Medicine

I wanted to post earlier this week, but I didn't have a chance, and now I can't remember what it was I wanted to post about. However, I do have something on my mind at the moment, other than the fact that the "Save Now" button on my screen has been expanding with each letter I've typed - how does that happen (it did stop, so I guess the button isn't going to take over the screen)? Anyways, have you ever had a friend who is like you in ways that make you realize how insensitive you are or things like that?

I have this friend who is great - I really like him. He and I have lots of chats - you know, the silly kind that seem to occur frequently between single people. 'Who do you like?' 'Who are you interested in?' 'Why do girls . . . ?' 'Why do guys . . . ?' I love these chats with this particular friend, though, because he's one of the most amusing friends I've ever had. I can sit and listen to him tell stories forever.

Well, as you all know, I too can talk anyone's ear off. So, one of the fun things about this friend is that he's like me and sometimes forgets to politely return questions to me because he's so caught up with what is or isn't going on in his life. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not angry at him about it. I'm more amused, which is what I already said about him. It's just that he helps me to remeber that I need to let the other person talk, too. Maybe they have something they're excited about and would like to share if I would listen.

So, if you have something to say, just remind me to shut my mouth occasionally. Thanks!

Jamie, Your Life Just Flashed Before My Eyes!

That's what my roommate said to me Wednesday night, which I found kind of amusing. She was serious, though. A car came about a foot from my life. We were going to the Institute - she for the Doctrine & Covenants class, and I for the Old People Class, as many of us like to call it (it means 25 and up single people). We had just arrived and were making our way from the parking lot to the building. The parking lot is a horseshoe shape. We were in the left side of the horseshoe. A car was driving on the middle part of the shoe, approaching our section. I assumed they would turn down our section, so I walked towards the left, so as to be out of the middle of the shoe. The car kept going straight, though, so I decided it was going to parallel park right on the connecting part of the shoe. Therefore, I altered my course and headed into the middle of the road so that I wouldn't have to wait for the car. The car, by the way, was going incredibly fast for being in a parking lot, and although I'm dragging the story out, it all happened pretty fast. Well, at the last second, the car swung directly into our part of the shoe, slamming to a stop after it already would have hit me had it been about a foot farther north. The girl in the car looked quite scared (she hadn't seen me or any of the other people in the parking lot, I think). A guy in the parking lot kind of stared at me, wide-eyed, and said, "Whoa! . . . That was close." And, as already mentioned, my roommate said, "Jamie, your life just flashed before my eyes!" Fortunately for me, I felt very calm for some reason. It reminded me that God really does watch over us. Now, if it had hit me, I'm not sure that I would have died. I am pretty sure, however, that both of my legs would have been broken, and that would not have been fun. As it is, I am still walking. I just need to ask my roommate what she saw when my life passed by.

Obligatory Post

I don't really have anything to blog about - I thought of something good earlier today (I even think it was kind of witty), but I forget what it was. Therefore, all I will say is good night. Sweet dreams! I hope you have a great week.

Welcome Hermanita!

Tonight's blog is another tribute - this one is to one of my dearest friends in the world, who you see to the left. She was my roommate for a couple of years while I attended BYU-Idaho, and she just returned home from serving in the Manchester, New Hampshire mission. WELCOME HOME!!

She is one of the coolest people I know. She is very positive and makes you feel good about yourself. I didn't do a very good job of writing her while she was away, but whenver I did write, she always got back to me promptly, and each letter was full of support and encouragement.

Have you ever met someone and gotten the wrong first impression of them? That's how it was for me. When I first met her, she seemed like the preppy, popular sort of person. I was afraid she wouldn't like me and nervous about how well we'd get along (I always worry about that kind of thing too much). Anyway, she turned out to be popular with the people who knew her, but not preppy and fake. Rather, she is a very genuine person, honest and caring.

I desperately want her to move down and live with me because I love her and have missed her so much, but only time will tell, and we each have to find out God's will for us, right? I look forward to seeing her, hopefully in the near future, and just wanted to let her know that I am so grateful for her friendship. It has meant a lot to me. I love you and hope you know how much everyone who knows you love you - you're great!!

Pres. Hinckley

Tonight I received some sad news - well, sad and not sad at the same time. Pres. Hinckley, the prophet for the past 12 years, died this evening around 7:00 p.m. I chose this picture of him because he was usually as cheerful as he looks in the photo. I hope it was legal for me to put it on here. I think it was. If not, someone can tell me and I'll change it.

One of my friends called and told me the news. He wanted me to get onto the Internet to see if I could verify it. It took me awhile to get into a Utah news station's web-site. I think Latter-Day Saints everywhere were trying to do the same thing.

When I said something about how sad it was, one of my roommates said, "No, it's not sad." That's because we know where he is. Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley was a prophet of God, and he has returned to Him who he served. Not only that, but Pres. Hinckley's wife died a few years ago, and now he doesn't have to be separated from her.

Tonight, I just want to post how I feel about Pres. Hinckley. For years, my testimony, or conviction of who he was, was stronger than my feelings about most other things religious in nature. The Holy Ghost has witnessed to me more times than I can count, that this man was truly a prophet of the Lord. Pres. Hinckley has been the prophet since I was fifteen years old. Each General Conference, when I would get the opportunity to watch him speak, the Spirit would whisper to me that he really was the prophet. My heart would burn, and I often felt a little emotional. My conviction of who he was has helped me when I have had doubts about other parts of my testimony. I can recall one specific time when I questioned my testimony. As I questioned some things, I thought to myself, "Pres. Hinckley is a prophet of God. I know that, and because I know that, that means that the church is true. And because of that . . ." and so on. I will forever be grateful for this inspired man who revealed to me what the Lord wanted me to know for the last several years.

Happily, I know that just because Pres. Hinckley has moved on to the next stage of his progression, I am not left alone in the world. A new prophet will be called of God, and he will reveal God's word to me. I am so grateful for my testimony. It brings me such comfort and steadiness in the midst of this world and all that comes with it.

Happy Birthday Friend!

Today is a great day for a few different reasons:

1) It's my friend's birthday today. And he's not just any friend - he's one of the best friends I have, and I love him. We had quite a long chat on the phone today, which I really enjoyed. It's nice to have a good long talk from time to time. He is kind of an unexpected friend. Have you ever had one of those? When I met him I thought that he was cute and cool, but the first couple of times that I tried to get to know him he kind of blew me off. I figured he didn't like me and decided to leave him alone, but, strangely enough, he approached me one day. After that we gradually became friends, though it wasn't until I moved away that things started to get better (what does that say about me, I wonder? :o) )

Anyways, he's been there for me when I have needed him most over the past several years, for which I will forever be grateful for him; I will also forever be in his debt for those things. I have recently learned that he will be moving to a neighboring city soon, which means I can see him - yea!

2) THERE IS FINALLY A COMMENT ON MY BLOG!! Thanks Lizzie! You don't know how good that makes me feel. It's proof that someone has actually read your blog. Now, don't worry everyone. I'm not saying that you need to feel obligated to comment - you don't have to. It was just exciting for me today.

On a completely unrelated note I will soon be posting about the interesting e-cards my dad likes to send me. I just have to think of a witty way to talk about them first. So stay tuned.

And, once again, Happy Birthday Friend!

All She Wants to do is Bailar, Bailar, Bailar

One of my friends just finished her Master's Degree and is moving to D.C. She and her roommates are really cool girls. They all seem very nice, sophisticated, and like they're going places. I call them the Activist Girls because they're all involved in various changing-the-world activities. Besides the above mentioned qualities, these girls also love to dance. They go Salsa dancing at a local club from time to time. I have only been with them once, but I love dancing (especially Latin dancing), and have been wanting to go again. Therefore, when I heard the Activist Girls were going one last time before the one moves to D.C., I had to go.

One thing that should be understood is that although I LOVE to dance, I usually end up quite depressed by the end of the night because I don't get asked to dance. In fact, my roommates are familiar with my Oreo-in-milk-dipping that usually concludes my evening - I drown my sadness in milk and Oreo's at the end of the night before going to bed. Well, I had a great time with the girls when I went before, but I didn't get asked to dance that night, like always. This being said, I did not expect to dance tonight, either, but (just like my first date) I think the Lord blesses me with a wonderful, tailored-to-me experience every once in a while that just makes my day smile.

The night started like all the others: I was excited to dance but felt a little awkward. I danced a little, here and there, while watching some of the girls dance with the guys they had talked into coming with them, as well as with the Latin men who asked them to dance. After awhile, though, while I was kind of leaning on this pillar, I suddenly felt a hand on my back and realized that one of the guys from our little group was leading me out to the floor - yeah! We probably didn't look all that great out there, but I was just happy that he'd asked me. Then (as I always think when a guy finally asks me to dance), I thought to myself, 'Well, I guess the night is complete. I don't need to be depressed now. Yeah!'

A little later I wandered off to sit with some of the group. Then, a couple of minutes into that, this white guy came walking by and he stopped to talk.

"Didn't you come to dance?"

"Yes."

"Then why aren't you out there?"

"Because."

"How do you expect to get asked to dance if you're sitting here, far away from the floor?"

Then, kindly, he asked me to dance. Whoa - asked to dance by a complete stranger - amazing!

Adding to the coolness, he actually knows how to dance - he's taken classes and knows how to keep time, how to lead, etc., etc. Unfortunately for him, his partner is not good at keeping track of the count, is even worse at following, probably had bad breath, and is not equal to him in attractiveness. But, he was totally nice and patient and tried to teach me. He put up with me for several songs, so I had the time of my life. I wanted to get his number and ask him to come and teach me some more sometime, but I didn't. Instead we left it at, "Maybe I'll see you around sometime." He was probably thinking, 'Why did I ask that girl? She totally did not know what she was doing.' However, I'm glad that he put up with me for as long as he did. So, what started as an evening of awkwardness with me trying to prep myself for the inevitable depression that would follow, ended with a cute guy teaching me some steps and making my night. I guess it just goes to show that you never can tell. One thing's for certain, though, and that is that I had better get back there again sometime!