Back Then

Today I was in the Caldwell area--long story--and drove out Cleveland Blvd (Nampa/Caldwell highway) towards Nampa. When I passed Midway Lunch I slowed a bit. It is still Midway Lunch, although the building looks newly painted. I figure the interior is much the same as it used to be. I let my mind go back and saw us sitting in that second room at a big table or in two booths. I don't suppose the woman who always asked us, "You likey fly lice?" is still there. After we figured out what she was saying, we always did likey. I loved their pork and seeds. I remember a hamburger or two served up, Richard. I also remember their restroom. How about you, Ann?
Midway Lunch. I think it's where we learned to like Chinese food. I know Dad always thought Chinese food fixed him after he'd been sick.

A Notepad

In my church bag I carry a small green notepad. It was Wayne’s. In it he worked out ideas for talks and teaching, kept notes from meetings, commented on scriptures and other reading he was doing. He even has a note to me about something I should teach to my Sunday School class. One page is a list of physical problems in the various buildings in the Boise East Stake—that was his High Council assignment, Stake PFR. The lights in the stake building’s scoreboard needed replacing, Broadway Ward’s noisy foyer heater needed attention and that building also had a door handle with a problem and two stoves that did not work.

Another page is titled, Lake Powell To Do and Take.

Renew prescriptions [with a red check]
Medication from Wagnild
Airline ticket. Money [red check]
Razor. Sport shoes
Deodorant. Pencils
Liquid soap. This notebook
Toilet paper. Toilet paper [really, that’s what he wrote]
Panty liners.* Wallet
Solarcaine.* Questran*
Hygiene cleanser pads*
Cases of water. Cipro*
Pajamas. Lomotil*
Pillow. Hat (2)
Blanket. Sun Screen
Long sleeve blue shirt
Tee shirts. Tithing [red check]
Underwear
Scriptures & markers
Toothpaste
2 books

*The asterisks are mine. I use them to indicate items related to his colostomy, and he didn’t list the adhesive, scissors, bags, rings, etc. Travel, let alone a week on a houseboat, had become very complicated for him.

Wayne did not often write in cursive. He printed in upper case, and that is what he did in this green notepad. It is the last of his writing that I have, reason enough to keep it.
Here’s his last page:

What does it mean to be a
‘True’ Disciple
True Carpenter
“ Mechanic
“

He didn’t finish