"Decoration Day"

My first memory of "Decoration Day" (Memorial Day) was as a young girl living in Dragerton, UT. We would make flowers out of different mediums so we could transport them to Fruita, CO. We would spend weeks folding crepe paper into beautiful roses, carnations, etc. and then carefully put them in very attractive arrangements and put them in the trunk of our car to transport for placement on my brother's and my uncle's graves. We would then go visiting several friends and relatives in the area. Mom would have already called up Wadell's Meat Store and arranged to pick up a side of beef that would be frozen solid for the three hour trip. We would pick up the meat just before heading home.

This Decoration Day finds me placing fresh flowers on my son's grave and then traveling to Price to place fresh flowers on my parent's graves. There is, also, a little girl's grave in Price that we will visit. Her name is Amanda Dean. I'm sure Amanda's parents have long since moved since ours are the only flowers on her grave each Decoration Day. When we would visit Price from our home in California, Amanda would come and play with my daughters, Marti and Kristi. My Mom said Amanda would always check with her to see when we were coming for a visit - she frequently visited my parents.

While in Price we will have lunch with my brother, Bob, and maybe even my Uncle Perry and Aunt Dot. It will be a great time. My Uncle Perry (my mother's brother) recently celebrated his 80th birthday and it's always a delight to visit with him.

This year those traveling to Price will be: Sandra, Bill, Marti, Richard, Michael, Lyssa and Matyson. Maybe next year there will be more of us. Last year (see the picture) it was the same group, except Matyson was to be born just two months later.