An All Day Date

I've already mentioned that I went to Salt Lake with Skyler, but I haven't really given it the attention it deserves. This post is dedicated to that infamous day-te.

It started at 10:45am, when Skyler showed up at my apartment. We made our sandwiches together and took off. We arrived in Salt Lake around noon and parked by Temple Square. We went straight for the Joseph Smith Memorial building but were just 10 or 15 minutes too late to see the Joseph Smith movie. We had until 1:15 before the next showing so we mosied around Temple Square and found our way over to the Cathedral of the Madeliene. We went inside and were quite pleased to discover that we had arrived just in time to hear the choir practice. The choir was amazing! Even Skyler was impressed. I know that I was deeply touched by the beauty inside the cathedral, both seen and heard.

We walked back to Temple Square and watched the Joseph Smith movie. I had never seen it before and Skyler has seen it TONS!!! Needless to say, Skyler cried through the whole thing. What a man! I knew it was going to be good when we were waiting to go inside the theater and Skyler asked me to grab him some tissues that were next to the door. The movie is really well done. I was particularly touched by the scene of Joseph Smith, Sr.'s deathbed, when he has his children gathered around him and they speak of eternal families and how they will see their brother Alvin again one day.

After the movie we went up to the Utah Capitol and ate our lunches on the grass. Then we decided to make one last stop in Salt Lake: the Hatch Family Chocolate Shop. However, I got us lost and had to call for directions. I called the Helaman front desk and talked to Maraina, who told us that she had gotten engaged the night before! We were both very excited for her! While she was looking for the address Skyler kept driving, and we eventually hit the Salt Lake Cemetery. We ditched the midget chocolate store for a Prophet Grave Hunt. We found 4: John Taylor, Heber J. Grant, David O. McKay and our very own Gordon B. Hinckley. It was probably my favorite part of the day.

Then we drove up to Willard, where Skyler is from. I was really nervous about meeting Skyler's family. I don't do well with meeting families or significant others. We walked in and Skyler's mom gave him a big hug. Then he introduced us and she was like, "yeah, I've seen your face in pictures with Skyler on Facebook." Skyler told her I was nervous about meeting them and she gave me the biggest hug and told me that I was always welcome. Skyler gave me the tour and we ended up in his basement bedroom. The walls were a sky blue and he had flannel sheets on the bed. There was also a toilet in the middle of the room. Skyler showed me his awards from Cub Scouts and his favorite stuffed animals from when he was a child. Then his mom called him up to talk to her because they don't seem him as often as they'd like. I also met his 14 year old sister, Katelyn. When Skyler told me she was 14 I responded with, "uh, that wasn't a good age for me," but Skyler swore it was a good age for her. It is. She's very kind and grown up for a 14-year-old. We ate homemade hamburgers in his backyard with yummy pasta salad as his 10-year-old brother Zach ran around with his friend. I met their dog and got to see their large cage of quail. I toured Skyler's mom's garden. Then Michael came home, and I felt very at ease. Michael is 17 and he and Skyler got along great. Michael was funny and talkative. It was just like having 2 Skylers in the room. After just an hour, we got ready and left.

We booked it back to Salt Lake (we left Willard late) and parked at the Marriott. While getting out of the car the button on my shoe snapped off and I had to stuff the strap inside my shoe and under my foot. We ran to Abravanel Hall and got there just in time for the Symphony to start. The whole building seemed to slope toward the stage, where the Utah Symphony was joined by the Duke Ellington Orchestra. They played some very loud and upbeat jazzy things. All in all, it was so much fun.

Pretty much, the day reminded me of why Skyler and I are such great friends. I feel like we can sit in silence. We can argue. He farts in front of me and I warn him not to get behind me unless he wants to see my butt when I bend over. We both enjoy "the finer things" in life, even if he appreciates it much more. I understand him, and he understands me. I am very grateful to be so close to such a great man.