Does art immitate life, or is it the other way around?

Do you ever have those moments where you think, "which came first the chicken or the egg?" I did this week when in the middle of a crowded sidewalk, I nearly lost it laughing over what I saw happening around me. I was walking down a busy street in Salt Lake City surrounded by people all wearing shirts and ties or nice dresses or skirts. I was by an enormous office building that provided the hoards of professionally dressed individuals, but it still caught me off guard. About half a block down I noticed a bus stop. Normally that would not be a huge eye catching fact, but what I saw immediately caught my attention. There were two bus benches next to the sign that were full with people waiting. Then directly behind the sign was a man that was clearly the first person in line. Behind him were half a dozen men and women, dressed to the nines waiting in a perfectly straight line, arms placed at their sides and looking straight forward. That was a peculiar sight for me as I am used to passing bus stops where most everyone is waiting around in a group, talking, listening to music, sitting on some grass, etc. That alone was unique when all of the sudden the three people walking next to me on the sidewalk made a sudden turn left from their forward movement, and continued the succinct line until in neared the bushes and made a sharp 90 degree angle. Once again, there was no observable facial expressions, no friendly pleasantries, just order. It all looked so familiar when it hit me where I had seen this scene before. Harry Potter! If you recall in what I think was the 5th Harry Potter movie, as they are trying to disguise themselves to break into the Ministry of Magic, all of the workers lined up single file in their professional apparel taking turns one by one to enter. This is why this looked so familiar. And I started to laugh. Because how often are you walking down a street to look up and see anything that makes one conclude that Hogwarts may not be that far off from reality. So the question at hand, which did come first? Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art? I honestly have no idea. Was this experience just a quirky coincidence, did authors/directors see this at some point and conclude this is what the scene would look like, or do we unconsciously evolve into what we see, hear, or experience around us? And if the third is the case, how much exposure would place us in danger of becoming what we see? Just some food for thought as we move along with the world around us. 

Oh I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner Flashback!

Who knew one song could have such a lasting impression, but it does. I went to the Desert Star dinner theater to go see their parody of Wicked, called Wicked-er! It was the epic tale of Vanna White, fed up with the poor treatment Pat was subjecting her to, she is distributed to Oz where she puts on the ruby red sneakers and travels with quite a group of characters to see the wizard. Rather than the scarecrow, lion, and tin man, Vanna explores Oz with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Zach Galifianakis, and none other than Dr. Sheldon Cooper.  It is a small production, but quite a fun experience. 

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Ok, if you do not want to know how this show ends, stop reading right now. Because without the ending of this show, you cannot begin to understand the correlation to an American classic such as the hot dog. After Vanna becomes power hungry and takes over Oz and becomes Wicked-er than the wicked witch of the west, the group tries to end her reign of tyranny.  The ruby sneakers give her the ability to wish for anything that she desires. Therefore, in the last moments of the show, Dr. Sheldon Cooper performs a masterful twist of irony. He expresses that what he misses most from home was a hot dog. Then humming the familiar tune scratches his head to remember the lyrics to the famous jingle, at which point Vanna sings out, “Oh I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner!” and poof she is. It is after her transformation that Zach Galifianakis eats her. So why does this jingle take me back to a time long, long ago. I have a secret. It is shameful and has only been shared with a few… I once grasped at fame and glory with that very same song. How you might ask? It was a sunny day as a youth, I think I was about 11, when what came to town but the Oscar Meyer Weenie Mobile! I mean who doesn’t love a giant hot dog on wheels? But better yet, they were coming by to audition children for their commercials. All you had to do was sing the jingle on camera to audition and then you got a weenie whistle. There was initial excitement, however, it was more-so from my dad in that he had always wanted a weenie whistle and here it was only 90 camera seconds away from being his. Unfortunately, he did not qualify to audition. So what does he do? Signs me up. 

This would not have been too terribly embarrassing, had it not been for one unmistakable fact. Everyone else was the average age of 4 and no taller than 4 feet. Then here I come. Picture this, a 5 foot something 11 year old, hunching over a short microphone stand singing the Oscar Meyer Weiner song following the audition of an adorable 3 year old with a slight speech impediment. I never had a chance. My dreams of celebrity lying somewhere on a cutting room floor. Far better there I imagine, than aired nation-wide. Should I ever run for public office, I fear that this tape would re-surface and my gap toothed, Sally Jesse Raphael pink glasses, and un-ruley blonde hair would knock me out of the running. I mean really, who wants a weenie has-been who never really was? It shall be the skeleton in my closet, always lurking but never appearing except in my own mind, every time I hear the words, “because Oscar Meyer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A!”

Yo-ho, yo-ho a pirate’s life for me!

The time has come to share the goings on of northern Utah, which like its small town predecessor, has some unique events of its own. Unlike the “bedazzle your bra” contest of Small Town X’s county fair, the 2^nd annual Pirate Festival was a not to be missed event, or so we thought…

Now let me paint a picture for you on National Talk like a Pirate Day. I decided I would dress to impress, with anything I already owned, that was pirate-like. This included a set of Captain Jack Sparrow dreadlocks and hat, some Aztec looking jewelry and gaudy earrings. We set off for the bay where we were ready for whatever adventures the pirate festival had to offer. When we arrived we found that this festival is a work in progress, boasting no more than a couple dozen booths and underwhelming attendance. However, it was definitely a worthwhile experience and here is why.

Lack of crowds made for easy access to any booth. While others may have spent a Saturday running errands, cleaning house, or any other number of run of the mill activities (the same ones I would normally be participating in) I spent this particular Saturday improving my minimal archery skills, learning to throw knives, getting a private, pirate magic show which taught me the values of good pirating (ie. to lie, cheat and steal) watching them set a mermaid free in the bay, petting a goat and hanging with a very good Jack Sparrow impersonator. All in all, it was quite the experience, and I left with one song echoing in my mind, yo-ho, yo-ho it’s a pirate’s life for me!

Random acts of kindness, proof in the goodness around us

Spencer W. Kimball once said, “So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving … help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow … from small but deliberate deeds!” It amazes me the amount of service that goes on around me, as well as for me, at any given time. Selfless acts of generosity and love. And then there come around those examples of incredible goodness that change people’s lives in more drastic ways. I had the chance to hear firsthand one such story, and asked if I could share it. To begin, you must know one important fact, I work with the most incredible man. He has been given more than his fair share of challenges, and the strength to endure he emulates is unprecedented. To give you some background, he has spent his life and his career helping others. He is patient and kind in all his dealings, and gives 110% to everything he does. He has been faced with some difficult challenges. Having struggled to manage his health he has dealt with controlling his diabetes, having a liver transplant, tackling skin cancer (which was a side effect of the anti-rejection medications he takes) and a serious foot disease that leaves the bones fragile and easily broken. On top of everything that he has already coped with, he recently discovered that he will have to have one of his legs amputated. This news was tragic, and yet he continues to give his all to those around him, despite dealing with the heaviness and weight of this next challenge.

The people around him have flooded his life with tender mercies. He shared some of these acts of service, from rides to and from work, to meals prepared for their family, as well as some incredible feats. The members of his ward/church came and built a deck and ramp in order to make getting in and out of the house easily accessible. Then this weekend he was met with yet another act of generosity. He received a call on Friday from RC Willey. The man said that they had a delivery for him and needed to arrange a drop off time for the next day. He explained to the caller that he must have the incorrect person, and that they had not purchased any items. The caller then explained that he knew he would be confused, but that an anonymous person had arranged for this delivery and they just needed to find a good time. Stunned and perplexed he arranged a time the following day. When the delivery truck arrived, the driver entered and said, “I am under contract not to disclose any information regarding the person that arranged this, but where would you like it?” He responded that he did not know what it was. The driver pointed outside to a beautiful new stainless steel range and oven. He was speechless. At this point in the story I asked the significance of the gift. He said that they had had their stove and oven for 30+ years and that most of the burners no longer worked and they had to test the temperature separately because the instruments were no longer functioning. Replacing the expensive appliance was not possible, so their family made due. He had not ever spoken about this concern, and did not know who might have known about the oven, and would be so generous as to replace it for their family. 

He was brought to tears even re-telling the story, and frankly so was I. There is no one more deserving of such a kind and thoughtful gift. It never ceases to amaze me the incredible people that come in and out of our lives. The individuals responsible may never know how much their act of kindness not only fulfilled a temporal need, but also fed the souls of those involved. It filled them with gratitude and love, humility and hope. I am grateful for so many that give of themselves in time, resources and love. They work miracles every day in the lives of those around them. And when it seems that hatred and contention have won, I remember that that will never be possible so long as acts of service and love exist.   

Another year has gone by...

Well this particular blog has taken a familiar turn in that it's looking like every journal I have ever tried to keep. They all start out the same way:
Page 1
January 12, 1990
Well it has been awhile since I last wrote....     (Next Page)
June 14, 1993
Well it has been awhile since I last wrote...
And so on and so forth until a decade of my life has gone by and there are fewer than 15 pages documenting it.

So I am trying to remedy that right now. I actually cannot believe how time has flown by, and really the only reason it has struck me is because my birthday is coming up and so much has changed since the last. Even though much has changed, it feels at times like things are ever the same. Since last September I have made some huge life decisions, having made new church commitments, accepted a new position in another city, moved yet again to a new city, had the chance to visit some new countries and meet new people, gone back to school again, watched those I love get married, some have children, had some incredible laughs, shed some difficult tears, and at the end of it all I think to myself, where am I going? For as much as has gone on in one years time, I find myself unnervingly discontent with what has been accomplished. On paper it looks respectable. But something is missing. I have never been a big New Year's resolution person, but I made a few for the first time in January. Some I have shockingly been able to keep, others have been epic failures. But rather than the new year being my marker for evaluation, I find this year it is as I walk into another year on this earth. I am not worried about being one year older, I mean don't get me wrong it is weird to think about being 28. I used to think that 30 was so old and yet it is right around the corner. But what am I working towards? I find myself a little stuck. So I have given this a lot of consideration, and although I still do not have a definitive answer, this is what I have so far.

STOP IT!

Stop living in the expectations of everyone and everything around me. Stop focusing on all the things that I think I should have accomplished, and look at the things that I have. Stop putting limitations on what I can and cannot or should or should not do. One of the realities I constantly fail to remember is, that at this point in my life I can take some risks, make some changes, and do what I may not have the flexibility to do in the future. I need to stop focusing on the experiences others are having that I do not have yet. I need to stop and remember that very important word, yet. Stop allowing happiness and true joy to be conditional. Stop putting up walls toward others, and definitely stop creating unrealistic expectations of them. Stop living in the past and enjoy the present. Every moment is an opportunity to learn, grow or just be. I need to learn how to just be. Stop being so hard on oneself. Stop allowing my life to be insignificant. If I want to do more, to be more in this world, I just need to do it. I love people that can put clarity and truth into one sentence. I think for me that sentence today would be: It isn't enough to just believe that your life is immensely valuable, you must live each day in a way that undeniably emulates that. This will be my motto, my goal and my inspiration. Here is to another year of creating more days of living, breathing truth to this statement.