Bruce Flying Monkeys

 Two of my uncles drove around Salt Lake this past week looking at meaningful spots for the family. My uncle Dan shared this story:

159 N. 700 West. This is the house that Harrry and Della Young (Marjorie's parents) lived in when Bruce was young and before I was born.

Bruce related a memory of staying with Grandpa and Grandma at this house and they had taken him to see "The Wizard of Oz". He was absolutely terrified by the Flying Monkeys. That night he woke up screaming, believing there was a flying monkey outside the bedroom window.

Grandma calmed him and assured him that Grandpa would take care of the flying monkey outside the window. Grandpa showed Bruce one of his pistols and he took it outside.

A little while later, he came back in and told Bruce that he had taken care of the flying monkey and that it would not ever come back.

That reassurance from Grandpa was enough for Bruce and he was able to go back to sleep with no further disruptions that night.

LESSONS LEARNED: Be careful what you view. While Wizards of Oz is a wonderful movie, and I think it is appropriate for most people to view, the images we put into our minds stay there and can cause us fear or even worse consequences.

Grandparents and parents can help calm children's fears. We often have the power to help their fears be lessened or heightened depending on our response.