The Wondrous Gift of Christmas

Jared, my best bud, and I made it to the Conference Center last night for the yearly Christmas program, this year entitled The Wondrous Gift of Christmas. R was on call and T and V went to the Jazz vs. Lakers game (Jazz won!), so just the two of us went. It was soooooooo good. My cousin was going to join us, but ended up not going. Our seats were right in the front section on the floor, though to the side, but what a thrill. Featured guest was Natalie Cole and I have to say that she has gained a new fan. She has eight (count that eight) Grammys and truly has a rich voice. Also featured was David McCullough, twice a Pulitzer Prize winner, also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom award, author of 1776 and John Adams.... Anyway, he was narrator and those two were so very gracious and warm. You add the Morm Tab, orchestra, bells, dancers. I can see now why these tickets are so valued, and to think I've made it through the lottery process two years in a row. What luck!! I was smiles the whole night.

It was so crowded downtown last night: 20,000+ at the Conference Center plus the Jazz game, plus those who went to see the lights on Temple Square, music events in the Assembly Hall, also the Nutcracker at Capitol Theater.... We took the Trax and it was quite a trip to get home. Fortunately, the rain didn't start until we got off the Trax which started turning to snow as we arrived home. This morning was a total mess, heavy snow and slipping and sliding because of the slush/ice underneath.

I heard "Margaret" while cued up to get into the Conference Center, turned around and saw someone waving at me who obviously knew me. I have to be honest as I was clueless. "Hi. How are you?," said I thinking "who are you?" She turned to her friend and said, "Margaret Nelson was my roommate in college." Ahh, yes. Now I remembered. She remembered my full name w/o any hesitation and I had to ask her name. I'm kicking myself. Fact: I had put up her homemade Christmas stocking just yesterday, the same one that she made for me all those years ago and it's such a treasure. It is hand knit (no pattern) with my name and Buon Natale, plus a Christmas tree covered in ornaments. I love that stocking. I think she went to Bolivia? on her mission and it seems like she was taught how to knit by the native ladies. They taught her well because she works magic with a pair of knitting needles. Anyway, I quickly got her phone number as we headed in the building and now we can do a reconnect. She also mentioned a former roommate, Nancy, whom I've tried to find in the past. Oh BTW her name is Susan Isom. Both Susan and Nancy never married, though I thought Nancy may have. Men can be such jerks. These are two exceptional ladies--college educated, returned missionaries, attractive, valiant in the gospel. I haven't seen or heard from Susan since college. She was in our aparment for only a couple quarters, then graduated, moved away and went to work. She majored in music therapy, but it turns out that after 10 years of that she moved into another direction and currently runs a nonprofits organization. I'll find out more when we connect.

The last time I remember being w/Nancy was shortly after I married. We both took a Saturday and went skiing. That seems like another life.

I'm feeling a bit drained tonight, probably getting to bed at midnight and getting up and out the door early . Good news: I get to sleep in. Bishop announced this morning that early meetings will start at 8 a.m. come the new year, and I only need to do that twice a month. I love my Bishopric. They are great men and I know that they meet early every week. Okay, it's off to the bathtub with a good book.