"Мы вас похороним! " нет!

1848  "The proletariat is the undertaker of capitalism," 
           Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto 

1956  "We will bury you," 
           Nikita Khrushchev, addressing Western ambassadors

2014  "We will dig you out," 
           The Mormons, DPI-NGO United Nations Briefing














Invitations were passed out during sacrament meeting. The Church Department of Public Information would be presenting a Non-Governmental Organization briefing on Tuesday.

Chris & Stefanie at the U.N?
GOT TO HAPPEN!

We called the RSVP number at LDS Public Affairs - New York. Eight rings, eleven rings, no answer. We waited for the message machine, but no recording came on the line. No message machine at a public affairs office? I sent an email but no response came. We now turned to the time-proven method - the Mormon back door. One of the other CES couples, the Phillips of Gilbert Arizona, were seated across from us at in-service meeting that Monday morning. They knew someone, who knew someone. Sister Phillips grabbed her cell phone.
Two minutes later we were on THE LIST.

But you don't just walk into the United Nations. Not in the long wake of 911. I remember being picked up in the family motor home after my mission some forty years ago. We toured historic sites along the east coast. During a Grayline tour of Manhattan we walked all around the U.N. property. The lobby was filled with interesting gifts from attending nations. The U.S. display had featured a moon rock.

The only campus ramble permitted today is a paid tour. A security fence traces the perimeter. There is only one public entrance, funnelling through scanning machines. Guests of an NGO briefing, we joined a security queue. The temperature was sub 20's. Public affairs people combed the line, comparing lists. Some members had special tickets and jumped to the front. They apparently knew somebody who knew somebody else. One older couple was not on the list. They had been waiting a while when this was discovered. We sympathized. They declined Stefanie's offer of our tickets and left. I thought, "Wow, I hope this isn't a foretaste of St. Peter's procession."

Freezing, freezing, freezing. We got through. On route to the conference room we passed a few sculptures. Near the entrance was a medieval knight battling a twin headed beast. The post cold-war gift from Russia was crafted from remains of ICB Missiles: St. George slaying the dragon of nuclear armament.

The briefing was smoothly presented to a mostly home-team audience, but other NGO's were significantly present as well. The Joseph Smith testimony was featured, including a narrative about the Book of Mormon. The Q&A was most interesting, as the panel carefully fielded questions on the Church's proselyting intentions, birth control, and women's issues. We were most impressed with the capability of the LDS presenters, particularly Sharon Eubank, Director at LDS Charities, and Ahmad S. Corbitt, Director of LDS Public and International Affairs, New York Office (recently called as Mission President - Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East).

Afterward: a calculating meander toward the exits, a tour of sorts.
We gathered at Grand Central Station for lunch.
It was a good day for the Church - a coming of international age.
The minor disappointment?
Sister Owens wouldn't let Elder Owens bang his shoe on the delegate table.

The view from our "Delegate" seats 

friends & family

SUDDEN WONDER - to come upon an old friend in chance circumstance:   

December 2nd 
Union Square meetinghouse, Chelsea 
Annual CES Christmas Party 

Nearing the street-front entrance, we noticed others arriving. They also seemed lost. Most LDS churches in New York use doorbells. We rang, and waited, and the door swung open upon a grinning sister missionary, a familiar face - Janet Eldredge. Fifth Ward alums, we had not seen each other in years. Recognition dawned as other party-goers moved past us.

We left the old ward over a decade ago. Janet went to Utah. But now, we'er here in Manhattan and both serving missions. Janet explained that her service in the Employment Center would end soon. We talked more and then Stef and I continued upstairs to the holiday gathering.

Manhattan Ward meetinghouse

East 87th near Lexington

One month later we are meeting in an Upper East Side burger joint, and talked about older times, mission experiences, testimonies, New York and using cross-town buses.
Manhattan is addictive.
Change inexorable.
Family, & friends, are forever.





It's 10:00 pm. Do You know where your kids are? 

James, Lyssa and Kassidy flew in for Christmas.

We did Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum, Times Square, Broadway, Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue, Top of the Rock, Ground Zero, and of course, the Brooklyn Bridge.











We also took a dad-drive along the Gold Coast and other scenic parts of the island.
Historical commentary provided by: Dad.
Hey - it's free.

Lyssa's favorite drive-by? 

A beautiful gambrel-roofed home on Ocean Avenue in Amityville, 

just fifteen minutes south of our apartment. 

Yes, that Amityville. 

ALL IN ALL - A wonderfully memorable Christmas. 

"walking the bridge" - 17 degree wind chill 

searching for Santa

We drove the hills of Little Neck after our class last Wednesday to find Christmas lighting. These are beautiful old money - old house neighborhoods. But after an hour we hadn't seen a single light. Weighing several explanations we returned home puzzled. It is a dominant Jewish community, but still, not even Chahunkah lighting.

and then . . .



















Mainer's Chapel 
lights across the Sound 
a gentle snowfall 
The Great Neck Choral Society 
  Ralph Vaughan Williams Hodie 
and of course, 
  standing for Handel's great chorus 

Yoolis Coolest

"I'm ready to move out in front"

"I wanna feel my heart coming alive again
 Before the parade passes by... " 

____________________________________

Dino-Decorations at the Museum of
Natural History near parade start

The idea arose on our way back from the July 4th celebration. After all, that had gone off very well. Our CES coordinator Stan Kauffman  and his wife Shirley had graciously escorted us to the fireworks display, and maybe we were ready for the big-time. Stan said that he had received good tips on schedules and viewing locations for The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I looked over to check with Stefanie and saw that she was talking to Shirley and probably had not heard our discussion. So I turned back to Stan, "Sounds great. We're in!"

Because Thanksgiving dinner would follow the parade, and an early start was needed, we planned a two day outing. The Kauffman's invited us to spend Wednesday night in their Queens pad. They also invited friends from New Haven, Connecticut, Stan's CES counterpart at Yale, and a church chaplain. Like the Kauffmans, they are a couple with many interesting stories and ideas to share.

A popular part of the parade experience is attending the "inflation of the balloons." Sort of like Pamplona's prequel "Running of the bulls," but slower. If the winds are not too high, they are filled the evening before. It was raining on our arrival. The temperature was in the 20's, the winds were under their threshold, so the balloons were out and about.

The Amazing Spiderman - Most popular character in the queue 

We went cross-town for meatballs and then back to the Kauffman's for desert and late games.

Thanksgiving morning. 

Wind-chill forecast in the teens. We arose early, bundled up and headed back in to Manhattan.

Our spot was Avenue of the Americas and 57th. We tried to cross west for a better view, but were stopped by spectator density about 20 feet from the curb. We settled in. The parade lasts about three hours, but our plan was was and earlier exit. I had a decent angle on the balloons, floats and even the bands, but they wouldn't be arriving for another hour. We had no illusions. The best view was on the flat screen back home. This was cultural ambiance. It was all around us.

An early awareness: It is much warmer in this press of bodies.

View from my post - not bad 

We could hear increasing sound and vibrations from the north. The flux of anticipation, elation on faces. The children across the street. I strained to see around the corner.

My attention shifts gradually. I hear them at some distance. Late arrivals.  "Excuse me, excuse me, I need to get past. Excuse me, we're trying to get to the front. We cant see back here. Could you move please, we need to get forward." Phalanxes of two or three, pushing - probing. A bump on one side. I here cheers from the street. Hey, isn't that, that singer, what's her name? A shove on the other side. There's Spiderman. I try to bring my camera up. Some of my neighbors gently resist. Some are less gentle. Proximity's shrink. I see Stefanie drifting upstream. Looking behind, the crowd is 200 bodies deep. Usurper's persistence is rewarded. I think, "that's right, I chose to be back here because I prefer mediocre views. If you are one of those that prefer good views, you need to be at the front. That's where the best views are . . . you're welcome."

There are two parades.
The sidewalk promenade has become more interesting.

Cold and tired, we retreated, trading parade stories on the train home. Thanksgiving dinner was excellent. Stan shared a story from the life of B.H.Roberts and the Thanksgiving Psalm which led to further discussion and insights on the meaning of gratitude.

So, what's next?

New Years Eve?   Fashion Week?   The Marathon?

I think we're done for now.

Sir! no Sir!

Hi Erin -

 

Inbox

x

Chris Owens chrisjowens@gmail.com	12/1/13
to erin.owens

Hope you had a meaningful Thanksgiving. They cook turkey there right? Do they have turkeys? Mom and I went to two ward sessions hoping to meet an investigator at the first one. No show. So - a long day. But we enjoyed a great testimony meeting in the family ward and had fun with the youth in YSA service.  

Mom said she mentioned our Macy's parade adventure, so I'll skip my perspective on the "human sardine can," other than to note that it was a vivid and interesting cultural experience. The big story this week was our airport debacle - still too close to the bone for mom to discuss.

Some of our students at the Marine Academy asked us to drive them to the airport for their Thanksgiving breaks. We dutifully arrived and picked up three of them. Despite the rush hour timeline, we successfully navigated to JFK in less than  an hour. 

Just as we were verbally patting ourselves on the back, one of our passengers asked why we were at JFK (Southshore) when their flights were leaving from Laguardia Airport (Northshore). 

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! 

45 Minutes until lift-off. Quickly shifted to the Van Wyck cross Island - pointed to Laguardia. 5MPH. Raining. Highway looking like a parking lot. Backseat suddenly verrry quiet. Anxious faces all around. Mother praying. Dad praying. Crawling, crawling, crawling . . . then prayers answered! Traffic congestion eased and the passengers dropped off with 25 minutes remaining. Fortunately they are all in top physical condition, and in uniform. 

We received texts on our return through Queens. All flights made. Wow. Life on the island with crazy dad. 

PS: Stef drolly noted that our chauffeur services for Christmas break would likely NOT be needed. 

eye single

I don't know how anyone got around here before global positioning. There seems to be only one response to any question that begins, "How do I get to . . . . ?
Response: Do you have GPS?
Everyone uses it. Constantly.
We do have GPS. I have used it for years when I hike or when traveling to another state.
On long Island you use it to go to the corner supermarket. Spoiled by decades navigating western traffic grids, we were frequently lost at first. If I missed a turn, I would take the next one, assuming that the streets would eventually hook up. They don't.
You may end up in a different county, or the Bronx. The geometry is simple. No road is parallel to any other road. Locals insist that avenues on the island evolved from cow trails. That explanation fits. I get lost on neighborhood walks. A compounding difficulty is that U-turns are illegal almost everywhere. Right turns at red lights are also discouraged.

Humbled, we now depend on GPS and only get lost occasionally. We often enjoy the detours. There is so much foliage, Its like driving through a park. The destination might be mere steps away. You'll never see it. But hey, what's that interesting thing coming up around the bend? Teaching for CES you begin to see gospel illustrations everywhere. So we sometimes incorporate these frolics into our lessons. One quick photo and its in the PowerPoint:

____________________

Halloween decorations?  

The Lamanite curse 

____________________
A sweet diversion?  

Chris and Stefanie's "Plan of Happiness"

____________________

Charles Addams Retrospective in Southampton?  

Evil Incarnate 

____________________

 I don't remember what this one was about . . . 

Jerusalem to Jericho

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho . . . Luke 10:30 

Bethphage in the Holy Land 

2013AD sometime around August 

Dear friend and gentle blog-reader Rose Carson posts a question: What is Bethpage? 

The sad insight here is that this blog is maintained in fits and starts and we didn't even notice that there was a comment field until November. Sorry Rose. 

FLASHBACK 

2013AD June 9, Provo, Utah (mere hours before appointment at MTC)  

Elder Owens: Why don't we call our missionary blog "Mission to Montauk?" 

Sister Owens: Absolutely not. No one knows what montak is. Your wierd. What is montak? 

Elder Owens: It is the lighthouse point on the eastern tip of Long Island. 

Sister Owens: That's not where we will be. 

Elder Owens: Probably not, but the alliteration is perfect. 

Sister Owens: No. 

Later that night 

Elder Owens (perusing Google maps) 

Sister Owens (asleep) 

Elder Owens (to himself): Farmingdale? Mission to Farmingdale? Loser. Sounds like a mission to Hicksville. 

(BTW, Hicksville - actual town six miles west of mission apartment) 

Wait. what is the name of that large park next door? Bethpage? Right there! (finger on map) "Old Bethpage" Hey - 'Owens in Old Bethpage.' the 'Old' is good. Sounds distinguished. This might work . . . 

A blog is born - 

2013AD, Early August, Old Bethpage, New York  

Elder Owens is enjoying his sunrise walks through Bethpage Park. Solitude. Morning mist. Muted colors. Apples and pecans ripening in the trees. 

On Sunday he asks Frank Mansuetto about all the golfers in the park. Frank looks surprised. "You know! . . . five courses. . . . the U.S. Open . . . . . the Bethpage Black." Well, that would explain the large groups of golphers disembarking at the train station every day.

I felt like a cultural sports idiot. Further research was obviously needed. This usually means Wikipedia, where I quickly learned that the "PGA lists Bethpage Black on its top ten 'World's Most Beautiful Courses' list." Golf Digest ranked it #6 of America's 50 toughest courses.

It also has a polo field.

But isn't bethpage a hebrew word?
I mean, beth means home or something, doesn't it?

WAY FLASHBACK 

1695AD  Long Island, New York 

Thomas Powell buys 10,000 acres from local Indian tribes for 140 English pounds. He notices that his new purchase sits between the Long Island towns of Jericho and Jerusalem. In mind that the biblical Bethphage was located between Jericho and Jerusalem he names his New York holding Bethphage as well. 

Jerusalem, Long Island later changed its name to Wantagh. Jericho is the same. Eventually, the second "H" in the Long Island "Bethpage" was dropped. 

• Bethphage in Hebrew means "house of figs." 
• It is located on today's West Bank. 
• It begins the story of Jesus' triumphant ride into Jerusalem. 

"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away'" (Matt 21:1-3; see also Mark 11:1, Luke 19:29, Zech 9:9). 

 FLASH FORWARD 

2013AD, August 27, Las Vegas (wedding reception for James)   

Don McClelland: So where are you in New York Chris? 

Elder Owens: We're right next to the Old Bethpage Park. You know, "house of figs" . . . . like in the holy land . . . . Triumphal ride . . . . 

(blank looks all around) 

Elder Owens: You know! . . . five courses . . . . the U.S. Open . . . . . the Bethpage Black? 

Don (now beaming leans over to Dave Lovett): Hey, Chris lives by the Bethpage Black course. 

Excitement. 

All of us now nodding and grinning knowingly. 

Elder Owens basking in a shared sports-fan moment. 

The inner circle. 

A new experience. 

Well, there you have it Rose. The answer to your Bethpage question. 

And more. 

Rose? 

Are you still there Rose?? 

The Old Lenox Country Club on hill, Bethpage State Park, panorama view from my Droid Nexus