Ask and ye shall receive, perhaps not at that moment, perhaps later, but you will always receive the intentions of your hearts.
Well, here is a story of such. To cut the extra details, one day the interns had Soda with the Senator. We all were able to ask one question, and then we were to have like a general overall question. Nobody came up with the biggie, so I proposed one we had all talked about. Let’s ask the Senator if he will arrange for us to go up inside the dome of the United States Capitol. Well, we went into the meeting, and I got in a bit of trouble, but I asked it. I was in trouble because we found out the Member of Congress has to do it themselves. This would be a scheduling nightmare for the Senator. Well, we all understood and went our ways.
Well, the time for our internship was winding down. On the Thursday before I was to come home, the Senator asked me to escort him to the floor. We walked along, he gave me a Christmas present, and gave me some advice. The advice came from his personal experience as a husband, and also from his experience as a Bishop. He then with excitement announced that he had arranged that he could take us into the dome of the Capitol. It would be the next day at three PM. Well, obviously I was excited, but it just so happened, that I was leaving the next day. I informed him of this and he said he was most sorry. He had made this happen mostly for me and that he was sorry he waited too long.
Well, let me tell you, the office was excited. The lowly intern, asked an unaskable question, and they were now benefiting. They promised to think of me, they promised to take pictures of the expedition. You will notice that there are some new photos in the ‘Leaving DC’ gallery. That is what those photos are containing. The staff’s pictures of the Senator’s personal tour of the Capitol Dome! Enjoy them. There is a classic of looking down into the Capitol Rotunda. There are pictures that include the Senator. Enjoy.
There is a little more to the story. The next day, I am filling out a marriage application in the Salt Lake City Clerk’s office. My phone rings. On the other end, I hear Gavin Bruce announce he was speaking to me from the top of the United States Capitol Dome overlooking the city. In the background Senator Smith bellows, ‘Wish you were here Paul’. I was so completely jealous. Greg, Gavin, Steve, and others all sent emails afterward thanking me. Apparently the Senator at every high point in the tour commented something like, ‘I think Paul would have enjoyed this’. Oh well. As they were telling it to me in the Clerk’s office, Amanda caught my attention and pointed out a sign that said thank you for not using cell phones. The folks to our side looked like they would appreciate my obedience. I finished our conversation, and again felt left out of the chance of a lifetime!
I want to say here, that I hope someday, somehow, I will again have the chance to ascend to the top of one of our country’s most prized possessions. A place that only 535 people have permission to go, a few caretakers, a few construction workers and cleaners, and those who are personally escorted by one of those people. Someday……..
Sagacity 