I’m sure you have all had experiences where you remember exactly where you were or what you were doing when you heard the “news.” I know I have.
I know where I was the day of John F. Kennedy’s funeral. I was in the doctor’s office, I had strep throat, I was nine; it was Monday, November 25, 1963.
Oddly enough I remember I had strep throat 10 years later. On Monday, December 31, 1973; Val and I had gone to the late showing of the movie “The Sting” in Salt Lake City and as we were running to the theater on that cold, cold night I developed a very bad sore throat that turned to strep.
On Tuesday, January 28, 1986, I was on my way to get my hair cut when I heard this news; the Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded. I couldn't get the those families involved out of my mind.
On Tuesday, September 5, 1989, we were rushing to Woodland in hopes of seeing Dad one last time. We heard a Code Blue called shortly after arriving at the hospital in Woodland. I remember frantically running to find my friend Susie who was an ER nurse working at the hospital at the time. What I hoped for that day wasn’t meant to be.
On Saturday, March 31, 1990, we had just arrived home from a swim meet. Val was hurriedly changing so he could go to the church to listen to the Priesthood session of conference. He didn’t go to conference that night. We would pack the car and head to Roseville. Val’s brother Doyle had just died of a brain aneurysm. Six months earlier we had buried my Dad.
It was Tuesday again and I was standing in our bedroom watching the news it was September 11, 2001; rarely did we turn the news on in the morning we did for some reason that day. Val had just flown home from Salt Lake the day before. We watched in utter unbelief as did the rest of the country.
This time it was a Thursday and I was at my desk at work. The date was May 15, 2003. Jamison was just two days old. Grant called to tell us she might be blind. I remember trying to say words of comfort to him; later I learned he thought I seemed unconcerned. He didn’t know after hanging up I fell into a heap on the floor weeping in unbelief. So far away I felt. We would leave the next day to be with Grant and Brittani and to meet our sweet Jamison.
On January 7, 2004, a Wednesday, William was born. David calls with the news that they suspect William has Down Syndrome. Again at my desk, this time at home. Again I sat in disbelief; again I felt so far away; could this be true. Although at that point the diagnoses had not been confirmed, my anxiety level was over the top; so far away I felt. Several days later on the way to work I had a melt down so to speak and reached over and grabbed Val’s shirt and ripped it……fortunately we weren’t far from home so we turned around so he could change. I laugh at myself now. When it was confirmed that William did have Down Syndrome I was at my desk at work. Although I knew in my heart of hearts the phone call was merely a confirmation. Again I was weeping, I’m not sure why. At the time we had a college student working for us, her name is Nadine Simms. From time to time she would use the spare desk in my office and on that particular day (and I’m sure for very good reason) she was in my office when I took that phone call. After I hung up she asked me if everything was okay. I proceeded to tell her about William. She smiled and gave me a hug and said, “Oh, everything will be okay.” “He will be a wonderful blessing.” “I have a sister who has Down Syndrome.” I never knew. Nadine was my blessing that day.
On Monday, July 23, 2007, I witnessed the birth of grandbaby number eight, Maxwell Reed Francom. This was the first time I had been able to witness the birth of one of our grandchildren. Priceless.
On Sunday, August 12, 2007, I answered the phone to hear Jim’s voice on the other end say, “she’s gone, Mom’s gone.” Val was in Farmington, New Mexico. I was home alone; at my desk.
On Friday, February 29, 2008, we were at the temple. We felt sure that grandbaby number nine would be a leap year baby. He didn’t; Teigen James Allred was born March 1, 2008, just hours after midnight.
On Wednesday, July 2, 2008, driving down 101 headed for home; just hours earlier we had talked to Kimberly. Little Miss Mary was here! David calls (note to self when David calls hand the phone to Val). I motioned for Val to take the next exit so we could return back to work inasmuch as I had taken work home that night and knew instantly we would be on a plane to Kansas the next day. Back at work I talked with those who are my “working family.” The next morning we were on a flight to Kansas. Mary has Down Syndrome; Kimberly is in surgery.
These are just a few of my “where were you” moments. They are important moments to me and a constant reminder that life is short, life is sweet, and life can change without warning. But most importantly this I know my life is blessed.
