Unmoored

We are not super-experienced boaters, so for me there is always a moment when we first untie from the dock or push off from the bank, when things are unsettling.  The boat may rock, somebody's feet may get wet.  I have every confidence that once we move away and start paddling and get a rhythm going, then all will be fine.  And our days in Salt Lake City before entering the Missionary Training Center have had some of that same feel, as well as a great opportunity to connect with our Mormon history roots and friends.

On Saturday, March 17, we left home shortly after 4:30 a.m., since we needed to check bags.  All the local family came with us to the airport.  This picture was taken at Lois' home before we headed off to the airport. We were on the same flight with the UF tennis team bound for Vanderbilt.

I remembered to wear something with green in order to avoid being pinched.

We arrived in Salt Lake City by 10:30 a.m. their time, and realized that the car we had rented would  be too small with all our suitcases and Rebecca's luggage as well.  We had made that reservation before learning that our daughter Rebecca who lives in Europe would be on a trip to the US, and would overlap with us by about 10 hours.  We dropped off most of our luggage at our hotel, and went to pick up Rebecca.  It turned out that her hotel was only 5 minutes away from ours.

That afternoon we visited Betty Woodbury, and were delighted to visit with her sons David and Dixon, as well as David's wife Kathleen.

Saturday evening we had a St. Patrick's Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage at the Little America restaurant, then headed off to see the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble at the Conference Center Theater.  I had bought those tickets thinking Sanford and I would be going, but since Rebecca likes that kind of thing, she came along instead:)

As delightful as the performance was, after intermission I was struggling to stay awake after getting up so early that same Saturday  morning (2 a.m. Utah time!) so we left a bit early.



On Sunday morning, we attended church at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (former Hotel Utah).  A lovely group of people who were very welcoming to strangers, and how interesting to attend a church meeting in such a historic and elegant setting.


Sunday afternoon we scoped out the location and transportation options for my training on Monday morning and then we went to Temple Square.  In the Assembly Hall, there was a bagpipe band getting ready for a concert in the Tabernacle.  We didn't have time to stay for the concert, but enjoyed their warm-up.

Someone told us that there was a sister missionary from Indonesia serving on Temple Square, but we could not find her:(