Glenn Short Family Reunions and News: Anticipating the holidays

December 11, 2022

Dear Family:

I’ve been writing this family letter for so many years now that even though I don’t have to write every week, it has become a habit and I can’t seem to say, “Well I’m just going to skip this week.”

I will tell you that December is extremely busy for the bands that I manage. We had a dance gig last Friday. This is the first time in almost 3 years that we have played exclusively for a dance. It is so rewarding to have people come up and thank me and request the same tune next month because it is their favorite, or say, “That tune had a great groove and was so easy to dance to.” Even the band members enjoyed playing for dancers instead of “retirees” at the retirement homes where we’ve played the last couple of years. I have an afternoon gig tomorrow, and I’m playing piano tomorrow night with the big band for a Christmas Concert. Then Thursday my band has a gig at the Salem Convention Center for two hours 4-6 pm where we are just playing background music. No entertainment. That should be easy. I’m meeting Brad Davis at the Tualatin Fred Meyer so he can drive in the dark, not me.

Today our ward welcomed ½ of the Cook Park Ward into our midst. The Relief Society Room was crowded for the first time. News: Brent & Becky Pederson are now in my ward. Their youngest is 12 now and I was shocked. This is my last week of piano lessons for December and I’m going to enjoy the down time. Haley is recovering from her 2^nd knee replacement surgery and I think she is very brave to go through it again so soon when she knew exactly what she was in for.

I’ll share a quote from my favorite prophet, Gordon B Hinckley. D&C 112:10: Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers. “There is no place for arrogance in our lives, no place for conceit, no place for anything of that kind. We are very ordinary people in many respects. We must walk our own way. We are here to do a work, to make something of our lives, and god our Eternal Father will bless us in so doing if we will walk in humility and prayer.” Pres. Gordon B Hinckley.

I have included this message because I am having an inner conflict with someone in authority over me who appears in every way to not be humble. I have had interaction with this person and I’ve walked away totally in wonder. Why does this person have this calling? I’ve felt put down, ignored and that my words and feelings were not important. I’ve been praying to accept this person and to learn to not resent this person or question those who issued the calling. I’ve had these feelings for some months and it’s not been very comfortable. Today I finally received a peaceful answer. It’s really not my place to criticize or try to lobby for change. This person needs to learn humility and maybe this calling is teaching this person humility. It may take a while. Maybe this person will never learn humility. Maybe this person is humble and it’s not evident on the surface. Even if this person doesn’t learn humility, it’s not my place to make sure this person learns humility. Heavenly Father is in charge. Not me. Thanks for listening to my bizarre thoughts. I’m letting it go.

Brian welcoming Chis, Wade and Ben to Christmas eve.

I wish you each to have a lovely time anticipating being with family over the coming holiday. I miss the long ago days of decorating, baking, planning and having the whole family in my home on NE 27^th Ave. I miss scurrying around finding costumes, the Christmas story, cajoling our children to share a talent, singing carols together and the piñata full of candy. I even miss the chaos. Nice memories though. Hope you enjoy some of my memories.