Exactly 10 years ago, I left my home for the first time without my family to go on my mission. I can remember that day perfectly. In the morning, I drove with my Dad out to the American Fork 5 Buck Pizza to check on the Point-of-Sale software I had installed there, with many, MANY bugs in it. Then we drove back to Orem on State Street, taking the long way to have a long talk about my next 2 years. It was a very nice day, sunny and approaching 70 degrees.
My girlfriend, Hillary, showed up around 11 AM, and we spent some last mushy moments together, but doing nothing like holding hands or kissing, of course. Then my dad gave me a blessing, we packed up the minivan with my suitcases and siblings, and drove on down to the MTC.
Once we arrived, it was very much like the movie "Called to Serve". We all filed into this large hall, sitting with our families, watching herds of families come in behind us. LDS commercials played on the big screen ("Families...isn't it about TIME?"), but I couldn't laugh as nervous as I was. I was bracing myself for the onslaught of emotions. Some guy came out and gave a talk, probably the MTC president, I don't remember, and then it was time to say goodbye. I hugged my siblings and said goodbye to Hillary without shedding many tears, but once I hugged my mom, it was all over. I turned into a blubbering idiot, and walked out of the hall with waterfalls coming down my cheeks. I shook and sniffled like a 2-year-old for the next 5 minutes as we were herded down to the bookstore to pick up our stuff. Sometime in there I was assigned a companion, Elder Gaufin. I grabbed my stuff and found my dorm-room, in one of the southern-most building, I feel like it was building 13. I unpacked my stuff, and lay down on my bed for a minute. I remember staring up at the ceiling thinking, "This is the first day of 2 more years of this." That thought depressed and scared me. Would I be able to do it? It seemed so long at the time.
Today, it's 10 years later. And I can still remember most of that day. When I think of how much I've accomplished, how much I've changed, and all that's happened in those 10 years, it really boggles my mind. I was trying to think of a way to list all of these things without sounding like a braggart, but that's just impossible when you're truly awesome. And humble.
Accomplishments:
Finished my mission
Installed my pizza software at a bunch of 5 Buck Pizzas
Graduated from BYU
Got a job
Moved to Boston
Got married
Bought a house
Mowed the lawn
Places I've been:
Poland
Russia
Standard Euro countries
Nepal
Thailand
Hong Kong
Japan
Egypt
Idaho
Cambodia
Changes:
Fatter
Dorkier
Balder
Wiser
Hairier
Slower
Lazier
Wealthier
Where will I be in 10 years? On my mission, I received a letter from my 15-year-old self. Brother Hull, my 9th grade seminary teacher had us all write letters to ourselves that he would send us in 5 years. I totally forgot about it, but when I got it, it was a source of immense humor. I was the stupidest kid! Most of my thoughts were on the crushes I had at the time. So on my mission, I wrote a letter to myself that I would open up in 1 year, since there was no way I would remember past that. In that letter, I made predictions for where I would be in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, etc. I found it last year when we were moving and Mel and I had a good laugh. I would share some of it, but I don't remember any of it. When I find it, you'll be the first to know.
I was thinking that I would make predictions here, but after writing out a few of them, I decided not to. They're much funnier when the time has passed and you can see how wrong you were. I know, I know, not fun at all. So here's a few impersonal predictions:
1. Cars will be flying in 2015.
2. The Cubs will finally return to the World Series in 2017, only to be swept by the Omaha Indians.
3. The Simpsons will come back for their 30th season. It will still be 30 minutes of Homer being incredibly stupid and unfunny.
That reminds me, I saw some movie on cable the other day that was set in post-apocolyptic Boston, where people all spoke different languages, disease was rampant, and the entire city was a war zone. This was supposed to be 2007. The movie was made in 1997. Why would you make a movie where the future is so horrendously different, but it's only been 10 years? I'm rambling now.
12 comments:
I remember getting my seminary letter a couple of years ago. Except that it wasn't really a surprise to me because when I wrote it I was determined to never forget that I wrote it.
Do you really think the Indians will do better in Omaha?
great post.
now hurry up and get a facebook account so we can hang.
and yes. that plea will be the content of all future comments until you AND mel have complied.
don't act like you're too cool.
on the day i went into the mtc, i remember wayne turning to me and saying, "if you knew what you were getting yourself into, you wouldn't be here"
I don't remember ANYTHING about you leaving. I remember crying when JoEllen left, and being totally apathetic when Brian ceased to exist, but you...nothin'. No offense. I'm sure you remember nothing about me, so it's all good.
I think the foremost memory in my mind of MTC-ing it was when Tyler went in. Mom was sick and looked like death a majority of the time (no offense, Mom, if you're reading this). When we were sitting in the "Called to Serve" room, getting ready to sing, JoEllen pointed at a smaller T.V. screen with a picture of Christ holding up his right hand and a scroll in the other. She whispered to me, "He looks like He's going to conduct us in singing!" And I just couldn't cry when Tyler left.
The only time I've been at the MTC is when you left, Kent, and I remember it reasonably well. But because of that time, now I know what I'm in for with David in 7 weeks and I'm not really looking forward to it. It'll be tough.
I don't remember Kent leaving either, though I believe I was in the neighborhood, but not being in the same house, what can you do?
I do remember the Hansens playing an integral part when I left. Kristie picked me up from the airport - first time I had ever met her. I guess most of the Hansens were out of town, but Bruce took me to some computer lab to hang out with him in the morning (I think we passed Hugh Nibley coming in - I remember thinking "Who is Hugh Nibley?" when Bruce mentioned it). Bruce then dropped me off at the MTC. He said he would have come in with me to see me off, but forgot that he actually had to be dressed presentably to go in, which he was not. Luckily, two girls from my freshman ward came in with me, or I would have been one pathetic kid.
Where is David going on his mission?
Allan frequently mentions that you wrote the best mission letters. He fondly recalls one from one of your ex-girlfriend's husband. In fact, I think he still has a copy of it somewhere. Good stuff.
Comments on comments:
Kent, you don't have a Facebook?! Come...ON!
Phil: who's Wayne?
Liesl: rude! I don't remember you at all during my MTC sendoff.
Paula: you've NEVER been to the MTC besides when Kent left? Hogwash.
Pete: Dave's going to Berlin.
I remember the day I went to the MTC well. June 11, 1997. In the early moan we took JoEllen to the airport. We went back and I caught a few Z's before going over to CVJHS to see the 4th Grade's rehearsal of "Th' Wiz o' Oz" (which the Boy was in). I went weightlifting in the late a.m., probably benching 186 10 times, and had tostadas and leftover birthday cheesecake for lunch. Then the blessing and off to the MTC for me.
The rest is the same as yours.
Welcome home.
Not to brag, but (to brag) everyone remembers my mission details better than yours. I was super emotional at your MTC thing b/c I was really sad I couldn't do it again. Which sounds sooooo corny but I was really sentimental for my mission at that stage in my life. I was also feeling really mixed up about Mark, who visited me at work ten minutes before I went to see you off. I told Bruce and Craig about it, who were giving me a ride to the MTC and they said, oh can he be our token black person?
your post makes me miss college (some things at least)
Brian: What? I forgot. But now that you've refreshed my memory of the day you left (getting up at 4 A.M. to see JoEllen off), it's cool to remember again. Still don't remember yours though, Kent.
Yeah dude, facebook man!
Balder and Harrier? is that possible??
Fatter? Maybe I can keep up with you now?
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