Robin Williams vs. Home Teachers
decisions, decisions
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Saturday, December 18, 2004
Home Teachers vs. Robin Williams
Stacy called me up yesterday, "Are you guys going to the show?"
"Oh, I stammered! The show! Well, I want to, but our home teachers are coming over tonight." John had sent me an email about the show last week, and I wasn't dazzled by it. Robin Williams' stand-up is vulgar and in poor taste generally. So I didn't think twice when Bro. Hunter scheduled a home teaching appointment with us for that evening. I told John, "We'll be so blessed for having the home teachers over instead of going to see Robin Williams." That was my take on the matter, and I felt extremely good about it.
"Home Teachers?!," Stacy said, "You can reschedule your home teachers. Robin Williams & John Elway are performing for us for free in Hangar 1 tonight! If you're going, I'm going, and I want to go!"
...as I write this, I'm thinking, John Elway...performing? What's his craft exactly? lol.
I digress...
So Stacy was getting me all excited. She told me she had a babysitter lined up, and that we could take Michael to play with her kids at the same sitter. Yep, she talked me into it. So I called up my home teacher, "Did you know that Robin Williams is performing here tonight?" He stammered and said, "Uh, did you ask your parents?" He didn't know who I was. I even told him when he picked up the phone, "Hi Brother Hunter, this is Angela Herndon." I guess I was rambling in an excited high-pitched voice so even though I'd announced myself by name, he apparently didn't catch it. He thought I was the daughter of someone he knew, and I'm sure he was wondering why she would be calling him to ask him such a question. So after I calmly explained again in more detail who I was, he profusely apologized. He said, "Sorry for the misunderstanding. If I were easily embarrassed I'd be blushing right now, but I'm not." We talked for a bit, and planned to reschedule the home teaching appointment.
Sometime during the course of that conversation, John roused himself from a mid-day nap, all bleary-eyed. "Hey, John, let's go to the Robin Williams show tonight after all. I rescheduled our home teachers, and now I'm going to call a babysitter." John shook his head like he'd just been hit with a hammer. "Wait a minute what's going on again? I thought you didn't want to go to that show."
"John," I explained, "my feelings on any given matter are subject to change without notice and with no explanation. Let's go! It'll be fun!"
John's grumpiness began. Over the next couple hours there was nothing but complaining and grumbling out of him, he even called me "Mangela" his nick name for me because I'm so ugly that I look like a man. That really pissed me off, because I'm not feeling ugly today. Any other day I might have taken it constructively. I presume he was upset because I made a firm decision about something, and he had no say in the matter. Whatever I want goes. It's a sad situation for him, but he's pretty much learned to do whatever I say. It's not like I make him jump off cliffs or anything. I just tend to call the shots and direct our free time in such a way that our lives are better for it. This evening was a little questionable although I didn't think so at the time with my adreneline pumping...hmmm Home Teachers vs. Robin Williams? In the grand scheme of things that's like choosing between God and the adversary. Well, that may be a bit harsh. But gosh! We never go out! This sounded like a lot of fun. And Michael has NEVER been to a babysitter! That was a big deal.
Well, let me tell you that as the afternoon progressed, John got grumpier and grumpier and was making irrational, dark comments about everything possible. I just didn't get it. Then he expressed distaste at the idea of Michael going to a babysitter. I wasn't fond of the idea either, but it's a normal thing that parents have to do sometimes, and I was in the mood to give it a try. Well, John finally started getting dressed to go out, grumbling all the while, then he said something that just really broke the straw on the camel's back for me. I can't remember what it was, but it was just so mean and so dark, that I had had it. I said, "Fine. You stay here with Michael. I'm going to the show. If you'd like to go, you're welcome to walk Michael to the babysitter, then walk to the Hangar." (We share one car, and I planned on being the one driving if he was going to be an ass.) So I left. I went to the babysitter's to explain the change of plans to her, and to meet Stacy there too. I sat in my car and waited for Stacy. As I waited, my heart softened. I knew it would be a bad evening for all parties concerned if John & I were on bad terms, but mostly I wanted the opportunity for Michael to play with other kids, and see how he does with a babysitter. So I went back home and talked John into coming. Among the things I said to him was, "John, our relationship will be drastically affected for the worse if you do not come with me tonight." I'm sure that's not the line that got him to come, but that's the line I remember best. And I felt it strongly. So we got the baby ready, wearing something he's never worn before as he grows into his clothes that we've had since he was born. His Old Navy overalls. And today we just received in the mail his Columbia coat & snow bib that we've been eagerly anticipating since ordering it on ebay three weeks ago. So he wore his cute new coat & his Old Navy overalls. I'm not materialistic, buy hey, when he looks good, he looks GOOOOOOOD! We put together a babysitter survival bag for him...diapers, wipes, two bottles, two good books, and his Gloworm. Ooh, I love him so much!
Michael quickly integrated with his new environment at the sitter's. Just as I was sneaking out, he turned around and saw me leaving. He's no dummy. First the heart-wrenching pout, then the heart-breaking cry. There's no way I'd leave him in that state, so I rushed to him and scooped him up in my arms and hugged him dearly. His body was already weak and limp from the agony of thinking that Mommy would ever leave him. Oh honey. He was consoled, so I set him down with his friends, asked the babysitter to distract him, and I sneaked out. Outside were Stacy and the babysitter's mom who was going to the show with us. The original plan was for Susan to ride with Stacy, but as John & I had more room in our car, Susan came with us. Susan is nice. I was her visiting teacher when we first moved here, then was reassigned to someone else. And I drove her and her kids to church when her husband was deployed to Iraq at the same time John was in Iraq. So it was nice to have her along. John was still grumpy though. Didn't say a word. Sat in the back seat silently while Susan & I talked.
We parked a considerable distance from Hangar 1, thinking surely that parking much closer would pose a horrendous logistical nightmare. So we walked the 1/4 mile (maybe less) to the Hangar. The weather turned bitter cold on that short walk. Biting cold wind, and really cold rain. I wasn't dressed for it at all. So I was frozen by the time we got there. We entered the Hangar to find it most unaccomodating for the audience. There was but one set of bleachers, and it was fully occupied. Everyone else was standing on the floor, and I couldn't see squat from the floor as I am very short, and even the tall people couldn't see much, for the sea of people standing in there. Susan & I found Stacy & Ben, who didn't look too happy either. Then I wondered where John had taken off to. I told them I'd be right back. I found John in the back of the Hangar up on the window sill. I climbed up there with him. What a great view! We were high above the sea of people, and right at the same level as the stage. Fantastic! This is where stayed to watch the show. I went back to tell the others what we discovered, but I guess they weren't feeling adventurous enough to climb into a window sill. So I returned to John. The band was playing some songs...country songs, Alanis Morrisette, other familiar stuff. The lady had some pipes, and quite a vocal range. She looked like a dork though. Some officer wearing her BDU's, I found it poor military bearing to be carrying on like that, but was entertained nonetheless. I was getting increasingly colder. John was still grumpy and expressed that he had to go to the bathroom. He procrastinated quite some time, and when he finally decided to go I asked him while he was up to go home and get my fuzzy warm boots for me. The show wasn't starting for another 30 minutes. "No," he said. I didn't really expect him to anyway. When he came back, I told him I was going home to get my boots myself, if my frozen feet would get me back to the car. And thanks for your gallantry by the way. With that, I left. To stay warm and to be quick, as the show would be starting in 15 minutes, I ran to the car. It was a good run and I was surprised at my energy level. I cranked the heater when I got in there. I felt so good. Health coursing though my veins, fresh air in my lungs. I felt like my soul had been renewed. I got home, ripped off my wet pants (rain you know) put on a snow bib (ahhh warm and cozy), my warm fuzzy boots, dry gloves, and went down to the storage room to get a portable bazaar chair in case sitting in the window sill got too uncomfortable. I almost grabbed the other chair for John, as we have a pair of them, but I predicted his grumbling, "Why did you bring all this crap?" so left it there. I zoomed back to the hangar, this time parking much closer. People were double parked so I did it too. I vowed to return to the car promptly after the show so that we didn't block anyone in.
John Elway was up on the stage when I returned to John's side. I opened up the chair, sat down, but couldn't rest. There was a woman standing next to us with her baby in her arms, so I took the chair to her and insisted that she sit. She gladly did. Back in the window sill with John, he was a bit more cheerful by then. I handed him the camcorder which had accidentally accompanied me to the house and back, and he started recording Mr. Elway.
So just what is John Elway's craft now that he's been a retired Bronco for some time? I don't quite know, and I didn't hear what he was saying up there, but I'm guessing he was just expressing thanks to the people in uniform. (Gag me, I have a whole opinion on that topic. I'd like to think that the world would be a better place without any militaries, call me naive if you will. Although I'm living the military lifestyle, even served a few years myself for the benefits, deep down in my heart I never did support the military for what it truly is.) Then John Elway starts throwing autographed footballs into the audience. I got excited. I was cheering, waving my arms. I know he could see me. I was right across from him albeit on the other side of the hangar. He was throwing the balls all pansy-like right up close in front of him. I was wondering has he lost his touch now that he's retired? Just then he threw some long ones. Bounced off the wall on our side of the hangar. Man, can he throw! I may as well say it now, at the very end of the show as people were leaving, he came back out to throw some more. Happily, my John was feeling much better by then, and I guess he wanted a ball. He shouted to Mr. Elway with his strong man voice, "John!" Sure enough, Mr. Elway heard him and obliged him. Threw a ball right over in his direction. John had to jump out of the window sill to catch it. He didn't get it on his first try, so everyone around it was scrambling for it, but determined as he was, John took command of it, had it in a bear hug, and some guy was tackling him! There they were for a moment, two grown men rolling around on the cold concrete. But the other guy conceded and JOHN GOT THE BALL! I was so happy, I was dancing in the window sill. And telling Mr. Elway Thank you, although he surely didn't hear me.
Robin Williams came out after some other guy. I was dazzled. And it was more dazzling to be right across from him. If he'd just look beyond the sea of people to the back, he'd certainly see me, and for a moment I'd be in the eye of Robin Williams. I tried to overlook his vulgar comedy. It's too bad that he feels that people are entertained by that stuff. Instead of being consumed by the vulgarity, I just kept thinking of his work in his better movies like Patch Adams, Being Human, The World According to Garp, Aladdin. I loved him for stuff like that. I wanted to get his autograph, but that opportunity was not availed to anyone, as he was quickly shuttled to the hospital to visit the wounded from Iraq.
The crowd was very polite as it took quite some time to shuffle us all out of the hangar through only two narrow doorways.
The best part was that when we picked up Michael, he was perfectly happy, very comfortable at the sitter's, having a good time. He actually didn't want to leave!
It was a good evening. I'm glad that I wasn't oversensitive to the vulgarity like I can be sometimes, but was emotionally strong enough to completely overlook it, and look heavenward with gratitude for simply being a part of something fun. I concede that Heavenly Father would have preferred we choose the Home Teachers over Robin Williams, but hey, I'm not perfect.
It turned out that our Home Teachers are also Susan's, and they had been planning on visiting her family that evening too. But Susan didn't cancel. I feel bad for our HT's because of what they must think of us for choosing a comedy show over them. Susan even told me that when she told a friend from the ward that she was planning to see Robin Williams, her friend openly disapproved of her choice of entertainment.
Well, John, Michael & I watched a John Bythebay movie when we got home, so it was a good ending to a nice evening. (So many "Johns" today, eh?)
posted by Angela Marie at 7:24 AM
Home Teachers vs. Robin Williams
Stacy called me up yesterday, "Are you guys going to the show?"
"Oh, I stammered! The show! Well, I want to, but our home teachers are coming over tonight." John had sent me an email about the show last week, and I wasn't dazzled by it. Robin Williams' stand-up is vulgar and in poor taste generally. So I didn't think twice when Bro. Hunter scheduled a home teaching appointment with us for that evening. I told John, "We'll be so blessed for having the home teachers over instead of going to see Robin Williams." That was my take on the matter, and I felt extremely good about it.
"Home Teachers?!," Stacy said, "You can reschedule your home teachers. Robin Williams & John Elway are performing for us for free in Hangar 1 tonight! If you're going, I'm going, and I want to go!"
...as I write this, I'm thinking, John Elway...performing? What's his craft exactly? lol.
I digress...
So Stacy was getting me all excited. She told me she had a babysitter lined up, and that we could take Michael to play with her kids at the same sitter. Yep, she talked me into it. So I called up my home teacher, "Did you know that Robin Williams is performing here tonight?" He stammered and said, "Uh, did you ask your parents?" He didn't know who I was. I even told him when he picked up the phone, "Hi Brother Hunter, this is Angela Herndon." I guess I was rambling in an excited high-pitched voice so even though I'd announced myself by name, he apparently didn't catch it. He thought I was the daughter of someone he knew, and I'm sure he was wondering why she would be calling him to ask him such a question. So after I calmly explained again in more detail who I was, he profusely apologized. He said, "Sorry for the misunderstanding. If I were easily embarrassed I'd be blushing right now, but I'm not." We talked for a bit, and planned to reschedule the home teaching appointment.
Sometime during the course of that conversation, John roused himself from a mid-day nap, all bleary-eyed. "Hey, John, let's go to the Robin Williams show tonight after all. I rescheduled our home teachers, and now I'm going to call a babysitter." John shook his head like he'd just been hit with a hammer. "Wait a minute what's going on again? I thought you didn't want to go to that show."
"John," I explained, "my feelings on any given matter are subject to change without notice and with no explanation. Let's go! It'll be fun!"
John's grumpiness began. Over the next couple hours there was nothing but complaining and grumbling out of him, he even called me "Mangela" his nick name for me because I'm so ugly that I look like a man. That really pissed me off, because I'm not feeling ugly today. Any other day I might have taken it constructively. I presume he was upset because I made a firm decision about something, and he had no say in the matter. Whatever I want goes. It's a sad situation for him, but he's pretty much learned to do whatever I say. It's not like I make him jump off cliffs or anything. I just tend to call the shots and direct our free time in such a way that our lives are better for it. This evening was a little questionable although I didn't think so at the time with my adreneline pumping...hmmm Home Teachers vs. Robin Williams? In the grand scheme of things that's like choosing between God and the adversary. Well, that may be a bit harsh. But gosh! We never go out! This sounded like a lot of fun. And Michael has NEVER been to a babysitter! That was a big deal.
Well, let me tell you that as the afternoon progressed, John got grumpier and grumpier and was making irrational, dark comments about everything possible. I just didn't get it. Then he expressed distaste at the idea of Michael going to a babysitter. I wasn't fond of the idea either, but it's a normal thing that parents have to do sometimes, and I was in the mood to give it a try. Well, John finally started getting dressed to go out, grumbling all the while, then he said something that just really broke the straw on the camel's back for me. I can't remember what it was, but it was just so mean and so dark, that I had had it. I said, "Fine. You stay here with Michael. I'm going to the show. If you'd like to go, you're welcome to walk Michael to the babysitter, then walk to the Hangar." (We share one car, and I planned on being the one driving if he was going to be an ass.) So I left. I went to the babysitter's to explain the change of plans to her, and to meet Stacy there too. I sat in my car and waited for Stacy. As I waited, my heart softened. I knew it would be a bad evening for all parties concerned if John & I were on bad terms, but mostly I wanted the opportunity for Michael to play with other kids, and see how he does with a babysitter. So I went back home and talked John into coming. Among the things I said to him was, "John, our relationship will be drastically affected for the worse if you do not come with me tonight." I'm sure that's not the line that got him to come, but that's the line I remember best. And I felt it strongly. So we got the baby ready, wearing something he's never worn before as he grows into his clothes that we've had since he was born. His Old Navy overalls. And today we just received in the mail his Columbia coat & snow bib that we've been eagerly anticipating since ordering it on ebay three weeks ago. So he wore his cute new coat & his Old Navy overalls. I'm not materialistic, buy hey, when he looks good, he looks GOOOOOOOD! We put together a babysitter survival bag for him...diapers, wipes, two bottles, two good books, and his Gloworm. Ooh, I love him so much!
Michael quickly integrated with his new environment at the sitter's. Just as I was sneaking out, he turned around and saw me leaving. He's no dummy. First the heart-wrenching pout, then the heart-breaking cry. There's no way I'd leave him in that state, so I rushed to him and scooped him up in my arms and hugged him dearly. His body was already weak and limp from the agony of thinking that Mommy would ever leave him. Oh honey. He was consoled, so I set him down with his friends, asked the babysitter to distract him, and I sneaked out. Outside were Stacy and the babysitter's mom who was going to the show with us. The original plan was for Susan to ride with Stacy, but as John & I had more room in our car, Susan came with us. Susan is nice. I was her visiting teacher when we first moved here, then was reassigned to someone else. And I drove her and her kids to church when her husband was deployed to Iraq at the same time John was in Iraq. So it was nice to have her along. John was still grumpy though. Didn't say a word. Sat in the back seat silently while Susan & I talked.
We parked a considerable distance from Hangar 1, thinking surely that parking much closer would pose a horrendous logistical nightmare. So we walked the 1/4 mile (maybe less) to the Hangar. The weather turned bitter cold on that short walk. Biting cold wind, and really cold rain. I wasn't dressed for it at all. So I was frozen by the time we got there. We entered the Hangar to find it most unaccomodating for the audience. There was but one set of bleachers, and it was fully occupied. Everyone else was standing on the floor, and I couldn't see squat from the floor as I am very short, and even the tall people couldn't see much, for the sea of people standing in there. Susan & I found Stacy & Ben, who didn't look too happy either. Then I wondered where John had taken off to. I told them I'd be right back. I found John in the back of the Hangar up on the window sill. I climbed up there with him. What a great view! We were high above the sea of people, and right at the same level as the stage. Fantastic! This is where stayed to watch the show. I went back to tell the others what we discovered, but I guess they weren't feeling adventurous enough to climb into a window sill. So I returned to John. The band was playing some songs...country songs, Alanis Morrisette, other familiar stuff. The lady had some pipes, and quite a vocal range. She looked like a dork though. Some officer wearing her BDU's, I found it poor military bearing to be carrying on like that, but was entertained nonetheless. I was getting increasingly colder. John was still grumpy and expressed that he had to go to the bathroom. He procrastinated quite some time, and when he finally decided to go I asked him while he was up to go home and get my fuzzy warm boots for me. The show wasn't starting for another 30 minutes. "No," he said. I didn't really expect him to anyway. When he came back, I told him I was going home to get my boots myself, if my frozen feet would get me back to the car. And thanks for your gallantry by the way. With that, I left. To stay warm and to be quick, as the show would be starting in 15 minutes, I ran to the car. It was a good run and I was surprised at my energy level. I cranked the heater when I got in there. I felt so good. Health coursing though my veins, fresh air in my lungs. I felt like my soul had been renewed. I got home, ripped off my wet pants (rain you know) put on a snow bib (ahhh warm and cozy), my warm fuzzy boots, dry gloves, and went down to the storage room to get a portable bazaar chair in case sitting in the window sill got too uncomfortable. I almost grabbed the other chair for John, as we have a pair of them, but I predicted his grumbling, "Why did you bring all this crap?" so left it there. I zoomed back to the hangar, this time parking much closer. People were double parked so I did it too. I vowed to return to the car promptly after the show so that we didn't block anyone in.
John Elway was up on the stage when I returned to John's side. I opened up the chair, sat down, but couldn't rest. There was a woman standing next to us with her baby in her arms, so I took the chair to her and insisted that she sit. She gladly did. Back in the window sill with John, he was a bit more cheerful by then. I handed him the camcorder which had accidentally accompanied me to the house and back, and he started recording Mr. Elway.
So just what is John Elway's craft now that he's been a retired Bronco for some time? I don't quite know, and I didn't hear what he was saying up there, but I'm guessing he was just expressing thanks to the people in uniform. (Gag me, I have a whole opinion on that topic. I'd like to think that the world would be a better place without any militaries, call me naive if you will. Although I'm living the military lifestyle, even served a few years myself for the benefits, deep down in my heart I never did support the military for what it truly is.) Then John Elway starts throwing autographed footballs into the audience. I got excited. I was cheering, waving my arms. I know he could see me. I was right across from him albeit on the other side of the hangar. He was throwing the balls all pansy-like right up close in front of him. I was wondering has he lost his touch now that he's retired? Just then he threw some long ones. Bounced off the wall on our side of the hangar. Man, can he throw! I may as well say it now, at the very end of the show as people were leaving, he came back out to throw some more. Happily, my John was feeling much better by then, and I guess he wanted a ball. He shouted to Mr. Elway with his strong man voice, "John!" Sure enough, Mr. Elway heard him and obliged him. Threw a ball right over in his direction. John had to jump out of the window sill to catch it. He didn't get it on his first try, so everyone around it was scrambling for it, but determined as he was, John took command of it, had it in a bear hug, and some guy was tackling him! There they were for a moment, two grown men rolling around on the cold concrete. But the other guy conceded and JOHN GOT THE BALL! I was so happy, I was dancing in the window sill. And telling Mr. Elway Thank you, although he surely didn't hear me.
Robin Williams came out after some other guy. I was dazzled. And it was more dazzling to be right across from him. If he'd just look beyond the sea of people to the back, he'd certainly see me, and for a moment I'd be in the eye of Robin Williams. I tried to overlook his vulgar comedy. It's too bad that he feels that people are entertained by that stuff. Instead of being consumed by the vulgarity, I just kept thinking of his work in his better movies like Patch Adams, Being Human, The World According to Garp, Aladdin. I loved him for stuff like that. I wanted to get his autograph, but that opportunity was not availed to anyone, as he was quickly shuttled to the hospital to visit the wounded from Iraq.
The crowd was very polite as it took quite some time to shuffle us all out of the hangar through only two narrow doorways.
The best part was that when we picked up Michael, he was perfectly happy, very comfortable at the sitter's, having a good time. He actually didn't want to leave!
It was a good evening. I'm glad that I wasn't oversensitive to the vulgarity like I can be sometimes, but was emotionally strong enough to completely overlook it, and look heavenward with gratitude for simply being a part of something fun. I concede that Heavenly Father would have preferred we choose the Home Teachers over Robin Williams, but hey, I'm not perfect.
It turned out that our Home Teachers are also Susan's, and they had been planning on visiting her family that evening too. But Susan didn't cancel. I feel bad for our HT's because of what they must think of us for choosing a comedy show over them. Susan even told me that when she told a friend from the ward that she was planning to see Robin Williams, her friend openly disapproved of her choice of entertainment.
Well, John, Michael & I watched a John Bythebay movie when we got home, so it was a good ending to a nice evening. (So many "Johns" today, eh?)
posted by Angela Marie at 7:24 AM