9 days until school is out. That used to be so exciting but at least 2 kids get to enjoy it. I am at least happy that the heat wave has subsided a bit.
I wanted to report a bit about my last air trip. The Commemorative event was supposed to last 4 days during the last weekend of April. Even though Thursday was supposed to be the Temple day, our late arrival meant that we pushed it back to Friday. After a visit to Burritos Brothers for breakfast.
Diane and I arrived about 10a. There was a wedding party outside which brought back reminisces of when I photographed her in a similar event. We found that the visitor's center had been gutted as part of a major renovation.
After that we ate at Tommy's - which had also changed, now sporting bigger/newer bathrooms, fountain drinks and french fries.
But the fare was great as usual.
By then, the girls were too tired to attend the ball (which was a bit formal for 3 spouseless folks anyway) so we adjourned to Compos' with the Ken Dorffs. I wasn't hungry due to plenty before so I settled for some leech scraps and a virgin strawberry daiquiri.
The major wrinkle to this trip was that even though Aunt Velma had died in February, they decided to have her memorial service on this same Saturday so I opted to take 1 of 4 days for a quick diversion. I missed a lot of folks who only showed up for Saturday at the park. But Ohio was fine and I did get to see Tom & Bruce as well as other Tuckites. I am still waiting for pictures from the 2 professional photographer kin, but the historical shot follows.
I arrived back in Whittier at the very tail of the cleanup/preparation activities. I spoke with a few and then camped out in the memorabilia room of John Collins. I was surprised to read in his memoir about his apprehensions regarding becoming patriarch.
I found it interesting that, he was extended that call by Arch Haskins who had had similar feelings when Arch was called to be Bishop of the new 7th ward by then Pres Collins
[1]. Several curiosities were of note: The initial dedication program and 16mm movie (which had been ended up with one of the Krutzer boys) and a round shaped one from the all-church basketball event.
I might have stayed later, but I thot Carrie was waiting dinner and I assumed there would be time on Sunday to peruse the other 6 rooms. The next day Carrie left early to secure us good seats. Diane & I left a little later with my hopes to look at momentos. We arrived
to find the building locked and Carrie waiting in her truck. When they allowed some aaronic priesthood and choir folks in, she entered and then accessed the rear door for us. Alas the memory rooms were still locked. When I asked president Jackman to open them he declined as he was chasing renegate entrants and when I threatened to go find pres marcos, he said I hope you don't do that. So I sat on the couch and watched others look for a way in as well.
The mtg was awesome but the packed house still facilitated sacrament delivery with added tables and personnel in the cultural hall.
Grant anderson spoke representing his grandfather - characterizing the place as holy ground due to the many lives affected for the better there through the sacrifice of others and service continuing all over the world by the alumni.
[2]Unfortunately as the mtg concluded the counselor directed the removal of memorabilia stuff. With croissant in hand, I tried to glimpse more but too much to do in too little time. There was a new painting of the building by Royce Nielsen and a crystal etching by Jerry Anderson on display.
We adjourned to Ken's for lunch and finally returned to the concluding event where Grant spoke once again.
As far as the Tuck event, the destination was the large Luthran Church
in New Washington @ 2p. Since I arrived about 10 I had several hours to visit with folks who had congrigated at M Tucks for breakfast etc of which I had to eat. I also ate some of the famout Tuck potato chips (B
There was mingling at the church starting at 1p so some occurred there before the service started with the pastor speechfying. Even though he gave a bit of a eulogy, I wasn't clear if he had any personal relationship with her or her sister (bernice) who was there. The post activites were to be at another church miles away so I not only missed them, but also the rest of the story.
In Arizona Diane & Ken treated me to wonderful guacamole smothered taquitos on 2 occasions (reminiscent of a previous visit).
[1]Johns journal not copied. This snipet from the 30th annual:
“ John Collings, who was the stake president at the time, called me and my wife over to his home and presented this news to us: we had been selected to form a new ward from parts of what were the the Third and Fifth Wards.
I tried to decline, but president Collings just smiled and asked, "Do you accept the call, Brother Haskins?" With the training I had received in the Priesthood, my mission, the temple, and other experiences, I knew what my asnwer was. I felt unable to assume this important position and gave President Collings the reasons, but they fell on deaf ears.
And so on January 27, 1963, the Whittier Seventh Ward was organized…”
[2] Each president talked for a few minutes. We had good soft seats thanks to Carrie's resourcefullness. Talk notes:
Archie talked of his conversion - largely through basketball and his association with Ron Salo who refused to share his grapes.
A short follow up with Pres Walburger revealed that he had a similar youth conversion resulting in 4 of the 6 Presidents being converts.
As far as the Tuck event, the destination was the large Luthran church in New Washington @ 2p. Since I arrived about 10 I had several hours to visit with folks who had congrigated at M Tucks for breakfast etc of which I had to eat. I also ate some of the famout Tuck potato chips (Ballreich's).
There was mingling at the church starting at 1p so some occurred there before the service started with the pastor speechfying. Even though he gave a bit of a Eulogy, I wasn't clear if he had any personal relationship with her or her sister (bernice) who was there. The post activites were to be at another church miles away so I not only missed them, but also the rest of the story.
I. Mt. Fuji is the highest point in Japan. There are a few months in the summer when it is not snow capped - hence the opportunity to climb it. The peak is at 3776m. I can't recall when or why I latched onto this dream, but this seemed like the year - so off we went. And since the life insurance folks were slow in process - I had to survive in order to keep working on that hurdle.
Even though it was partly cloudy/sunny throughout the day - it had been dry. 
So we bedded down, but prior to the 2am departure 
from the Fuji-san hotel for the final leg to the summit, it moisured up to a full storm. 
We were supposed to arrive by the 4:40a Sunrise. There wasn't likely to be any visability so we slept some more. Some of us were exhausted, and too broke to buy some needed supplies anyway. But it was a nice adventure and especially nice to see so many committed folks going up even as we sloshed in our shoes going down. 
Too soon my legs were so rubbery, Kichan even slung me over his shoulder and carried me for awhile until he tired. Then a good samaritan gave me a walking stick (pole) that really was my salvation the rest of the way. Near the end of the decent, my final slip on wet cobelstones left me with a few bruises and pain in the rear. A return to the Tokyo humidity was preceded by a visit to a bath-house that overlooked the lake.
II. Since Monday was a holiday [Marine Day] there was an opportunity to go out to John's farm and work a bit. My attire was 
weak but I was soon educated. I didn't work much but saw others dressing and harvesting tomatoes, eggplant, corn and many other fruits and veggies still percollating;
Lots of thanks for the hospitality and especially to Hiroko who worked hard to put up with Dorff communication skills and needs and constant schedule resets.
