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Show apinion i Plage July 13, 2001 The Summit County Bee A2 Toll Mo About It FmENds by Loon Slmlster Sometimes you gel to wondering if it's all worth it. I lost another one last week . . . another good friend. Seems like you just get one broke in good, just the way you want them, and . . . z ip! They're gone. Makes you really think - lake inventory, count your blessings. And you know what? You suddenly realize that there are few things in this life that count more to you than good friends. It's true. Good friends are hard to come by. When you suddenly realize that your supply of friends are accepting the one. clear call they cannot refuse, then it's time to take a inventory. I had to talk at his funeral, and it was tough. How do you express yourself - your gratitude for his unfailing support? Yes, his (even) patience at putting up with all your faults, little tics, and inconsistencies? I hadn't thought about it all that much, hut the sudden realization that friends are perhaps one of the - if not the - most valuable ingredients in your entire lifetime roles of spouse, (not at all to diminish the family, religion, etc.), but, rather, to inventory the truly important items that give your life the marvelous quality you've noticed, in retrospect, that you've had now for Yeah, friends have lesser qualities, kxi. fhey forget things that you thought they should not have forgotten. They borrow things. Never mind that sometimes they is for these things (thank forget where home-bas- e heaven we have friends there, so they can borrow). facAnd, oh yes, they seem to have a sort of 'built-i- n tor that enables them to selectively remember only those things that keeps them just barely free of total blame when things get all screwed up. Their big suit, though, is that - come Hell nr high water - they're there when you need 'em. That's their big halc-ou- t. And, oddly enough . . . gratefully, of course. . . their reasoning is plenty ample. I have to think back hut I remember when I was a kid. on our block - well, actually two blocks (folks used to call it Brigham's Alley - the Brigham Young thing, you know - so many kids from all his stretch of two wives). Well, anyway, on our 800-foblocks, there were, at one time, about 40 kids - that's one kid for about every 20 lineal feet of road. Some were older and got married off or moved to live closer to their job as they became old enough to leave the nest, etc., but about 40 of 'em was the grand total. And it seems as if all our parents shared pretty close relationships because the kids seemed to wander in and out of all the houses on these two blocks sort of unregulated, I guess you'd say. In any event, all us neighbors seemed to get along real well. In other words, we were all friends. But then, those were the days when there was only one car (or less) per family, and people seemed to be home more, so everyone was easier to keep track of. (sigh) It seems that in today's hurry-up- ,' world, we dont really have time to establish the kind of true friendships there used to be. change from a Obviously, with our modern-da- y home-baslocation and flower-bordere-d green-law- n to it's lot, we've lost more than the homey, atmosphere. We may have lost the most important thing one could ever bring into . . the incomparable ingredient of true their and lasting friendships. I suppose, because my good friend. Well, non-plu- s, Jim. is gone now, and with him, a large chunk of a very special atmosphere and an inimitable closeness that is terribly painful from which to recuperate. Yes, and every time we lose a friend, the pit gets a little deeper - causing me to think that it may be time for each of us to pause just a while . . . maybe just long in order to sot of enough to inventory our friend-lis- t, . . . examine what could be one of the most important blessings life can provide for each of us; that of reestablishing all of our years of accumulated, binding, dutiful, lasting friendships. One of my favorite quotes is about this very thing. I don't even know who gets credit for it - that Anonymous guy, I suppose. So it just has to be our Thought for the day: Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch. Sometimes they hold you up, and sometimes they lean on you. Sometimes its just enough to know theyre standing by." e, good-neighb- or life-styl- e. ed recently came across an interesting ''letter of written thoughts by George Carlin in which he brought out a lot of points that reflects how I feel so I thought I would share them with you. The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, hut less time; we have more degrees, but less sense- - more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry ton quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced school to obtain an education it is silly not to use it the main thing is to remember what is truly important in life is family and friends, and the good things we do for one another. The news seems to be filled with articles and talk of parents doing in their children in such a manner as drowning, stabbing, burning, etc. and part of me just hurts so bad when I hear these things. Recently I attended a game which my grandson was playing in. I watched with interest as parents mingled together shouting out encouraging words and cheering on all the children not just their own. What a wonderful thing it was to watch and be a part of. A friend shared with me her own idea for creating lasting memories. On each occasion of her childrengrandchil-dren'- s birthdays and subsequent birthday celebrations and any time there is something special going on in their lives, she writes a poem or letter to share her feelings with them. As I was reading some of her poems, I was struck by the simplicity but LOVE that is exhibited in each of them. They may not be novels, but they are sure to be treasured by her family through generations to come. Now, these two ideas show what life should really be. Hope you had a great Fourth of July. I certainly did, and I took the day off to do absolutely nothing but relax and forget my job and just be with my family. Thought for the week: Each day we can renew our commitment to made someone happy. Keep smilin' and reach for the stars. See ya next time fl our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. Weve conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've done larger things, hut not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication. These are the times tit fast foods and slow digesA tion; tall men. and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; More leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, stands, overweight throwaway morality, bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill. A time when there is much in the show window, and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can allow you to either share this insight or just hit delete. WOW! Are his words thought provoking or what? They made me take notice as I do agree with them. For some reason lately I have been thinking about days gone by and how life was so different years ago. At the risk of touching on a subject many would disagree with me on - I wonder ? what life would be like right now, if mothers still stayed at home with their children, dad's worked to make a living, and they actually visited with neighbors and friends and enjoyed just relaxing on the front porch while drinking lemonade. During the past two yeas, I have talked with so many women who said they wished they stay home or only work part time. The main reason? " I just miss my kids. On the flip side, there are often times that life dictates we must do what we have to d if that means working to make a living or to keep a roof over head then it must be done. If a woman goes to one-nig- Sam Dawson who was fatally injured near Woodland on July 20, after hitring a deer with his motorcycle. Gurr was remembered as an officer of high integrity and was esteemed by his family, coworkers and friends. At his funeral services h, dedicated he was remembered as a good, father serving as a scout leader when his sons were scouts and little league leader when they played in little league. Guit was apparently shot after exiting his vehicle while in pursuit of a male and female who were involved in a dispute. down-to-eart- Westbound Festival Scries 2001 r4 last hr not fiftfn ' Got a News Tip? Call us today! 336-550- 1 DL Summit PUBLISHERS &. Staff County Dick Buy Sin Buy Balkan Chriaianaan PaulMcFaa Mona Oyde Lauria Wynn Dam Godfrey QmpMcDaetgn Annana Moday TaraCaM Jon Muir Laon Barrow onto Pagbi tfownf 84036, no later than noon to be considered Monday for that week's issue of the paper coming out on Friday. The letters must be hand signed with full address and telephone number of the person writing the letter. No letter will be published under an assumed name. Name may be withheld on request at the discretion of the managing editor or publisher of The Summit County Bee. They must not Kamasj, ITT 435-649-- 23 tion to the SaMMrt County Bee? YOU Kamas Office, P.O. Box 225, two-weeke- subscrip- before tfifr referee Aontr Coalville, UT 8401 7 or the The Westbound Festival Scries 2001, a event in July, celebrates the best music, art, literature and humanities of the 'WesL. The first weekend's festival activities, July 14 15 at The Canyons Resort, focus on Human and Natural Resources of the West. The festivals second weekend, July 21-2- 2 at Park City Mountain Resort, focus on Celebrating the Contributions of Western Women. Hours are from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available at die gate. Please contact The Summit Institute far more 15. information Penalty: l0-ya- Don't let ihlr happen to you? Call 336-5- 5 01 and sofrffirfce to t he SoMtolt County Bee do-an- i Roosevelt Police Chief Killed In Line of Duty . ht - The Summit County Bee welcomes Letters To The Editor on any subject They must adhere to the following guidelines: They must be received to the Coalville Office, P.O. Box 7, T-b- Stop the Gatoe! f Regional News Notes Cedi Gutr, head of the Roosevelt law enforcement department for 20 yean, lost his life July 6, while involved in a domestic dispute investigation Friday evening. His death follows Sandy Police Chief Pam s PIace I Letters To The Editor Policy Continuedfrom page At OfflM toAjywl ProducWen S Praaa JayPimoel Jim Mur Amalia Mokay DanCarBa RandiCarHa Jarova Fanaro Donna Hairtaon Daron North Nancy Daw KanHaaknga KanMcFae Sharon Paca Malania Townlay Karon Dawa Stuffing Cm DauaHunMaa Ed Bateman m .a. uooy Mona Clyde norm Mika Ford LaRaaPadro The Summit County Bee (UPSP a publuhed mrkly far $ 16 par year in Sununit County, Senior Qtixn Diacount, $13 ia county; $21 by Wmx Publishing Inc., 16$ South, 100 Wat, Hebcr City, UT 84032. Periodicak Fntagt hid at Coalville, UT 84017. POSTMASTER Send addrero change! to The SwnrnK County Bee, tJO. Boa 7, Coalville, UT 84017. The entire contents of this newspaper is CopyrightO 2001 The Summit County Bee -andor Wave Publishing, Inc. AH rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Managing Editor or Publisher. 525-64- I 7 POOR |