Officially our mission doesn't start until Monday, November 16th but we went down early to do a three day Italian Immersion. We had a bit of a rough start to our trip. Our flight to SLC was at 6:15 in the morning which means we needed to be at the airport by 4:30 AM at the latest. A few people almost made an offer to drive us to the airport but when they found out it would disrupt their beauty sleep they happily let us take a taxi. So much for the grand send off with people weeping at the airport and waving handkerchiefs as we stumble into U.S. customs. Oh well.
Anyway, back to the rough start. We had our big honking suitcases ready in the living room for the 4AM arrival of our taxi and Hermes went out the door with his big suitcase and as I picked up his carry-on, he said to me, "just pull the door shut when you leave." So I did... forgetting that my big honking suitcase and carry-on were still in the house... and the door locked behind me... and we had no key... Ooops. So it became necessary to try to wake up someone in the house. Our first attempt to wake someone up was with Hermes' son who sleeps in the basement. We rapped and rapped at his window to no avail. He must be able to sleep through a hurricane. I phoned into the house and nothing, Hermes' father and sister were sleeping on the other side of the house but neither heard the door bell ring. Finally, Hermes got a ladder, and had to climb up to her window to rap on it which finally woke her up. She opened the front door and I apologetically grabbed by suitcases and with many apologies, said a quick goodbye. That, luckily, was the only misfortune of the day.
I, personally, have not been to Utah in 15 years which is the last time I saw Kathy with whom we have been staying. She and I were missionary companions in the England Coventry Mission back in the early 80s. She has hardly changed (still looks fabulous) though she would dispute that. She has been reminding me of things that happened and people we served with which has been great fun. Oh my, we were so young and naive in those days. And its crazy how much I've forgotten about those days. At the time, you think you'll never forget what happens on your mission, but life goes on and you do.
Hermes and I spent all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at one of the many, many LDS chapels here in the Utah valley. Honestly, it seems like there is one on every corner. Sometimes, I kid you not, there's even two side-by-side on a corner. The construction industry must be kept busy with church construction here.
Even though I chose to do this Italian Immersion and initiated it, I was dreading it. I thought it would be pure drudgery and that my brain might explode at the end of it. Fortunately, no one had to clean up any gray matter. It was at times even lots of fun and I met Italian speaking volunteers whom I wish I lived closer to because I know we'd make great friends. I was told at the end of the day that I'm doing well and on my way to being able to converse in Italian. Nothing would please me more than to be able to converse freely with the Italian people.
Hermes spent the time learning the missionary lessons in Italian and simply conversing in order to get the "rust," as he put it, off his Italian. Forty years living in Canada is a long time. I'll bet he'll forget how to speak English after a while, though.
Next, we're off to the MTC. I'll be interested in seeing how the place has changed in the 34 years since I've been there.
Arrivederci!
Awesome - love you two. What a great way to commemorate 20 years together.
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