Five years ago was the Arlington Ward's 20th anniversary and we celebrated with a BIG reunion that included a welcome reception, Temple session, Clambake, Spring Sing, special Sacrament Meeting where all five bishops spoke, a Linger Longer, and FHE at Kimballs. We packed all our favorite traditions into one weekend and it was amazing! If I remember correctly, we had "alumni" return from California, New York, Connecticut, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Michigan, Vermont, and a few other states. It was a fantastic weekend filled with traditions, friends, and fun. I was the Activities Chair and was responsible for much of the festivities. I remember being extremely excited about the weekend and seeing so many friends as I drove to the church to get ready for the welcome reception. There had been a car accident near the underpass at Route 2 and Dow Ave. and the westbound street was blocked off. So I kept driving and went to the next exit to double back and the access road was blocked off. Those were the only two ways to get to the church and we were expecting 150 visitors plus the members of the ward to gather in less than an hour! I stopped and talked to the policewoman standing in the road and explained our dilemma but she couldn't help me. I turned around and made my way through Lexington into Arlington and found a policeman that was back by the overpass and frantically explained to him that we had a big party and there was no access to the church. We strategized together and then he asked me to follow him to talk to another policeman. They said they could clean things up and open up a narrow part of the road so people could get through. Then I said, "I can call our Bishop and have him help with directing traffic." Immediately the policemen said, "OH NO, YOU DO NOT NEED TO CALL THE BISHOP!" I'm guessing they were Catholic and imagined calling this guy.
I laughed and quickly explained that Mormons had a "lay ministry" and that our bishop was "a regular person like you and me." And then I called Bishop Johnston (far right) to help with directing traffic.
Note: These are the first 5 (of 7) bishops of the Arlington Ward (l to r: Bob Chandler, Kip Thompson, Lee LaPierre, Travis Waller, Jim Johnston). Photo taken at Stake Conference in Weston, MA on October 27, 2002.
8 comments:
Cute story and sounds like a way fun weekend!
Oh, you totally should have stuck with that guy's first impression (and then had Bishop Johnson locate a big hat).
So does that make this year 25?
What's going on?
what a great story. Yes, you've got connections;)
Heehee! I love that story! Is there anything for year 25?
All of us that came and enjoyed ourselves had no idea of all the things that had gone to prepare for such an event...it was truly an amazing reunion. Thanks for all you did!
I was that bishop. Mary and I went to the crucial intersection where people expected to (and could not) turn left under Route 2. As fast as we could write, we made little slips of paper with the detour instructions and handed them to perplexed drivers by the dozens. It wasn't how we expected to spend the hour before the start of our big party, but it has become a cherished memory.
funny story, ellen! when eric and i sent out our wedding announcements, i wrote down the exit number where the invitees could get off the freeway to find the place where our reception was being held. it was in all the invitations. well, a month before the wedding (maybe less) the exit numbers were changed. i worried that people might get lost, and hoped that everyone didn't think i was a doofus because i didn't know the right exit number! everything turned out okay, though. people seemed to figure things out. i'm glad your experience worked out, too!
I'm bummed we missed that one! Is there another one being planned?
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