Music Boy Plays Football

About nine years ago I was sure that I would never have sons. My record was consistent. Three tries and three girls in a row. Not that I wasn't happy about having girls. I was and am. It just seemed that girls were all around me and I needed to have someone else from "Mars" with me, not just "Venus."

Along came Matthew while we lived in Houston, Texas. He was definitely different from the previous babies. His shoulders were broad and my Dad called him "Brick" because he was kind of shaped like one.

As little Matthew started growing, it was fascinating to see how his mind would develop. Soon we heard singing coming from his bed at night. When he got up in the morning I would ask, "Did you hear that singing ghost last night?" He would get a big smile on his face and I would go on and on trying to find the singing ghost in the house. It was a fun game between the two of us. I still play it with him on occasion. Right now, Matthew plays the piano, violin, and sings in the advanced Salt Lake Children's Choir. All his music teachers love him because he soaks everything in like a sponge. He gets it way beyond his years.

The other day while I was driving him to his Children's Choir rehearsal, he told me how music is in everything just about and how it is the basis of almost all art, dance, theater, movies, TV etc. etc. "Who told you that?" I asked him. "Oh, no one. I just figured it out myself." Well, the kid likes to think I see. He still surprises me with the stuff that he comes up with. I could go on and on.

I also noticed that he has a very curious mind. He's fascinated by science and he wants to know everything about how the world works. He asked for hand sanitizer for Christmas one year because he was enthralled with the idea of the chemical reaction that causes the soap to kill all the germs. Soon Claudia was buying encyclopedias and globes etc. to help satisfy his curious nature. Lately he's been learning all his times tables and learning to count money in school. He told me that he likes that. His mind is figuring out how everything works and it's very satisfying to him. He likes to put all his new knowledge in a special box in his mind and when he's got the concepts placed, he tries to link them all together.

Who knew I'd have a son like him? That's one of the funnest things to observe, how a new individual in the world grows and develops and becomes something that you did not suspect which brings me to the next point of this little musing.

I didn't think Matthew would like sports too much. Watching football with his Dad on TV or competing in intense sports just didn't seem to be his interest. We put him in soccer a few years ago. He didn't like that very much because all the guys on the other team wouldn't just leave you alone with the ball. They would come up and push you around and take the ball from you. He decided to drop that the next year. He just wasn't the aggressive type. So when he came up to me last year and wanted to play tackle football I was a little cautious.

"Matthew, in football you have to be really tough and aggressive and the coaches yell at you too. You also have to exercise really hard and you won't like it sometimes. People also try to hit you and beat you up. Are you sure you want to try that?"

"That's ok Dad. I want to play anyway. I'm totally sure!"

"Are you sure you're sure, because once you start you can't quit. You have to finish the season."

"No problem, Dad. I want to play tackle football."

"Ok."

So I signed him up and assigned myself to be an assistant coach. Turns out that he loves it. He loves being part of the team and trying his hardest. He's doing well and plays first string offensive end and second string defensive end.

Here a picture of him catching a pass in last Saturday's game. Who knew he would like this?




It just goes to show you. You can't just label someone as fitting into a preconceived notion or idea. We humans are complex and we can do a-lot of different things. We just need the opportunity and support to try something new. We don't just fit neatly into little categories. The most beautiful thing about being human is to have the ability and capacity to grow and develop in the areas of our own choosing!

Way to go Matthew!

Friend Story

A while back I wrote some stories on this blog about my childhood friendship with Kent Richards back in Fairfield, Ohio. By writing those entries, a flood of good memories came back to me and so I approached one of the editors of the Friend Magazine that lives in my ward to see if she thought the Friend might be interested in Kent's conversion story when he and I were around 11 or 12. She said that they would definitely be interested. So after submitting about 5 drafts of the story I finally came close enough to writing something that would be appropriate for the audience, children who are members of the LDS Church. I have to thank Jan Pinborough, my editor friend, for her assistance in helping me finally get it right.

Below, you can click on the link to the Sept Issue of the Friend. Our story is called "Campfires and Testimonies." Hope it pleases you!

Friend Sept. 2009 Issue

The Holy Temple

If you haven't seen this video, I highly encourage you to view it.

Temples are sacred places where members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints make sacred covenants to devote their lives to serving God. They are also places where husbands and wives are sealed together not "till death do you part", but for eternity. Children are also sealed to their parents in these holy places. Sacred ordinance work is also performed on behalf of those who previously lived on this earth and never had the opportunity to accept the gospel. This work binds the living and the dead together as an eternal family in Christ for those who accept him. 1 Corinthians 15: 29 is a reference to baptism for the dead that was practiced in ancient times. That sacred belief has been restored to the world and is also performed in temples.

I love the temple. I hope that you enjoy learning about it.

Acting Confessions: Freshman Follies

So I started to try and act again after 20 years. I acted in H.S. and College. I loved it then but didn't pursue it after that. I had a-lot of other things to do like find a wife, get a career, and start a new Nielson clan.

Matthew and I joined a fabulous play last Spring called "Power in His Touch". It was a musical based on the Savior. It was an awesome experience and I couldn't help but want to pursue it a little more.

I contacted my daughter Sarah's agent and told her I wanted to try this acting thing out. I was a natural ham back in the day. I don't have a-lot of fear or stage fright. My Dad says I've got guts, so I figured, what do I have to lose? It could be a nice side line.

I was cast in my first gig as a Spanish narrator for a multilevel energy company. My job was to teach associates about how to prospect, close a sale, and also about the compensation plan.

When I finally got in front of the camera, I'll admit I was a little nervous. It was just me standing in front of a camera and 4 production people and the guy from the Energy company. I had practiced plenty. Since the narration was in Spanish I wanted to do my best. I'm not a native speaker but my accent is pretty good for a gringo.

I don't know what it was but as soon as I started reading the teleprompter I felt my heart start beating faster and the muscles in my chest and arms start to tighten up. I started reading at breakneck speed sounding more like a sped up tape recorder than a warm and delightful host.

"Whoa! Dude! Slow down! You're giving yourself a heart attack!" the director said. "Start again and just relax. It wouldn't hurt to smile a little, like you just heard someone tell a funny joke."

"Oh. Ok. I get it." I replied. "Let's try again."

Slowly and with a smile I started again. After a few takes, I managed to find a rhythm. I started to relax. I knew I found the right touch when I heard the director tell the guy from the energy company, "That was it!"

"You look like a Spanish soap opera star!" the guy from the company told me.

Yes! Pay dirt! A little success doesn't hurt! I wish I could say that about every time I try this stuff.

Last week I auditioned for a church movie playing the part of Joseph Millet, an early pioneer. I practiced reading that part at least a hundred times. I even filmed myself doing it so I could see what I looked like.

I don't know what it was, but as soon as I started the audition, I sort of froze. I couldn't remember my next line even though I'd practiced it repeatedly and even though it was only a three line dialogue! I felt that nervous surge of adrenalin. My heart started to speed up and I felt that nervous twitch in my arms and chest. Dang it! I know I must have had that "deer in the headlights" look, the kiss of death. That' s just not what I was going for.

So I guess the moral of the story is that the next time you see someone acting on a TV show or movie. Remember, it's harder than it looks.

I think I'm going to keep trying this even though I muffed that audition. I just don't want to accept that I can't do it. I still think I can. Next time I think I'll go to my secret happy place before I walk in, that way I won't tighten up so much.

Draper Temple

For those who haven't yet gone to see the Draper Temple, I encourage you to go! It's awesome. It's beautiful. But most of all, it is a spiritual place.

I had a wonderful time with Sarah, Katherine and Joseph visiting at the Open House. We had to wait about two and half hours, but if was worth it. All of us felt the sacredness of that place.

Some of the most impressive things I saw were the baptistry, the murals in the telestial and terrestrial rooms, and of course the celestial room with its high ceiling and spectacular chandelier.