"The Wednesday Letters" Book Review

"The Wednesday Letters" By: Jason F. Write

I really enjoyed this book. When I had initially heard about it I was told it was about siblings that find letters that their Father wrote to their Mother over the years. Quite honestly, that is the gist of the plot. But, as with every book, it was how they found them and how they dealt with the revelations in them that made all the difference.

This book has all the great attributes of a high functioning dis-functional family. There is lost loves, and sibling rivalries. There are tempers and dreams not quite reached. It starts with a marriage that lasted 39 years to only end with them dying on the same night. The weekend of their funerals thier three children find the Love letters thier Dad wrote to thier Mom every week on Wednesday. Oh the revelations found in those letters!

This would definately go under the "heart warming" catagory I think. It is not a long read, and I would say it is completely worth it.

9/11 Remembered

Today we as a nation remembered what happened to us a decade ago. We remembered the lives lost, the sacrifices given during and afterward, and the change that has subsequently come over EVERYONE since that day.

I remember I was on my way to early morning seminary. I remember that we did not learn anything that day in school. I remember being angry.

After a watching a few really inspirational and depressing memorial shows on TV in a Days Inn in St George, Utah I remembered something else... Life goes on.

My friend Jennie got married on Saturday in the St George temple. What a beautiful thing. I only got to attend the reception, but it was gorgeous and one could tell that they loved each other.

Two people start a life together, and the next day we are reminded of the horror that overtook our country. In a time when the war abroad is still being questioned I got to see the reason why we have to try so much harder to make sure that it never happens again. I am so thankful on this day for those that guard our shores against further attack. I am happy still that Bin Laden is dead. As one of the majority in this country that enjoy the beauties of freedom without actually having to fight for it myself, I appreciate those that do for me.

Mostly, I remember the pain that was caused ten years ago, and that we got through it. We continue to get through it. To thrive and continue growing from the ashes. Maybe this is the best retaliation. To show those that hate us for be us that they can not keep us down, we will stand again, we will fight, we are up for the challenge.

My friend Cate recently read a book by Jim Butcher, it was one of the Harry Dresden books, and she told me about a line in it. (*don't worry book lovers, this does not ruin any plots) Harry is learning how to do magic. He is fooling around and gets reprimanded by his teacher. I have not read it so do not know the exact phrases used, but in the process of reprimanding him he tells Harry that mediocrity is the worst fate for a person, and something to the effect of you have to choose to be exceptional. I'm sure Jim Butcher was much more inspirational about it. But it got Cate thinking, and in turn has gotten me thinking as well.

This country is full of extraordinary people. People from all walks of life, and every corner of the land. A great deal of them lost their lives ten years ago today, and more loose their lives everyday in a far away land that probably ends with -stan. They fight for our freedoms. They fight for our right to become extraordinary people and make a difference in our own way.

There is beauty in that I think.... we continue to live, to thrive, to get married, and go to school.

We continue, this is my constant tribute to those that fight, to make a difference in this world they keep free for us.