To Mall or Not

I was talking to JoAnn this week and she told me how much she enjoyed going to the mall with the daughters while in Boise. I said, we go to malls here, but her response was, "No, we go to stores, but not malls. There aren't many." She is right, there aren't many malls in Las Vegas, but there are lots of outdoor shopping areas where stores are mixed together. The indoor malls are few and far between. In only know of two, and one is on the strip. JoAnn suggested she just missed going to the mall and really enjoyed it.

On Friday on the way home from the Temple I decided I would stop at Meadows Mall, one of our few malls, and give it a try. I walked in through Macys, looked at overpriced clothing that I wouldn't wear anywhere, then walked through miles and miles of cosmetic counters, women who were ready to do makeup (or whatever) and finally out into the mall. I was hungry and thought I would look for the food court. Okay, I'm not what I would call a discriminating eater when I'm hungry. No food court. At least I couldn't find it. Obviously this isn't a real mall.

Undeterred I continued my foray through the mall. JoAnn told me that Dillards had lots of new Fiesta dinner-ware, so I gave it a try. As I walked in the store I was met by those miles and miles of cosmetic counters, women's clothes and no household goods in sight. There was an escalator and I escaped up it only to find more women's clothes. It was an effort to find the down escalator. Thank goodness for signs and arrows. Dillards failed me, now what? Obviously food wasn't going to be part of my mall experience. I decided to just sit down for a few minutes and relax. No seats in the mall! Now I really am beginning to question the wisdom of coming to this mall. There is a child's play area with seats, but that's it and it was a madhouse.

Finally, as I walked back into Macy's I found a seat. Not really a seat but a bench and anyway, I'm done. I'm on my way out, if I can just get through those cosmetic counters one more time.

As I drove away I was thinking to myself, "It's a good thing JoAnn has daughters to go to the mall with, because it's not going to be me." Ask Krissie about the time I took her to the mall in Bloomington. It's definitely NOT a guy thing - at least this guy!

Days with a New Granddaughter

Today is the 12 day anniversary of little Charlotte Ann Bradley. Named for her maternal great grandmother. As Sally said, when I saw her I knew she was a Charlotte.

Each birth is special and even as a grandfather you experience a great wonder with the birth of each child. You realize how special life is, how important family is, and how wonderful it is to have these new spirits as a gift and responsibility. As you hold them for the first time you realize the miracle of life that is provided for our responsibility to raise up and educate them.


The first few days I'm not sure Charlotte ever saw any chance to just lay around. She was held by everyone and when not held she was sleeping. You don't dare put her on the floor since her big brother thinks that a pat (okay, a thump) on the head is sweet. He will learn not to be quite so rough, but he too is young.

It was great to see my daughters, granddaughters, grandsons, and my eternal companion welcome this new young lady into our lives. Leaving JoAnn behind with almost every birth we have experienced reinforces the ideal of motherhood that endures with each generation allowing her to forge that special bond with the next generation. Whether she is holding the baby, playing with the children, or reading ... memories are being built.

Bonnie and JoAnn reading. Note the next book to be read is already in Bonnie's hand.

Time with My Dad

I spent the weekend with my Dad in Modesto, California. Because we used to live so far away, and after a point in time Dad quit traveling, I started to spend a week with him every May 6 or 7 years ago. For me that was an important week. I would stay out in the motor home, which was a great place to stay, and then spend the week with Dad. We watched softball, baseball, or whatever was on television. It rarely changed. The important thing was that we spent time together.

My favorite photo of Dad, taken in 1992.

Now that I live closer we can get up to Modesto 3 or more times a year. We have moved from the motor home to my sister's extra room and it puts less stress on Dad.

I went up to talk about his future. He is 89 and beginning to feel his age.

As we were sitting in the living room on Sunday afternoon he started talking about playing American Legion baseball in Clarinda, IA. That had to be about 1934-1936, or in that time frame. He was pretty good, according to him, and of course I believe him. He played pitcher, catcher, and shortstop. He told me that he never lost a game as a pitcher, at least according to the Clarinda newspaper box score. In reality he lost a number of games. There were 3 pitchers, Dad (Don), Don McNeal, and another fellow he couldn't remember. Don McNeal never won a game. That wasn't true, but since Don McNeal was African-American, the newspaper would never report a win for him or a loss for Dad. Today, we know that is unfair, but in those years he was lucky to even be able to play. Iowa is and was different from the south, but was not unbiased.

Dad told me that the pitchers would rotate during the game. He would pitch for an inning or 2 and then play catcher while McNeal did the same, then they would rotate positions. Obviously the rules were different then. As catcher he could see what pitches were working and when he went back to pitch he could adjust.

Dad actually thought he might have a chance to play baseball professionally, but they moved to Des Moines his junior year in high school and he found out that good in Clarinda was only average in Des Moines. I still think he was probably pretty good!

It was another something I didn't know about my Dad.

The Critics Review is In

I just returned from Spanish Fork and Boise where we spent time with children, grandchildren, and the newest grandchild of all - little Charlotte. That is one of the great experiences of being a grandfather.

Since we had some free time (me, not JoAnn) I took Suzanne, the 4 kids, and Mike (our son) to lunch on Tuesday. The girls were all up for McDonald's, but I didn't drive all the way to Boise for a big Mac. So I selected a downtown restaurant, with Mike' help, that is a fast-food Mexican, I enjoy. So we went.

Later in the afternoon daughter Jeni called to say she had received an email from Suzanne's oldest daughter, Ellen, describing lunch, and it was a classic...

"Grandpa took us to lunch today. It was no fun!"

Okay, from now on I will stick to fast food restaurants with play areas. My lesson is learned.

Charlotte Day 2

Suzanne sent this photo from her phone. We aren't sure but we think it might be Ellen holding her. JoAnn says, look how long those fingers are.

Fireworks in Utah, Baby in Idaho

Doesn't that sound good and a little bit later this morning we start the grandparent journey northward. First to experience fireworks (real fireworks, not the kind I cause) in Spanish Fork and then on Monday to see that new little girl (see photo in previous blog) in Boise. I know Charlotte is the reason we give to head north, but when we get a chance to visit 9 of our grandchildren in one almost straight line (with just a little curve west) you can't pass it up. What I haven't figured out is how to keep the line moderately straight and add Denver and Des Moines. I will keep working on a plan to achieve that.

And yes, this photo represents how I feel packing the car sometimes, especially when we traveled with 7 children.

Charlotte Ann at About 8 Hours

Isn't she cute! Taken by Mom or Dad with an iPhone. This is as good as the resolution gets, but she is beautiful.

On Being a Grandpa - again!

One of the nice things about technology is you get to know quickly, or moderately quickly, when you have a new granddaughter. That happened today, sometime early afternoon. We are proud grandparents of a baby girl who is 8 pounds 13 ounces and 21 inches long. Small for a Bradley, but above average for our other grandchildren. We have talked to the new Mom and she is doing well, although the hospital was full and she had to wait for a room following the delivery. We are proud of her and new Dad is off to get Bonnie and Chas to see their new little sister. And no, we don't know the name yet.

So, about being a Grandpa, it is great. On Monday afternoon we will see our new young lady. We are excited. I'll post a photo when I get one. It's not the highest priority with the kids right now.