The Home Goes Public

Charity as a kid never liked the nickname Bean. We've called her that all her life, but it was definitely something she fought in the beginning. Tara was talking with her in the privacy of our own home (I believe it was on Gentry) when she called Charity "Bean." Appalled, Charity gasped, "Don't call me that in public!"

Let me tell you a little bit about Jannie. She has always been a very bright child, not only smart, but happy. And she still brings a very happy presence when she enters a room. She laughs easily and is more tender than all the rest of us. If anyone was to save the world, it would be Jannie. Her tender heart loves all of Heavenly Father's creatures. With that said, she was still the only one brave enough to kill the bugs in the house... when her dad wasn't there. (which was often) However, if you look at it, she was still "saving" us. (That's what I had you for Jannie, to save me!) It's Jannie getting us to do our histories. It's Jannie planning the reunion. It's jammin' Jannie who sits down at the piano to play something by ear for all to enjoy. She composes songs, some with lyrics and some without. I love the little and big tunes she makes up. If there is adventure, she's ready! She is full of life, and life loves her. She radiates with enthusiasm. Jannie is an artist! If you ever look at some of the stuff she's done, you are in awe. Jannie is everybody's friend. And they all love her. So for me Jannie is a delight, a pleasure, and a blessing! Thanks Jannie, for just being you!

Jannie the hair stylist

Can we even remember how many times Jannie helped herself to the scissors and cut her own hair??? I remember one time a friend of mine in the ward said that one of these episodes was the worst she'd ever seen! And I had already fixed it!

The BBQ - This is the way it REALLY happened...

It was Father's Day and Mom was trying to do something special for Dad. She decided barbequeing steaks would be ideal, but she didn't know how to use the barbeque. So Mom had me go out there with her thinking that I might know something about it.

We went out there and started poking around. We turned the ignite knob, but nothing happened. I thought outloud to Mom, "Maybe we need more gas," and I turned up the propane. Still nothing happened. We turned on the burners, then turned the ignite key. Again, nothing. So I turned up the gas. We kept trying the knobs like you try to unlock the combo on a safe, and each time something didn't work, I turned up the gas. By this time, the propane tank was hissing loudly. Frustrated I thought maybe something was wrong with the gas tank itself. I was sitting on my heels when Mom found the magic button (apparently, you have to PUSH IN the ignite button before it will work). In my periferal vision, I saw a huge plume of fire and smoke as it exploded from the barbeque like an atomic bomb - and Mom was still standing right there.

Panicked, I jumped up. "Mom! Are you ok?!?"

She said nothing, just turned her head and looked at me. Between the glazed eyes, curled eyelashes, singed eyebrows, still half-shriveling hair that laid perfectly around her face just moments ago, it was all I could do to keep from laughing. Actually, I couldn't keep from laughing. My mouth just got bigger as I tried to frown the uncontrollable smile from my face. Understandably, Mom was mad at me for laughing. "You don't love me. I could have died," she said as she marched into the house. Her entrance grabbed the attention of all the siblings in the room. As she told the story, I followed after her, trying desparately to catch my breath through the laughter. Between her story and my chortled gasps, everyone else started laughing. Upset and singed, Mom huffed up the stairs hollering, "Nobody loves me! I could have been seriously hurt and you're all just laughing!..."

I don't remember if we ate steaks or not, but guaranteed: Mom did NOT cook them on the grill.

Multi-Linguistical Jayson

Jayson and Sundee were in the basement of our house on Quailbrook. Who knows what Jayson was doing, but Sundee was yapping his ear off. Finally, Jayson got fed up and turned to Sundee saying, "Shut up!"

Sundee gasped and went running upstairs. She found Mom in the kitchen and with a look of you-wouldn't-believe-it on her face, told her the terrible sin Jayson just committed. "Jayson said 'be-quiet' in the other language!"

Mom laughed so hard I don't think Jayson got in trouble at all.

Aaron and Benji - the Guard Dogs

One night at the Gentry house, Aaron was in the backyard petting Benji, the family's favorite bad-dog. The lights were off and the night was quiet. Suddenly a stranger hopped the fence. Aaron waited for Benji to do something, but he was content letting Aaron pet his curly fur. So, Aaron started barking. Then Benji got excited, started barking, and began running to the stranger. The intruder's eyes bulged in fear and he jumped back over the fence faster than he came over it. Goooood doggie-woggies.

Save the Baby!

Didn't Jayson and Aaron drop baby Tiffy on her head when they were fighting over who got to hold her?

Slapping the Roach

Charity and I were really little. We lived on Gentry at the time, and we had a serious problem with roaches coming in with the irrigation. Those little beasts often invaded our home and terrorized us all.

This particular afternoon, I was walking behind Charity in the hallway headed to the living room, when I spied an invader. Usually I would try to kill them right away, but it just so happened to be crawling on Charity's head. I couldn't just squish it in her hair! I wasn't sure what to do, but I couldn't just let it be there. So in an instantaneous decision I whacked it out of her hair and it started to fly away. I would have chased it down too, but Charity whirled around with the maddest look I'd seen since I walked in front of her when she was on camera.

"Why did you hit me?!?" she bellowed.

I was taken aback. I just saved you and you're yelling at me? I stuttered "I-I didn't. I w-was just trying t-to...."

"Yes you did! I'm telling mom!"

A hero's thanks.

I AM A BOY!!!

Ok, Sundee and Tara. I don't remember all the details, so fill us in.

As I recall, Tara was teasing Sundee. Apparently, Tara thought Sundee was acting boyish, maybe the way she dressed, the way she acted, I don't remember. But Sundee kept having to defend herself - "No I'm not!... No I don't!... Nuh-uh!..." And in the end Tara teased her to the point that she'd had it. In an attempt to end this once and for all, she desparately declared that she was a girl and was not a boy...and sadly she mixed up her words: "I AM a BOY!!!"

And Tara said, "See? I told you!"

Tara the Beauty Queen

Ever since her hair became curly, I wanted to have Tara's hair. I admired how she did it and I frequently tried to mimic her hairstyles--especially during the big hair and big bangs era of our lives. I couldn't wait until I was old enough to wear make-up and get my ears pierced like Tara. I thought she wore cool clothes and I was always excited when she passed down some of her clothes to me. (Actually, I still get excited when she passes clothes down to me.) When she was in high school, I remember thinking she was the epitome of cool--she had cool hair, wore cool clothes, make-up, and earrings and I wanted to look like her.
I also admired her singing ability. She was so good. She got in good choirs and got solos in choir concerts--I specifically remember the Oliver song that she sang (where I think she kicked a girl with her boot in what was supposed to be a stage kick, but in the performance ended up being the real thing because of the adrenaline rush of performing for real). She was really good in that part and I felt proud that I was her sister. I couldn't wait until I was in high school and could be just like Tara.

Big Sister Summer

Okay, so in 10th grade I was this little mouse and Summer's shadow. I felt so cool because Summer would let me hang out with her and her friends sometimes. She was a big-shot, totally awesome senior. It was really empowering to my little timid self that she was my sister and that she included me in things all the time. I kind of had this prestigious title among her friends and other kids in the school and even among some teachers of "Summer's Little Sister" that I was proud of. Summer was so capable at the things she pursued and I happened to like many of the same things, so I followed in her footsteps. In 11th and 12th grade, I had many of the teachers she had had and so when I went into the class the teachers already had good expectations from me because I was related to her.
And then later after we left Utah and returned to Arizona, Summer came down and again took me under her wing for the small amount of time she was down there. She tried to help me meet people and find opportunities. Too bad I didn't follow her back up to Utah when she went to BYU. Maybe I would not have taken 4 years to get my Associate's degree and still be trying to get my Bachelor's at 30 years old!

Sontay

Remember when I called Sundee "Sontay" for a little while. I can't remember how it started, but I think the speaking in accents thing had something to do with it. Anyway, I liked calling her that, but Mom didn't. So I stopped. What an obedient child I am!

Jannie, the Bug Lady

When ever there was a bug intruding upon the household, the person to come and save the day was... JANNIE! She was brave! She was fearless! She was also younger than me so I could boss her around. ("YOU get the bug! You saw it first!") I am forever grateful that she would kill the roaches and crickets (especially crickets)! There was even a time that there was a lizard in the closet! I tried to be the big sister and take care of the situation myself. I groped and grabbed and finally snagged it by the tail and YUCK! The tail came off! I wanted to vomit. Unable to pursue the attacker further (due to trembling limbs and a weak stomach), I stepped back and let the pro go at it. After struggling a great deal under all the clothes and shoes and toys, she came out victorious. Jannie saved the day again!
I talk a good fight, but when it comes down to it, I am always afraid that they will get me before I get them... And their tail might come off.

Tiffany Doo-Dah

I've always heard this great story about Tiffy when she was little. I guess she and Mom would sing the song "Zippidy-doo-dah, Zippidy-aye! My oh my what a wonderful day..." but they would change the Zippidy-doo-dah to Tiffany-doo-dah, which she just loved! Well, she went to a baseball game with the family, if I heard the story right. Somehow she got separated from the group, and got lost. A stranger found her crying and decided to help her.

"What's your name?" the stranger asked.

She sniffed and replied, "Tiffany."

"What's your last name?" the stranger asked.

"Doo-Dah."