From Dad May 1, 2016

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Re: Letter 71 of 3

Dear Riley:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I neglected to wish you a happy birthday last Sunday, but Bro. Pinegar called on your birthday and asked that we relay his birthday wishes to you. What a week! Things are at a fever pitch as we move toward the wedding and I’m getting a little nervous about my portion of the responsibilities. I had obligations every day but in retrospect, the way things worked out was completely satisfying. I’m also a little stressed about the unfinished work in the yard and garden, but what’s to be done when almost every spare moment I have is also punctuated with rain. Today it was beautiful and sunny. Last Sunday it was beautiful and sunny. Yesterday it was cloudy with rain. Tomorrow will be more of the same. I’m still waiting for a good time to check the bees, which I hope are doing ok. Well, at least as long as it’s raining it isn’t freezing and that means my apricots are still ok. It looks like we’ll have tons this year.

I had a blessed turn of events at work. The last phase of the equipment installation involves the instrumentation. This is what enables me to monitor and control temperature, pressure, flow, agitation, etc. What it required was beyond my expertise and I really didn’t know where to start. My impression to contact the robotics and automation department at UVU didn’t yield the results I hoped for, but did provide clarity on the skills I was looking for. I went online and found someone local who seemed to have the necessary skills to help me, but was unable to make contact for several weeks. In the meantime, I had people contacting me from places as far off as Turkey, Venezuela, and India all claiming to be able to assist with my project. I just felt the individual here in Orem was the one I should be working with so I did a little sleuthing online and was able to find his address. Would you believe he lives about four blocks diagonally from me? It turned out to be a good fit, I went by his home, was able to make contact, and I’ve been working with him the past week. As it turned out, he had grown discouraged by never getting any work from the online contracting side jobs he had applied for and simply stopped checking his account. If I hadn’t dropped by, it’s likely I never would have got him. As I look at the spreadsheet he generated mapping all the parameters and equipment needs I can understand why my head was swimming, and am so grateful to have someone working on it for me. In the end, I’ll have everything on a central computer screen, data logging, mobile access and control with alarms sent to my phone if any parameters fall outside established set points. What this means is peace of mind, and repeat-ability of my process without long nights and early mornings to keep things under control. Also, no more scraping Pyrex drying trays! It’s all pretty exciting and a long time in coming. I think you’ll be impressed by what we accomplished over the past two years.

I don’t think I mentioned the passing of CH a couple weeks ago, but J M passed away on the 28th so I’ll be conducting another funeral on Tuesday. These things frequently come in threes and there are a number of other members dancing on the fringes of mortality. It’s just the price we pay for the wonderful association we share with those in their golden years. GS is among those who may not last long. She’s such a dear woman and we’ve been so blessed by her friendship, I don’t want to say goodbye.

Well, I need to sign off and send. I hope your new area is proving fruitful and you’re in a good companionship. I sort of think your mission president sends you to areas to get things moving and that you end up planting a lot of seeds that will bear fruits in the future, but every area you’ve worked was at one time unplowed soil. We’re looking forward to Mother’s Day and your final call home before you head home. I can hardly believe it. Take care, be obedient and safe.

Love,

Dad