A full Saturday, with funerals and a wedding, and other things

 Saturday, August 7, 2021

Started the day off with some basketball at the MTC with three other senior elders.  It was good exercise, but basketball is not my sport, especially two-on-two when the last time I played any basketball I have to count in decades, not years.

Later in the morning we visited Dubois market.  The bagels are still there, and they are still good.  Elaine picked up a blouse she had "made to order" for her.   A father and son wood carving team were there with all of their great work.  The giraffes are especially fun to see.  One is six feet tall and the others about four feet.  We are working on a way to get a giraffe home and it isn't going to be easy.  To be continued.

Our friend, Kathy Kittelson is playing the music at a wedding in their ward today and invited us just that morning to be there with her and her husband, Steve, so we went there after the market.  The Trade Fair ward across the street from the La Police Office (that's the address).   Kathy teaches music to the ward's youth and plays the organ or supervises it each Sunday.  They love being there and the ward loves having them.  Along the way to this wedding, we saw two funeral celebrations underway.  It seems that when an older person dies (not sure yet when the "old person" age kicks in) there is a celebration and not a lot of sadness.  We haven't seen a young person's funeral yet, so no comments there.  We took a picture of the first funeral we saw because it included horses.  A first for us to see. 

The riders looked mostly unsure of themselves.  Horses can be unpredictable.

Further down this same street we saw another funeral almost ready to begin.  Many chairs set up with people dressed in traditional colors of white, red and black.

The wedding was supposed to start at 12:00 noon, so there we were in the decorated chapel five minutes to.  The groom and best man were seated not long after that.  People began to file in slowly filling chapel and the overflow.  The bride and entourage came in at 1:00 pm.  While waiting we took pictures of the wedding announcement:

We did what we could while waiting for the bride to appear.  Among other things, we talked a lot, commented on the colorful clothing, and looked outside at the typical neighborhood behind the church.  The homes are rough indeed.  For a few minutes I looked up the 13 Articles of Faith and began memorizing them.  I did it when I was in primary, and can still recite them but I get the order mixed up after #4.   Everyone knows #11 and #13.  A few more sessions and I should have them in proper order.

Lots of pictures afterwards, as scheduled.  Hymns included in the program which were great to hear.  The stake president presided and performed the ceremony.  The couple sat "front and center" in front of the best man and maid of honor.  The stake president's talk was brief, which was nice.  He related a story about him preparing for stake conference.  He had asked his wife to make his favorite meal of white porridge.  The first bite didn't taste right and needed more sugar so he grabbed the container and added some.  It still didn't taste right so he did it again.  Still not right.  He called to his wife to ask her about it.  He then realized he had grabbed the salt container instead of sugar.  Don't think you have it all right and jump to conclusions, when the problem could be you.  The story took just a few minutes, then he smiled and sat down.

The bride and grandpa (we think) all looked great in their respective clothing.  Grandpa's tunic symbols mean something in their culture like power, good fortune, etc.

The happy couple.

Colorful and "whiteful" were in order today.

The wedding party gathered in the parking lot to celebrate and take pictures.

Everyone was having a wonderful time.  A great time to celebrate.

We noticed this guy in the audience.  I think I want a pair of those pants.  It fits in so well here and doesn't bring attention.  But at home?  Maybe I should bring home a pair for myself and one for a close friend.  Any takers?  Send me your size.

We didn't stay around for pictures.

We briefly visited local art gallery where everything was for sale.  The place is in a building along the shoreline.  Might go back some day.  

As we left the art gallery, the road parallels the beach.  The locals do what they can with what they have.  The beach is decorated here with spare tires.

Our next destination, Bistro 22, is for a late lunch, early dinner.  We have been surprised at the number of good restaurants in this city.  Just didn't expect that at all.  

Later that night, we tried watching some of the Olympics on our computer.  All we can get is the official Tokyo website which doesn't have much to entertain.  

It was a full Saturday and we enjoyed it.  Not what we had expected and that's okay.