Haircuts & Breakfast

Happy 4th of July. Wow! It surely seems funny being away from the Estados Unidos on this holiday. No parades and games at the park here. The only thing we had planned was to have the elders to breakfast and then I was to give them each a haircut. We had no idea what we were going to do after that. But earlier this week our friends at the area offices called and invited us to a party they were having on the 4th. Yes, we would be there for sure. We were excited all week about it. We jump at the chance to socialize with the other senior couples.

So this entry is going to be about our morning on the 4th, and the next entry will cover the afternoon. A lot happened today!

Breakfast was going to be at 8:30 so there was no sleeping in, not even for a half hour. We got up at 6:00 because I had to shower and wash my hair, set the table, and cook the panceta (bacon). Bacon here is oh so thin when purchased already sliced in a package. So most people order it sliced at the meat counter. The store we went to last night called Coto was unbelievable. It was sooooo crowded and the lines were long. Not good to shop there on a Friday night. We only had a few items, thank goodness, so we went through the rapido line. Their parking lot, which is too small for the store, was full. We had to park on a nearby street and walk a block. The meat counter line was long so that is why we bought the packaged panceta. I thought that cooking bacon this thin would burn badly if left in the pan too long. But somehow it didn't. The elders thought they had died and gone to heaven having bacon for breakfast.

Then Rich made his famous "skinny pancakes" which are normally made out of buttermilk. Since Argentina has no buttermilk, we improvised by using plain yogurt. They tasted just like old times. But he can only cook one at a time in a frying pan. We don't have a griddle for on top of the stove. We have looked, and they don't have them. . . . not even at WalMart. So he started cooking them one half hour before they came, and we kept them warm in the oven.

We didn't know if Elder Valente would like this type of pancake, but he snarfed them down along with Elder Nelson. We had fried eggs, bacon, pancakes, fruit cocktail, orange juice, and milk. It did taste good and they were grateful for a home cooked breakfast, instead of eating cold cereal, or a piece of fruit and toast.

Then after breakfast, the barbershop opened. I didn't volunteer to cut their hair, but one day after cutting Rich's hair, they asked him where he went to get it done , and he pointed to me. So they asked if I would cut their hair. Do they dare?? Paying 20 pesos is costly for them, when they are on such a limited allotment of money.

Elder Valente volunteered to be first. He looks like he is about to cry, but he handled it very well. No. 3 on the sides, and scissors on the top. I can handle that. I wasn't used to thick course hair, but I completed the job without really mucking it up, so he was pleased.

Elder Nelson looks on with interest. He offered bits of advice, and I was grateful for it.

Elder Nelson has naturally curly hair. He wanted it short enough to cut off the curls and waves. They both looked pretty good if I say so myself. I still hope it looks good after they gel it all up and flip the front upwards.

We had a good time, and it was fun having them over. Then, they took off to do their grocery shopping in the office car. We needed the car by about 12:00 or 12:30 in order to leave for our afternoon with our friends and the holiday party. Since zone conferences start this week, they also needed to wash the car and fill it with gas. The President would be using this car on Monday.