Panama Canal opens to traffic August 15, 1914

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/panama-canal-open-to-traffic. I read this book and it's an epic history of this amazing canal.

Today an apostle smiled at me.

D. Todd Christofferson of the Twelve has been in Concord this weekend. He had a fireside with the young marrieds and the young single adults Friday and Saturday nights and today at 10:00 was a special stake conference with President Score conducting. I arrived at about 8:30 and walked in with Shawn to sit at my usual spot, the front row. The Bells came and I caught up with them. Our own Sister Tanner spoke as well as Brother Pimentel. The choir sang I Believe in Christ. Elder Christofferson smiled at me. After his message he invited the children and teenagers to come up and shake his hand. As he was leaving he looked at me and leaned near to shake my hand too. I said my name and told him it's been a pleasure to have him here today. I also spoke with AG and P who enjoyed the Spanish translation, plus Elder Christofferson welcomed in Spanish and the closing prayer was in Spanish. I spoke with Marie before we both left. It's been a wonderful morning.

50th anniversary of landing in Europe

I was to stay, travel, and work in Switzerland, 13 months. I knew one person, my childhood friend Solita who lived in Rome, and eventually I would meet up with her. I turned 22 in Salzburg, Austria. I told people who asked that I was part Indian and it would not be until half a century later DNA determined I was actually 47% European Jewish and no Indian. I was proposed to a couple times but had no interest in marrying and would not marry until I was 29. Bella Europa. I kept a journal.

Fifty years ago today I left for Europe.

I left via San Francisco to New York and Iceland. I spent 13 months traveling first to the Scandinavian countries, then Great Britain (not Wales) and back onto the continent and working in Zermatt over the winter and my sister joined me there and we traveled to Rome where she stayed and I went on to Greece and back to Italy. I traveled by train and hitchhiked. I've never been back. I walked all over cities and really got a feel for the countries. I kept a journal. I'm still friends with KS I met in the French Riviera at the youth hostel. She married a guy she met in Europe. My niece was born in Rome after the moon landing.

10th grade class picture at VSHS

Mother died in January and this was my class picture. My childhood friend Eileen sent it to me yesterday. I seem to remember that girl so many years ago.

It could have been worse.

Six, five years old and under!