We Pause

 It was another London day.  We took a young elder who has been serving in Oxford for the last several months back to his newly assigned area in London - where he started out his mission.  He lived in a flat about three blocks from the Hyde Park Chapel, and was giddy as we got into London proper.  In fact, we turned off the GPS the last four miles and let him get us through the city.

We pulled into the church underground parking lot, and were surprised to see about 20 young elders and 6 senior missionaries inside.  The lot only holds about 15 cars and it is a very tight squeeze.  When SK pulled in, we were the 15th car.  We had to maneuver around so that another car could back out and then get out of the garage.  That, my friends, is one reason I don't drive here.  

We said our hellos to some dear young missionaries that we have been close to, and said our good-byes to the ones we have recently been close to.  About 10:30, SK announced to Dave that we had to get out of there fairly soon so that we could be in a place to stand at attention in reverence and silence for those who have lost their lives in service of their country.  It was to occur at 11:00 on this 11th day of the 11th month.

It was a special treat last year to be in a large supermarket outside the city of Oxford.  Everything and everyone in that store stopped where they were and stood quietly for two minutes while patriotic music played in the background.  It was sobering to see the respect that was paid to the fallen, and to the occasion.

We kept visiting, and so finally SK said, "Let's just go out to the front of the chapel and stand silently there."  With COVID this year, authorities have said, go stand outside your front door and mark the two minutes of silence.  No one at the missionary gathering had heard of it.  But with SK being so very insistent, Dave and Deb and another senior sister all trooped outside to join in the somber ceremony.

There we stood, lined up in a row outside the chapel, at the top of the steps overlooking a very busy road, across the street from a large museum and a large university, and down the street from two more large and famous museums.  We made it with five minutes to spare.  We watched the time count down and then the clock struck 11.

Nothing - and I mean nothing happened.  Not a single motorist pulled over, not a single bicyclist stopped to dismount and stand at attention, not a single pedestrian stood silently - except for the five of us.  We waited for two minutes, and then went inside. SK was pretty deflated.  He whispered to me, "We'll have to come back next November!"  He was convinced that we just happened to be at the one place where they don't mark this day.  I know how much Dave and Deb love him, and they thought it was all charming - his excitement for this day.

We walked several blocks with Dave and Deb to get hot chocolate and had a lovely visit as we walked.

Deb remembered that today is Melissa's birthday and thought we ought to have a picture toasting Melissa with our hot chocolate.  The first one was hilarious.  She asked Dave to take a selfie with us all in it.  Deb looked at it and said, "Nice picture of Dave."  Actually it is hilarious.  Look at SK.  He has the croissant up to his mouth with the mask on!...and it looks like his finger is in his ear. (He was just adjusting his hearing aid)  And I look like a complete ditz.  A few minutes later back at the church we had a missionary snap a picture of us toasting Melissa....but we all look pretty lackluster.  I prefer the crazy selfie.

  Dave and Deb are busier than ever. These young missionaries have missed so much, especially the ones that have completed their missions and gone home.  Dave and Deb try as hard as they can to make everything special, to make sure the missionaries know how much they are valued.  In some ways that takes more time, more planning and more preparation than ever before.  

If nothing else, Dave and Deb know how to do up things in a spectacular way....and now everything is so low-key.  We met some young missionaries on the walk and they came along and had hot chocolate with us.

We made the trip back to Oxford in good time, and much less frazzled than we did yesterday.  It is a familiar route.  

We paused a couple of times to Facetime Melissa.  It is her birthday today.  She has had a busy week, but she was taking time today to just be with her family.  I've thought November 11 was a great day for a birthday.  School is always out on Veteran's Day, and we used to joke that all of the celebrating was on Melissa's behalf.  As we remember with gratitude the good and great people who have served, I also remember with thankful heart the little one who entered the world this day in 1979,who stole our hearts and who continues to be a joy in our lives.

A batch of cookies and Zoom Institute and sending texts to several YSAs...just checking on them.  And that brings the day to a close.