Contacts: [July 2008]

Dear Friends,

I haven’t been taking summer classes so late May and June have given me a chance to do a little traveling! Consequently, this month’s issue is travelogue! Hope you enjoy!

LAS VEGAS [May 7]

I’m coming back from visiting Papa and Grandma and it really was another trip to paradise. We ate tons and went on several walks. I made some tan lines by the pool and read a bunch. Mom and I scrapbooked pictures from NY—what a flood of memories! It was great to go to the temple with Grandma and watch TV with Papa. They are so good to us.

REXBURG [May 16]

Starting this morning at 4am I went on a road trip to see the marriage of my dear ex-roommate from BYU-Idaho, Ashley, to another friend, Brian, in the Rexburg ID temple. The temple was beautiful, she was beautiful, and the whole experience was simply wonderful. I’m so excited for them. Their temple wedding was so simple, so pure, and so powerful. What a blessing it is to be promised that—if they live worthy—they can be together forever.

Buddy—being the great brother that he is—came with my so that I didn’t have to travel alone. We ran into a bunch of dear friends up there (Mandy Kichens, Emily Wassink, and Toby and Sam Dossett.) We also walked all around campus and the memories came running in sheets—oh freshman year. One theme remained in all that I saw: supreme gratitude for the past coupled with a very real sense of appreciation for the present. I felt a great sense of closure. I belong where I am in the present, and that feels good—really good.

I wondered, as I walked by the streets I had come to love, what I would have told myself if I had run into the me of 5 years ago. “Hang in there, it gets even better.” Or maybe, “You’re going to love NY.” Or maybe, “Don’t worry so much—things work out great.” Wow life has been good to me. God has been good to me. I’ve been so blessed.

SAN FRANSICO [June 3]

We’re on our flight home from San Francisco! What a wonderful day! This was my last day off for awhile –so I really wanted to make a day trip and San Fran has been on my list for a long time. Ever since Daddy brought home a loaf of sourdough bread from one of his trips I knew that I needed to visit the city myself. The caravan included my parents and my sisters.

After our 2 flights we found the BART station and started the 30 minute trip to Embarcadero. Our whole trip was constantly interrupted with snapshots and giggling—I think that might have been my favorite part. :o)

Once we arrived at the anticipated stop we emerged from the depths of the BART station to find a sun-dappled skyline and an awaiting bus-cable car. We paid our fare and enjoyed the ride to pier 39. We found our destination to be tourist heaven. There were a million cute shops, restaurants, and attractions. We walked down the pier and just soaked it all in. Our wanderings lead us to the marinara (to look at the yachts), inside several gift shops, and onto a 2 story carousel (which we thoroughly enjoyed). We watched the Sea Lions, tried to see the Golden Gate Bridge (but the fog kept it a mystery) and ate lunch at Boudin’s Bakery. I had clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl—and felt that in a very real sense I had just fulfilled a childhood dream…I could now die in peace. :o)

Daddy took us inland to enjoy the beauty of the Lombard Street and the architecture surrounding it. It was all so picturesque and surreal. I simply loved it. Before we knew it we had to catch the bus home. We drove though Chinatown and Union Square to make our sightseeing trip complete. What a day!

--(Sister) Nikki Nelson
July 2008