Oakland Temple Open House

So, I was looking at my calendar for March, trying to decided the 2 days I will go up to the temple.  I love going to the temple, especially the Oakland temple.  Each time I walk into the temple, I feel like I am at home.  I remember doing youth baptisms starting at age 12.  One trip stands out in particular.  This is my experience.

I was about 15, and as most wards, we carpooled.  I was riding with a sister in the ward that was the sweetest lady.  I always saw her smiling and never complained.  She had a difficult time then with having enough money to get by.  Her husband seemed to always be out of work, yet she kept moving forward.  She would take odd jobs to make the rent and feed the kids.  Two of her daughters were very close to my age.

This sister wanted to drive so badly this one time.  I was assigned to her car.  She drove a white van; the commercial type with no windows.  I had never been in her van before so I was very surprised to see there were no benches to sit on in the back.  Instead, she had used the seat belts that were there, to anchor down 4 folding chairs from the church.  Yep, you are reading correctly!  It was about an hour drive, and after trying to sit in one of the chairs for about 15 miles, I asked her if I could just sit on the floor, which I did.  Bare metal, no carpet, and nothing to hang on to.  Somehow I survived, and live to tell of the experience.  Obviously, there were no seat belt laws then. . . .  I was happy to get back home!

As my mind grasped at memories of the temple, I remembered coming across a couple of photos in preparing the photo board for dad's funeral.  In the photo, you will see my sister Linda, and myself.  This was 1964, and I was 5.  I am grateful that mom took at least a couple of photos that day to bring back the memories.  I remember standing in a very long line, for a very long time.  Today with digital cameras, I'm sure there would have been many more photos taken!