Marriage Announcement and Open House Invitation

Saturday, April 16th, I married Nancy Toth, who I would like to introduce to my family and friends. We are holding an open house from 6 – 9 p.m. on Tuesday evening May 24th at 369 N 700 E in Orem, UT and hope that family and friends in the area can attend. We are downsizing and request that the only presents you bring are your own personal presence. We hope you can attend.

She Is Out of This World

I think we can all agree that good memories are better than bad ones, and life is more interesting when you have someone with whom you can create, celebrate, and reminisce with about cherished experiences.  It has been a long time since I have had a partner to mutually plan and pursue dreams. 

Last fall, I joined an online dating site for those affiliated with my religious faith - which is a bit intimidating and brings back some of the anxiety related to being a young single adult.  It is a very different experience, however, when you are a senior citizen getting acquainted remotely over the Internet.  Rather than being a competition where you are trying to impress someone, the focus is more about common beliefs, interests, goals, and maximizing happiness.

I feel very fortunate to have found someone through this cyber experience who shares so many of my values and ambitions.  Let me introduce Nancy Toth, who I would describe as “being out of this world”.  Considering Nancy is from Roswell, New Mexico, this is not such an “alien” idea.

I will admit that part of my motivation regarding courtship is the desire to serve a church mission.  It turns out that in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for someone like me to go on a mission and be engaged in the Lord's work, they must first be engaged.  So, I proposed and Nancy has accepted.  Stay tuned if you want more information regarding this engaging adventure.

Good Time

Kristie and I had so many positive and enjoyable memories during the 5-years while getting and following her diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's that I refer to this period as "Good Time".  There was no question that Kristie's confidence and memory were failing, but she was still able to:

• Enjoy daytrips and visiting with friends.
• Help on projects as we worked to maintain and restore our historic home.
• Travel with family members to experience the world.

I think we can all agree that good memories are better than bad ones.  Hopefully, the pictures below help capture and convey how this was a positive time, filled with many wonderful and satisfying memories.

 

Edgemont 4th Ward Introduction

 

Link to a Bridge Magazine article about Alzheimer's in Michigan which begins and ends with the story of Kristie and me, including photos of us.

Reflections on Michigan While Moving to Utah

For the past nine years Michigan has been my home, and while this time has been marked by the devastating decline and death of my wife, yet I look back on my sojourn in Grand Rapids with more good memories than bad because of the remarkable people with who I have the privilege to become acquainted.  I respect and love dearly my friends in Grand Rapids who have blessed my life by their kindness, company, and good examples.

I am especially indebted & grateful to:

• My Younger-onset Alzheimer's Support Group members who understood and helped me deal with all the stress and concerns a caregiver has for a spouse with dementia.
• The wonderful staff at Azpira Place of Breton who looked after Kristie and helped relieve me of the stress of her ongoing 24-hour care.
• So many wonderful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with whom I had the opportunity to serve, and in return be served.  Their fellowship, examples, and charity provided me with a sense of belonging and purpose when I had no other family close by.

During 7-decades of mortality, I have been influenced and blessed by many remarkable individuals, and this is certainly the case while I have been Grand Rapids, Michigan. I appreciate their friendship and support even more because of my nightmare and loss due to Alzheimer's.

A Clear Perspective in Utah, and What Michigan has that Utah Doesn't

Michigan is beautiful, especially when the leaves change color in the fall as these photos demonstrate.  

And Michigan has something that Utah doesn't - at least I haven't seen it during the week that I have been here.  What is missing in Utah are these white, fluffy things that appear in the sky.  They are called clouds.  Utahans  claim they have clouds, but I have only seen sunny blue sky (as the photos clearly show below) and I will believe it when I actually see some clouds here.

  

But as you can also clearly see below, Utah has something that Michigan doesn't.  They are these huge, massive geological formations of rock that rise up out of the ground to tower over the valleys below.  In Utah they are called mountains.  

So I live on Timpview Drive, which is an abbreviation for Mt. Timpanogos view drive.  But it isn't like the road I live on is the only place to view this gigantic, magnificent peak which rises up 11,752 feet in elevation.  I think they should call the entire county and surrounding area for 50 miles Timpview.

So Why Move to Utah?

I love my friends and have many wonderful memories in Michigan.  So what prompted, or drew me to Utah?  It was because in this time of a pandemic, and heightened social and political unrest with all the isolation, stress, and turmoil - it appears that there are still some pockets of  joy, tranquility, and love to be found within the shadows of Mt. Timpanogos - as this photo of my daughter and three grandsons clearly shows.

  

2020 in the Upper Peninsula

I'm not certain which I enjoyed more - the incredible scenery or the company of 3 remarkable friends during a 3-day trip to the Upper Peninsula this fall.

We found out when we tried to board the Pictured Rock Boat Tour that the boat was full and I had mistakenly purchased tickets for the next day.  My mistake meant we missed the overcast and rough 5' waves that day, and got the sun and gentle 2' waves on Tuesday.  

We were really lucky we didn't take the boat tour on Wednesday when there were  terrible 7' waves predicted.  The Pictured Rock Boat Tour is definitely something to look forward to - when there is sunshine and gentile waves!  The incredible cliffs, colorful rock formations, and unique erosion from the constant waves is stunning.

And then there are numerous waterfalls in the Munising area:

 

And of course always magnificent Tahquamenon Falls:

 I'm not certain you can see the ear plugs my companions were all wearing by our third day.  The fact that I hadn't been around anybody during the six months of the pandemic and was constantly talking may have had something to do with their purchasing and putting in ear plugs.  

Thanks Graham, Bob, and Brent, for another wonderful trip to the Upper Peninsula.  You can take your ear plugs out now.

Me in 30 Seconds - How to introduce yourself and get others to help you find a job.

 

I created and posted the above presentation while facilitating a "How to Get a Better Job" Self-Reliance class to help those looking for a better job to put forth their best foot forward in promoting themselves.