Hello Family and Friends,
Each year seems stranger than the last
and 2022 was no exception. The year began with the unexpected passing of my
mother at age 87. Melba Oviatt lived a long, full life and mercifully was
healthy and always able to live independently in her own house. So her death
was a surprise. I was already beginning to make plans for a ninetieth birthday
celebration. For years, I called Mom every weekend from Iowa. I miss those
calls where we discussed her yard work and quilting, and where we solved many
of the world’s problems. Now I must be content driving to Salt Lake
occasionally to decorate her grave. This Christmas won’t be the same without
Mom’s peanut brittle, date bread, and Christmas village display. More
importantly, it won’t be the same without her.
Brenda and I left Iowa in 2020, not
knowing if or when we would return to visit (I don’t want to make that drive
again unless I must!). But in January my former employer graciously flew me
back to Iowa to surprise a dear colleague at a gathering to celebrate her
retirement. Brenda was envious that I got to go. I told her I might stay until
August so I could take in the Iowa State Fair again, but for some reason Brenda
didn’t think that was a good idea. I still have a few items in storage in Iowa
and keep hoping to find someone coming to Utah with enough room in their
vehicle to ferry my remaining things here. If not, I must come up with a way to
convince Brenda that I really need to make this trip. Brenda says she will come
with me. I explained that if we bring her mobility scooter and oxygen concentrator,
there will be no room in our van for the things I want to retrieve. Brenda is
trying to figure out a way around the space limitation.
Last year I had an expensive driving
lesson when in the dark I accidentally backed into the garage door. Unfortunately,
the door is old enough that replacement panels are no longer made. The new
garage door installed this year looks quite nice, but I would rather have the
money in the bank account and the perfectly good older garage door back in
place. Hopefully, I will be a much more careful driver in the future. Some
lessons come at a dear cost!
Brenda was happy that I built raised
flower beds for her in the back yard so she could plant some of the flower
seeds she harvested in Iowa each year. I reminded Brenda that the climate in
Utah is much drier and that we are in severe drought conditions here. I didn’t
want her to be disappointed if her flowers didn’t grow. However, Brenda was
certain that her green thumb would prevail, and that her flowers would do just
as well here as in Iowa. As usual, Brenda was right. However, the seeds for
zinnias that Brenda planted turned out to be sunflowers that grew 9-10 feet
tall! I guess I should have examined the seeds before Brenda planted them. We
wound up having to take out the sunflowers because they were blocking the
sunlight to all the other flowers she planted. Brenda really does enjoy the
chance to be outdoors tending to her flowers and plants.
Late in the year I placed sod in several
places where the grass was struggling or had died out altogether. I also built
another raised flower bed for Brenda because, hey, roses! I guess that in
Brenda’s mind there is never too much space for flowers. In addition, I have
been removing some grass and replacing it with decorative stone. Xeriscaping is
a thing in this desert climate. The decorative stone looks nice and certainly
is easier and less expensive to maintain than grass. As I make these changes, I
am reconfiguring our lawn sprinkler system so that I am not watering rocks. So
far, I have been able to move sprinkler heads and even add a few new ones
without messing up the system. I surprised (and may even have impressed) Brenda
by finally installing the flagpole we brought from Iowa. To see the stars and
stripes flying at the end of the driveway with the nearby Payson Temple spire
in the background is an impressive and patriotic sight (God and country!).
I continue to be amazed at how well my
garden does here. We are fortunate to have secondary irrigation water during
the summer months to mitigate against the effects of the ongoing drought.
Again, I am learning lessons from my mistakes. For example, I planted a couple
of butternut squash plants along with my tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, corn,
and carrots. The squash plants absolutely took over the garden, even climbing
the branches of the two fruit trees. Next year I will get any squash I need
from the farmers’ market.
I’m all ready for snow this season with
the snowblower I picked up last year. December is off to a promising start with
several impressive snowstorms. Currently, we are at 150% of normal snowpack. If
this keeps up, we could break the drought that has plagued Utah for more than
twenty years! I enjoy clearing snow early in the morning before everyone is up and
driving over the snow in our cul-de-sac’s shared driveway, compacting it to
ice. Just for giggles, I also clear snow from some of my neighbors’ drives and
sidewalks because they really shouldn’t be out trying to do this themselves.
Brenda frets because she says I am no longer young and that I need to be
careful so I don’t hurt myself. I think the exercise I get from clearing snow
is what keeps me young(ish).
It wouldn’t be a normal year for us
without multiple medical appointments and treatments. Usually this is mostly about
Brenda, but as I age it is increasingly about me as well. Brenda has suffered a
number of falls in our house throughout the year. Fortunately, the damage has
primarily been limited to bumps and bruises (as well as to her pride) – no
broken bones. I would like to say that Brenda is an upright individual but
sometimes she doesn’t remain as upright as either of us would like. Also, recently
Brenda was hospitalized briefly with another bout of pneumonia. Fortunately,
this episode wasn’t nearly as serious as the COVID-induced pneumonia last year
that landed her in the ICU twice, and she was released to come home after a
brief stay. I underwent a scoping procedure to view some of my insides,
followed by intermittent physical therapy. The idea is that I may be able to
avoid surgery if the physical therapy is effective. I’m all for that!
My church callings are building cleaning
coordinator and Family History Consultant. As the cleaning coordinator, I work
with church members I otherwise wouldn’t meet and get to know. This is a good
thing for me because I’m not all that social. Our Family History Center moved
to a new location this year and I got to help with the open house. My role was
to arrange for a bounce house! My only regret is that I couldn’t get Brenda to
give it a try. In addition to these callings, I substitute teach for classes on
occasion and also sing in the choir. Needless to say, church keeps us busy and
out of trouble.
Brenda and I are so blessed to live in
Utah. We miss Iowa and our wonderful friends there, but we enjoy living near
all nine of our grandchildren (and their parents, I guess). Now we can see family
often, and we don’t have to drive halfway across the country to do so. We also
enjoy living near three of our four children and being able to help them with various
projects. We also enjoy living near the mountains again. While Brenda and I can
no longer hike or camp together, we enjoy driving the Mt. Nebo Scenic Loop
several times each year. Brenda takes countless photos and also searches for
fossils. Finally, we are thrilled to live so close to the beautiful Payson
Temple, where we worship frequently. To borrow a phrase, “Is this heaven?” “No,
it’s Iowa Utah.”
Wishing all those we care about and love
a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year! If you are ever out
our way, feel free to stop in to visit. And if your travel does not bring you
to Utah, we hope you will call or send an email or text message to stay in
touch.
Dee Oviatt - (515) 480-6331, Dee.Oviatt@gmail.com
Brenda Oviatt - (515) 306-9514, BrendaLOviatt@msn.com
Some photos for your enjoyment:
The Payson Temple located a block away from our house
