We just returned from a great trip to NYC for Bob Higgins' baptism. It was one of the best weekend's we can remember.
We traveled on Jet Blue - a "red eye" to NYC departing Portland at about 1 am (1 hour late). We arrived there Saturday morning at 9 am and took the subway from JFK to Brittany's place - the same train goes the whole way to a stop only yards from her front door.
Saturday evening we hooked up with Maddy Oswell and her boy friend Sam. They won tickets to NYC in a raffle. We had dinner together at a fun and unique Greek deli - then went to the theater together. We had purchased tickets for Kaaren and me and Bryce to see the "42 Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." We decided to enter a special "lottery" they have to win tickets up front for only $25 per tickets. We each put in a lottery entry - 7 entries for 2 tickets each - and we got lucky. Both my name and Bryce's were picked so we got 4 more tickets and all 7 of us went to the show. Then inside, Bob and Maddy were picked to join the cast on stage. They had to take their turn at trying to spell words assigned to them. What a string of luck! This was actually a very fine show with lots of laughs and tears.
As we left the theater, snow was beginning to fall. 5 inches were forecast, but by the middle of the next day (Sunday), NYC had the greatest snowfall on record - 26+ inches.
In the morning we walked through the snow to the subway and then a few more blocks to the church. Take a look at the pictures on the family website at www.pixtonfamily.com. You can click on the photo album link and do the slide show thing - I like that the best.
Bob Higgins baptism was attended by more people than could fit in the viewing room - Brittany sang "How Great Thou Art" with me accompanying her on the piano (original accompaniment of my own) and then after the baptism, she and Bryce sang "Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee." The whole thing was awesome, lots of tears of gladness for Bob who is obviously much loved in the ward; and rightly so; he is fine young man and will be a great example to others and will magnify his Priesthood, I have no doubt.
Maddy and Sam tried to get to the baptism but had a blizzard in their way - they got there for the food, of course. Then we went to Britt's apartment where Bob made dinner for us - a fabulous meal by a real chef. We had a good time together.
Monday, we did a little shopping, met Brittany and her roommate, Leolani Kaona, a woman from Hawaii, at the Sheraton Manhattan where she works in Marketing. She found it necessary for the good of the Sheraton Hotel chain's marketing plan to store our bags with the concierge, treat us all to a great lunch and dessert at the hotel restaurant, and then transport Kaaren and Bryce and me in a limo (I was embarrassed but not so much that I didn't accept the ride) to the airport for our departing flight. We arrived home at about 1:30 am local time pretty bushed.
What a weekend!
We awoke this morning to a light dusting of snow. A blessings, as far as we are concerned, and more is forecast for later in the week.
Now we back to work (what a shock) and planning for the Sweetheart Ball our ward activities committee is putting on this weekend, among other things.
Be sure to look at the pictures. Use the link on our website at www.pixtonfamily.com.
Kaaren and I just came home from dinner and dessert at Papa Haydn in NW Portland. After dinner, I felt like Templeton, and we just rolled home to our bed.
Happy Valentines Day.
Dad/Tom
