Tragedy

Late Friday afternoon, Dr Lansing Ellsworth, physician’s assistant Dave Goddard and several of their SouthWest Skin and Cancer staff from Cedar City, UT were headed home from Moab, where they had just finished up a day of seeing patients, much like they do in Page every month. There were 10 people total aboard the twin-engine King Air aircraft, which tragically crashed not long after it took off. All 10 perished.
Dr Lansing Ellsworth (dermatologist), his 23 yr old son Dallin, who was working as an assistant; Dave Goddard, PA and his adult daughter Cecilee, working as a medical assistant in their clinic; Val Imlay, the aesthetics specialist; and Marcie Tillery, histotechnologist saw patients the second Monday of every month during their Page clinic. Mandy Johnson, Keith Shumway & Camie Vigil also worked at SW Skin and Cancer; the pilot was David White.
Dr Ellsworth and his staff also saw patients in several other rural communities in Arizona, Utah and Nevada. There were very committed to serving these areas and bringing their specialty to those who were in far places. All victims leave behind hundreds of family, friends and devoted patients. They will be sorely missed.
There is a website in which one may leave comments/condolences/anecdotes at www.cedarcondolences.blogspot.com.
The Ellsworth family will be holding a funeral on Saturday, August 30 at 10:00am at the LDS Stake in Cedar City. Please keep the families of the victims of this tragic accident in your prayers.
I was honored to be one of a few people in Page who worked with Dr Ellsworth and his staff. Val was this little, fiesty, beautiful 50-something yr old woman with short, dark spiky hair. She was kind of the "mother" of the rest of the office staff and exuded this nurturing, calming & funny character. Dr Ellsworth and Dave Goddard worked tirelessly and personalbly with all everyone and anyone. Nobody ever complained, moaned or groaned, and they would frequently come to the front desk where Donna and I worked to see if we were doing okay or needed a hand (because of the sheet amount of patients they saw, the paperwork alone would build a small forest). It was a joy to work with them, and honor to know them and we will miss them.

Tag!!

Okay...I was tagged by Mandi, my dad came through with a picture of me from 1968..probably taken on the front lawn of our Sterling Park, VA home.

JOYS
1. Faith in Christ. Without it I would be nothing.
2. My beautiful, big, loving, blessed family and my husband, whom God brought me to 14 years ago!
3. Life-there are too many joys in life to list! However....hope and anticipation are high up on the list...like I hope to retire within 10 years with Gary and anticipate that being somewhere on the south east coast!

FEARS
1. Loss of faith. It will not happen, but it's a huge fear I have. I believe faith in Christ is paramount to a full life.
2. Members of the arachnid family...you know, those 8 legged, 8 eyed scarey scarey things. it's the ONLY thing on this earth I will smash in a heartbeat. People who know me well will know that I will do anything to get away from a spider, to the point of jumping out of moving cars..(hey that spider was coming right at me, lurking on the steering wheel, the car was only going 5 mph!) I went to see Charlotte's Web (the newer movie) with a friend and her daughter. Thought it would be cute, and a good test to overcome my fear of spiders. I cannot tell you about most of the movie, as I watched it from behind my hand so as not to have to look at gentle Charlotte, big as an 8 legged freak on the movie screen. My friend and her daughter were laughing hard enough to shoot soda out their noses.
3. Throwing up. I hate to do it, hate to hear it being done. Can't even write about it. Ick.

Current Obsessions/Collections
1. Cooking books. My collections is becoming quite impressive. Instead of magnets, I bring home cook books from places we visit. It's a great way to get to know a place, and learn how to make new dishes, like hush puppies. Yum.
2. Crosswords. Years ago I visited family on the east coast, and my aunt did the crossword in the daily paper to help keep her mind sharp. I buy the easy books ; it's cheap and fast entertainment, and quiet. Each morning, armed with a cup of coffee and Pilot gel pen (yes PEN), my crossword book and I connect on the porch before my walking date...I race the clock to get one crossword done each morning!
3. Keeping fit. I walk every morning before work, for about 40 minutes. Situps, push ups, light weights...my arms were getting that fun wobbly wing thing going, and I will have none of that! At least for now!

Surprising Facts
1. My mom taught me to play piano back in the late 70's and gave me lessons until the end of my senior year. She told me I was one of her best students the last few years. I actually participated in many competitions, placed quite a few times (won a few, too). I loved being able to produce the sound of music from a book to the keyboard...could never compose, but playing was wonderful. I will always thank and love my mom for taking the time, patience and effort to give that to me.
2. I can ride a unicyle...yep, just like the circus clowns. It's actually quite fun and strenuous.
3. I WILL write a book someday. This is not a passing whim or something that I will grow out of. Ever since I can remember, writing has been a great joy and love of mine. As soon as I get my MacBook, the writing will proceed, and commence somewhere in my ideal living place. My book will also include a description of my ideal house, which I designed and drew up years ago. Blueprints will be available after I build mine, in my ideal living place.

I will email this to Minerva, Nona, Dolly, Gretchen, mom, Kristin and Karen..they don't have blogs!