Crossing the Fifty

CURB SIDE CHECK IN?

Well for those of you who know me,  and I assume that no one is reading this yet, I dropped off my daughter Bronte at the MTC in Provo this week.  She will be headed for Japan in 8 weeks.

This was the third child I have left there, and by far the worst experience of the three.  

As I pulled up I was greeted by the same Police Man that, I swear to you, gave me several tickets while I was a student there 26 years ago.  He exercised all the power in his little hand to make me go the way he wanted and to park exactly at stall 19.  As I got out of the car I was met by two Elders that were checking out the situation.  ( The car, the baby in the back, the sister missionary getting out of the car, and the mom already in tears)

Without missing a beat the one stepped forward and said to me, as I pulled out her first suit case from the trunk.  "You'll want to make sure she has all her shot records in there".

Huh?

How about " Why don't you take a minute and say good by to your daughter, I'll keep an eye on this stuff for you".

Nope, wasn't gonna happen.  I turned around and there she was, she gave me a hug, the he said, as if to break up the situation, "come this way sister, "I'll show you where you need to check in".  

She waved good bye and that was it.  Away she went down the side walk.

Without any exaggeration it was less than a 3 minute experience.  As I drove away, my wife in tears, I was thinking to my self, "did I say what  I wanted to say?".  "I need to get home and write a letter!".

I know they have a lot of missionaries to get checked in now days and this must be the way to do it, I am not trying to be critical in any way, but, 30 seconds more would have gone a long way for a Dad and his daughter.  I guess that's why we had the hour in the temple to sit and talk.

Well I have about 56 days to write letters to her in the MTC before she leaves.