Missionary Memories: August 10, 2014

Aug. 9

Well, we had another “just when we thought we had seen it all” experience in driving this last week on the way to work. I wish I could draw a diagram to explain it….I hope my description is understandable! Anyway, here goes! When there are 2 left turn lanes, the left one can turn left or do a u-turn and the right one is obviously just a left turn. This one morning, we were in the left one, waiting to do a u-turn to head on our way to work after leaving our apartment. There were about 3 cars ahead of me, and a car pulled up behind me, then changed their mind and pulled into the right lane, which was empty at this point. The turn signal changed and as we start moving forward and turning, we see the front one in our lane having to stop because the front one in the right lane is doing a u-turn!! We finally get to make our u-turn, and then we are in the right turn lane to head onto Capitol Expressway and we are now behind that same car. It stops at the corner instead of turning into the merge lane. At this point, Gary and I both say, it must be an Asian (and sorry, we are not being judgmental or bigoted…..we love our Asians we go to church with, it is just so many of the drivers who don’t know the traffic laws are Asian!)…..anyway, they finally turn, we get in the merge lane and proceed, and eventually get beside that car……yes, they are Asian! I really wonder how they pass the driver’s test….or maybe they are unlicensed, I don’t know. There are so many who don’t seem to know the traffic laws, who drive VERY hesitatingly slow on roads (like 20 mph slower on the freeways) that they are a hazard to the rest of the drivers. That is why I decided that the style of driving here is defensive/aggressive….you have to drive defensively to be wary of these drivers that you have no idea what they are going to do next, and you have to be aggressive enough to pull into lanes because no one is going to let you in. Besides, driving hesitatingly on roads gets you honked at! Oh, and I have honked at a few. The other day, on a left turn (single lane left turn), the light changed and they didn’t move! It is a quick left turn light too. So I honked to get their attention so we could get through that light! Stop lights are long here, and I swear that the people waiting must get on their phones and text while they are waiting so long, and they are not watching the lights to see when they change to green. It happens a LOT!Today, we are getting ready to go to the temple with our branch for our regular temple day. Afterwards, we are heading north to Martinez to go see Mt. Wanda! I have been wanting to do that for sometime. It had been on my “bucket list” since I first read about the place….way before we ever came here on a mission. So, since we are near it, we will go and see it. It is a place that John Muir, the naturalist, named. It was an area he took walks with his daughters, near his home. I guess he owned this whole area, not sure on that though. Two mountains there he named for his daughters, Wanda and Helen. I have my doubts that they are mountains like we are used to. Maybe hills. We shall see today, though!

Aug. 10

Yesterday, we did go to the temple. It was packed! The temple has been closed for awhile this summer for cleaning and apparently some remodeling projects. We noticed the restrooms in the dressing rooms had been enlarged. Anyway, the temple was very full! We had to park in the overflow parking area. After that, we headed out to Martinez, CA to Mt. Wanda It was less than a half hour drive from the temple. It was only about a mile hike, all uphill, and we are out of shape and had to stop and rest a lot. There wasn’t much to see. It was very dry. Apparently, spring is the best time to hike it and see the flowers and trees at their best. But, we did it. Our muscles are sore today. After we finished, we got a bite to eat, then headed home. Got some groceries, put things away, then went to a coin operated car wash and got the car cleaned.

Today, the usual Sunday things. Gary got up early for his 7:30 meeting; I left just before 9 and picked up the Vietnamese lady I take to church each week. She gave me a bag today and said it was for us. It had a 2 pound container of strawberries and a large box, like from Costco, of Ritz crackers. I’m sure she just wants to do something to thank us for taking her to church each week. We shared with the Michie’s and Crockett’s today. There is no way we can eat that many strawberries before they go bad. And, crackers start going soft around here if they sit too long because of the humidity in the air.

We chatted with Shelley today. We had wanted to talk to Hunter and Ayla to see how school went this week…..they start early in Indiana! Ayla started Kindergarten, so it was exciting for her to tell us about school……taking a lunch box, eating lunch at school, recess, gym, singing…..just so many fun things! And Emilie enjoys her quiet time at home while the big kids are gone to school (so does Shelley!).

After talking to them, I was getting so tired that I needed to lay down for quick nap. When I woke up, the Michie’s came over to chat and we had a nice little visit. That was when we shared the strawberries and crackers with them. After they left, I went to see if the Crockett’s were home, and shared with them. The Crockett’s were saying they needed to talk to Gary….they don’t think they can live in that apartment any longer. The noise from the pool makes it unbearable for them. They don’t feel they can come home to their apartment when they are tired sometimes because it is too noisy here (their apartment faces the pool), so they stay away till late sometimes on the weekends. And, they will be here through next summer, so they know they can’t face another summer. Gary will have to talk to management I guess to see what he can do.

Oh, today coming home from church, we had another weird driver incident. We were driving through a residential area, so the speed is slower there. A car was tailgating me. I was approaching a 4 way stop sign, and as I slowed to a stop, the tailgater just pulled out around me on the left side, and without even stopping, turned left at the corner! All this before I even came to a full stop! I said, every time I think I have seen everything, another weird thing happens! Oh, and the Michie’s told of seeing the same thing we saw before on the Seven Trees intersection…..where the light is red on Capitol, and a driver makes a quick right turn, and then makes an immediate u-turn, and then turns right back on Capitol so he never has to stop at the light!

And, talking of drivers…..Gary was talking to some of the members at church today, and learned that there ARE some Vietnamese (and probably the other Asians too) who drive without a license. They don’t speak English enough to take and pass a drivers test, so they just drive! So we were right in our guess about this! That is why so many of the really bad drivers we see are Asian. They drive slow, don’t know the laws, and just try to do the best they can do, apparently. CRAZY!

Oh, this last week was Senior Family Home Evening at the Mella’s again. We are going to continue with the potluck dinners. The Mella’s provide the meat, and the rest of us bring things. It works out great. The sisters who work at the employment center did the activity (Sister Hammer and Sister Robinson). Sister Hammer did it…..it was a trivia quiz on temples. We had a good evening together. It was a smaller group….I think about 18 is all….because some of the others had other commitments or were out of town. But those of us there had a good evening together. We really enjoy the company of the Mella’s! President Mella really cares about everyone, and makes an effort to find out about how things are going and how he can help to improve the situation……..and then he does it! So refreshing!

Well, we are approaching another transfer. Next Sunday will be the Outgoing Devotional again, and I haven’t even typed up my notes from the last one yet! Transfer planning is this week and next week will be transfers…..our 9th of 13. It always is sad to send another group of these young people home….we will miss them!

We are hoping soon to see some friends of ours from the MTC….the Harris’s. They served in Seattle, and were on a 12 month mission, so it will be finished in just days. And, they live in Santa Rosa, which is just north of San Francisco/Oakland, so we ought to be able to see them. When they left, they told us they would come look us up when they got home. If they don’t, we will look them up!

I had an email from Colton this last week…..I enjoy hearing from the grandkids, so that was a treat! When we first left, we got notes and pictures that they drew in the mail, but it has been a long while since we have had any new pictures or notes from any of them, so the email was much appreciated!

Thank you to all we hear from! We love hearing what is going on in your lives….even if you think it is boring. We are so out of touch with those at home…..when I read every once in awhile on Facebook about something at home, I sure wish I knew more that just a brief mention of things, but I guess that will have to suffice until we get home to learn more. A big thank you to my sister, Susie, for filling me in on things.

That is it for this week’s report!

Here are some pictures: