As sad as that sounds, it is a significant accomplishment for me. Granted, I am usually up "working" until 2 AM, but I am usually an 1130 kind of guy. Oh yeah, and "working" means researching some topic that I am not supposed to--last night it was origins of several Chinese characters.
But I am up at 9, met with missionaries at my house. I could have played both sides of the appointment line by line before they even showed up. Why am I so cynical? But, yeah, two Utah boys getting to know me cycled through all of the questions. I didn't make it easy on them--I made sure that they led the conversation. When I was finished with one question I would just look at them, waiting for them to make the next move. There would be an awkward 3 second silence and then another softball.
Both of them had the missionary cadence down. "And (neutral tone) I (neutral tone) know (slow rising tone and then pause) that (neutral tone) Joseph (neutral) Smith (slow rising tone and then pause).... It's mildly interesting that somehow the MTC inculcates this testimony tone into almost every missionary. da da DUM pause da da DUM. What is that? Anapestic I think.
Most insulting, they didn't appreciate my humor--when they asked me who should give the prayer I told them to rock-paper-scissor that decision. Kind of a blank stare and then one volunteered.
Anyway, I am in the library with 5 cans of caffeine free diet pepsi ready to knock some work out.
Not only did they not appreciate your humor but they also disregarded your request to settle who prays by rock paper scissors! Rude. And I may use that next time home or visiting teachers come by.
ReplyDeleteAh, don't be hard on the elders.
ReplyDeletethat testimony tone kind if bugs me. Maybe non members don't notice it. But I think it makes us all seem a little insincere when even all their voice inflections match.
ReplyDelete