This is the obituary I delivered on November 1, 2025, for my brother’s wife, Lydia, who was killed in a plane crash on October 21, 2025. In Christian tradition, yesterday was All Hallows’ Eve. For ancient Christians, it was a time of fasting, prayer, and reflection in preparation for the two days to follow: AllContinue reading “Eulogy for Lydia Marie (Settle) Laws”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
All the Promises We Make
Lauren and I got engaged in her final semester at BYU. In the waning days of that semester, she was drafting a huge paper on Eleanor Roosevelt and advice columns she used to write. I was an English major and writer, so Lauren asked me to read her paper and offer comments. It was probablyContinue reading “All the Promises We Make”
Another Jewel in my Crown: Bowie
Latter-Day Saints are big into family history and into how their actions may affect future generations. The legend in the Laws family is that a General Authority relative used to encourage all his kids to have more children and used to celebrate the births of his grandchildren by exclaiming, “Another jewel in my crown!” Well,Continue reading “Another Jewel in my Crown: Bowie”
A Day that Will Live in Infamy
Sunday was a personal disaster from which there is undoubtedly no coming back. Oh, from the outside looking in it probably seemed fine. There was the whole amusing thing about Graham forgetting to run the last lap in a relay his team wasn’t going to win. After, we went home, we watched playoff football, ateContinue reading “A Day that Will Live in Infamy”
Two Unknowns
About ten percent into my revisiting of Kate Cummings’ recorded dead, I am stumped so far by two people. The first is a German man named Ernest (as she spells it). She does not indicate for sure whether that is his first or last name. She does say that he wished her to write hisContinue reading “Two Unknowns”
Creep
That night, they are staying with Lauren’s parents in Belmont because the man’s father is on a business trip. They spent the day seeing sights on the Freedom Trail. Tomorrow, they will go to Plimoth Plantation, then stay at their tiny condo in Bridgewater. The home in Belmont is a half duplex–the two main bedroomsContinue reading “Creep”
In the Bedroom
They are staying in the upstairs bedroom, which has its own A/C unit, a large walk-in closet, and its own door to a full bathroom. This is where the man’s Grandma Hill always stayed when she came for a couple of months each year; it’s where Ned and Jolene stayed when they brought some ofContinue reading “In the Bedroom”
Real Gangstas Don’t Sleep
He approaches the man at the white picket fence. The man holds a garden hose and is watering his tiny cut of lawn in Hacienda Heights. “Edgar?” “That’s me. You two are new.” “I’m Elder Laws. This is Elder Smith.” “Ohh. You guys are the zone leaders the other two were talking about.” “We missedContinue reading “Real Gangstas Don’t Sleep”
Is This a Perfect Day for Bananafish?
This is Lindsay Laws, Gordon’s daughter. He wrote this story because of a real conversation that we had when I was twelve (I’m now fifteen) and was struggling with anxiety and suicidal thoughts. I don’t usually like to think about this time in my life, because it was miserable and the worst point of myContinue reading “Is This a Perfect Day for Bananafish?”
The Thrill of the Chase
For the second summer in a row, Kevin is visiting for two weeks. They are in their new house on Eagle Drive three houses away from a public park. They have adopted Peanut, their new mixed-breed dog. They have a wrap-around driveway that extends from the street up the side of the house and aroundContinue reading “The Thrill of the Chase”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 