Sunday, July 7, 2019

Happy Independance Day

Of course, AFTER Canada Day comes Independance Day.  We enjoyed joining in with the festivities and celebrations here in Nauvoo (but feel that no one celebrates like Raymond !)  They started with a flag raising ceremony in front of the Visitor's Center where the Brass Band played and the YPMs sang the national anthem.  The Nauvoo 1st ward scouts were the color guard and raised the flag.  They, then,  recited the Pledge of Alliegence...which we respectfully listened to. Again, I was moved and appreciative of the freedoms which are throughout North America as a direct benefit of the sacrifice of many who preceded us.  I wish to be a strong link in passing on the torch to our children / grandchildren.  Many of the things that we take for granted were won because others ahead of us were willing to sacrifice to maintain those freedoms.  There was a short speaker and then they served doughnuts / chocolate milk / milk / orange juice to any and all.  After that, they did a childrens bike parade around the west parking lot.  We, missionaries, were expected to put in our usual time which we did after the ceremony.  They did their fireworks the next night.  The fireworks were shot off in Montrose, Iowa (across the river) after dark.  There was a band concert beforehand, while it was getting dark.  We experienced this last year, except that the fireworks were shot off at the end of Parley Street here in Nauvoo....apparently they take turns.  During the day, everything was business as usual which we found different.  Nauvoo On the Road was in Carthage because they have a big day like Raymond does so we beetled over there after work and enjoyed walking around the town square and seeing some things.  I'll show you:

This is what they call a water fight....can you even imagine what a Smith Reunion would have been like with this !!!!   There are 3 people on a hose.  A cable is strung between two triangle braces with a barrel on a pulley in the middle.   Each end of the cable was then hooked to the bumper of a fire truck and pulled tight.  The barrel is hooked and pulled to the center of the cable...each team fills their hose and aims it straight up into the air.  When the whistle blows, they each try to push the barrel along the cable to the opposite end.  The participants are all geared up in firemen protective gear and the kids all watch then run through the remaining water at the end.  Several different teams participated....it was fun to watch!!

We have had some "scorchers" this week with temperature ranging between 30 - 40 degrees with over 80 percent humidity. The humidity is the "kicker" for us.  Jim has been very careful to hydrate and get out of the sun by working in the air-conditioned shop.  I am usually inside but when I go out, it is like walking into an oven.  We have become very accustomed to air-conditioning and are so grateful for it. (How did we survive without it?)  The air is so close and damp that I find that I just want to take a big breath of air.  Sunset By the Mississippi goes on each night irregardless....they do monitor the heat index and will call the show if it gets too high (over 105 degrees)  This is a picture of all of the ladies in our Blue Cast.  They are the BEST...I have grown to love them all....such good sports and non-complaining!!  This is backstage at the Sunset stage.  It is an outdoor stage just east of the Visitor's Center.  Jim and I are in charge of providing ice water in a cooler and freezies (otter-pops, as they call them)  in another cooler for all the cast members so that they can stay hydrated.  We get the ice and the water from the big machines in the FM compound and have assigned different people to bring the freezies each night.  Everyone is so eager to "pull their share" and we have not had to "twist" any arms.....haha!

That's about it for this week.  We continue to enjoy every minute here but still think about all of you at home and love you.   Have a great week!!