Where are you Horse L. S.?

Well, today is my Mom's birthday, so happy birthday Mom!

Tonight I just thought I'd write a few lines for the fun of it. I reported a while back that we're nearing homeownership, which is both exciting and scary. I can't say that I've ever questioned my overall job security more than the last month (being heavily in debt causes some major questions to appear in the mind, baseless or not), but I'm good, so no worries. We're closing on Friday and receive the keys on Saturday, which has us totally pumped.

Well, that's not really what I wanted to talk about tonight. I just wanted to reminisce a little. Tonight my dad and I talked on the phone about music, and I related that I've been buying a few great classic tracks on the web these days, and he related to me that I used to rock out to them when I was very little. So I decided to take a little trip down memory lane. Here's the playlist so far:

Hold On Tight - Electric Light Orchestra
Your Wildest Dreams - The Moody Blues
Don't Bring Me Down - Electric Light Orchestra
25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago
Beginnings - Chicago
Feeling Stronger Everyday - Chicago (my computer is stuck on that artist)
Lookin' Out My Back Door - Creedence Clearwater Revival
...

I have to confess that it brought me nearly to tears to listen to some of these songs. I have such good memories of listening to music with my Dad. Inevitably when I became a teenager and then an early adult, and having the strong, independent personality that I have, there were a few years that my relationship with my Dad wasn't perfect. However, in the last couple of years, with the occasional hiccup interspersed here and there, I've come to really like my Dad again, and he has become a great friend. And as I've thought about that, and have put some of these tunes on the speakers, I remember how much I loved spending time with him when I was really young...like when we first moved to Florida, and even earlier (I have a few faint memories of Rock Springs and Orem still too). We listened to music a lot then too.

Part of me wishes I could be that little kid again. I miss the simplicity of life. I miss the "pool" that my sister and I dug in the backyard (and had to be hosed off after swimming in it). I miss my dog Spike and my cat Ralph (named for my best friend at the time). I miss watching He-Man and flying kites and riding bikes and getting John Deere tractors for Christmas. (The title is a reference to a springy plastic riding horse that I had as a kid.)

The other part of me, and frankly most of me, is very happy to be exactly where I am now and who I am now. The Book of Mormon challenge issued by President Hinckley has been very therapeutic for me--I feel renewed spiritually, where I've sometimes felt weak over the past months. I'm also doing a pretty darn good job at work (at least I think so), and I think that my wife and I have reached a sweet period in our relationship, where I enjoy planning and living our life together. I'm excited for the horizons that lie ahead of us.

Well, enough rambling. I hope this means something to someone else out there. It means a lot to me.

Steve