Movies, Reading, Temple, Teeth, Music...

Monday, February 16, 2026, we started a very average week. That is not a bad thing. Some weeks are simply more full than others. This week we did normal things. Read on...

I did laundry, walked the treadmill, completed the previous week's Blog and pictures, started reading Lost Horizon and had a long phone call with Betty Dixon. See...normal.

I purchased "Lost Horizon" for my Kindle after watching a documentary about some perfect place in the Himalaya's or somewhere like that. Very remote and very high in the mountains. It would have been next to impossible to find unless you knew exactly how to get there. However, even though the place in the documentary was high in the very tall mountains, the climate was such in the spot that all kinds of wonderful food grew in abundance. The people we perfect. No crime. I cannot remember the name given in the documentary. Then the documentary said the stories of this place prompted author James Hilton to write the book "Lost Horizon". He would name his place Shangri-La. It was a good read. The verbiage was from a different time. I enjoy seeing these words that we don't use anymore. It seems we are now emoji's, mime's and letters in groups for phrases. So sad to not know how to use such interesting turns of phrase and very descriptive words. Here is are a few phrases that caught my attention: 

• "The eastern races were abnormally dilatory, but rather than Englishmen and Americans charged about the world in a state of continual and rather preposterous fever heat." 
• "The first quarter-century of your life was doubtless lived under the cloud of being too young for things, while the last quarter-century would normally be shadowed by the darker cloud of being too old for them; and between those two clouds, what small and narrow sunlight illumines a human lifetime! ...by the standards of Shangri-La your sunlit years have scarcely yet begun."
• "We are not workers of miracles; we have made no conquest of death or even of decay. All we have done and can sometimes do is to slacken the tempo of this brief interval that is called life. We do this by methods which are as simple here are they are impossible elsewhere, but make no mistake; the end awaits us all."
• "Then, my son, when the strong have devoured each other, the Christian ethic may at last be fulfilled, and the meek shall inherit the earth." 
• "The exhaustion of the passion is the beginning of wisdom."
• "He liked the mannered, leisurely atmosphere in which talk was an accomplishment, not a mere habit."

The story involves four very different people taken by plane to this remote spot. The end result is that they are supposed to stay in Shangri-La the reminder of their lives. Two eventually escape. The problems with perfect Shangri-La is there is no opposition. Life is really like a hum. You get lulled into this state of being and you don't realize it is not really good for your personal growth. We are taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that there must be opposition in all things. We were given agency to use to prepare us to live with Heavenly Father. To really use agency on earth, there must be opposition so you make choices. If you make a mistake, you repent, learn and grow. If you make a good choice you grow. Life is meant to have rough places to polish us in our journey. Shangri-La would really do none of that. I did enjoy the read. 

Betty called to tell us that Bill Zortman, another motorcycle friend, had liver cancer and was going into a care facility and would have hospice there. He is simply tired and feels his time is coming. Peg is his wife and they have had long talks to plan and be ready. Hard time and difficult decisions. Love these people and the impact they have made on my life.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026, on Sunday, February 15th, we learned that Robert DuVall passed away. He was an actor that both Claude and I enjoyed. We decided to pull every DVD we owned with Robert DuVall in it and watch these movies. 

We had ten initiatories to be done at the Louisville Kentucky Temple. We made and appointment for 11:30am. Claude was able to do all five and then five more names the temple had on file. I was only able to do three of the five names I had. It was a good morning in the temple. We went to Red Robin after for lunch only to find it was closed down completely. So we found City Barbeque and enjoyed lunch there before returning home. 

Wednesday, February 18, 2026, I finished reading "Lost Horizon". 

We had a good long visit with Jake. His cat, Soot, had to have teeth removed. 

Watched more Robert DuVall movies.

Thursday, February 19, 2026, a real exciting day. My goal was to dust, sweep and vacuum the house. I did that. Claude went to Lexington for a dentist visit and was told his gum was ready for the implant to be installed. He had to call our dentist to set up that appointment. More Robert DuVall movies.

Friday, February 20, 2026, we drove to Campbellsville University to watch Bailey in the Wind Ensemble concert. They did four numbers. Bailey participated in 3 of them. And, she got to sit at the end of the row making it great for pictures. 

The musical numbers are each too long to post on my Blog. The first was "Symphony for Brass and Percussion", the second was "One Life Beautiful". The final number was 10 1/2 minutes long. It was titled "Godzilla Eats Las Vegas". This final number was over the top. They had a video playing over the Ensemble of Godzilla, The Ensemble had places were they stamped their feet, they yelled when Godzilla tried to destroy the city, and, at the very end, some of the students open canisters of confetti and shot them toward the audience. The young people really loved performing this number. This was the one Bailey really wanted us to see. She said it challenged her like no other piece and it was important enough for us to see it that she said she would not ask us to come to Junior or Senior Recital. When this number finished, Claude looked at me and said, "It was nice but you can't dance to it." Oh My!!

After the concert, Andie and Michael took us all to McCallister's for dinner. Fun to have a visit.

Saturday, February 21, 2026, we set this day aside to watch "Lonesome Dove". It has at least four DVD's to it. We started our day with a biscuit run with a stop at CVS to pick up my prescription. 

After the movie was over, we got a call from Katelyn, it seems Drew's mother was in the hospital and having test done with a surgery to follow. Katelyn wanted her Grampa to say a prayer with her. Claude had a gift of the Spirit when it comes to saying prayers and giving blessings. So grateful Katelyn reaches out for this blessing. We put Drew's mother's name on the temple prayer roll.

Sunday, February 22, 2026, we got up. I looked out the window and it was a little gray but nothing to worry about. We got our showers and ready and have about 20 minutes before time to leave. When it was time to go, Claude opened the garage door behind the Jeep. We were amazed that there was a real snow show going on outside. There was a coating of snow over the ground, sidewalks and driveway. Ugh! 

Sacrament meeting was wonderful. Josh Rayburn and Richard Risher spoke. I then got pictures for some of the sisters serving in Young Women and nursery for the March Relief Society newsletter. Then I enjoyed Shelby Brimley's lesson on families. She had two questions: 1) What is the purpose of marriage? and 2) What is the value of children? I shared that Claude and I celebrated our 56th anniversary the previous Friday. I shared what a delight it was for us to sit and reminisce about all that had happened to us in those 56 years. Then I assured the sisters (who had talked a lot about little children) that, as much as I enjoyed my grands and great grands, it was a perfect delight to reach the point where our children's children are all out of their homes and we have adult time with them. That is a true blessing of having children for your life. Then Cassie Zitter spoke up and said, "I want to say something about Sis. Christensen. I think she and her husband should write a book about dating. They go on more and better dates than I did when I was dating." It was a fun moment. Didn't realize others were paying attention to Claude and me that much. It is nice to know we are viewed in such a good light. 

After getting sandwiches from Jimmy Johns, we drove home in the snow and curled up in our little house. Claude would nap and I would watch and delete items I have DVR's. We finished the final two Robert Duvall movies. Good end to our Sabbath Day.