Halloween Tricking

The only time I really remember Halloween tricking was my Junior High Years in Hyrum.  We would go out together Halloweening, a group of four or five boy, with no parental supervision.  (One year my cousin tammy went with ur.)  Sometimes the group was larger, and sometimes smaller.  The evening would begin with an inventory of our resources.  What did you score?  Some would have a used piece of soap with which they could mark windows.  Then there was invariably a few rolls of toilet paper for "TPing."  And then there was the person who had a small amount of gas in a bottle stuffed down his pants, which he had snuck out of his garage.  Then we were in business.  With those resources we could have great fun. 
I grew up in a rural town.  It wasn't like nobody was out, but there was space between people that you could do things without being seen.  It wasn't one group after another, and all with adult supervision, like today.  So we would find a tree to TP and a window or two to soap.  Although sometimes this was disappointed as the soap wouldn't always stick well.  And then there was the gas.  It lead itself to all kinds of imagination; none of it good.  Perhaps a bottle bomb, or just getting something to burn. 
I must admit, our age was pretty lame compared to what older groups had done.  There was a year with lots of leaves in the gutters and lots of flame.  One year there were flaming tires rolling down main street.  But we pretty much fizzled out.  Our fire, even with the gas didn't last very long and quickly went out with only ourselves to see our handiwork.  We lit it on a back street where no one would catch us, an no one noticed.  No great glory in that.

My Life in Theater: Brigadoon

This production was produced by the Utah State University Extension in Roosevelt and Vernal.  We performed at both Union and Uintah High Schools.  This would have been 1986.  Natalia was a baby.  I portrayed the part of Andrew McClaren, the father of Jeannie, who is getting married, and Fiona, who during the course of the production falls in love with Tommy Allbright, who with his companion are two weary hunters who have lost there way in Scotland, and come upon a 200 year old village in the high land mist.  This village is frozen in time, but only if everyone stays.  Tension is created as Harry Beaton also loves Fiona.  He is determined to leave, which will destroy everyone. 

Kathy Tucker director

Doug Barlow as Charlie who is marrying Jeannie

Tommy's side kick

town leader

Jeannie

Meg, Uintah high school drama teacher

Harry Beaton

Taunia Wheeler as Fiona

Russell Griffin as Tommy

Nels Carlson: producer

Film Discussion Group: Duckwater

I was heavily involved in prevention and educational work at Duckwater.  As part of this I started a movie series.  I would generally go to the library in Ely and get some movies.  I started a discussion group where I would show the movie the the hope of inspiring some conversation.  I wrote about this in the newsletter: Duckwater Positive. 
Film/Discussion Group Planned
Billy Wardle, social worker, is beginning a program using film and discussion.  He hopes to make this a monthly program.  It is hoped this will be a method for residents to talk about issues concerning them and also provide a method of intellectual growth. 
The first film will be presented Monday, April 16 (1984) at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the tribal auditorium.  The first film in this group deals with personal insecurities and fears and should lead to discussion. 
The groups will be about 45 minutes.  Refreshments will be served as part of each group session.

Othello: Chamber of Commerce Brochure about 1960

I was born in Othello.  Our family lived there until about1963 when my dad went back to school.  Sara and Connie were already born before we moved there, but Weldon, I and Charlie were all born while we lived in Othello.  Son in all our family lived there about ten years.

Uno Dos Tres: My Music

A simple Spanish counting song.  I don't get past ten.

Employee of the Month Letter

As part of Virginia Street Project I was honored as employee of the month for  Santa Clara County.  Our program was honored, so they gave placards to all of us.  Her is a letter from the County Executive.

I Worked for Hyrum City as a Youth

It started with my older brother, Weldon, and then passed to me.  We worked with the youth sports in Hyrum for many years.  We were also over seen by a city councilman, first Clair Lundberg and then Bruce Darley.  This started with baseball, little league age at first, and then later expanding to pony age.  We had some pretty good teams.  We would organize a local league each summer, and then select from that league an all star team to take to tournaments at the end of the year.  We were not part of any official league in those days, but would use the Little League rule book.  However, sometimes there were other rules put upon us, like not stealing home unless played upon. 
We actually were paid for our efforts, not much, but something to make it worth while.
Eventually my brother expanded into football.  In this we were not part of any league again, but would schedule practice games with other teams.  One year we went to Preston to play, and another to North Ogden.  We also played teams locally, Logan and Smithfield; where they kids had a regular league.  Kids had to purchase their own guards, so sometimes were not very well protected.  What you buy at the store is sort of crap.  However all had helmets.  We had some fun times.
Eventually we also included basketball.  We organized some pretty nice leagues, and one year had a local tournament.  We also participated in Bantam tournaments.  I found a letter from Bruce Darley. 

We always gathered the uniforms, but the bumper stickers were forced upon us.  I think we got them back, but not sure how many we actually sold.  We must have sole a few because eventually we did get a pitching machine.

Mother's Letter from Mar Dean Nielsen

Steve and Mar Dean Nielsen.  Steve was the branch president of the Carbondale Branch when we lived in Illinois.  They left the area about the same time we did, moving to Las Vegas, while we moved back to Hyrum.  However the friendship continued.  We stave with the Nielsens many years later when  we traveled to Las Vegas for a funeral.
Mar Dean wrote my mother a care when mom broke her neck in a fall.
Dear Ileen,
We were so sorry to her of your accident.  You must of fallen hard to have done so much damage.
I am going through our cards again before I throw them away, when i came upon yours.  I thought I must write to her.
We had some good times in  Carbondale, didn't we.  I remember the show we went to and walked out because the language was so bad.  It would probably be "G" rated now.  The Thanksgiving that we spent at the church.  The dinner that our husbands us with at the church.  Great times!!
Take care of yourself and know that we love you.

Poetry of my Brother-in-law and Sister

I think this poem was more written by my brother-in-law, Clyde Buff; although it is given as from both he and my sister, Sara.  It was written for the funeral of their grandson Forrest.

Touched by an Angel

Few of us ever have the blessing

Of being touched by an angel on earth,

But Forrest was one of God's special sons

Sent to touch all our lives here on earth.

From him we learned just what real strength was

Real strength as he fought through each trial

He never gave in, never let the pain win

He touched our lives with his angelic smile.

We all felt the touch of his patience

The touch of his "I love you" gaze

And his love will last though his time her is past

He touched us all in so many ways

How does it feel to be touched by and angel?

Ask those who knew Forrest well

They all know for sure, Forrest's love will endure

In their hearts where the sweetest memories dwell.

Yes we all have been touched by an angel

We than God for Forrest's brief stay here below

May his touch linger on though his mortal journey is done

He is the truest little angel we know

With all our love

Grandma and Grandpa Buff

obituary

Poetry I Like: Two Palestinian Seas

This is from a collection of verse: "Just For You" a Collection of Inspirational Verses by Helen Steiner Rice.

A very favorite story of mine 

Is about two seas in Palestine--

. . .

One is a sparkling sapphire jewel,

Its water are clean and clear and cool,

Along its shores the children play

And nature gives so lavishly

Her choicest gems to the Galilee...

But on to the south the Jordan flows

Into a sea where nothing grows,

No splash of fish, no singing bird,

No children's laughter is ever heard.

The air hangs heavy all around

And nature shuns this barren ground...

Both seas receive the Jordan's flow,

The water is just the same, we know,

But one of the seas, like liquid sun,

Can warm the hearts of everyone,

While farther south another sea

Is dead and dark and miserly...

It takes each drop the Jordan brings

And to each drop it fiercely clings...

It hoards and holds the Jordan's waves

Until like shackled, captured slaves

The fresh, clear Jordan turns to salt

And dies within the Dead Sea's vault...

But the Jordan flows on rapturously

As it enters and leaves the Galilee,

For every drop that the Jordan gives

Becomes a laughing wave that lives--

For the Galilee gives back each drop,

Its waters flow and never stop,

And in this laughing, living sea

That takes and gives so generously

We find the way to Life and Living

Is no in Keeping, but in Giving!

Yes, there are Two Palestinian Seas

And mankind is fashioned after these!

The Parodox of Our Age

Duckwater Christmas Festival of Lights 1984

This is the program I kept from so many years ago.  Everyone had to take more than one part, because there weren't that many students in the school.

Virginia Sanchez from Duckwater Shoshone Tribal School

Sheri and I received a thank you note form Virginia Sanchez.  She and I worked hard to put together the Spring Festival many years ago.  She worked from the aspect of working with the youth through the school.  This included helping set up the Youth Hand Game tournament.  We enjoyed working together.  I know she later became more involved in working with the tribal counsel, but this was long after my two years in Duckwater.