Sept. 23, 2012
Dear David,
Things are jumping in Cody. Last week was Rendezvous Royale, sponsored by the Buffalo Bill Historical Center (of course), our world-class (no kidding) museum. That means that, besides being a local’s festival, the patrons of the museum fly into town to attend the proceedings. It’s kind of a “Farewell to Tourists” and “Thanks for the Bucks” event. And, as the last hurrah of summer, the town was packed with vacationers for the last time this annum.
Last year we accidently walked into the museum’s furniture display (so gorgeous!) in our street clothes. I suppose I should explain that “street clothes” in our town means anything that covers your bod. I have actually worn a ball cap, T-shirt, Wranglers, and cowboy boots while shopping and felt perfectly at home.
But I digress. We walked in wearing sneakers and Wranglers, etc. to find ourselves unwittingly among zillionaires dressed in everything from CEO and wives’ couture to avant-garde Western wear. I tried hard to blow it off. Unfortunately, I am verrrrry fashion conscious. I gave scathing reviews, mentally, to the rich folks’ dress and was spitefully delighted to find one patroness’s faux pas: She was dressed in light tan, Western-cut, goatskin garb with perfect accessories, except from the ankle down: she was wearing SLING BACKS!!! And, as we both know, the shoes make or break you. Whenever I tell that story (I can be such a witch at times), the Westerners laugh, “Ha Ha!” or at least raise an eyebrow. Then and there I vowed that I would never go to another Rendezvous Royale furniture show (so gorgeous!) without dressing to the teeth.
Anyway, Thursday we went to the Rendezvous Royale Street Fair. All the shops were opened and had everything on sale. There were music, artisans selling their wares, kettle corn (big deal), and lots of creative input for me, and you know how much I LOVE creative input. And heck-and-darn, if the people weren’t dressed Western for the evening and there I was in my usual street clothes! Your father and I went home and discussed this state of affairs. We decided that at ANY event offered in Cody, we should play it safe and dress Western. Furthermore, we should also provide appropriate clothes for visitors, if we have any.
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| Beaded Cane |
Returning to the street fair, I saw a man with a typical old-man cane—you know the kind, but it was beaded from here to eternity. It was stunning!
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| Steven and Me: What's a Cowboy without an Indian? |
Then I saw a lady wearing a beautifully beaded two skin buckskin dress. I walked up to her to examine the beadwork and the lady accompanying her said, “2400.” I said something like, “That’s a lot of beads.” On our drive home, your father informed me that she was referring to the price of the dress, not the beading. Next year I am SO wearing my own beaded dress!
Speaking of beading, I have decided that I’m not crazy about your father’s rifle case. It’s not as authentic as I want it to be. He has to buy and new one for me to bead.
Now I have to tell you what happened to Sassy-the-homely. There is a very nice, very active family in our ward known for their fashion sense. The father dresses normally, but his wife and three daughters, are—different. They wear black tight skirts, tight animal print blouses, ratted hair adorned with purple locks and maybe feathers, rhinestone belts over their jutting bellies, and stiletto heels, (typical of thier home town) to church. We were very hopeful when the girls were sent to charm school that they would return and dress a little more flatteringly. Nope. They look the same, but with more bling.
While your father and I were tending the Dansie horses, the parents of the family previously mentioned came in from their ride around the Dansie ranch. The wife had sold her horse because the horse was too aloof and bought Sassy (the mare that tried to kill us) because she was such a sweetheart! The husband’s horse’s tack was ordinary, however Sassy was sporting a bridle laden with silver Conchos set with rhinestone and a matching saddle. When she unsaddled and unbridled Sassy, she put her on a turquoise leather halter with a rhinestone crown piece that looked, for all the world, like a tiara. Then she gave Sassy a kiss and some horse treats, and then another kiss, more treats, more kisses, etc.
I guess Sassy has come into her own. Good for Sassy. I just wish I knew how much her owner paid for that mule.
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| Elder Queintin L. Cook |
Returning to the original subject, the ward is also jumping. Elder Quinten L. Cook spoke in our ward last week. Getting one of the 12 Apostles as a speaker in one's stake other than at a Stake Conference happens every…actually, it hasn’t happened since the 1800’s. We missed it because we were sick. But we were told that the men were instructed to love their wives and daughters because they deserve it. I love Elder Cook.
This week we got a new bishopric. Our new bishop is the Superintendent of the Buffalo Bill Dam and a very cowboy kind’a guy. While addressing the ward, he spoke like a young man just about to leave for his mission; awkwardly. This is puzzeling because while he taught Gospel Doctrine, he was very glib and knowledgeable. I suppose in a few months he’ll get the hang of speaking in front of larger crowds.
Your father and I will begin teaching Marriage and Family Relationships Class next week, whether we’re sick or not. At the beginning of every section, we tell our students that we have a testimony that people called to teach a lesson or, in this case, a class, are the ones who need the information the most. It’s only true.
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| Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorm |
Slight deviation: Since I told you a little about Elder Cook’s visit, I need to tell you about Elder Uchdorf, the first counselor to Pres. Monson. As a child, he was an ethnic-German living in Czechoslovakia in an area later annexed by the Nazis. Raised by his widowed mother, his family was very poor. As an adult he got his Masters Degree and joined the West German Air Force as a fighter pilot. When terrorists killed over 30 people in the Rome Airport and skyjacked a Lufthansa passenger jet, Bro. Uchtdorf, then age 33 and chief pilot for Lufthansa, was in command of the rescue team that followed the terrorists from Beirut to Athens to Damascus to Kuwait, where GSG9 commandos stormed the airplane and rescued the hostages.
Elder Uchtdorf will undoubtedly speak and he is fun to listen to. He often relates his talks to aviation. If you’re interested, General Conference will be televised on Oct. 7 at 10:00 A.M., MDT, (maybe noon, Boston time).
Time to close. Love ya’ lots. Oh, I forgot to tell you I updated my blog.
Mommmmm
