Every place is exotic or commonplace to someone else
                                                                             -Gordon B. Hinckley

Lemon pie this, lemon pie that. No!No!No! It's not like it was in Chile.
Well, what do expect when we live in Utah. But wait! Tourists come
from all over the world to see the place where I work. Temple Square.
Exotic or commonplace? To each his own.
Rootbeer float this, rootbeer float that. No!No!No! It's not like it was in the USA.

Lower Than the Dust

When you feel it can't get any worse: be prepared.
They say things come in threes: boy do I believe it.
Despite my chronic bad luck: I determine to have a good day.


On my way to work I walk through the Salt Lake Temple Grounds.
I spot a pink stick-it note on the ground, a desecration to this sacred place.
I pick it up and slip it in my pocket, without another thought.


Learning from the past, I decide to keep up with the piles of laundry.
I put the pants I wore to work in the wash, without another thought.
Out came the wash, but the pink stain did not.


My good deed of picking up litter backfired on me.
How could this happen! That is not how it works!
Good for good, right? 


And then the lesson came.
Entitlement.
I felt I deserved something better.
When this is not so.


I am entitled nothing.
My God has given me all.
He lends me breath every day.
I am lower than the dust.
Without Him, I am nothing.

My New Name

My arms are now open

My eyes are eternally fixed

Committed.

I cherish what was and gently let go

Let go, but never with goodbye

Memories and love live on

So off we go he and I

For my new name is Simmons

My open arms embrace it