Wednesday Quieter Day

I rose a bit later, showered, and then found breakfast at the hotel, where the waiter walked me through the menu while Deborah stayed with the American Breakfast. Deborah was up early and wanted to return to FamilySearch to find more records about her family. We spent some time together and remembered not to leave the DO-NOT-DISTURB sign on. It would rain all day (making me feel like home), and we cut our plans to visit some local parks.

We collected the Hyandia from the Valet Parking and headed across Salt Lake City. Quite a few pickup trucks cut me off and did not seem to respect my choice of car. Hmmm. We arrived safely at The King’s English Bookstore and parked nearby in the street. It was raining, and water was running down the streets. Again, I felt at home in my hat and coat.

Deborah found a book on bird sounds, and I got some stickers. We enjoyed just browsing and talking to the staff, which seemed to outnumber the customers at this time. I was feeling a little off, dropped Deborah off at FamilySearch, drove by the First United Methodist Church (just to see it), and then stopped at a UPS store and bought a small box for $2 to get change.

I then returned to the hotel, collected all the trinkets and other items from the car, leaving the trash in the car in case there was something I had mistaken for trash (Deborah would check later), and carried them to the room (for later packing). I then returned to the lobby and wrote the blog. I was slowly feeling better.

Deborah told me later she met another skilled researcher at FamilySearch and was excited to find her grandfather’s name on the SS Finland passenger manifest! She was also able to find more on his citizenship papers, including the witnesses who were also family members.

Deborah took the light rail back after a few misdirections. Easy to do as SLC is still new to us. We meet in the Little American’ s lobby (our hotel). Despite the rain, we crossed to the Grand American to see what it was like (I got to use a crossing flag, both ways). It was very much like our hotel, but overdressed in antique reproductions and higher ceilings. I think I liked ours better. The restaurant looked the same as ours, with an additional ice cream parlor added.

We returned to The Little America and had sandwiches for lunch. Both were huge, and we ate half and would finish them for dinner. We then, I feeling better, spent time together, ate, and headed to a movie. We retrieved that car from the Parking Valet and later would tell them we would be checking out on Thursday (the car was waiting for us Thursday morning).

Hail Mary was playing at the Mega 12 Theater. Deborah and I both had read it, and Deborah listened to it as the read version included sounds for the Eridian used. It was an excellent telling of the story, and I only noticed a few parts that the movie passed over. The parking was in a garage, and the signs and directions were difficult, with Deborah being right about where we should have walked. We took the wrong elevator and were on the walkways, but the theater entrance, surprisingly, was on the same level. We bought our tickets, got free small glasses of water (2.5-hour movie), and, for me, a tiny popcorn. We learned to scan, and that gave us free four-hour parking with a strong warning to use the app or link to also check out of parking. I did supply Apple Pay in case I ran over (unlikely, but possible unless I forgot to check out).

We loved the movie, and the time went by fast. The Eridian and the spaceships were excellent, and everything seemed believable. Deborah observed that even knowing the story and events did not diminish the suspense. Without giving anything away. Well done.

I followed the link I was given after the movie, and while we turned the Hyundai over to the Valet Parking ($18 a day with or without valet). That seemed to work, but later I received a warning to check out, and I then followed that, and that time did check out before being charged. Hmmm.

We did some basic arranging, Deboerah shared her new findings on her family with me and others by text, and soon fell asleep on our last night in SLC.

Thanks for reading!

Aside: Jeff, back in Oregon, has finished the floor repairs and installed the new flooring. Water leaks and just wear meant it was time. Thanks, Jeff!