Counting and Keeping Your Companion Humble

No rain for 5 FULL days and counting!
Taking full advantage of our first sunny day, Memorial Day, we left early to go see Snoqualmie Falls:

Snolquamie falls are impressive. They are actually taller than Niagara falls:

We think Niagara falls still seem SO much bigger, but Niagara may in fact be OUTSIDE our mission boundaries, so these falls suited us just fine!

Of course, what good are BEAUTIFUL falls to guys like Mike, without seeing how they generate POWER out of all that falling water! (insert your own Tim the Tool man growl):

What is it about big pipes and the hum of water flowing through them at high pressure that creates such a guy magnet?

Mike could have spent the whole morning right there watching water turn into sheer electric power – (insert another primal AAuurgh, AAuurgh, AAuurgh!!).

So after a few minutes looking at pipes, I gently persuaded my loving companion to MOVE ON.

Because the walk down to the bottom of the falls was like walking through a rain forest was much more pleasurable than pipe watching. (Okay ,,, most of Seattle is actually a rain forest.) But, the forest around the falls was iridescently beautiful that morning:

And the Washington State Flower is now in bloom:

Well, we could have stayed longer wandering through the flowers, at least one of us could have, but it was Memorial day and we had yet to see one grave or tombstone to commemorate the day.

This raised a problem. We actually don’t personally know anyone who is buried near Seattle. However our problem was soon solved by good old Sister Garmin. Who is Sister Garmin? She is that GPS voice that basically takes us all around Seattle - like we actually know where we are going. Anyway, she located a cemetery close by.

Throwing all caution to the wind, we went. And it was just amazing what we ran into.

First we found the memorial for the greatest electric guitarist of all time, Jimi Hendrix.
As we stood there, we both tried to recollect just what were some of his songs. And guess what? We couldn’t remember one. In fact, we couldn’t remember even what band he played with. Okay, we have heard of Woodstock, but we are just sure he was famous for something else. Because the Seattle Music Experience, (which is a BIG deal here in Seattle), was dedicated to him. But apparently, we just aren’t astute enough electric-guitar aficionados to know. We did think though, that it was probably just too bad that a man of such talent was born into the world at such a time as the 60’s – in that he only lasted 28 years before his death.

Anyway, our attention was soon drawn to another part of the cemetery – the real reason for Memorial Day. At this little cemetery, about 200 military veterans and families had gathered for a commemoration. They had a few short talks and then it happened. What everybody had been waiting for. A full entourage of bagpipe and drum players playing Amazing Grace:

And then of course they had a 21 gun salute. So it just felt good to give honor to these veterans since we couldn’t be home to give honor to those we personally know and love.

The remainder of the week went pretty much as normal with our classes and teaching.

However on one evening the Institute Council sponsored a “Linus” blanket-tying event on campus.

Essentially the “Linus” project gives blankets to kids who have been traumatized due to various situations. For example, when firefighters are called to do a rescue of a child, once rescued, they use one of our blankets to wrap the child up. Anyway, it was a good project and bonus, several non-members joined in. Of the group in the picture, three are non-members. So bonus, some good missionary things were also happening at this event.

Finally, on Friday, the “ole” institute instructors (Bro. Knowles, Bro. White, & Elder Thornton) took on the young adults in a b-ball game to celebrate the NBA finals. They played a game to 11. They surprised everyone by winning. However, they were the first to acknowledge, had the game gone to the normal 21, they might not have lasted. And since Elder Thornton hit the game-winning 3-pointer, he might not be livable with for a few days. But since I am his companion, I have too, so I will do my best to remind him that hitting a 3-pointer after you have not taken a shot for over 3 years is LUCK and has nothing whatsoever to do with skill.

As you can see, some days it is a full-time job just to keep my companion, humble, meek and well-grounded. But I am up to it. I have had 24 years of practice with this particular companion (and counting, and loving it!)

We also do miss and love you all!

Elder (Mike) and Sister (Jenny) Thornton