Out of My Element

I just recently had one of the most awkward social experiences of my life: the annual company Christmas party.

What should make a company Christmas party any different? This year’s party was held at the Embassy Suite. Nothing abnormal there. The awkwardness stems from three main points:

· I went alone [my wife was unable to join me for this outing]
· I am the new kid on the block. Out of the 1000+ people in attendance, I only know about 1% of those in attendance.
· I don’t drink.

Mix all three factors together and you have a recipe for a dysfunctional social event. I lasted about an hour before departing silently into the night.

A Milestone

For those of you who have endured with me for the first 99 posts, I give you my 100th post. I’ve often debated about whether or not to publish this through a blog, but as you can see, I’ve made my decision and so here it is. In fact I’ve held off posting this one…I’ve reserved it for my 100th. After all, we are not talking about ordinary, average milestones.

Moving to Lincoln

In the chilled shadows of the sentinel grain silos
that existed before the cross laden building of the believers
I stood demurely, head bowed, eyes averted
unsure of the shame I felt in their presence.

Would they ever approve of a foreigner who
lacked the gift and might of Joseph’s foresight?

For one hundred seventeen years, settlers have poured
yearly offerings into those concrete bellies
to stave off hunger against long deep winters of
a conquered prairie.

Their disapproving gray stare
leave me certain of an extended dismal season to come;
they don’t need pharaoh’s dream
for their shadows to point the way back to Canaan.

The Resurrection of the Road Show

The last time I saw a road show, Indiana Jones was on his last crusade and Johny Lingo was still a film strip. Tonight was the ward Christmas party and they put on a piece of this year’s road show. This year, the show brought to life, the story of Lehi’s family as they journeyed across the sea. The ingenuity and originality of this production was that they added a WB Anamaniac twist to it]. It was very entertaining. So the food was good, the entertainment was good, and the spiritual message given by the Bishop, at the close of the party, was really a nice touch. So thanks to all for a wonderful evening.