Vintage Cars And Memories From My Youth

This is a 1921 Rolls Royce

Photos of a 1931 Model A Ford

with a rumble seat.

I was born in 1933. My very first car was a 1931 Model A Ford with a rumble seat. It's the car I drove to high school, took fishing and even deer hunting. We were inseperable during those years. Ya'll probably can't understand how valuable it was in the 194o's and 1950's to own a car.

Today I located a beautifully restored 1931 Model A Ford. It is owned by a man in Orem whose hobby is restoring select vintage cars. He has quite a work shop. He says that when he checked the engine block on his 1931 Model A he was able to determine that it came off the Ford production line just 4 hours before he was born. Both he and his Model A were "born" on the same day. His car is the same model as the one I owned and drove.

He also has a 1921 Rolls Royce which originally belonged to a Maharajah in India who used the car to hunt tigers. Later the car lay in the jungle for 15 years before the US Ambassador to India purchased the car and shipped it to Los Angeles. It was a mess. After a few years my Orem friend purchased the car and restored it to the condition you see in the photo.

Fly Fishing and Other Stuff

I have marked my calendar from August 10 to August 31 for fly fishing. The exact date(s) and location(s) have not as yet been selected. The location(s) will however likely be in Wyoming, Idaho and/or Montana. Stay tuned.

Mom and I will be taking a multi-day trip through parts of Idaho to Driggs and then over the mountain to Jackson Hole soon--maybe next week. After Jackson we will drive along the Hoback River to Pinedale. (Becki, Ami and Dave - you remember fishing the Hoback several years ago when we rented a camper and stayed at the camp ground along Granite Creek). Consider our trip for recon purposes.

We will be stopping on the way for me to spend an hour or so with a client living in Soda Springs, Idaho.

I'll throw in my fly rod just in case.

I talked to Nick Smith today about his Kemo and liver cancer. He sounded good but is still quite concerned about his treatment and the future.

Yesterday Mom was at Dave's home when her visiting teachers showed up. As they were leaving they pointed to a wasp's nest hanging from the outside door frame. Can't believe I didn't notice it. It was not there last week. Those critters are fast.

Mom is still anxiously engaged in family history research and data-base input between about 10 p.m. to about 4 a.m. every night and morning. In that quiet time the spirit of Elijah works his magic.

Cathi received two photos of Mom's mother when she was in her teens. You all need to see them. Ask Cathi to send an e-mail.

Su Padre

Trivia Ramblings

Jenni has a new church calling as the single adult (about 35 to infinity) representative for our stake. When she returned from her first meeting she commented that she would not be set apart but set up. We are waiting.

In our family home evening last night we discussed spiritual gifts. Perhaps the best source of this information is in the 10th chapter of Moroni. Take a look. We also listened to the conference talk by Elder Oaks who helped me better understand the need for Christian Service but he also brought out my guilt.

We talked to John yesterday. He is on his way to Switzerland and the UK and then on to Inner Mongolia for the big wedding celebration. Meanwhile, Hui is very engaged in making sure that the week-end in the desert will be memorable. John mentioned that they are expecting about 90 guests.

One of my most endearing and memorable BYU professors has died of cancer. Truman Madsen was 82. When I was a Junior and Senior (58 and 59) he was on faculty and taught various philosophy courses. I took all that he taught and received an "A" in every class. Saturday I purchased his lectures (on CD) on Joseph Smith and have them in one our autos for listening. He is a wonderful speaker. During my stint as a senior president of 70 and as stake mission president in the Walnut Creek stake we arranged to have him speak at the Oakland Inter-Stake Center. It was call "An Evening of Illumination." We posted a drawing of an ancient philosopher all over the area including Berkley. Members could attend but the price of admission was a non-member. We filled the hall (over 2,000 people) and had a wonderful evening.

Tomorrow Nathan is coming for the day. He is always fun and his vocabulary is improving daily. Regarding Nathan's family, David tells me he is starting a Blog. Do you think I will live long enough to see that day.

My big brother "Griz" turned 81 last month.

The second half of August is going to set aside for fishing.

Just remember all - "get thee up and be illuminated."

Su Padre