You’re a short timer now

January 13, 2018

Dear Benjamin,

How the heck are you? Thanks for sending your itinerary short timer. I still remember my day going to the field. We had to be up by four, to the busses by five, and to the airport by six. In those days, people could come to the airport to see you. My family with my grandma came, and I remember my Young Men’s president came, Oscar McKonkie III. I really don’t remember much about the flight. Getting to the mission home was different. We had dinner and split up into different rooms to sleep. The next morning we went to a big room to meet our trainer. They made it a little game-show like as they revealed your trainer and area. I was assigned to Quebec City, which was about a 4 hour drive from Montreal. We got there early in the evening and drove through some of the historic areas on the way to our area. My trainer was from Alberta Canada, he had been out about a year. He was a pretty good trainer. I, as always, didn’t have a clue. The next day, we went tracting straight off. My companion gave me the first door approach, what a disaster, but it was a start. I also remember the apartment was disgusting, the tub was black with scum. I spent an hour scrubbing it my first p-day. My companion was shocked that it could be clean.

Today was my second day in the Bishopric, it was a long one. We started at home with our home study, Jacob did the lesson, he did a fine job. Then we had Bishopric Meeting, followed by Ward Council, then I had some settings apart, then Sacrament meeting where mom and I spoke, then releases and sustaining in the Beehives and Mia Maids, then settings apart in deacons Quorum 1, then four Priesthood ordinations (which were really great to be apart of), then BYC, then a temple recommend interview, then I broke the file cabinet...whew, some day. Still your fault. Mom had a wonderful turkey dinner waiting for me and we all ate. Then we went downstairs to relax. I let myself get too swallowed up in that new couch. It’s like heroine for the lazy.

Yesterday we went to the Utes game. Tickets were $1.97 online. I bought five out of habit. It annoyed mom that I got an extra. I guess old habits die hard. It made me homesick for you though. It was a pretty good game against Washington state, the Utes won pretty easily.

The Jazz are finally over .500, with a win over the bulls. Donavan Mitchell is finally starting to come into his own. I wonder if they will always start slow with this line-up.

I can’t remember if I told you, but Andy Ludwig has been officially announced as the new OC. I think it’s a good hire. But honestly, with the group coming back next year, I could call the offense.

Over the holidays, I ordered a model ship for Uncle Temmy. He and aunt Stella came by yesterday to collect it. They brought a bunch of die cast tanks and planes that my Uncle Moe left when he died. They’re actually pretty dang nice. I cleared a shelf in my office for them. There are two ww2 tanks and three desert storm era tanks. Plus a really nice b-24. I don’t think that Uncle Temmy really looked at them before he brought them over. He seemed a tinge regretful to let them go. He did say that uncle moe wanted them to go where they’d be appreciated. This is probably the most apt place for that in the family. I love them.

Sorry for getting this off so late, I imagine you’ll se it sometime in the morning. I’ll look out for your letter as always. It is the highlight of my week.

Love,

Pops