stock show 2013

Stock Show is the St John family reunion weekend I've come to love.  Tony loves celebrating his birthday this weekend so he can have an excuse to eat a lot of cook shack burgers and homemade pie.  He bought himself a longboard for his birthday and after several scoldings from his nurses, can be seen riding his board to work WITH a helmet.  The two big boys marched in the parade as "The Village People"  blasting out "YMCA".  Everyone else gathered gallon sized bags of candy which I threw away as soon as we got home.  Despite my best efforts of preparation, the youth arts and crafts section did not go seamlessly and I have many ruffled feathers to smooth now that I am home. Still I had success in involving several women who haven't been involved before and that's really what matters.

Wilson and Cooper are both doing great in Track and seem to be enjoying themselves.  Wilson competes in Districts next week and is hoping to qualify for the State track meet throwing the Javelin.   I got in HUGE trouble the other day for writing the words, "Good Luck Wilson--Love Mom" on his sack lunch.  It not only earned jeers from his peers, but an extra mile to run when his coach was able to easily identify who hadn't thrown away their trash.

The weather this weekend was beautiful.  I was brought to tears on Saturday as I sat on the patio, listening to the Beach Boys and watching all the neighborhood jumping on the wet trampoline in their swimming suits.  It was a golden moment and I can't wait for summer.

Sunday in Paris

Sunday was my busiest day in Paris, the most fulfilling, the most exhausting. I got up early and slipped down to the metro to find the Paris 1st ward. I took two metros and three wrong streets but finally found the little courtyard where our building was. I was delighted they had English headsets translated by a cute missionary from Utah. It is always so wonderful to take the sacrament in another country and feel the unity the gospel of Jesus Christ brings to all nations and tongues.

After church I met Stephanie at the Modern Art Museum. When I first saw the building from the Eiffel tower I thought it was so incongruent with the other classic structures in the city. Inside, however, it was amazing. Modern art needs space and clean lines and good lighting and I was amazed how the building showcased the art. Kandinski, Picasso, Miro: amazing when seen together and beside other artists. I really enjoyed the kinesthetic art of Soto. There was an artist who used spices to overpower the sense of sight--very interesting.

From modern art we met Becky and Ann and spent an amazing few hours at the Rodin museum. I was overwhelmed with the how his sculptures could convey intimacy. My favorite sculptures were of hands, The Secret being the best. The gardens were so pretty. I had a beautiful lunch in the Paris sunshine looking at "The Thinker."

The Musee Dorsay was our final stop and I should have devoted a whole day to this beautifully converted train station. All the impressionists were represented. Calibotte and Millet always my favorites, were still my favorite in real life. It is so much concentrated art, but again the presentation was astounding.

When the museum closed Becky and I headed for the Metro. There seemed to be an astounding number of people on the streets and an over abundance of police. We learned from a sweet young woman that the Metro was shut down due to gay marriage opponents. There were hundreds of people gathered and chanting in front of Napolean's tomb. I could almost imagine the same French flags waving during the Revolution. Thus began the big adventure and journey of getting home. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to walk home and we only made it by seeking sustenance at a crepe stand. Never has a crepe with bananas and Nutella tasted so good. It was a long and tiresome day, but every minute of it I had to pinch myself and remember that I was in Paris seeing the most famous art ever made.






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