Feliz Año Nuevo - Friday, Jan. 1, 2010

Happy New Year everyone, and Happy Birthday, Nate!! He was a New Year's baby 36 years ago, receiving prizes and recognition as the first baby born in the Spanish Fork, Santiquin area. (I think)

We thought we might be in bed by 12:05 a.m. this morning, but no way! We saw a magnificent display of fireworks that held our attention for almost an hour. We went up to the roof area where the barbeque is and could see in all directions - a complete 360. The area had a reserved sign on it for the 31st, but no party materialized. We were glad, as were four other people who came to the top to see the show.

Fireworks were going off near and far. It was quite the sight! Very beautiful! Some were very, very close right in our own neighborhood and so close that it looked like the sparks and bursts of colored fire would land right on our heads. There were plenty of illegal fireworks, to say the least. The firecrackers at home are nothing compared to the "bombs" that were going off all around us. Ten minutes into the celebration, there was a screaming fire truck racing down Peron right below us to a destination unknown. Someone's celebration must have turned ugly.

One interesting type of firework was a paper lantern type object that had a fire in it. The fire and heat made it rise in the air like a hot air balloon and float away. Then the flame or fire inside would eventually catch the outside on fire and it would disintegrate in the air and ashes or whatever would fall to the ground. It was really pretty floating around the night sky, but it would never "fly" in the states. Way too dangerous. There were Roman Candles, and these monster firecrackers, plus other hand held rockets and things that the Tooele Fire Department would ban for sure.

It was interesting for us to be above all our neighbors looking down upon them. There were so many backyard parties where people were singing, dancing, and yelling around in celebration. And it was a revelation to see what is behind those flat fronts of homes that we see from the street. The properties went deep to almost the middle of the block. There was grass and manicured yards and some had put up canopies with table and chairs underneath. One even had a hot tub mounted in a redwood deck. One would never know by looking at the plain doors and windows that front the street, that there was so much behind those doors. Things aren't what they appear to be. It was quite a revelation, indeed.

We went to bed at 1:00 with the popping, banging, and bombs going off around us. The earplugs kept a lot of the noise from bothering us. We had the perfect view from the roof of our building. We are glad we chose to be home by midnight.

I got up at 5:30 this morning in order to be ready by 7:30 when we had to help drive the Argyle family to the airport. The President came to get us and Elders Coria and Paz. Two drivers were needed to drive both cars back from the airport. The streets were deserted and wonderful for driving. We had never seen them that way and we just breezed right along with no traffic at all. The kids looked sleepy, but the parents were wide awake and looked stunning all dressed up in suits as missionaries do. Mixed in with attending two zone conferences down south, they will go fishing, and venture off to find the penguins -- something we hope to do before we come home.

Leaving the airport, our GSP could not find the satellites right away. We took off in the direction we thought we should go and found ourselves in an area of downtown that we had never been in before. We ended up by the Obelisco (Obelisk) a popular landmark of Buenos Aires. We were glad to have found it, although we couldn't drive there again without direction. Back on course, we made our way back to San Fernando and went directly to the office. Elder Kroff and I had a couple calls to make and some things that needed done. The elders were less busy. The President had told us to take the day off. It was suppose to be "P" day for the missionaries.

We had planned on taking the elders to McDonald's for lunch or at least ordering a pizza to be delivered to the office. What were we thinking??? NOTHING was open!!! This is one holiday were the city literally closes up and stops. The elders left around noon to change clothes and come back to the church to meet the assistants for a game of futbol (soccer). We left at 2:00 planning on taking a nap and resting a bit before our evening out with the other matrimonials.

Since we had Sister Argyle's car, we decided to accept the invitation by the other senior couples in the Capital to join them for a movie night at one of the couple's apartment. It would be late to come home on the train, so we drove there and found a parking place right outside their apartment building. We had thought of parking in the secured parking at the Area Offices about a block away, but we were unsure if they would let us do that since the building was closed for the weekend. This worked out fine and it was safe enough on this busy street.

When we got there, I had to "talk shop" with Dr. Petersen for a few minutes regarding some missionary health concerns. He is just the nicest man and always accommodating to my every question and concern. We had all kinds of good things to eat from pizza to sweets as we watched the movie, "Return to Snowy River." It was a good movie, and I think they said it was an updated version.

A group photo consists of (front row) Charles and Joyce Fuqua, Marilyn Barton, me, and Alice Wall. (back row) Deana and Richard Leckie, Eileen and Walter Petersen, Grant Barton, Rich, and Frank Wall. They are nice people and we enjoy their company. We are glad they include us.

Driving home at 10:00 was a snap -- didn't get lost once. It's been a nice first day of the new year.