April 14, 2008

Our brush with fame...sort of...

Ben and I went to the jazz game on Saturday. (Go Jazz!) It was so much fun. Every once-in-a-while, Ben gets tickets to the Wells Fargo suite. They always have yummy food and the best warm apple pie a la mode. So good. We went with Brian, one of Ben's client's, and his wife, Kim. They were very nice.
A few minutes after we sat down, Ben turned to me and said "There's Thomas S. Monson". I looked over and sure enough, he was sitting about ten people away from us. It was so neat to be that close to a prophet. There was a piece of glass in between us because he was in the suite next door, but still!! I couldn't stop looking over at him. I wanted to go over to say "hi" and shake his hand, so bad. However, you're not supposed to go around and help yourself to different suites. I was okay with it because I have met him once before. Obviously, he wasn't the prophet when I met him though.
I used to work at Popcorn Cottage when I was in high school. President Monson comes in to get popcorn every year at Christmas time. He and the owner of Popcorn Cottage have some connection from a mission, I don't remember exactly what that connection was. Anyway, I saw him walk into the mall, and pointed him out to the girl I was working with. When we saw that he was coming to our store, we had a coin toss to see who got to help him. I have only won a coin toss once in my life, and this was the one time. Lucky me! He was so nice. I just love him. He always has a smile on his face, and is just a warm, kind man. The spirit is so strong around the general authorities. You can't help but smile when you see them.
A couple years ago, Ben and I were out buying some suits and shirts, and as we walked out to our car, Ben saw Henry B. Eyring and his wife walking toward the same store we were just in.
By the way, Eyring is Ben's favorite apostle. We got in our car, and Ben just sat there and looked at him. I told him that he should just go say hi. After debating whether or not to go back in, he finally built up enough courage and we went back, introduced ourselves and talked for a minute or two. It was strange, each time Ben and I have met or seen an apostle, it was like we were in awe...star stuck.
I'm not sure if I'll ever be that close to a prophet again. Ben said that he goes to about half of the home games. Hopefully we get to see him at another Jazz game. I have decided that if I do see him in the suite again, I will either toss all unwritten rules aside, not worry about being kosher, and go in to shake his hand, or I'll go outside and wait for him to come out! Forget about the game!!

2 comments:

Momberger said...

That is so awesome! I was so excited when you guys text me to tell me! How cool of an expreience!

Talbot Family said...

I would have probably smooshed my face up against the glass hoping to catch his notice. Isn't it amazing that someone so special is normal just like you and I (I say this hoping I am normal), he shops at the grocery store, goes on dates with his wife, and attends sporting events. This just goes to show how normal he is. You know what else, he would have been flattered to have you shake his hand. Next time don't hesitate, shake his hand and take a picture of the event with your phone :)