Tracie's World

Shout out to my pal Pinky Lovejoy, and her pooch Sammy the Wonder Dog, who stopped and met me briefly yesterday on their way out of town.  Through a little bit of mis-communication, we weren't able to sit down and enjoy our usual catch up over pasta at Spag Fac, but I'm thrilled that she took the time out to stop and chat for a few minutes, even in the cold and the smog. Safe travels my friend!

Last night I was able to visit with my friend Karen, one of the ladies from where I served in Mississippi.  We talked for about 90 minutes, and even though it's been 20 years, it was as if no time had passed.  It was great to catch up and hear how her family and other folks from that ward are doing. What a blessing!

As my regular readers are aware, I have pretty ambivalent feelings about my mission.  I know I was supposed to go, so I did. In that respect I am glad I went.  But it was also hard. I didn't enjoy it, and I felt unsuccessful, so it was an experience never to be repeated. Missions were fine for other folks, but count me out from here on.  As far as I knew, I was a failure as a missionary, and have lived with that feeling ever since.  So until recent events, I never had the desire to see Mississippi again. While my cousin Angela was here with me, I discovered she was related to a family I had known when I served on the Coast.  She was also friendly with another family from that ward, a family that took very good care of me while I was there, and for a time was very close to them.  Not only was she friendly with them, but they were in the sealing room at the Baton Rouge temple with her when she did some of Aunt Helen's work.  It was very exciting for m...

My Dad did not grow up a member of the Church.  After he graduated from High School, his family moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where some of their relatives lived.  They lived there only a short time and then moved to Southern California, where he met my Mom and was introduced to the Church. He joined a year later.  Mom and Dad went on to marry, be sealed in the temple, have 7 kids, and raise all of us in the Church.  Although we had great relationships with my Dad’s immediately family (even though we lived far away from each other), none of them ever joined.   In late 1990, I was called on a mission to Mississippi.  After several months there, I was transferred to a town on the Gulf Coast called Waveland. I was aware that my Dad’s Aunt Helen (and most of her children and grandchildren) lived in the area, and I was able to visit with her in her home on several occasions.  Although they were great visits, nothing ever came of them, and we event...

Here it is, 2013. And while I had a terrific Christmas and a Happy New Year, something about 2013 has been off for me so far.  Not only, off, but it seems that I have gone and lost my "mojo".  Case in point:  A couple of weeks ago, I'm out running some errands, and I have my itinerary all planned.  Planned, that is, until I have a small accident with my finger while I'm trying to get out of WalMart, an accident that involves bleeding profusely.  I finally get myself back in the car, and change the itinerary to head home, because it's pretty darn difficult to run all your errands while you're bleeding profusely.  So I get home, and the garage door won't go up.  Not only won't go up, but I have to sit and play with it for 10 minutes (did I mention the part about the bleeding) until it finally does go up. I run up the stairs to take care of the wound, and fumble all over, one-handed, while spilling first aid supplies all over the counter before I'm...

I love Christmas Day, but for me, it's more about the secular side of Christmas, and the fun and the good cheer.  After getting up early and getting a good workout in, I opened my gifts that my family had sent.  Everyone took good care of me.  I had gifts and goodies for my stocking, a new vegetarian cookbook, a new fleece vest, and candle sconces to enhance the look of my home.  I also had some very cute cards and pictures from nieces and nephews. After opening the presents, I made what is kind of my traditional Holiday breakfast - Breakfast Cake (basically the same thing as coffee cake), eggs, and my own version of hot chocolate made from Pero, Nestle Quik, and Almond Milk.  It was all mighty tasty.  After breakfast I called and talked with my Grandma, my Mom and Dad and some of my siblings. Shortly before noon, I left to go to a show.  Everyone in Salt Lake goes to the movies on Christmas Day, and the theaters are packed.  I met up with Ing...

My family has always enjoyed getting together for Christmas, and there are definitely some traditions that we follow when it comes to both Christmas Eve and Christmas.  But since I was going to be on my own for Christmas this year, I decided it would be fun to start my own Christmas traditions.  And I decided to approach it by having the attitude of just because I wasn't going to be with my family, didn't mean it needed to be a drag or that I needed to be lonely. Tracie's Christmas Eve To me, Christmas Eve kind of fulfills two purposes.  I use it to finish up whatever gifts and food I've been planning, but it's also the day where I want to focus on the Spiritual side of Christmas - the nativity story, and peace on earth and goodwill to men.   Christmas Carol Service - Each year, the Cathedral of the Madeleine presents what they call a "Christmas Carol Service", and this year, I attended that with a couple of friends.  It was a very sacred experience. ...