Sunday after I brought the iPad, I started a week-long journal. Here is some of which I wrote.
11/27 I need an education in learning how to use this. I feel so stupid, but in time I will learn.
11/30 I am charging this iPad for the first time. That is easy. I decided to wait until it was almost gone. Not sure if 27% is enough, but I decided to give it a shot. I told Arnold about my iPad, but I don't think I will bring it in tomorrow. It is the 1st of the month & the phone will ring like heck. Another reason I don't want to bring it is that the wind will be crazy. I grew up with crazy wind. My hair was styled by the wind. Well, I better let this bozo charge up.
12/01 YES!!!!! I downloaded my 1st app; iBooks. Don't have anything on it yet. But maybe I can check ebooks from the library. I have so much to learn about this iPad & the sky is the limit to my learning. I'm strongly leaning toward taking it into work so I can access the wifi there. I used to access the wifi on my Nook. I am happy that I downloaded my first app.
12/02 I took the iPad to work. It was a bit of a distraction. But I did get to use the wifi at work. I signed on as a guest of the university. I found 3 more free apps to download. I was not sure how well I would be able to use the wifi because the last few I tried to asses the wifi at work for my Nook, I had problems. Et vas nova. I think my Nook is dying a slow death. I may either buy a new one or get the Nook app on the iPad.
12/03 I took my iPad to the library in Holladay, which has WiFi. I thought I would have better luck than I did with my Nook, but no. I was able to access WiFi but I could not connect the Internet. Maybe I try again on another Saturday. I just ran out of time, well more like patience. I still had to go grocery shopping and eat lunch.
12/04 I took the iPad to stake conference this morning so I could take notes. About halfway thru the last speaker I realized I needed to turn the sound off because of the clicking sound the keyboard made when I was using it. I hope that the old people who we were sitting by didn't get disturbed by the noise. Hopefully they had bad hearing & could not hear my keyboard. I want to get the scriptures on here and then just take this to church instead of the quad. The pages are falling away from the binding.

My Gratitude Lists

The first part of this blog is from my Facebook notes of a year ago. The second part is what I wrote a week ago (but have edited during the week.)

My Gratitude List
by Susan Jackson on Thursday, November 25, 2010 at 10:50am
Here are some of the things I am grateful for. These are the ones I thought of, so I am sure there's more.
1. I am grateful for the peace of mind that I feel in my life. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it, but its there.
2. I am grateful for faith and hope. There have been so many times in my life that I have had to rely on faith and hope.
3. I am glad that prayers are answered. Sometimes they aren't answered in the way I thought it would be, but my prayers were answered in the way I needed them to be.
4. I am thankful for those who placed in my life for a reason or a season and I am grateful for being placed in other's life for the same.
5. I am thankful for the simple pleasures in life, especially when I seize the moment to enjoy it.
6. I am glad for home to live in, transportation to get around, a job that helps me meet ends and my health.
7. I am grateful for my family. They are wonderful support system.

Taking a Minute to be Grateful.
November 17, 2011
Thanksgiving is next week and I realize I do have a lot to be grateful for. Probably the first to come to mind is the kindness of others. I don’t have a car and yet, people are willing to give me a ride. Sometimes the kindness is just listening to me vent or sharing chocolate. Probably, the second thing I think of is my job. I haven’t had a raise in over 3 years, but yet I am still gainfully employed. I will take no raise over no job any day. Cabin fever gets old fast. And since it has been cold the third thing that comes to mind is the ability to get warm. Sweatshirts, socks, shoes, blankets, the furnace, a warm building, hot chocolate and other things. And who can forget family, the fourth thing that I can think of. My family isn’t perfect, but they are there for me. My brother takes me to the dentist and my sister calls when I post a concern on Facebook. And Facebook bring the fifth on my list. I have hooked up with quite a few friends from high school, old roommates, former co-workers and extended family too. And with, the sixth thing comes to mind, friends, especially close friends who are like family. The Pughs have blessed my life greatly. And there are friends at work who care about me. Even the bus drivers take the time to care. And I am grateful for my beliefs, which brings the list to No. 7. My beliefs give me an anchor in my life; somehow it makes sense and my beliefs give the ability to exercise faith. As end with the eighth item, I think of a younger Jared. When I asked him years ago what he was grateful, he said his life. I was surprised by his answer, but he was right. Being grateful for your life says a lot. My life probably hasn’t turned out exactly the way I wished it had, but it has good nevertheless. I have been blessed through out my life and for that I am grateful.

GRADITUDE LIST FROM 2007-10

A few years, okay four years after teaching some Sunbeams (3-4 years olds at church), I decided to keep a running list of graditude and not wait until Thanksgiving to do it. As you tell by the list, I kept up with the list quite well, but as time went on - well, I got distracted by life. But since it is November and Thanksgiving is this week, I thought I would share the list that I have forgotten. (Its been over a year since I last updated the list.)

June 3, 2007
I am thankful for my ears. I can hear the car when it has problems with the battery. My ears also hold up my glasses so I can see.
I am thankful for my nose. I can smell things when something is wrong.
I am thankful for my eyes. I can see to read, drive and enjoy the beauty around me.
I am grateful for vans. They provide shade for my car on a hot day.
I am glad there are bus stops by my home; I can still get to work.
I am thankful for my feet, I can go places when I can’t or don’t want to use the car.
I am grateful for my free bus pass from the University. It saves me money, plus wear and tear on my car.
I am grateful for small pleasures. Chocolate cookies and other small pleasures help me seize the moment.

June 17, 2007
I am glad that my Dad still loves and cares for me. I sense his presence when I need him the most.
I am grateful for shelter, especially when it is extreme weather. Protection from the hot in the summer and protection from the cold in the winter.
I am thankful for my family. They are the best support system a person could ask for.
I am thankful for my friends, the Pughs. They are also the best support system a person could ask for.
I am glad that prayers get answered, even when it isn’t what I expected.

June 18, 2007
I am glad for service projects. It gives me that warm fuzzy feeling and it is helping someone out who needs it.

June 30, 2007
I am grateful for those who listen to the spirit. Tracina listened and she and the baby are alive.

July 8, 2007
I am grateful for my pioneer ancestors who never gave up, especially those in the Willie and Martin Handcart companies. Who would I be today?

October 26, 2007
I am glad for weekends. It is nice to have breaks from the mundane work week and the rat race. I am glad for five o’clock. It signals a change of scenery during the week.

November 11, 2007
I am grateful for water. It quenches my thirst, it is cleans me, it helps conquer drought conditions, it soothes me, it helps me cook, it puts out fires, it comforts me when sick, it refreshes me after a rainstorm, it washes my car.
I am glad for newspaper. They keep me informed and enlightened.
I am grateful for books. I can visit the world without leaving my home. I can learn to cope through other people struggles.
I am glad for photos that my family sends to me. I can keep up on the changes that happen to family members.
I am thankful for the friendships I enjoy; those at church, work, school, the neighborhood, the bus, family, relatives, where I do business and chance meetings.
I am grateful for examples. Those who set examples guide me in the right direction and are a good support system.

November 18, 2007
I am grateful for the University of Utah. Not only has it provided me an education, but thru the services available, I have found housing and jobs. I met people who have touched my life. It also provides me with opportunities to serve. There are payroll deducts to Road Home and there’s the Holy War.

September 30, 2008
I am glad that I was let go from Blue Cross when I was. If I was leaving with the rest of my department in December, I would be facing a worse economy. I have a job at the University of Utah and while it doesn’t pay what Blue Cross, I am working.

November 23, 2008
I am thankful for my family and friends. They are my support group. They love me regardless.
I am glad I have a job. The economy has gone south and I get quite a few calls from borrowers who need an unemployment deferment on their Perkins loans.
I am grateful for text messaging, Facebook and instant messaging. They are about the only ways to keep in contact with a teenager or young adult.

November 27, 2008
I am grateful for the things I have. I have what I need.
I am grateful for the simple pleasure of life. Smiles, a piece of dark chocolate, a text message are just a few of the simple pleasures I enjoy.
I am grateful for the kindness of others. A free computer, a roof over my head, etc.
I am glad that Crystal cheers for BYU. It has made the rivalry fun for me again.

July 25, 2009
I am glad for TV. I got to watch the parade on TV instead of getting sunburn watching it.
I am glad for UTA, it gets me around.
I am grateful for reusable grocery bags. They are so kinder to the fingers than plastic bags.

Aug 8, 2009
I am so glad for family. I enjoy their visits.

November 29, 2009
I am grateful for kindness.
I am grateful for my sight and for being able to see sunlight with impaired vision.

December 23, 2009
I am glad for friends who invite us into their homes and for former sunbeams who remember me.

February 8, 2010
I am grateful for those who have passed thru my life.

March 14, 2010
I am glad that the world is small. It is nice to go somewhere and someone you know, knows the same person.
I am grateful for friends and family.

August 15, 2010
I am grateful for those who give me a lift when I need to go somewhere.
I am glad I had the opportunity to drive last week.

Rake & Bag – Another Day of Service

Our ward finally did their day of service as President Erying of the First Presidency asked us to do in April 2011 General Conference. Brother Hamilton, a counselor in the bishopric said, “We were waiting for the leaves to fall.” Our ward leadership decided that the senior citizens of the ward would be served. After many years of serving; it was payback time. There were 2 two hour shifts that ward members could sign up for. Jay signed up for the 10am session and I tagged along. We walked to the house we were assigned. Jay, another man and I helped put Sister Neilson’s lights up. When the people who raking & bagging leaves at a previous house came, we started raking and bagging leaves on her lawn and the house east of hers. When we finished there, our group did her neighbors to the west. Their names weren’t on the list, but they were most grateful to us. They have bad backs and were not able to rake the leaves. Before we were done raking and bagging leaves, Sister Neilson made breadsticks for those who helped. They were The Bomb. Even the youngest boy there ate an armful. I guess his eyes were bigger than his stomach. He reminded me of a much younger Jay, who would always dish up more food than he could eat. I was glad that some parents brought their sons with them. They got teach the value of service thru example. Even though the little boy played in the leaves, he also helped out and experienced an act of kindness and learned the value of work. There is always a reward, even if it isn’t Holladay’s best breadsticks.

Halloween Memories

Part I
Trick or Treat. But I probably said something like “Trickrtreat” and my brother, Steven and I may added “smell my feet; give me something nice to eat.” I am not sure our older brother, John dared us or if he bragged that was what he was going to say. If anyone of us did, I would not be surprised if the neighbor who answered the door rolled their eyes. I don’t remember going to many houses, so I usually came home with small loot. Living out in the country, we drove to the other farmers’ houses for our trick or treating. I never remember going into Paul or even Rupert or the big city of Burley, Idaho.
And I don’t remember my mom buying us store bought costumes, (hey, farming is risky business) so I had to use my imagination or my mom’s. I am sure she came with my first few costumes, but later I had to come up with my own. I may have dressed up as a hippie once since it was the sixties when I did most of trick or treating. Once, probably 4th or 5th grade, I dressed up as a bride. I don’t remember if I wore a white dress or not, but I used a fancy lacy double layered white half-slip as the veil. (Now, my niece, Tracina, knows why her toddler wore undies on her head once. Bella got the idea from me.). I vaguely remember some smart aleck male classmate making a comment about wearing a slip on your head. At the time I was mortified by the comment, but now I have to laugh. Hopefully, my young nieces have more class than I did. But at least I was creative and thought outside the box. Do I regret not ever having a store bought costume? No. I doubt I would have much, if any memories of my childhood Halloween adventures.

Part II
It wasn’t until after attending Ricks College and moving back to Salt Lake that I started to get in the spirit of Halloween again. I probably walked down to 4th South and 9th East to Safeway’s and bought a bag of candy. I probably had to buy a second bag because I ate the first bag before Halloween night. There were a few knocks on the door, which was a surprise because I lived in a 20 plus unit apartment building and went to a singles student ward at the Institute of Religion. The neighbors along 6th South did not know me. Even when I moved to the Avenues, I would get one or two groups of trick or treaters. After I finished at Utah, I moved south and lived at the Cherry Hill Apartments, a four building complex. Since I would take my adopted nephews trick or treating, I would leave a small or medium sized basket outside my door. When I came back, the empty basket would be waiting for me. I don’t how many trick or treaters came to my door or if it was just the neighbor children at the end of my building. When my brothers and I lived at Woodside, some neighbor children would always managed to knock on the door. One year Jay left the porch light off and no one came. I gave him grief. Since moving to our condo, no one, not even ward members with children, knock on the door. Most people now Trunk or Treat in the ward parking lot or take their little ones to neighbors who live in single unit housing. Apartments and condo complexes have the reputation of being occupied with strangers. I quit buying multiple bags of candy (except for maybe the office). Last year, Jay walked to FreshMarket and bought a bag of Tootsie Pops and Rolls. No one came, but we enjoyed the leftovers.

Part III
In my last semester at Utah, I began the tradition of taking my adopted nephews, the Pugh Brothers, trick or treating in their neighborhood. My first time included Steven, Kevin and two year old Darren. Steven took me on a whirlwind tour of the neighborhood. I swear he took us down one street twice, those neighbors looked mighty familiar. In fact one of them said something about seeing us before. Needless to say, I was worn out when we got back to the house. I was convinced Steven tried to break a world record. Kevin was able to keep with Steven, but I was challenged. I was carrying Darren, a heavy toddler. While Darren was silent most of the night, Kevin knew to say “Trick or Treat” when a neighbor presented a bowl of candy. But Darren wasn’t clueless when he got home. He had a look of pure delight while enjoying the fruits (candy) of his first loot. Steven probably stashed his loot in his room after enjoying a good share of his loot. Kevin probably did the same. I can’t remember if this was the only year that Steven went trick or treating with me. Mark joined Kevin and Darren after a year or two. And Jared and Crystal were probably 15 months old when they went Trick or Treating their first times. Not sure if either made it to the Jensen’s or not. I think Val was disappointed that she did not get to see Baby Batboy or the small scarecrow girl. Both only lasted 2 or 3 houses before they wanted their mom. Val would always give me a treat when I brought the Pugh children around. After awhile it was just Crystal and her best friend forever, Whitney that would go with me. When I moved to the condo, Crystal was providing her own Halloween entertainment. She like her brothers outgrew me. (When Johnny Jensen, the Pugh neighbor saw Whitney and Crystal in the above costumes, he kept telling them that he was going to eat them. By the end of the the everning I was calling them Chicken Soup and Rabbit Stew.) But I still have fond memories of trick or treating with the Pugh children. One year, Darren was sick, so I took a plastic sack and got him some treats. When we got home, David came home with another bag of candy for Darren. Between the two of us, Darren hit the mother lode. One year, Mark and Jared, (and maybe Darren) went to Fashion Place Mall after we went thru the neighborhood. I wasn’t too impressed with the penny candy we got and the long lines, so that tradition ended. We may have tried a different mall next year or tried it at an earlier time. As the years went by, there was less children trick or treating in the Pugh’s and my neighborhoods. Most likely, the neighborhoods were growing up and maybe it’s the annual Trunk and Treat that gets more popular as times goes by.