I don't spend a lot of time delving into the mysteries---I don't have the brain for it. This week I have had several occasions to ask, "Is that normal?" I'll let you in on a few of them.
When we were driving to Clinton, Iowa a couple of weeks ago, we passed a sign for the city Normal, Illinois. Now ask yourself, "Who in their right mind would name their city Normal?" What is normal? Did everyone in the town assume they were normal? What criteria did they use to determine they were normal and the cities outside their boundaries were not normal? Food for thought. Could your city presume to be normal?
An Elder, who barely speaks English, (at least over the phone) asked me this week if we have a book to teach English as a second language. He wants to start teaching a class. Is that normal? Would you not want to be sure of the English language before you start teaching others? Oh the confidence of these young missionaries. It was an easy decision. The text book is $72 and we don't indulge in such expenses.
The squirrel at our apartment went berserk this week. I feed him nuts on occasion--nothing regularly. He saw Elder Taggart sitting on our couch yesterday and attacked our screen door. The squirrel was crazy. Is that normal? Dozens of dumpsters to dive in and he selects our screen door to attack. I fed him some nuts.
Is it normal to be complacent about marijuana second-hand-smoke? An upset mother e-mailed this week about her son having to breathe second-hand marijuana smoke in his apartment one day a week. (Her email reminded me of the squirrel) We assess apartments regularly. Are they in a gang infested area? Move them out! Has there been gun violence? Move them out. Marijuana smoke? Buy them a hepa filter for their apartment. Is that normal? It is in Chicago.
We went out to dinner with a couple here in Chicago celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary. They are Church Service Missionaries and have helped us a ton finding apartments. We all had on name tags except Mark, the single real estate guy who has helped us find apartments. We dubbed him Saint Mark. Elder ________ is in his late 70's. He is a former Chicago policeman. He works in the Chicago Temple several days a week. So is it normal that he is applying for a concealed weapons permit? It is in Chicago.
We fed the Elders dinner Wednesday. That is normal for us. At 4 AM the next morning I sat up in bed and said, "I forgot to get the salad out of the frig for dinner!!!" For my brain, that is normal.
We will not be having a normal Spring this year. The Polar Vortexes caused it to be delayed. The tree, flower, and grass pollens should all come out at once, they say, causing a Pollen Vortex....my worst nightmare as far as allergies go. Summer temps will be mostly in the 70's. Now that, to me, is normal.
This morning, as I was putting on my make-up, I noticed something on my chin that was definitely not normal. In a nursery rhyme is one thing but hairs on my chiny chin chin is quite another. Do I pluck them or shave them or wait to have them waxed? What is normally done? Alas---this will be continued on an ongoing basis, I fear.
We are on a new diet! Normal for our blood work results. We are on a new budget! Normal for the May review after spending too much from Jan to April. We still are madly in love....normal for us. We still love the missionaries and The Lord . Normal. May you have a normal week---whatever that is!
Love,
Sister Taggart
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