Off to China

Here it was, the week before I left for China! What an experience I am on! Holy crapola. Back to the point. Before I left for China I knew I had wanted a blessing- but from who? Although my lifestyle doesn't permit one to be active in the church, my testimony still lives strong and true- I know where I am, I know where I am going, and I know where I have been. That is my testimony.

I was sitting in my car and driving around doing all of the errands that I had to do before I left for the big C-H-I-N-A, and as I was driving I knew that I needed a blessing from someone- again, who? I am picky about who lays their hands on my head- might I add an emphasis on PICKY. The job/task of giving a blessing, to me, is an honorable thing. The men who have placed their hands on my head are: Grandpa, Larry, Garth, Dallas (roommate), Chandler (boss's husband), Trevor, Kent, Patriarch Curtis, and Bishops, and that I pretty much it- I think. So I don't just let anyone do it. I want to know that person. I want them to know me. I don't want them to get done with the blessing and think, "Well, there was my good deed for the week!" I want them to have a connection with me, and not just the connection between their hands and my bald head.

So I got thinking and I thought to myself- I want Uncle Keith to give me a blessing. So I called him up and he agreed. Why Uncle Keith? He is the closest thing to Grandpa that I have here; however, at the last moment, he informed me that he would like someone else to be there, so I called Larry and he agreed. Now, here comes the part that I knew I wanted. I didn't want the blessing in some living room on some chair that had been sat on by people, and I didn't want it at my house. I wanted it somewhere that I hadn't had a blessing before, and I wanted it to be special. Where else should I have it? Sitting on the bench next to Grandpa's headstone. Perfect.

Larry, Uncle Keith, and I met at the cemetery at 11:00 and talked a little bit about my new adventure. When that conversation ended we proceeded over to the bench next to his headstone. As we walked over, Larry and Uncle Keith lingered behind near the cars and I walked over to the bench. As I walked over- I thought to myself, "Here I am Grandpa...."

I sat on the bench and Larry and Uncle Keith put their hands on my head- while Larry's voice said, "Brother Mitchell Rue Watson..." At that moment, my right eye opened, and I glanced at the name "Rue Ware" carved into the stone. I thought, "I am Mitchell Rue Watson", the one person that carries the name of his Grandpa. I am honored to carry that name. While they gave me the blessing, which was utterly fantastic, I noticed there wasn't a breeze in the air, there wasn't this warm fuzzy feeling of grandpa is next to me. Why? Why did I need that feeling? Why was I even searching for it? In my mind and in my heart, I know that those events didn't take place because I didn't need that conformation that Grandpa was going to be with me for the next year. I know in my heart that he is here with me. I didn't need to feel him while sitting next to his headstone to know that he is watching me. I didn't need any of that. What I needed to know is that he never left me, and will never leave me till the day I die- and even then- he won't leave me. He will greet me with open arms and a tear in his eye while saying, "Oh my stars..." So Grandpa, I hope you are enjoying China as much I am enjoying it here.