There’s been a lot of “goings on”  in Sanpete lately (there always is).  It’s been tough to decide where to go and what to do.  Sometimes I just have to stay home and pet the dog and water the roses – if any water comes out of the irrigation hose.  This drought is really bad.

   I was asked to say a prayer in church last Sunday.  I thanked the Lord for what rain we have received the past couple of weeks, but I also let Him know that we were sort of desperate for more.

   I mentioned and acknowledged that He already knows that we need rain, but that we’re here asking for it.  I’ve been taught that blessings are often conditioned on us asking for them.  I’m thinking that if that’s right,  we need to be asking more these days.

   Otherwise lately, we’ve been running around Sanpete doing one thing or another.   Among other things, we went to Fairview for the North Bend Entertainer’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” (FYI, if you didn’t know, North Bend was the original name of Fairview.  The name changed when the early settlers finally looked up from their work and noticed the spectacular view of the mountains – or something like that.)

   The play was very well done.  Our expectations were exceeded.  Here’s a couple of my favorite lines from the character Tevye, the Jewish father, in that musical stage show, set in 1905 Russia:

   “Dear God.  I know we are the chosen people.  But once in a while, can’t you choose someone else?”

   “It’s no shame to be poor.  But, it’s no great honor either.”

   The puffed rice balls and cinnamon rolls at the concession table were wonderful.  I had both.  (My request:  milk with the rolls next time.)  (I know, I know – what if someone spills?- me probably – what a mess.)

     In other news, we’ve had meals in Gunnison, Mt. Pleasant and Manti recently.  The meatball sandwich at Cavalier Pizza was the winner this time.

   I could go on and on and delay getting to the second point of this column (see the column title) – as you well know.  This delay thing is getting to become a habit with me.

   I can’t stop myself – a couple more things.  Last Friday, of course, was Pioneer Day.  We arrived in Spring City in time for most of the parade.  We sat in our chairs in the warm sun.  No one was very close to us.

   So you know what that meant.  As semi-isolated parade viewers, we had lots of candy, cookies and “parade stuff” tossed to us.   A little girl and her family were happy to receive our pile of loot as we “broke camp” at the end of the parade.

  Leaving the parade,  we visited the cemetery and said hello to a couple of dearly departed friends while the mob from the parade dispersed.  We then parked close to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers museum and visited there.

   Diane was invited to play the old pioneer pump organ.  Speaking of prayers, I think she played “Sweet Hour of Prayer” from memory.

   We took a look for the first time ever inside the old Spring City Jail.  Take your kids there sometime.  You can lock them up for a minute.

   Then it was on to Fairview.  The car show was on our agenda.  There were cars from lots of places there, but I was surprised at how many vehicles were on display by Fairview owners.  Every vehicle has a story.  If you stop and say “hi” to some of the owners, it takes quite a while to get through a car show.

   Maybe my favorite story was that of a one-owner Chevy Super Sport bought when the owner came home from service in Viet Nam.  This year marks the 80th birthday for the owner.  He told me, “I decided I’d better get the car put back in shape before I kick the bucket.”   It’s a nice looking ride.

   Also – seen on the license plate frame on a red-hot Ford Mustang:  “Get in, Sit Down, Shut Up, and Hold On!”

   Okay, nowww I’m ready to say something about the “Wave” part of the column.  After the car show, and a visit to the Fairview cemetery, we drove north out of Fairview,  up to,  and through, Milburn.

   We hadn’t been up that road for a long time.  We drove almost to the dead end – I think.  We turned around when the pavement ended and we saw the second “Dead End” sign.   It reminded us of driving in Mexico on our honeymoon in 1979 when we saw a sign which read “Termina Pavimento.”

   If you catch my wife at the right moment, she might admit something to you.  It would be that being out of the country, on an unpaved road, in a non-air conditioned,  1974 Ford Mustang II,  was pushing the limits of her sense of adventure just a little.

   Okay, now I’ve really arrived at my point.  Whew!  Here it is: everyone waves on the Milburn Road.  When I say everyone, I mean nearly everyone.  Once you leave the “big city” of Fairview, and drive north toward Milburn, you have arrived in “Waveville.”

   It was an instant feeling of community.  We waved back to every “waver.”  We felt like we “belonged.”  This waving thing was really noticeable once you pass the junction and are on the dead end part of the road.

   I suppose that everyone feels like you’re a friend or family if you’re in that neck of the woods.  We were friends.

   We love sitting on our porch and waving at passersby.  We know some people who drive by and many we don’t.  We try to wave regardless.

   Coincidentally, there have been stories about waving recently in the news.  A couple of weeks ago on the TV show CBS Sunday Morning, there was a piece about a lonely 4-year old kid who waved at people as  he saw them go past.  He’s responsible for the whole neighborhood becoming a close, friendly group of people.

   Check it out, if you want to have your heart tugged a little.  Search for it, or here’s the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKA-UomgNnY&t=1s

   Also recently, a Deseret News article about the waving habit of BYU’s president Shane Reese was interesting.  He believes there’s power in the personal connection of waving and it doesn’t cost a thing.

   So, to sum up – there’s no reason to be bored in Sanpete.  There’s always something going on.  And, Sanpeters are a friendly bunch of people.  If you don’t believe it, take a drive on Milburn Road.  — Merrill