Just This and That

The Mary Poppins umbrella was in good form today.  To say it was wet is a terrible understatement.  We walked to a few grocery stores with our winter coats on.  It is still chilly...in the 40s and 50s, but not that biting cold of a few weeks ago.  The rain was a steady downpour, pelting the umbrella and soaking our feet and the parts of our clothes that were not covered.  Since there was no wind, the Mary Poppins did a magnificent job.  I have become very good about raising it up very high when we pass other pedestrians on the narrow sidewalks, so as to not poke out any eyes.

We were shopping for the meal we are preparing for tomorrow at the center.  It is a training meeting for all committee members and since we have almost all committees up and running, that should amount to about 30 people.  We don't always get the grocery store flyers in the mail, so the comparison shopping we do is usually on foot....or feet.  It was not only the price we were looking at today, but the quality of the fruit as well.

Two members of the stake presidency will be there tomorrow doing some of the training, as well as the couple who are in charge of the Scandinavian YSAs.  They will drive down from Sweden in the morning (a 3 to 4 hour drive), teach their portion of the training and then return home.  Their name is Mattson.  So with all the special guests, we want it to be a "proper meal," as Louise, our YSA chairman stated.

Our menu is lasagne, green salad, garlic bread and fruit pizza.  We ended up with a lot of stuff to carry, and called the Hansens at the office to see if they could get along without the car today.  So after most of the serious shopping was done and the groceries deposited in our apartment, we took the bus to the mission office to get the car (and go into a grocery store near the office to check out their fruit).  A ride back to the apartment, and then a trip to the center (which is over by the office) with all the earlier purchases took several hours when all was said and done.

It is a good thing we didn't go to our Danish class today.

SK set up tables and chairs while I assembled 3 very large pans of lasagne, and made 3 large sugar cookie bases for the fruit pizza.  While we were at the center, Elijah came in we all sat down and ate dinner together, and then he and SK played pool.  (SK is never one to pass up an opportunity like that!)

I am getting braver with my Danish.  I sat down to an older lady on the bus on Monday, and said in Danish, "I am trying to learn Danish....will you help me?"  She didn't know any English, so it worked out fine.  I chatted away....and she nodded and smiled.  When she got off the bus, she told me to "Have it good.".....and I couldn't remember the proper response!  So I just said..."You too."  and flinched.  Oh well.

Last night at the center I had a discussion with two of the YSAs and we got on the subject of American tourists....that made me flinch a little too.  They were open about it....and I never felt like they were complaining the way Arizonans complain about winter visitors.  They told me that as a rule, Americans are loud.  SK and I have observed that this is true.  We have walked along some of the tourist areas and noticed how Americans go along talking (loudly) about everything and everyone. They are loud as they speak in English about the Danes....as if no one can understand them.  When in truth, nearly everyone understands every word.  Then, out of the blue, they will turn to a Dane and ask something in English, fully expecting an answer in English.

Other than loud obnoxious tourists, I think they like America and Americans.   It is nice to be proud of your country and your countrymen, and I have met some wonderful Americans here, but I have also seen some that I would rather not claim!

Here is a random little observation:  When it rains, there are more people who ride the bus.  I was sitting in a window seat and the aisles and seats were all full.  An elderly couple got on and began threading their way toward the back.  Both looked frail and had white white hair.  The bus suddenly lurched forward and then stopped, which threw the woman off balance and she started to fall backward with a look of horror on her face.  Quick as a flash, the old man held one arm out and caught her perfectly....with never a change of expression on his face.  I had the impression that he has been doing that all their lives.  It was surprising that he was so quick and solid and strong, and it was charming.

Doesn't it make you want to ride the bus?  It is always enjoyable.

Below is a picture of the Denmark Senior Missionaries group from Wednesday.  We are missing a few....and we are missing the couples who are in Iceland, but here we are at the center.  Our mission president is on the back row on the far right, and his wife is right in front of him on the end.  It is a great blessing to spend time with all of them.