Other Grandparents

Andrew's cousin Michelle is coming home from her mission soon--actually, she'll talk in church on Rachel's 1st birthday--it really went by fast! She's planning on going to university when she gets back, which means that Dorothy and Raymond will be free to leave on a mission, themselves.

Karen and I were talking about this while we were waiting for Andrew in the car. We mused about the thought of them being called to serve as humanitarian missionaries in Egypt. Couple missionaries typically don't proselyte--instead they do office, humanitarian, or membership work.

When Karen's parents went on their missions, her father really didn't want to do office work and his wish was granted because her parents worked with members for all three of their missions. The funny thing is that Grandpa Anderson was rather racist and all his missions kept moving him deeper and deeper into the south.

By the end of his service he realized that people are just people.

Last night Andrew and I were talking about some experiences that Grandpa Frank and Grandma Sharon had shared with us from their most recent mission. When we were finished with that we mentioned a friend we have who, although they've traveled extensively through the Middle East, still maintains many ideas about Muslims that are rather offensive.

I wanted to say that our friend would perhaps become more tolerant if they had more experience in the Middle East, just like his Grandpa Anderson softened up. But I wasn't sure how to clarify that I was talking about Grandpa Anderson and not Grandpa Frank, since Andrew hadn't been present when Karen and I discussed Grandpa Anderson's missions.

For some reason I didn't think of saying Grandpa Anderson. Instead I chose a rather indescriptive term.

"Who knows," I said, "Maybe they'll end up like your other grandparents and change their mind after living there for a few more years."

"I have other grandparents?" Andrew asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, your mom's parents."

"Oh," said Andrew very matter-of-factly, "They're dead."

"I know," I said patiently.

So that's why I've never met them before!