What is your perfect day?

"April 22nd.  It is warm enough for a light sweater..."  Sorry couldn't resist.

The perfect day in my memory is the day we took family pictures in Las Vegas.  The weather was wonderful and everyone was having such a great time.  The grandchildren were having a ball together and the adults were too.  I want more days like that but with Brandon there.  Hopefully once we get a place of our own - with the Pfiester's in the area - we will have plenty of room to house everyone and just hang out.  That is what I want and look forward too.  We don't have to do anything fancy - just be together.

How do you want future generations to remember you?

I don't know how to answer that question.  What they will probably say is, "Who?"

What are some things you still want to do in your lifetime?

I have four things left on my bucket list.  Only one seems to be an impossibility and it would be the one thing that most people seem to be able to achieve easily.  My dream house and Clyde's dream house do not mesh.  I doubt I will ever see the house of my dreams but it is still on my bucket list.

A mission for the Church.  I know we have our papers in and they are being processed.  But until we are actually serving a mission it stays on the list.

A hot air balloon ride.  That was going to happen this summer but probably won't now - thanks to the sequestration.  So it will stay on my list until it does.

New Zealand.  Ever since I was a little girl and my Uncle Wayne and Aunt Ruth Tuttle came back from living in New Zealand where they helped build the New Zealand temple - I have wanted to visit there.  That desire has always been there.  I would love to go back to Europe someday but I have done that.  I want to see the southern part of the world too.

If you could have three wishes, what would they be?

A picture with our whole family in it.  It seems like Brandon is always out of the country whenever we get together.  Which leads to wish two - a family reunion with everyone together - the whole family.  I don't see any of that happening until Clyde and I get settled after our mission and that is wish three.  A house and to be settled down forever!

What is the most impulsive thing you have ever done?

I am not an impulsive person by nature and neither is Clyde.  Even things that look spontaneous are usually thought through with me and well planned.  However one time Clyde and I did do something impulsive and it about ruined our family.  When the movie "Hook" came out, we asked Lynda Havard to go and pick up the girls from school and took off for San Antonio to go and see the matinee.  We knew the girls would be fine because the Havards' were like a second family and we had a great time.  However when we got home, they were furious with us!  In fact to this day - one of our daughters will not watch "Hook" because it causes such bad memories.  The funny thing is that now we could just up and do things impulsively - we still don't.  That is the one and only instance I can think of.  There were times we sprung things on our daughters but because of babysitters and other arrangements they had been thought out before.

Who are the people you most admire and why?

I am back.  I will get Clyde to help me download pictures soon.

I have many people that I have grown up admiring.  Sarah Ann Sessions Neilson Tuttle was the first person that popped into my head.  I always loved Grandma Sarah and admired her for the things she overcame and her sunny attitude.  When I was young and found out her favorite book as a child was Pollyanna, I desperately wanted to read the book. The Disney movie was one of my favorites but it didn't quite measure up to Grandma's expectations.  I didn't get to read the book until I was in college.  I then realized why.  Pollyanna was so much more than what Disney had dwelled on.  This book had taught my grandmother not to be a spoiled brat who threw temper tantrums at the drop of a hat.  I was amazed when Grandma's siblings told me that she was a mean and moody child.  There was nothing like that in the adult.  In fact in later life when Grandma had dementia, she was sweet and kind.  Her sister had become so mean and belligerent that Alice's family happily put her in a nursing home. Omi was taken care of at home because she was joy to be around.  I hope I am like Omi but fear I may be more like Grandma Alice.

Aunt Norma has always been one the people that has been important to me.  She is one of my first memories and to this day and person I lean on.  We have always had a very special relationship.  She has never failed me when I have needed  her.

I have always admired my father.  We have a had a special relationship and he is someone that I am grateful my husband has also admired and emulated in his priesthood callings. 

There are people outside of the family that I admire but these are the three people that have truly shaped who I have become.  I have tried  hard to shape many aspects of my life after these individuals. 

I am an impatient patient!

Last Monday I had Blepharoplasty or cosmetic surgery on my eyelids.  (The promised pictures for my grandsons will be posted soon!)  I have a friend that had it done a few years ago and she told me it would be a 2-3 week recovery.  For some reason I didn't listen to the voice of experience and figured I would recover much quicker than she did (she did have some complications that I avoided).  It looks like you do not get out of this surgery in less than a 2 week recovery time.  Yesterday I thought I would go for a ride with Clyde as he did some errands.  My neighbor saw me and was horrified.  He immediately looked at Clyde like 'Did you do that to her!'  I had to explain the surgery and even though it was overcast go outside with wraparound sunglasses on.  I didn't want anyone to think badly of my husband.  You see no sutures right now because my eyes are so swollen and black and blue.  I just look like I was beaten really badly around my eyes. 

On the plus side.  I am already seeing a big difference in my peripheral vision.  Even though my vision is still fuzzy, things are brighter.  I can't wait for the recovery to be over to see the end result.  I also don't like Clyde  having to wait on me.  I miss fixing him meals and making sure life is going well for him.  He has been so loving and caring.  I want to be able to do my job again.