.... the chase.....

It was some time in November that I received my mission call. My first call was to Bishop Weaver. Then extended family. I wanted to tell my YSA friends in person, so at FHE, I made the announcement like so many before me had. Then, at a dance in Lake Oswego was able to announce to Marcy my call in person. It was the first time we had "touched" each other in any form other than dancing. I took her by both hands and said "I have been called to the England Coventry Mission". I believe she said "That's wonderful - wanna dance?" Our hands dropped, and we did dance.

From that point on, I would only describe our relationship as perplexing. Marcy made sure to always have friends around her when she went to dances. It also seemed that she started working more hours and didn't make it out socially much anymore. No rides to dances and firesides. Not feeling well. She will probably say that I am being over dramatic here, but this is what I recall. I started to take excuses away and made the trip to Longview several times to pick her up for activities and returned her home afterwards. (Her mother was kind of possessive of her car.) I started to believe that she didn't like me. Then, around Christmas time (before), she surprised me at a fireside locally and showed up. She pulled me aside and took me into a vacant room. She reached into her bag and sweetly said "Santa dropped this off at my house a little early. You believe in Santa, right?" I said "Uh, yeah." I opened up the box and there it was. A Turquoise colored, skinny 1980's tie. Cool. I needed more ties. The thought was very well received. I was starting to get it. She also invited me up to her house for Christmas evening. I was excited to go. It was then that I met my future sister in law and her Husband Dave. (It is noteworthy that Tracey was about 7 months pregnant with my first nephew, Enoch.) It was kind of awkward as we didn't really have alot to talk about as a group, but a nice evening all the same.

The next time I saw Marcy was at the New Years Eve dance at the Memorial Coliseum. A local band played current top 40 and there were a ton of people there. I know I danced alot with girls from the singles ward, as they knew I would be leaving soon. I also remember dancing with Marcy a few times as well. And, one of her "good" friends. (Sent from Satan)! That's another story. My last dance of the evening was with Marcy!

After the last dance, an announcement was made about a "YSA ski trip" at Timberline. Marcy announced that she didn't know how to ski, but wanted to go if I went. We made arrangements, and I was to drive her up to the mountain. The YSA leader had some connections to a cabin on the mountain, and there were some "old chaperone's" there to keep all of our raging hormones under wraps.

We went up the Friday evening before and were there to get a fresh start the next day.

What do a bunch of 18 - 30 year olds do for fun when you remove alcohol? Play games. There were several board games set up throughout, but I wanted to play a game called Murder. I can't remember the game exactly, but it was a game in a circle on the floor where at several times, there was a mad rush for a bunch of spoons in the center. Like musical chairs I think. At any rate, Marcy tried for a spoon and got creamed by the pile. She got the wind knocked out of her for sure, and really didn't have much gusto for staying up too late after that one.

The next day, early, we all got up and went skiing. I can definitely confirm - Marcy in fact "Could not Ski" While she took her lesson, I went skiing with the grown ups. When I came back down after the lessons were over, I found her sitting on her butt about half way down the bunny hill scooching her bottom along to just try to make it to the chair lift back up to the top of the bunny hill. I swooshed on down and tried to help her to her feet. She didn't want to. She wanted to go home. She was deflated and depressed. And I did the thing that came naturally. I tried to teach her how to ski..... for about 5 minutes. Then I did the other thing that came naturally. I was an Ass! I told her to make her way to the lift by carrying her skis, and that I would come back and find her at the lodge. After about 3 or 4 more runs, I checked at the lodge and found her sitting there on a bench outside with another failed skier from our group. I asked her what she wanted to do and she said "I probably have a cracked rib from last night, I can't ski, and I want to go home!" So, I replied "OK - I will ski a few more runs, come and get you and we can go." Off I went and an hour or so later, I returned..... and we left.

To say the trip home to Longview was not good would be an understatement. It was mostly silent. I felt bad for not taking her injury seriously, but also felt that my last ski trip before my mission was important too. Boy, did I have alot to learn. I dropped her off at her door, got her gear in, had the most pathetic "hug" of a lifetime, and drove off furious! All reading this know that this is not how the story ends, but it would be safe to say that at this point, the Chase was over.....