My family piled into the Chevy Trailblazer early Sunday morning to drive down to Key West so that I could fulfill a High Council speaking assignment on Father’s Day.
It was worth it. I got the first Father’s Day present I’ve ever gotten at Church.
For those of you who don’t know, Key West may be one of the most remote places to go to church in the continental U.S. I imagine there are places in the the west and midwest that are more remote, but keep in mind that South Florida has a large population. In any case, it’s a three-hour drive at 7 a.m. on a Sunday from Miami to Key West. At noon on a Sunday, it can be a five-hour drive (if there’s an accident on the only road heading there, it can be a 12-hour drive).
Key West is part of the Homestead stake, which is mostly English-speaking, with a stake center 120 miles from Key West. But what a branch! Eighty smiling people at sacrament meeting, and a wonderful spirit.
In any case, at the end of sacrament meeting we were told to wait so that the primary (four kids) could hand out presents to all of the fathers (and other adult men). I got three Tootsie Roll lollipops wrapped in a ribbon. My toddler immediately demanded one, and then the other 10 minutes later, but I did get one Tootsie Roll lollipop to suck on as I drove back to Miami.
Someday I may get a flower or a plant, but in the meantime I am content with an occasional lollipop. The Tootsie Roll center makes it all worthwhile.