Is that all there is?

Farm life was hard. Everyone worked around the clock six days a week. On Sundays Dad and my brothers didn't go to the fields, but the livestock and chores still had to be tended to. Farmers didn't take vacations but we did go on overnight fishing trips to the Cottonwood River,  about forty miles from our farm.  Oh, how I loved those fishing trips! That river was on land owned by a family that were relatives, but at the time, I didn't realize they were "relatives".  Sometimes they came to visit on Sundays but then a lot of people did that.  I think a whiff of my mother's fried chicken drew people from miles around.  Now, join me for a nice surprise:  I received a letter from one of the two daughters of the family who owned the land around the river where we fished. One of them had found my blog on the web! To my delight,  after all these many years, I find that these two are my second cousins!  I had two first cousins but I didn't like them very much because they were city kids who didn't fish, hunt or ride their horse to see the neighbors.

This is May 7. Thirty-one years ago today Ted and I drove into Bear Valley to live and build a church. When we awoke the first morning there was a foot of snow on the ground and we were so excited! ...like two little kids again.  I still am!  I love where I live!  I sleep on my deck in the summer. A bed is already waiting there;  however I just heard that we may have snow today.  Oh, well.

I squirreled away enough tips from eight years of playing once a month at the Apple Shed to buy new carpet and some window shades for my home. I dumped buckets of dollar bills on the desk of the secretary at Abbey Carpet Company,  she laughed out loud and started counting! The very next week after my last night at The Shed (The new young owner changed the name.)  the manager at our community golf shop here in Bear Valley asked if I would be willing to play outside on a Saturday night at our Mulligan Room restaurant. You bet! I have dragged my Yamaha Grand Piano keyboard with all of its do-dads out of storage and this Saturday night will begin a new outdoor music adventure if it's warm enough.  I plan to host some Gospel Singalongs this summer on my deck and up under the Family Oak above my house. Wanna come? The view is spectacular! BYOC: Bring your own chair.

As I was sorting through stacks of music this week I found Peggy Lee's "Is That all There Is?" from the 70's. The words could have been written by people we see every day.   Read 'em and weep.

I remember when I was a very little girl our house caught on fire.
I'll never forget the look on my father's face as he gathered me up in his arms 
And raced through the burning building out onto the pavement.
I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched the whole world go up in flames,
And when it was all over I said to myself: "Is that all there is to a fire?"

When I was twelve years old my father took me to the circus: "The Greatest Show on Earth". 
There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears; and a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads. And as I sat there watching the marvelous spectacle I had the feeling that something was missing. I don't know what, but when it was over I said to myself: "Is that all there is to the circus?"

And then I fell in love, head over heels in love with the most wonderful boy in the world.
We would take long walks by the river or just sit for hours, gazing into each other's eyes.
We were so very much in love.  Then one day he went away and I thought I'd die, but I didn't. 
And when I didn't I said to myself: "Is that all there is to love?"

I know what you must be saying to yourselves: "If that's the way she feels about it, why doesn't she just end it all?"  Oh, no, not me. I'm in no hurry for that final disappointment 'cause I know just as well as I'm standing here talking to you: When that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath, I'll be saying to myself

IS THAT ALL THERE IS?  IS THAT ALL THERE IS?
IF THAT'S ALL THERE IS, MY FRIENDS, THEN LET'S KEEP DANCING.
LET'S BREAK OUT THE BOOZE AND HAVE A BALL IF THAT'S ALL THERE IS.

Bummer. Our Heavenly Father has quite a different message for us,  His kids:  "Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him, you believe in Him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." I Peter 1:8.

Love, Jo