Part 2, Utah diary

I had talked about how the grads marched into the Marriott Center. The above picture is a group of them outside and walking toward the M.C. There was another group across way even bigger. I took this picture off the jumbo screen in the Center.

This is inside the center and the stands across the way are starting to fill with grads. There were more seats that didn't fit in the picture. Those seats on the floor were for the staff and the PHDs and Masters to sit. The stand, of course, was for the deans and speakers. I was seated where I could see the telepromter and I knew what the speaker was going to say before he said it. I thought that was fun. Once it read "don't touch the microphone".

President Uchtdore of the First Presidency received an Honorary Doctoral Degree and after being hooded treated us with stories from his life. He told us that when he was a pilot flying for the German Airline company and he flew over Provo he would always announce "We are now flying over Provo, Utah. Home of the world famous Brigham Young University". He said he never imagined that one day he would be sitting on the stand, receive an honorary degree, and be a member of the First Presidency. He had sat where we were sitting, but at the very top roll when his children graduated from BYU. Picture taked off the jumbo screen.

Inside the Provo Tabernacle. Here Robert and the others would receive there diplomas. The different colleges at BYU each had convacations at different spots in Provo. There were 4 times set so we had to be done before 11 AM so the next college could use this spot. We started at 8 AM and time was not a problem. The grads marched in and sat in the balcony behind us till it was time for them to march across the stage.









This is a shot I took. The light is coming in behind them and you can't see faces but Robert is there. Down they came to the main floor and then down the toward the stage.








This is Robert, only about 2 others between him and his goal! Looks like a smirk on his face. He must of been so full of joy. He worked hard to get to this spot. I am proud of him

Robert Anthony Rivera, Bachelor of Science, Ira A Fulton College of Engineering and Technology. The long hard march is done. My heart was swelling , my eyes were a bit misty. Now we go outside to the garden for snacks and fellowship. Time for good byes and let's keep in touch. We got a friend of Robert's to take this next picture.

After this picture I asked the classmate to take one more just a bit closer. As he moved in I asked him to let me know just before he pressed the shutter. He did and this is what happened.

Robert wishes I had not done that and the person who took the picture said "blackmail picture". Other around laughed but I think some of those were wishing their dads had done that.

So after 4 years, lots of hard work and worry. It is done. I reminded Robert of his first year and how excited he was. His freshman oriation n the Marriott Center where he took a video clip showing the band playing the BYU fight song and the cheer leaders teaching them cheers, everyone with a smile on their face.

Remined him of his first chance to attend conferrance in person. Seeing a mountain just outside his window. His mission was a good teacher for how to handle time how to manage needs and wants. He tells me the first two years were great but the last 2 were a lot of hard work.

I guess I will add a part 3, our leaving the Y and our trip on the road.

Utah for graduation

It was a nice early morning when I boarded the aircraft for Salt Lake City. After many years and many calls from and to my son it was time for him to walk across the stage and receive his degree.

I first flew to Denver where we were surprised to get there early. So we had about 20 mins on the plane before they loaded more passengers. There were only 3 of us that were going on to SLC. Nice time to just chat with the crew and get an extra FULL can of soda! We had a lady captain and she was very friendly and a joy to speak with if only for a few mins.

At last she told us to take our seats as the other were coming down the ramp. I sat in my place and soon a man asked it the seat by the window was taken and I told him no, so he sat there. In no time a young lady asked it the middle seat was open and I told her yes, so she sat there. We smiled at each other and I told her I was going to Provo to see my son graduate and she looked at me and said she was going to Provo to see her mom graduate! Then the man by the window said he was going to go see his son do the same in Provo. As more and more people came on we saw that lots of them were wearing BYU gear!

In a very short time, we landed and parted ways. As I was walking down the concorse I saw the lady that had sat next me ahead and she turned and waved and said bye. I got to where my son was waiting and we were on our way. First stop, Brick Oven for a pizza. They really were good and very filling. Robert wanted to go be with the roommates from his freshman year and told me I was suppose to go too but I was just to tired and begged off and just slept. I had been so pepped up I had not slept the night before.

The Big Day! Commencement Exercises Day. We were up early and went out for breakfast, no food in the house. Then back home for some talk and picture taking. In no time at all it was time to get dress. We left a little early to be able to get a parking place but all of Provo had the same idea. But we found one and soon we were walking to the Marriott Center. As we walked up the stairs I saw a lady and she turned and pointed at me and I pointed at her. As she pointed, she said "your the man from the plane!" and I said "Your the lady from the plane." Of all the people walking toward the center we ended up walking next to each other. I introduced Robert and told him this is the lady I told you about. She took out her cell phone and called someone and said "remember the man I told you about? I am walking up the stairs with him." Then off she went to find her mom.

I went in and found a seat while Robert went on to where the students were meeting. I watched the march into the Marriott Center on the big screen and then as they came into the building everyone stood up. It took them close to an hour for then all to march in and after some time most of the people sat down, me too!

When they announced that there were 6000+ grads I was shocked. I pictured myself there till midnight but BYU does things a bit different. The had all the PHD stand, then the Masters, then the Baccalaureates stand and while they were all standing they awarded the degrees in mass.

We heard from Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the first Presidency and then from Russell M Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve. Both of them gave talks there were very well received. I was glad to hear Elder Nelson talk about how proud he was to be there and how proud the students and parents should be on this day.

Next day, up early and off to the Provo Tabernacle for the convocation service. Once again, Robert and I parted as he went somewhere and I went in to find a seat. Found a good one where I could take pictures. Soon the hour was upon us and the students from the College of Engineering and Technology marched in and took their places in the baloney above. Again, we had talks and then the awarding of degrees. One by one, across the stage walked the graduates. I must confess, as they walked across the stage I thought "Geeks on parade". I told my son about that and he said that is what they called themselfs. He has a Tshirt with Geeks written in Binary. Only a fellow geek would know what it said.

Yes, I cried, but just a little and I don't think anyone saw that. Afterwards we had snacks and drinks in the garden of the Tabernacle. Met the professor and other that taugh my son. Met his boss and he told me Robert was one of the best teacher's assistains he ever had. Not afraid to do gradeing, something even the professer didn't like to do. Told me Robert once came in at 3 AM to do grading that someone had left undone. I told him Robert was a worker and that is how he made it to the Y. I told the professor that Robert had always told me he was going to the Y and that I would tell him that is a fine goal but that so many want to go that it is very hard to get in. The professer told me, "yes, it is very hard to get into BYU and even harder to graduate from BYU".

This will end part one. Part two will have picturs and stories of our drive home and our last few hours at the Y

My Easter

Picture of me, the Easter Bunny, Lianna, Sophie and my son Steven. If you click on picture it gets bigger

This Easter I accepted an invite to spend part of the day with my son's in-laws. I have been invited many times but have turned them down as I felt I didn't fix in with their style. But I am glad I went. I was treated as a king. They even had soft drinks for me. No one even offered me a beer or anything else with alcohol.

It was good to know that they remembered that about me.

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It had been many years since I saw Lianna and Sophie's cousin Audry but she remembered me and she still calls me "grandpa". When Lianna was first born and Audry was born a few days after, Audry's father's family didn't have any thing to do with her. I was always going over and playing with or taking care of Lianna and one day as I was leaving Audry called out "Bye Grandpa". I was about to tell her I was Lianna's grandpa but something make me stop and I thought to myself, Ok, I'll be her grandpa. I was telling Steven's M-I-L that Audry called me grandpa and she said "she always will".

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As the party was ending and some were leaving I realized that I had a good time. I was glad I went. Maybe I'll try to get out more. But I was stuffed and they gave me a plate with ribs, briquit, and sauage to take home. Also they had taken Twinkies and cut then in half and using other small candies made then look like peeps. A real joy to me as I remember Sandra loved peeps. And a big hunk of cake. I just finish the last of my leftover a couple of mins ago. Hope eveyone had a great Easter and took time to remember what Easter is about.

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He lives and because of that fact, I shall rise and see all my family and love ones again.

must be the weather

I really think I should not be writting this or posting it because I do not feel so well. I think I may be coming down with the flu or something. I hurt and I am tired and don't really feel like going on.

Ever have one of those days where things go from bad to worse? Well that has been my weekend. Today I just feel like giving up. This is the first real problem since my wife, Sandra passed. My surgery went well but I didn't expect to hurt so much and to not be able to do much of anything. It has taken this long for me to hold Sophie again but can't lift her as I use to. I can't play with Lianna either. It has been a couple of days pasted 2 weeks since the operation. I guess that is not to long a time for what they did. But then just when I can start to move my arm around again and can touch the top of my head my van quits. And I can't fix it because I am to weak. So my brother in law takes the van to his house and is working on it. I was there last night when I started to come down with what ever I got.

So today, I wake up, arm all sore again. Pain up to my neck. A low grade fever and more aches and pains. And then I go into feeling blue. Depression? And I start to feel alone.

I recall back in 1993 when the doctors told me I had a bad liver and there was no cure. They could not tell me how much time I had. So I went and had my photo taken so that my "little boys" could remember what there dad looked like. Then I recorded a song for my wife. It is named "just beyond the moon". I gave it to my wife and told her to play it if she got sad after I was gone. But life has a few tricks and I was offered a liver transplant. It worked and then when they told Sandra that, at the most, she had about 5 years of life left she gave the recording back to me. Today I dug it out and have been playing it. I even posted it on the side of this posting. I am trying the best to pull myself up. I even agreed to go to my son's in-laws for Easter tomorrow.They have been inviting me to come over for their many BBQ and party but this time I said OK.

So, I will go on and try to get back to my old self.