Change always change.

Today President Bush met with President Monsen. We were not to come to work until 10:30am. There has been security all over downtown since last night. The former-mayor Rocky (raccoon) organized a protest group that met across the street from the hotel where President Bush was staying. You could hear the helicopters flying all night around the area. President Bush arrived here at 8:20am the motorcade went under the COB (Church office building) and then emerged at 9:40am. Took North Temple to 3rd West to 4th south on the freeway (80) to the airport. Lift off was to be at 10:40 and they were right on time. I have a picture of the motorcade as it emerged from the underground parking. They just missed a spring rain coming in from the West. We watched the proceedings from our 21st floor. It was cool! There was not only Bush security, but church security every few feet all over the church campus. When I walked down the street to come to work, the police were directing traffic and no traffic was allowed on North Temple. I was stopped on the corner and had to show my security badge and missionary badge to come into the COB. This is as close as I will ever get to a President of the United States. I can't imagine what kind of life that would be. If I were him, I would be happy to get it over with, his time as president hasn't been an easy one and one with many tragedy's that he had to deal with beginning with 911.
Last week when I returned from New Mexico, I learned one of my dear acquaintances from the Houston mission had died suddenly. He went to the gym, which he did nearly daily, and was on the treadmill and collapsed. On the treadmill next to him was a EMT and he immediately started cpr, there was also close by an RN who assisted, the ambulance was there quickly and they took him to the hospital within 4 minutes, but he had had a massive heart attack and didn't make it. He was a dear man to all of us senior missionaries in Houston. He was essentially the leader of our group (Old Fudds), we tried to meet at least once a month, four couples and me and Sr. Lonni. He was an intense Mexican Train affectionado, and a stickler for the rules. The organizer of our monthly meetings here, and weekly get togethers in Houston. Everyone lived in Utah but me. He was well known for his agenda, everyday he had one and followed it closly, and was amazing at getting things done. He and his wife joined the church while he was serving in the Air Force, and he was in the first graduating class 59' of the Air Force Academy in Colorado. A devoted sports fan and had season tickets to the Air Force Games and the BYU Games since they moved to Provo after their mission. Air Force always had priority over BYU. When they joined the church they had 4 children, and then had 5 more. They have a super family with really neat kids, they were expecting their first grand child this Sept. His wife and I became fast friends. They have had much illness and health problems these past years but always positive and optomistic. He will be sorely missed. I for one will miss him, he always made us laugh and was the life of our get-togethers. Probably the most surprising part was the depth to which each of his children felt their loss of their father. How very much each one loved him and look up to him and each one telling their favorite stories of their best memories of him. Their youngest son and his wife, just graduated from college and got a position with a firm in New York, he was very encouraging to them and literally guided their trip to NY in their van. They had only been there for a week when Dave died, they said they wouldn't have gone there if it had not been for his encouragement. I have been thinking of what kind of influence am I to my kids, what kind of example am I to them, am I as close to them as I should be. It kind of made me take a closer look at myself and my relationship to my children. How well am I taking care of myself so I can be there for them. I hope so, I try.