Okay, funny's not the right word. Interesting is more like it. So we went to the temple today. It's going to be closed for the month so we thought we'd better go along with the rest of the area. It was packed. While David went into the temple, I took the girls to a nearby playground. We go to a nice little playground up in the hills, that has lots of beautiful old stone stairs and dry grass and small trees and even a few pools filled with fake looking blue water. Anyway, the girls had fun collecting wood for their "campfire," and I was amused as Haven insisted that we bless imaginary marshmallows and hot dogs. Then hordes of people showed up to run the steps and exercise around the playground. And that made the park a little more interesting too.
But that's not what my story is about. The fun part started when we left the park and decided to get gas at a station about a mile down the road from the temple. I pulled up to the station, and the girls wanted to get out to help me pump gas. I usually make them stay in the car, but since we had a half hour before we had to get David, I decided to go ahead and let them out. I was just lining them up next to the pump, when I heard sirens. I looked down the street and saw a nice black and white fancy car coming toward the gas station with about three or four police cars behind. My initial thought was that Oakland must be like Mountain View. Things are slow enough that when anything happens the police show up in bunches. Comforting to live in a safe area. But apparently, Oakland is somewhat different than Mountain View. The black and white car pulled into the gas station and came to a stop. The officers jumped out of their cars with their guns drawn and yelled at me, "Ma'am, get your kids in the car!" I liked that they still called me "ma'am" even while their guns were pointed in my direction. So of course I got the kids in the car as fast as I could! We spent the next 10-20 minutes crouched in the back of the car. Here's a bit of what our conversation sounded like while we crouched there.
Mom: "Keep your heads down! Pretend we're hiding!"
Kids: "Why? Why do we have to hide in the car? What are they doing?"
M: They're arresting someone that did something bad.
K: But why do we have to hide?
M: Because they have their guns out and I don't want us to get shot
K: But why are they using guns?
M: Because these bad guys are probably pretty dangerous
K: Are they going to shoot? Will it hit us?
M: No, I don't think they're going to shoot. I think the bad guys are obeying the policemen. Put your heads down!
Police: Get your hands in the air! Hands up! Hands up! Turn around slowly!
K: I'm scaaaaared!
Anyway, that's about how it went. And while it made my heart beat fast, I have to admit that I wasn't really scared. Partly, because it seemed like the police had things under control, and partly because I really didn't think Heavenly Father would let us get shot when we'd come to the temple. We ended up saying a prayer together to help the girls calm down. But I just felt peaceful because I felt like Heavenly Father was watching over us. I finally poked my head out when I heard other people talking outside. This time I made the kids stay in the car while I got at and pumped gas. I counted six police cars as I stood by the pump, and saw one officer putting away what looked like a sniper gun (but what do I know about guns?). Anyway, it was exciting! And it was fun to tell David when he came out of the temple that we'd had an adventure that involved police and guns! After I told him all the details, he said, "That sounds like something that would happen to Allie!" I think I need to have Allie rewrite this for me! :) Anyway, that's the funny thing that happened on our trip to the temple!
