Portrait of a Mormon missionary not wearing a suit, white shirt, or tie

This is young Elder Dymock, the Mormon missionary who told me where to park yesterday. What I am most impressed about is that he is not wearing a suit, not even a white shirt or tie. There were a lot of Mormon missionaries directing parking and doing other tasks at the festival yesterday, and I did not see a single one wearing a white shirt, tie or suit. I wonder how they managed to pull this off? However they did it, I am sure they were all very thrilled not to be burdened down by this staid uniform for at least one day. It just hit me right this moment where this photo might fit into the book I will one day put together of the pictures I take of Mormon missionaries I happen upon, coupled with excerpts from my own story.

Taking it easy – Mormon missionary directs parking

I am going to be very lazy today. Right now, I am lounging in the recliner Jacob and Lavina bought me after my surgery 15 months ago and I may just lounge here all day. Chicago is purring on my chest. Last night, for the first time since my little mishap nine days ago, I got some decent periods of sleep. Things do not hurt as badly today as they did yesterday or any of the days before. Maybe if I just take it easy, I won't aggravate anything today.

This is a Mormon missionary, by the way, and I took his picture yesterday right after he directed me to my parking space at the Palmer Fall Festival yesterday.

Jobe and the coffee creamer

Jobe spent the night. Now, he and I are at Abby's and we have just ordered breakfast. He was fascinated by the little cream cups and the process of applying them to the coffee.

The two-year-old, the candles and the cake

And with this, I will end my coverage of Lynx's second birthday party. The celebration continues, but with these three rowdy little boys, I have a feeling it is just going to get too wild for public consumption. Lynx's birthday was my first major test of this iPhone 5S camera, from the overcast at the fall festival right down to this last candle-lit shot. I am never fully satisfied with any camera, but I am pretty pleased with this phone camera. I wish I had had it already on the Cross Island.

The party has begun

The actual birthday party is now well underway. Lynx went from where you see him here to my office landline phone and is now playing back all the messages that came in while I was on Cross Island. Everyone is here at our house for Lynx's birthday.