Sharing is Caring

The best experience I had sharing my essay happened previously we I shared the rough draft with my brother that recently left on his mission and my parents. However since I finally finished the essay I was finally able to share it with Brother Miller with whom I wrote the essay about.

The best part was that Brother Miller was not expecting it at all, and he told me that he felt the same way, that we are the best of friends. He even made a joke about cleaning those bathrooms, which is an experience that can't be forgotten. So it was special to be able to share it with the person that was the inspiration behind my essay.

Checkmate

"Who's the more foolish; the fool, or the fool who follows him?" - Obi-Wan Kenobi

“You don’t have any kids?” he questioned me with a hint of sarcastic surprise in his voice. Followed closely by “and come to think of it, you don’t even have any grand-kids!” I couldn't suppress the laughter that was bubbling inside of me and it began to slip out as I tried to remain focused and serious.

Then the first match ended almost before it began. I should have seen it coming. The first pawn of mine that was taken resulted in check-mate. So as suddenly as we started it was over. I don’t take losing easily and wasn't going to let that happen again, despite my lack of experience in playing chess, compared to the 72 year old retired English teacher with an Afro that was sitting across from me.

It Can Be Fun

1. Mission friend: The missionary known as "Elder Clark" might find my personal essay of interest. I've shared with him before how I handled the situation we were in but he may find more insight into how it's affected my life ever since. I would share it with him through email, since he's not very active on any social media.

2. My mission president: I've also told him several times about my experience during the situation, but I think I would certainly like to share it with him through the context of just how important and impactful he was to me at that specific time (not to mention the rest of my mission). I would probably have to email it to him.

3. My girlfriend: I'll share my video about Darren's essay and the essay itself, as its themes of friendship would resonant strongly with her. She values friendships a great deal, sometimes longer than I would expect a sane person to do so. She would probably find a lot to like in Darren's description of his friendship with Brother Miller.

4. Twitter: Everyone that I feel would appreciate the story and not just ignore it, are on Twitter, so I would probably post it on there for whatever followers I have that would be interested.

5. Sister: I wasn't as open about the situation with my family, or at least about my actual feelings during it, so I feel like they would really learn a lot about me through it. My sister lives closer so I could more easily share it with her face-to-face.

6. Parents: Again, they really don't know very much about how I was affected by the incident personally, so this may be something they would really want to read, and not just read it because I'm their son.

Elephant in the Front Yard Teaser Trailer

Here is the teaser trailer for Ryan Parker's essay. I chose to follow pretty close to the format Dr. Burton used in his video. Hopefully I didnt give too much away so you will want to read Ryan's awesome essay.

Chess Master

The first match ended almost before it began. I should have seen it coming. The first pawn of mine that was taken resulted in check-mate. So as suddenly as we started it was over. I don’t take losing easily and wasn't going to let that happen again, despite my lack of experience in playing chess, compared to the 72 year old retired English teacher with an Afro that was sitting across from me. 

The pieces were quickly retest which wasn't hard considering the brevity of the first match. The board was then rotated and play continued. Things were different this time. Play progressed, a queen was captured, castles consumed, knights knocked out, and pawns bishops bagged until finally I had his king trapped with no means of escape. My cunning and daring strategy had somehow outwitted the years of experience that guided the pieces opposite of mine.

Anyone else observing this scene would probably have difficulty believing their eyes. Here is an old man playing chess, which isn’t a surprise, but the fact that his opponent was barely a third of his age. Not a common occurrence especially which his opponent is there by choice and not out of obligation or any other ulterior motives. The old man’s junior, if he were common to his generation would expect to mercilessly distract by his phone and other outside forces, but somehow managed to keep these at bay. They formed what many would call a lopsided friendship. 

From an outsider’s perspective we had very little in common at all, but they couldn't be more wrong. Despite the many years that separated us, we had a lot in common. We both had the same sarcastic and ridiculous sense of humor, loved music and played the guitar, and liked to make fun of each other and others. Despite our physical age differences, our minds are both about the age of 13, which makes things almost too fun at times.

Once upon a time we were both working janitorial on weeknights cleaning the offices at a truck depot. It was probably the nastiest job that I have ever had. Especially the bathrooms, which were at times tainted by trucker blowouts. The only thing that made this bearable, and the only reason I was even there was because we had so much fun together. One night my “supervisor/boss” strategically hid himself in one of the back offices that I always got around to vacuuming last. As I opened the door I found a dirty rag flying at my face, and heard an unearthly yell. Needless to say I was quite startled and once I had my wits about be I found and old man literally rolling around on the dirty carpet with short bursts of giggling escaping at sporadic intervals.  

This is only one example of the many adventures that shaped and forged this unlikely friendship. Despite all of the fun and practical jokes, there were times when we would discuss more serious in an often light-hearted way, but knowing that deep down we both recognized the true importance of these more heavy matters.

As with most friendships time and circumstance would take us far from each other. Even with the many advantages with modern communication, we would rarely talk to each other. However whenever circumstances and time would permit we would make plans to go get a cheap senior discounted mean at a fast food restaurant, or for the first time, a friendly and competitive match of chess. Either way, whenever we would get together it was awesome because we both would be practically the same person that we were the last time that we met. It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks and when you’re as hard headed as me, change is slow and far between. I am always looking forward to the time that we get together. I also start to feel a bit older too when, we get to reminisce  about the many good times that we have had in the past.

My mom would always tell me growing up that friends would come and go but family is the only thing that will last. While she was right about basically every friend that I've had growing up until know that has been relatively close to my age has moved on for some reason. Marriage, graduating, military, and careers all seem to pull those friends of mine from my life. However I can truly say that I've had one friend that despite distance and changes in my life has always been there, and can without a doubt make me laugh. I don’t even want to think about the time that will come when he literally won’t be around anymore. At any rate before I know it I’ll be the one on the experienced side of the chess board, reliving my younger years with some punk kind.

Mafia Mormons

Sitting in Sunday school I almost cringe every time that Peter would raise his hand. He never said anything that was wrong, offense or even inappropriate, but it was the way that he would talk. His voice would immediately increase in pitch as he would talk. It would become very soft and airy, and the content would always turn to some mission story. I have nothing against return missionaries or having them impart of their wisdom, but the way that they go about it make them seem like they are the most holy person in the room. It seems almost degrading just to be in their presence and hear them speak. I don’t want to have to strain to hear them speak, and then I don’t even want to participate in the lesson anymore because I don’t have anything that can top them. Church over for me as soon as he starts talking because he is always going to have the final word, so there is no point in even trying. His intentions aren't bad, but it seems more like he have something to prove. Missions change people’s hearts, minds, and souls, but why does it change the voices so many missionaries as well?

Without every fast Sunday Brother Falcone would slowly make his way to stand with his hunched back, slicked back hair and black pin-striped suit. It was inevitable that he would give a monologue about his Italian heritage and growing up in the slums on the east coast. The story seemed to be the same every week with very little variation. He would talk very slowly without looking out at the congregation, but instead he would stare at the base of the microphone while fiddling with the actual mic with one hand. The mic would making popping and scratching noises has his wingers would continue to connect with the mics surface and he would speak very softly, almost a whisper for a very long time. Then he would slowly make his way back to his seat. No one ever complained, but no one was ever really surprised by his reoccurring appearance each month. I don’t ever remember seeing him on any other Sundays, but without a doubt he would be there on fast Sundays. I always thought it was cool that we had a mafia member straight out of movie in my ward. He was so cool that everyone was afraid to tell to go sit down because he would be talking for too long. I was living life on the edge somehow through Brother Falcone making his appearances in church.

Mormons Desires;

1. Mormon at a young age is give much responsibility to obtain sacred records. To be a leader and example in his life. 

• Perhaps the way Tori Fawson struggled for comfort and help as a young high school girl when her mom was diagnosed with cancer can reflect the way Mormon was given a lot to handle and be responsible for. Emotionally she had alot,  Mormons was physical. 

1. Plot: The Nephite are constantly engaged in war and turmoil with the Lamanites. The Nephites become boastful in themselves and their ability to fight, that when the Lamanites again attack they are able to inflict great pain upon them. 

• Julia had a constant war taking place with her cheer coaches that weren’t assisting the needs of her sister. The Nephites were not taking care of their spiritual and righteous needs. We 

1. Narrators point of view: Mormon 6; Mormon cries aloud in anguish for the actions and way of living of the Nephites. He has tried to stay out of things, but is alway brought back to assist them in efforts to save them from their wickedness. His heart aches for their souls.

• Josh Smith shares his experience of when the girl was killed and how the school mourned together and also came together to be healed and comforted. Mormon is in agony and mourning as well as frustrated with his people. He lacked the unity of others to help claim some of his troubles but he also felt the pain and tragedy as Josh and his classmates felt. 

1. Dialogue: Mormon 1: Ammaron directs Mormon in a grandfatherly way that he is a capable and worthy young man. He is to lead the people in the future. and obtain and care for the record of their people.

• Taylor Neuffer mentions how his summers in Idaho with his grandparents. They didn’t necessarily show the greatest of enthusiasm but it appears that he still knew they cared and wanted to help him in anyway possible. 

1. Mormon 7: Mormon asks and warns continually in his language to the people of the future. “Know ye that ye must” He is telling us of the things we must do. The things the Nephites didn’t do that frustrated him so bad to.  

• I can hear Elder Bailey give his true thoughts about the accident that occurred in Darren Tories post. Darren mentions how he “wasn’t afraid to raise his voice from the slightest irritation” Mormon I am convinced was willing to raise his voice when needed as well.