Afternoons with Enola

Today in church we sang one of my favorite songs! It reminded me about a journal entry I wrote a few months ago. It talked about one night when I was spending time with my family back in MD. My father, unknown to him, started singing another one of my favorite songs. At that moment warm, peaceful feelings rushed over me as I was brought back to the little sitting room where Enola Mangleson and I would sit together from noon until 5 every day. We would sit listening to the song my father was humming and reminisce about her days growing up on the farm in Idaho, or how her singing group at BYU could have made it big if she and her husband hadn't eloped the night before their debut.

It's been said that every person you come in contact with adds a bit to who you are. Well, I hope that is true. It's also been said that often when you serve others you benefit and grow the most. I KNOW that is true. I have had the amazing privilege to serve others for my job. No, I am not talking about Best Buy. I am referring to the time I spent as a CNA at Angel's touch assisted living home and caring for people in their homes with Aspen Senior Care.

I can honestly say that as I was blessed to get to know, love, and care for some of the top notch people in this world, I have been shaped and molded into a better Deborah then the one I was before I had the opportunity. I truly feel that I have sat at the feet of some of the wisest men and women and developed a better understanding of this world and what I want from it. I wish I could write a book about all of them and their life's lesson. From Dale I learned the need for silent constants in life. From Jill I learned that no matter what life throws at you and at whatever age, there still is happiness to be found and ways you can give. If you have lost your joys you can be one. If you have lost your independence you can cling to your faith. If you have lost your legs you can roll along filling everywhere you go with your outstanding spirit and beautiful smile.

Don and Vera Showed me what true love means through their 96 Year old examples of daily living. Ralph was a very special man. One of two client's I lost while still working with them. He shared with me his passion. Now I can not pick up my flute without playing for my music teacher who never taught me a note. Ralph also taught me what a true legacy was the day I sat in his home listening to his beautiful daughters in the room next to me fill the air with sweet music for their beloved father.

I could go on and on about Mary Ruth my cancer survivor, Al my Sargent Major, or Martin my sunshine and jujitsu master who've all helped me learn and grow. One of the most valuable things I've learned from them is the art of love and true friendship. I have learned that it is not restricted by age or experience. It is one of the most rewarding connections that can be shared by anyone of any race, age, or gender. The people I have worked with have each in their own little way given me something to live up to and a greater height to reach. I am not perfect by any means and neither are these men and women. But I sure am grateful for those warm summer days of reading poems and playing the harmonica with Enola.

BYU-I Update

It's 7:45 in the morning, I want to be in bed like my roommate next to me, I have about an hour of reading to do before 8:15, and yet I am sitting here in my PJ's (with the light off so as not to disturb my roommate.) I always say how busy I feel and yet I am still very happy. That my surprise anyone who has read my most decent and deleted rant. Let's see, there is so much to write and so little time. First of all it is FREEZING! I remember a conversation I had with my cousin Abby the first time I came to BYU-Idaho. She warned me that it was cold and told me of the time her nose hairs froze walking home from school. I laughed along with her and didn't quite understand the truth in that statement. I really don't remember that ever happening to me the first time I was up here. And then Tuesday morning when I walked out of my door into the -20 weather outside, Abby's words came rushing back when the strangest thing happened to my nose hairs. Personally I think it should be against the law for it to be this cold. It really is not conducive to studying when all i want to do is stay in bed under my warm comforter.

I really love my Social dance class. It is a ton of fun to meet my new partner everyday and laugh to myself at his nervous demeanor and sweaty palms. Is that bad? Um, maybe I should stop doing that. I just think it is funny to feel like I am back at the stake dances again. MY dance class is pretty much my salvation among the hours of reading I have for Econ, Pre calc, and Anatomy and Physiology.

I also really, really love my Job. I am an admissions counselor in the admission's office. It is such a change from best buy when I catch myself thinking of work as an escape from the stress around me. Best by WAS the stress around me. HA I guess we'll wait to see how I feel once the admissions decisions for fall are sent out and I have to deal with the angry parents. I love the people that I work with most of all. My bosses are more like friends and there is so much flexibility there!I never want to go back to retail.

Now that I have 20 minutes to read for econ, make myself beautiful, and leave for class I had better go. Stay tuned for future posts about my amazing roommate, crazy trips to Utah, and the huge goals I have set for myself. Oh and also pictures. My camera is in major need of some loving before it will work again.

Getting ready to go

Whew,
So here's the latest update in 5 minutes or less. I am winding down at best buy. My last day is in a week from today. I have torn feelings but overall I am so excited to escape the day after Christmas craziness. I am finished with the semester, and let me tell you, that is one the biggest reliefs ever! Sarah and I are getting ready to hit the open road and drive out to UT and then on to ID. I am so excited to spend some time in UT. I will be honest and say that I will probably be visiting temple square. (Sarah has never been)

I am anxious to get to school. I love MD but I feel like I am so busy here that it is hard for me to have a life. I have had my new car for about a week and a half now and I LOVE IT! I think it's great (although it's still to cold to put the top down) At first I was planning on just turning around and selling it but I can't imagine doing that. I really love it, (stupid mint green color and all). I added a few fun things to it this last week and it has been fun trying them out and laughing at myself when it doesn't work. The biggest thing I added was an automatic start/security system. I thought it might be nice to have my car already heated up on those deathly cold days in Rexburg.

The night it was installed I could not for the life of me figure out how to start it up. My manager and I sat there for a few minutes pushing all the buttons we could think of on the control and finally we got it started. Unfortunately I triggered the alarm I forgot I had getting into the car and didn't know how to turn it off. Anthony was rolling as I stubbornly drove away with the alarm ringing in the silent night air. (I finally pulled over and he helped me turn it off) WOW, this it going to be fun!

Is this a blessing or a blunder?

Well, for those of you who know anything about my car situation you know that it's not a very healthy one. Yes I have one...well kind of. But recently the whole situation just got a little more twisted. But it has turned out to be a huge learning experience for me. WOW has it ever. Consequently I am feed up with my current car and all the....uh, adventures that has come with it. So i have been in search of a me car. I have been really into SUVs lately and I have been wanting one REALLY bad! It works nicely with my plans to go to the tundra of the USA, Rexburg, Idaho this winter. I have never technically shopped for cars and I have found it easier to find a plethora of SUVs on Ebay. Obviously the ones I can afford are a few years old and have at least 100,000 miles on them but I'll take it!

So yesterday I decided to give other types of cars a chance and look through them just for fun. There was a car I saw that had a pretty low price and only had a few hours left. I didn't want it but being caught up in the ebay fever I thought it would be fun to put a bid in knowing that it was worth about 5,000 more then what i put in and I would be out bid pretty quick. I entered my maximum bid and was off to work not thinking much about it. During my lunch I was curious to see how much it went for and yep, you guessed it! To my huge surprise I am now the *ahem* proud owner of a 2000 Chrysler Sebring Convertible!

What?!?! I don't even like convertibles! Don't get me wrong, they are nice to look at and when I was younger I would have DIED to get behind the wheel of one but now they scared the crap out of me. I keep thinking about driving it in the snow and it is no snow mobile. who knows what i am going to do with it. I have thought about reselling it on Ebay for more because I'm sure I could get it and then buy my SUV I've been dreaming about but as for right now I am blaming the bid on hunger and taking it day by day.

BLACK FRIDAY

I am at a loss to find the words to describe today. Anyone who has worked in retail will understand when the words Black Friday are said. Usually the retail veterans smile and give knowing nods while exchanging looks of comfort and understanding. This was a huge.....wait, i didn't quite make myself clear. This was a HUGE!!!! Day for best buy. This is a day that we start training for and planning for months in advance. Our General Manager calls it controlled chaos. This is my third Black Friday with best buy and I can tell you after this one I decided that I am ready to throw in my blue shirt and khakis before the next one comes around.

Did we have huge sales on plasmas and LCDs? Yes. Were we giving away cameras and GPS systems? Of course! But come one people! I start to wonder what this world is coming to when the people in it take camping out side of best buy over eating THANKSGIVING DINNER! On one of the most amazing days out of the whole year.....when you can eat until you are ill and it is socially okay, people were starting to line up out side best buy before noon! By 8 pm thanksgiving night the end of the line was two stores down and by the time I arrived at work at ten to 4am on Black friday morning the line had wrapped around the shopping center and had about 2/4th of the way until it met it's self.

Every black Friday we as Best Buy employees walk in the door at 2:30 am, 3 am, and I was the lucky one who got 4 am and are required to drink a red bull, soda, or anything of our choice that will get us going. Then we finish up on any last minute challenges that present themselves, have a little meeting, and man our battle stations! When the doors open the customers come in and can smell fear, so you have to be on your game. I worked straight from 4 am to 4 pm doing the job of about three people. I was lucky enough to stop for a 30 minute lunche catered from a company best buy hired and grabbed a 15 minute nap behind the refrigerator where I would not be disturbed. I was exhausted by the time I got home and wanted to curl up and cry. In fact I did, as soon as I got home and sat by my sweet Tressa. I laid my head down and shed a few tears of exhaustion and well......slept.

Here are a few videos to illustrate the event that we have been training for the WHOLE YEAR!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZJVZ2p223o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnby-kDb0iE

The theater

I've decided I need to update this thing more. LOL This last week I had the pleasure of seeing Tressa give a thrilling performance of Wendy in Peter Pan for her high school play. Tressa is an amazing actress but unfortunately has been over looked by her drama teacher for the "Safer choices." Finally after the other stars of Wilde Lake High School graduated Tress got the lead in the play. she did wonderful! I am not just saying that because I am bias. People were gushing about her as they filed out of the theater after the curtains closed. You truly could see the emotion in her face as she let go of her childhood and peter pan with it. It was great!!


(At the ward trunk or treat)

I went to the show 3 out of the 4 performances. On the very last night I saw the joy and accomplishment in Tressa's face as she and the rest of the cast were taking their final bow and I about burst into tears! I was so happy for that wonderful girl. A girl who means so much to me and I love tons and tons. I knew how much she had wanted this and dreamed of this and prayed for this and she had finally got it! I love that girl and I am so happy for her and proud of her amazing talents!

"Wow." That is all i can say right now. I am so blown away about so many different things. I just got off the phone with the ex boyfriend of my Absolute best friend. I more fondly call him Beast Man. It was the first time I can remember getting off the phone with him after a very long conversation and not feeling DRAINED! Wow, I learned so much! It was great. So now I am sitting here franticly trying to so hard to grab the many thoughts speeding by in my head. There are so many and they are all so good. Like how much personal perspective REALLY creates fact and the truth of experiences. I learned that people who are positive are so much more fun to talk to then victims. (the thoughts are going around so fast I can't type them fast enough) I was reminded how wonderful it is that I do not have to worry or figure things out on my own. The Lord really will lead and guide me if I ask. Things will work out great! Heavenly Father is amazing how he works and knows so much and is so incredibly wise!!