Yesterday, the girls did a kids' triathlon in the morning and went to a farm party in the evening. There happened to be Mormon missionaries at both events. Man, I have missed being around missionaries (we don't have any in the UAE). Generally speaking, they are just the best.
Mormon missionary course volunteers in yellow vests.
At the triathlon, there were a few dozen missionaries giving directions and moral support on the course. At the farm party, I think they were invited guests. At both places, I decided they were noticeably a year (men) and two years (women) younger than I remember them being. I have hardly been back in the US since the age change was announced a few years ago, so this is the first chance I've had to observe 18-year-old men and 19-year-old women out in the field.
Of course, I'm a few years older myself, so maybe my perception of them being younger is actually that the age difference between us is just greater these days.
Anyway, the kids' triathlon was awesome, even if Magda's borrowed bike ended up being a little ricketier than she would have liked. I was thrilled by the fact that the running part of the course was along the same trails I used to race on in high school - this was the site of my district championship meets my junior and senior years of high school. It felt surreal to be cheering on my own kids and running from vantage point to vantage point at the same place my parents used to. I told my girls as much and I hope they thought it was as special as I did.
Oh! And we met a little boy (maybe 4 years old?) named Sterling! This was the first young Sterling I've ever met. So that was pretty neat, too.
