Tagged by the Blog

In my relentless pursuit to humor my Belle Maman (FMIL), and in the everlasting, all-permeating spirit of 'tag', here I am, a tagged man.

Alas, on to my five-things-that-no-one-else-knows-and-there's-a-reason-for-that-
but-oh-well-here-goes-all-my-secrets-that-I-wanted-to-keep-secret.

1. I came home 'early' from my mission. This one always seems to heighten not-only the curiosity of those around, but often the tension that accompanies the conversation. When I was 16, my dad was called to serve as a mission president in the New Zealand Wellington Mission. Because he was still serving when I turned 18, I was able to enter the MTC a year early (a little-known church policy), just 19 days after my birthday. After serving the full two years, I came home, just 23 days after turning 20 years-old. For the next 12 months, I endured many blank stares and awkward pauses from many-a-person who asked me my age. Most of the conversations went like this:

them: Have you served a mission?
me: Yep.
them: So you're 21 then?
me: Nope. Just turned 20.
them: (pause)... oh, so are you sick?
me: Nope, healthy as a horse.
them: Are you going to go back out?
me: Nope.
them: uh... well, how about that weather recently? Mighty cold huh?

Now just because I didn't explain in detail the situation, doesn't mean that I was lying or misleading them... besides, anyone who'd judge someone else based on how much of their mission they served might deserve an emotional roller-coaster of their own. :)

2a. I have a Green Bay Packer tattoo on my upper-right shoulder. False. But if I got one, that's what it'd be.

2b. The Packers will win the Super Bowl this year. That's right, it's a secret no longer. Consider yourselves warned.

3. I thought Meghan was cute on the mission. I realize that there are certainly some parental-figures that likely would have preferred to not read that, but while it is true, let me explain myself. When she came into my district in Ottawa as a greenie, the first time I met her I thought to myself, "Whoa, Sister Walker is kinda cute." And that was it. Promise. I ended that whole train-of-thought right there and didn't let it go any further, until of course I saw her again here in Utah, when my thoughts quickly changed to "Wow, ok Sister (Meghan) Walker is a babe. I'm going for it." And wouldn't-ya-know... a few months later, she's gonna be Sister Staples... boo-yah.

4. I reached a decent age before I realized that Jefferson Starship sang "Marconi plays the mamba" and not "While Kody plays the mamba." So yeah, when I was but a lad, my older bro Kurt told me that he was friends with the lead singer and that he wrote "We Built This City on Rock and Roll" with them for me... I expect free, life-time medical attention for me and my entire progeny as recompense.

5. The best basketball game I ever played... was on Sunday. I was on my high school basketball team (I played shooting guard) and our school did a 'sports exchange' with another school in the region. (A sports exchange is basically where all the sports teams from one school travel to another school and play in every sport over the course of the weekend.) The sports exchange culminated in the last game, basketball, Sunday night. The entire student body of each school was in the gym to watch the game and the atmosphere was electric. My coach asked me to play and the temptation to play in front of such a huge crowd was too much for me... seven 3's and 31 points later, I won sports exchange MVP honors and was mobbed by hundreds of my peers... and felt absolutely terrible about it.


So there you go Belle Maman, you tagged me and here's my shout-out to you... And of course, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, so Megs, I now tag you! :)