I was talking with Ethan the other day when he started figuring out how old he’ll be for the next few presidential elections. It occurred to me that presidential elections correspond with several life milestones for him. He was born just a couple of weeks before Bill Clinton got a second term. If things continue as expected, election 2008 will see him ordained a deacon, in 2012 he’ll be getting his driver’s license, and then he’ll be around “hump-day” on his mission in 2016. That seems forever away, but oh how time flies. This election it was time to get baptized.
Conspicuous Anonymity
I got an email at work Friday from the receptionist saying I’d gotten a package from Verizon Wireless. Since I have no relationship with Verizon, I figured she had made a mistake, and it was probably for a VP who is also named Eric. People sometimes accidentally send me email meant for him. When the receptionist got tired of the box cluttering her desk, she brought it to me, and sure enough, it said “Eric Smith” right on it. Then I wondered mildly if it might be a bomb.
A 10 1010 Year Anniversary
As Shannon and I anticipated our approaching anniversary (last Friday), we felt growing pressure: Would we actually do something, or would we just sit around the house because we didn’t want to bother finding a baby-sitter? So in a bold move of activity planning, I booked us a room at the Homestead, where we had gone on our wedding night ten years ago. And for a little extra adventure, we decided to travel by motorcycle.
Humpty Dumpty’s Spring Break
I hope you all had a good Easter. It’s Friday and we’re still eating colored eggs. We ate boiled for breakfast, deviled for dinner and egg salad for lunch. I’m pretty sick of eggs.
No Actual Unclothed Women
A couple of years ago at Christmas, Shannon gave me a music CD with the following note attached: “I don’t really like their name, but some of their songs are really good.” That started our family listening to the Barenaked Ladies, and led to Shannon and I going to their concert this past Saturday.
A Shiny New Job
Continuing my tradition for aggressive career moves, I recently acquired a shiny new job. While it can be hard to start working with a bunch of people you don’t know on unfamiliar projects and with foreign processes, at least my new desk was only on the other side of the building.
Dinosaur National Monument
When Shannon’s parents come to visit, we frequently head out on short trips with them. In the past, we’ve gone to Moab and Yellowstone. This October we went to Dinosaur National Monument, which has a somewhat misleading name.
Biker Boy
Maybe it’s the life insurance. As regular readers may recall, I took a beginning motorcycle class last summer after Shannon signed me up as an anniversary present. This year for Fathers Day, Shannon bought me a very nice Joe Rocket riding jacket. So I have to wonder why, when I’m surrounded by men saying, “Yeah, I’d love to have a motorcycle, but my wife won’t let me,” my own wife is largely responsible for me becoming a motorcycle owner.
Memphis Road Trip
When I tell people that my family and I drove from Utah to Tennessee, the typical reactions are shock, sympathy and sanity questions. I have to admit that before leaving, I was worried about going crazy myself. If the distance wasn’t enough, the car we were taking had only a radio — no cassette or CD player. But if you apply the moniker “road trip” to the experience, it takes on a new light. We’re not just driving, we’re having an adventure.
Genetic Obsessions
I was somewhat fond of Star Wars when I was a kid. I collected cards and action figures. I thought if I could just save up enough money, I could buy the Millennium Falcon. Unfortunately, as mentioned elsewhere, I was spending every cent I could scrape up seeing the movie over and over. So it’s a bit strange to find Ethan, and to a lesser degree Gerrit, obsessed with Star Wars without ever having seen the movie at all.