My wife is currently trying to get me to take up golf with her or something that doesn't have to deal with Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Original Entry
It has been a long time since we have seen PG and I have yet to make even
one reunion. It looks like my record will stand this year also. September
28th is the due date for the grand entrance
of our newest grand daughter. We have to be here for that. This is only our
second grandchild.
We bailed out of California almost 23 years ago and started our home in
Payson, Utah. It is a great little community that is just now starting to
grow. We have hit a population of about 14,000. My wife Annie and I have been married for 26 plus years. She is a fantastic lady
who grew up in San Jose. She graduated in 1972. We have
six children ranging in age from 16 to 25. I have an older daughter from a
previous marriage. She and her husband spend a lot of time with us also.
That is pretty cool. All of our children live within 15 miles of us with our
youngest 3 sons still living at home. Four of our children are married with
our youngest daughter being the latest(May 19th).
My wife, Annie, has worked at Nestles for 12 years and I have been employed at
Brigham Young University for 21+ years. I do purchasing for the Office of
Information Technology. I also am responsible for the Emergency Medical
Technicians on campus. Don't even try to figure out that connection.
One of the best parts of living in a smaller community, like Payson is or
PG used to be, is the opportunity to volunteer. After serving 4 years on the
City Council and 9 years with the Ambulance, I was appointed to serve as the
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator under the Chief of Police. This is a
volunteer position but takes 20 to 30 hours per week (if I don't have to
attend any Olympic planning meetings). I do the disaster planning, train the
volunteer disaster response teams and give talks on "preparedness" to local
civic groups and congregations. Other duties relating to my Emergency Preparedness Coordinator position
with the city have involved writing city ordinances, the Emergency
Operations and Response Plans. Maybe I should have gone to law school! It is challenging but rewarding.
I also serve as a volunteer "TERRORISM CONSULTANT" for the Medical
Detachment of a Utah Air Guard unit. This is an interesting task for a guy
who was 4F and never spent a day in the military. Basically, I try to teach
the medics to stay alive if they have to respond to a terrorist incident,
etc. They are learning something and so am I! Word to the wise, when you
"take out" the Base Commander, they tend to get upset!
Our children have enjoyed growing up so close to the mountains. They can be
up Payson Canyon among the Aspens in 10 minutes or out to the desert in 30
minutes. There is no problem finding places to ride mountain bikes here
either! It has been very peaceful and I almost hate to see it grow. Anyone
who wants to see what Payson is like only has to rent the video of
"Footloose". Most of it was filmed in Payson. All of it was filmed in our
county.
I have found the website for PGHS and will send my membership off to the
Alumni Association this week or next. Please say HI!! to everyone for me. It
will be good to see everyone WHEN I actually make it to a reunion. Maybe the
40th!
Added 9/27/01
We were blessed by the arrival of our second grand daughter last Thursday. Jasmine Celeste Jonas arrived at 6lbs 15oz
and 19" long. She has a mop of reddish brown hair and is, of course, gorgeous. She and our daughter Nikki are doing
well.
I no longer speed around the country side in an English
Ford Anglia. I moved up to a modified German Ford Merkur.
There is a big diference between 39 horsepower and 300
horsepower let me tell you. ;)
