More Than Words

Four years ago I went to my cousin Ashley's funeral and for the first time really understood the power of the non-spoken word. The interpreter signing for the speakers was amazing. For those of you who are unfamiliar with sign language, it is expression in face and body and the manner in which things are signed -- the physicality of the signing -- that convey the emotion and subtle nuances in meaning that hearing people express using volume and inflection. And just like some people are more dynamic speakers than others, some people sign more eloquently than others.

Beautifully.

Today I will attend the funeral of my cousin Camille, Ashley's younger sister. There will be an interpreter who will sign what words alone cannot express. It is fitting. But can anything capture Cami's vibrant spirit, the memories, the joy and the sorrow? We are all inadequate to the task.

Cami's beautifully written obituary gives a glimpse of my beautiful cousin's life:

"Camille blessed the family of Richard DeYoung and Marilyn Tiller Call with her birth on October 3, 1978. She was born deaf and loved her life as part of the Deaf community. Her life was short but her accomplishments were amazing, she was never just ordinary. ... Camille had a great time growing up in both Riverton and Taylorsville. She had wonderful hearing friends who learned sign language in both neighborhoods. Her life long Deaf friends and their families were always precious to her. Camille graduated from Cottonwood High School with honors in 1996. She was included in Who's Who of America's High School Students all three years. She graduated from Utah State University in 2000. During her college years she served as Miss Deaf Utah. She attended the Miss Deaf America Pageant three times, first as a contestant and later as a chaperone. She next served an LDS mission to Portland, Oregon and loved the Deaf community there. Her work life included teaching at the Missionary Training Center at BYU, mentoring families with deaf children and serving as an ASL instructor for Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind. She served in Relief Society presidencies and Young Women's presidency for LDS Deaf Wards. Her crowning achievements; however, were her marriage to Samuel Garcia, Jr. in the Salt Lake Temple December 28, 2002, and giving life to two special sons, AJ (Alberto Jordan) Garcia (4) and Ashton Samuel Garcia (3). She will continue to love and guide them from above."

On this day, at this time, I am especially sorry that I cannot sign.

I only have words.

You Know How I Feel About Politics...

I've posted before about partisanship (stinks). And my less-than-pleasant experience as a county and state delegate (now jaded). But reading my friend Pmom's blog just now I had a bit of an amen moment. So bear with me as I borrow some of her words:

"I don’t want a tax cut. The American tax burden is at the lowest rate it’s been in years. There are services I want from my government: lower class sizes, better transit, and more people with healthcare, and I am willing to pay for them. What I don’t want to see is an increase in the debt."

"This may be judgmental, but when I hear someone mention “Obamacare,” I wonder if the person has thought through these issues. To me, the term “Obamacare” suggests the worst of talk radio, punditry, hype, politics for politics sake, perhaps even hatred."

(Talk radio -- meh! Bunch of haters.)

"Although I consider myself conservative, I don’t want my representative to be the conservative voice on every issue every time. Conservative is not a synonym for right or good. I want my representative to make the best possible decision every time. I want her to be a voice for what is right, for what is good, for the powerful and for the powerless. If these decisions and opportunities coincide with conservatism, then great. If something else, then great. The label isn’t important, the thinking is."

(What she said.)

You can read the whole post here.

Yummy

I bought a mutlti-pack of "fruit bars" from Costco last week and didn't get around to sampling until yesterday -- last one, last flavor. It was unbelievably good. Frozen lemonade deliciousness.

I think I'm ruined for other popsicles.

Thanks For Noticing Me

Thanks for your comments... and non-comment, Adam! Didn't know you were a lurker. At least not here.

Helen! How fun to hear you read my blog. I could write a post dedicated to my brief experience with your hub. But that might be weird. On the other hand, why stop now? Cliff Notes version: Stalker in JSB. Front-row Joe at Varsity theater, where hyper movie guy's candy toss ends up beaning me in the forehead with a Jolly Rancher. Nicest nicest guy will make an excellent husband for someone. Years pass and my sister's amazing friend is engaged to this great guy whose name sounds familiar. The next summer my girls and I go with sis to Ryan and Helen's new home for dinner. It is yummy.

I love that story.

Anyone else out there?

Pmom, I actually already blogged about the flourless chocolate cake here but it was Thanksgiving season, so you probably didn't rush right into the kitchen to make it. But you should. Because it's easy. And yummy. And gluten free.

Melanie, get Aleah or David to make it for you... it will become an invaluable tool in their dating arsenal. And beyond. John Cliff won over my roommate with his homemade lasagna and makes me fall in love again a bit whenever he makes it for me.

The cake is easier than lasagna but just as good. Having both at the same sitting could be dangerous to my health. But great for my psyche. Hmmmm...

Dare You To Comment

So maybe my random thoughts are too random for comment, but I've been wondering exactly who is reading this blog-o-mine? I attempted to use Google analytics to track it, but apparently installed the code incorrectly because I got nothing.

I'm gonna do it the old fashioned way -- begging! Just comment below and I'll enter your name into a drawing. Winner gets a personalized shout-out from yours truly right here on this blog. Be the first kid on your block to comment.

It's a low-tech approach. But I hope it works.

I'l be your friend...