Am I a Geek?

My son keeps calling me a Geek, and I don’t know how to take it. Is he insulting me? Is he complimenting me? What is he saying about me when he calls me a geek? In my day a geek was a derogatory term, so should I ground him for being rude? I decided to go to the internet, as I always do to see what being a geek means.

The Urban Dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/) defines geek as:

“Not to be confused with . A geek does not have to be smart, a geek is someone who is generally not athletic, and enjoys Video Games; Comic Books; being on the internet, and etc.[i]

It then uses the word geek in a sentence: “Only a geek would waste their time on the internet, defining geek on Urbandictionary.com.”

I love the definition and maybe I am a geek, if I went on line to define it. I liked how it differentiated a geek from a nerd; Maybe I am more of a nerd—that sounds more intelligent. But I wasn’t satisfied, so I turned to Wikipedia, which defined geek as:

“The word geek is a slang term originally used to describe eccentric or non-mainstream people; in current use, the word typically connotes an expert or enthusiast or a person obsessed with a hobby or intellectual pursuit, with a general pejorative meaning of a ‘peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, or socially awkward.’

“Although often considered as a pejorative, the term is also used self-referentially without malice or as a source of pride. Its meaning has evolved to connote "someone who is interested in a subject (usually intellectual or complex) for its own sake."[ii]

I liked Wikipedia’s definition of geek, especially when it quoted the Colbert Report, “The Colbert Report, Richard Clarke said the difference between nerds and geeks is "geeks get it done" or "ggid."[iii]

Now I like that quote—geeks get things done!!! And I do, including raising five children and one husband.

The Wikipedia article also gave the etymology of the English word as coming from “English dialect geek or geck (meaning a "fool" or "freak.)" It even mentioned that as of 1976 (when I was still young), “The 1976 edition of the American Heritage Dictionary included only the definition regarding geek shows. This variation of the term was used to comic effect in an episode of popular 1970s TV show Sanford & Son.”[iv]

Well, I hope I am not as much of a geek in a geek show as the 1970s and 1980s sitcoms. But I have had my days that resemble I Love Lucy. Usually when I involved as a mom. Enough said about that—maybe I am a “geck,” not a geek.

Then Wikipedia explains the categories of geeks: “Such as: science geeks, math geeks (maths geeks, in British English), computer geeks, history geeks, gaming geeks, etc. In Silicon Valley parlance, a geek is a software or hardware engineer.^”[v] In explaining the impact of geeks, Wikipedia makes them VERY IMPORTANT IN TODAY’S LIFE: “Technologically oriented geeks, in particular, now exert a powerful influence over the global economy and society.^”[vi] 

However, when Wikipedia quoted Mark Roeder’s  Unnatural Selection: Why The Geeks
Will Inherit the Earth, I humbly beg to disagree. Roeder suggests that "the high-tech environment of the Anthropocene favours people with geek-like traits, many of whom are on the autism spectrum, ADHD, or dyslexia. Previously, such people may have been at a disadvantage, but now their unique cognitive traits enable some of them to resonate with the new technological zeitgeist and become very successful."[vii] (Maybe some geeks cannot spell ‘favors” correctly, either, or they are from England.)

I draw the line that geeks have learning disabilities and that is what makes them suited to technology. I know many geeks that are normal, except for their eccentric devotion to math, history, computers, science and gaming. I know many nerds who are not as smart as geeks.

So am I a geek as my son claims? I think I am, if you take WhatIs.com’s definition of a geek: “In computers and the Internet, a geek is a person who is inordinately dedicated to and involved with technology. As computer technology becomes less frightening to larger numbers of people, society seems to be developing a more tolerant, even benevolent view of the geek. In some circles, it is considered a compliment to be called a geek because the term implies a high level of competence.”[viii] 

As I worked for almost 20 years in computer technology fields, and I love computers almost as much as my children (but not as much as my husband), I guess I can accept that definition. However, I don’t have autism, ADHD, or dyslexia as the one article defined geeks, so I reject that pejorative designation, as well as that of not being athletic. I accept that I like science, history, computers and the internet, but gaming and comic books are not my most favorite things. 

Thank you, Son; I accept your compliment that I am indeed a geek or maybe only a half-geek. But you are a major GEEK, according to the sources I’ve quoted. However, I could probably have found 20 other definitions of geek, and in another 20 years, maybe it will be something entirely different. Maybe geeks will be a species of their own, by then.

Being called a geek isn’t too bad, Son. I’ll rescind your grounding, and increase your allowance.  

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[i] Urban Dictionary, (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=geek), second definition; Sknywhtboy88, November 05, 2004.

[ii] Ibid. Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geek).

[iii] Ibid, Definition, The Colbert Report 17th of January video interview Richard Clarke.

[iv] Ibid, Etymology.

[v] Ibid, Definition.

[vi] Ibid, Impact. Beckett, Jamie (24 Oct 2012). "Study shows Stanford alumni create nearly $3 trillion in economic impact each year." Stanford News.

[vii] Ibid, Impact. Unnatural Selection by Mark Roeder. http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Unnatural-Selection-Why-Geeks-Will-Inherit-Earth-Mark-Roeder/?isbn=9781743095683.

[viii] WhatIs.com, (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/geek ), Definition; geek, Posted by: Margaret Rouse, 

Christmas Is About Hope

Tonight is Christmas Eve, and the world seems quiet and peaceful as choirs sing of the birth of the Savior. I think of that first Christmas night, when the baby was born in Bethlehem and the angels appeared to the shepherds singing Hosannas! One of our most famous Christmas carols sings how on that night, “The hopes and fears of all the years, are met in Thee tonight.”

I think of all the heavenly beings watching the Savior born and knowing that through Him, death would be banished forever, and salvation made possible. Mary, I am sure, knew He was the Messiah, but on that night, she must have wondered how His life would unfold. How would He accomplish His great task? What type of child would He be? What would His personality be? So many questions must have filled her heart that night, especially after the shepherds appeared telling of the angels who had told them of His great glory.

Did Joseph and Mary ever wonder if Jesus would fulfill His great mission? Did Christ ever doubt whether He would accomplish the salvation of the world? I am sure the angels knew Christ would fulfill their hopes, but were those who were closest to Christ as sure of His success? Perhaps that was why the carol mentions not only the “Hopes” of eternity, but the “Fears,” too.

I think of all the mothers who look at their new-born babes and wonder how their lives will turn out.  Will their child be musical, or not? Will he/she live a long life, or will it be cut short? What will he/she make of their life?

I brought my first born son on Christmas day, 48 years ago. I remember looking at him and wondering what he would make of his life. The years since have borne out the hopes I had for him that long ago day, when Ed was far away fight a war in Vietnam and I didn’t even know whether my son’s father would come home from the war.

Each of my children have accomplished my hopes for them. Though there is much left for me to wonder about them, I feel gratified to know that they are all healthy, happy and raising their own families in a good manner. Most importantly, they all believe in the Savior Who will redeem us—and Who will truly bring peace to our war-filled world. 

Halloween and Me

My son Bryan was telling me why Halloween is one of his favorite holidays, “You get to

Bryan as Aquaman

dress up in costumes like people you wish you were, then you go out into the night, and knock on doors to meet strangers, something you would never be allowed to do normally. And they give you “treasures” usually candy.”

I have always liked Halloween. I recall when we were living in one house on in the middle of the block on Pages Lane, it had a storage room under the house (not a basement, but had dirt floors). One year we had a spook alley there, and according to my brother, Gary, our party was mentioned in the local Davis County Clipper. I don’t recall the Halloween costumes I wore as a child, but as an adult, passing out candy, I was usually the witch. Rather than go trick-or-treating with my children, most years I stayed home dressed as a witch with scary music, handing out candy. However once I went as a genie while Bryan was Aladdin. My witch costume was my contribution to the “make-believe” of Halloween. Or maybe I was just living up to my real personality—that of a witch! 

Beth as a witch

Halloween is a uniquely American holiday. Some say it was originally a Celtic festival known as Samhain, which celebrates the end of the harvest. The ancient Celtic felt that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and dead were weakened; that night the dead could come back to life to cause problems. Some say that the Celtic were the first to wear costumes—“typically animal heads and skins.” I don’t think they were thinking of trick-or-treating.

Others maintain that Halloween is separate from those pagan roots, and has solely Christian roots. We know that in the 700s, Pope Gregory III expanded a feast of All Martyrs Day into a festival honoring all saints, and moved the date to November 1. Many believe the Catholic church was trying to supplant Samhain with “All Saints Day,” also called “All-hallows or All-hallowmas (the Middle English term for All Saints Day.”) The night before this saints’ day was All-hallows eve, which eventually became Halloween. In England, there was no tradition of the pagan Samhain, and All Saints’ Day retained its religious significant. But the Irish loved their Halloween and kept alive its spooky traditions. 

Today in Mexico they celebrate November 1 as the original All Saints' Day or "Day of the Dead" and it is a spiritual holiday--UNLIKE our Halloween.

The celebration of Halloween in colonial New England was strictly limited due to the rigid Protestant traditions, there, but in the southern colonies Halloween was more common and merged with Irish and native American Indians traditions to become more of what we know, today.

My husband Ed grew up in a small Idaho town and he recalls playing many “tricks” on Halloween, turning outhouses upside down, or moving them to the middle of town. By the 1950s, however, communities were trying to eliminate this type of vandalism, and “trick-or-treating” became common.

Tipping outhouses

Trick-or-treating supposedly goes back to All Souls’ Day parades in England when poor citizens would beg for food in exchange for a promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives. Pastries called “soul cakes” would be given to these beggars, but eventually gifts of ale, money, or food became more common as children visited the houses in their neighborhoods. Between 1920 and 1950, according to one site, the centuries old tradition of trick-or-treat revived in America.

My grandson a Ninja

Today, because of the fear of children being harmed on Halloween, many communities are having “Trunk-or-Treat” where supervised parties (many in parking lots or parks where treats would be given out of the car trunks), are becoming more common. In small safe communities, there is still door-to-door trick-or-treating, but in the large urban communities this is becoming less common. Who knows where this trend will eventually go. Maybe 50 years from now, children will not go door to door.

Typical Carnivale costumes

Many other countries still don’t celebrate Halloween. When we lived in Vicenza, Italy, we were in an Italian/American ward, and had a Halloween party. Many of the Americans wore scary costumes, but the Italians wore their Carnivale costumes, beautiful, historic costumes rather than demons, witches or other frightening costumes. Every Carnivale (in February or March), the Italians in that area of the country go to Venice to wear beautiful costumes. It was a big holiday for them. My grandson on a mission in Costa Rico could not celebrate Halloween there, but he carved a face into a carrot.

My great-grandchildren--
a mosquito and a can of "OFF" 

I loved making costumes for my children to wear on Halloween, the more creative the better My granddaughter, Skye, followed my example this year as she created a mosquito costume for her niece and an insect-spray can for her nephew. But whatever my family wear for Halloween, it usually is unique and different.

Bryan has always been very creative in his Halloween costumes. I made him a “Riddler” costume years ago, but now he makes his own costumes. Which is quite ironic as he performs in plays, commercials and even movies, so he can be someone different all the time in his job. 

My daughter and her husband recently went to Halloween as “Simon & Garfunkle.” I guess it goes back to Bryan’s idea of Halloween—to dress up as people you wish you were. 

My daughter and son-in-law at a
Halloween party this year

Bryan (in front as the Riddler) and his buddies in years past

My three older children, Marc, Marlowe & Athena as children
El Paso, TX

Athena & Marlowe, Ft. Wolters, TX

Marlowe, Athena & Marc, Ft. Hood, TX

Bryan years ago 

Ed, Marlowe, Marc & Diana (in a recycled costume) Carnivale in Italy

My grandchildren (and Bryan in the far back) on Halloween years ago
The little cowboy is the current-day missionary

Miracles of My Mother

I’ve been thinking a lot about miracles lately, especially the miracles that have occurred in my life. But first I need to answer the question, “What is a miracle?” Many people consider all the marvelous and miraculous technology of our days, TV, radio, satellite transmissions, smartphones, etc. miracles, and I agree. But there are many more miracles.

Matthew Cowley

A definition that I like is found in Mighty Miracles, a book about Elder Matthew Cowley’s miracles: “Miracles are difficult to define. Some say a miracle must defy the laws of nature; others define it more loosely. The Encyclopedia of Mormonism includes a simple definition: “A miracle is a beneficial event brought about through divine power that mortals do not understand and of themselves cannot duplicate.”[i]

I also remember a wonderful song from Fiddler on the Roof about miracles:

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles-
Stood by his and side and- miracle of miracles- 
Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles-
I was afraid that God would frown,

But like he did so long ago, at Jericho,
God just made a wall fall down!

                                            When Moses softened Pharaoh's heart, that was a miracle.
                                            When God made the waters of the red sea part, that was a miracle too!
                                             But of all God's miracles large and small,
                                             The most miraculous one of all
                                              Is that out of a worthless lump of clay,
                                              God has made a man today. . . .

                                             When David slew Goliath (yes!), that was a miracle.
                                             When God gave us manna in the wilderness, that was a miracle too.
                                              But of all God's miracles large and small,
                                              The most miraculous one of all
                                              Is the one I thought could never be:
                                              God has given you to me.[ii]

This song celebrates the fact that the singer was able to win his love’s hand and the approval from her father, when she was promised to another.

There are several types of miracles in the book, Mighty Miracles, which Olaveson mentions:

“Matthew saw the miracles in his life for what they were. . . . He saw grown men give up long-held addictions. He saw grown men give up long–held addictions. He blessed people who were near death to live, he healed villages of typhoid fever.[iii]”

President Spencer W. Kimball said of miracles, “What kind of miracles to we have? All kinds

Spencer W. Kimball

—revelation, visions, tongues, healings, special guidance and direction, evil spirits cast out. Where are they recorded? In the records of the Church, in journals, in news and magazine articles and in the minds and memories of many people.[iv]”

One experience in my mother’s life was a classic miracle. Jennie Hansen, my own mother, was sick following her first mastectomy in 1953. My father told me the story how my mother had asthma and went into a coma following the surgery because of complications.  In fact, Mrs. Mann, the next door neighbor that was sitting with mother said that she saw my mother die and turn cold and blue.  Mrs. Mann rang for the nurses. Dad said a general authority came in the room right then; he said he had been in the hospital, had felt that someone needed a blessing in mother’s room, and so he gave her one.  Mrs. Mann saw the color (and life) come back into mother’s face after his blessing. This story is one I remember; I asked my father about it before he died, and he confirmed the facts as I have related.

Jennie hansen

My mother related to me that she had an experience after her first mastectomy that I am not sure if it is related to the previous experience. Mother said was very ill after her own first mastectomy and saw her mother appear. Mother thought she was dying and her mother had come to take her to heaven. However, Grandmother Hendrickson told mother that it wasn’t her time to go; that she still had another child to be born.

Another experience was when my mother's sister, Ingeborg was dying of cancer.  We were living about l2 miles out of Monticello, Utah at the time on a dry farm without a phone, electricity or running water.  Mother was very concerned that it would take a lot of time for the notification of Ingeborg's death to come all the way out to their farm, so Mother prayed that she would know when Ingeborg died so that she would be ready for the long drive to Brigham City.

Ingeborg Hendrickson Frye

Mother said that Ingeborg appeared to her and told her that she'd passed on, and Mother immediately got up, packed and had everything ready to leave by the time official notification came out to the farm.

My brother Gary told me that when mother was dying, and it looked hopeless, Dad asked Gary to give her a blessing of healing. Gary said he gave her a blessing, but rather than telling her she would live longer, he basically “released” her from her painful and suffering she was going through. He also mentioned that her deceased sisters were there and waiting for her to join them. Afterwards, Mother was looking fixedly at a corner of the room, and told Gary she could see her sisters there. It was only a few more days later she passed away.

Fay Hansen

One of the earliest experiences that I recall my mother telling me about was how she knew that she was to marry my father.  She was living in Corrine, Utah and boarding with her family was Alma and Eulala Hansen.  One day Eulala showed Jennie the photo of Alma's younger brother, Fay, and Jennie said, "That's the man I'm going to marry."  And of course she did.

Are these miracles? I think they are and prove how the Lord blesses us through miracles that strengthen us through the trials of life.

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[i] Olaveston,Breanna, Mighty Miracles, Covenant Communications (2015). page xi.

[ii] hhttp://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/f/fiddlerontherooflyrics/miracleofmiracleslyrics.html

[iii] Olaveston, page xii

[iv] The teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, Ed. Edward L. Kimball (1982), page 499.