Homecoming: The Senior Version

Last night was one of the greatest nights I have had in so long. For our Young Women/Young Men activity, we hosted a "Senior Citizen Homecoming" at the church. We were put in groups, and each group was assigned a "date" that we were supposed to get to know a little better and hang out with at the dance. Brother Dick Hansen was my date, and let me tell you, he is an amazing man. He loves to talk about himself -- he's had so many incredible experiences, and he is just dying to tell everyone about them. For example, he owns a newspaper called Airport Journal, and through this ownership he has met countless famous people. The coolest story he told about this was that he was able to meet President Uchtdorf when he was put into the Aviation Hall of Fame. He liked to talk about that one. He has skied for 63 years and still does today. He has helped over 150 boys with their Eagle Scout Projects. He has hiked and camped all over Colorado and has taken groups of youth on 4-5 day journeys many, many times. He has been a member of the church for his whole life, and still attends today, though he goes alone because his wife has passed away. He is this sweet, old man that is just so full of life and wants to share his pride and happiness with anyone who will listen.
Since it was a dance, we danced. A lot. I never thought that this 80-something year old man would be able to dance, let alone for an hour and a half straight, but he did it. And he was good. I think we covered every decade, starting in the 1950s. It was so awesome to see him smiling and dancing and doing his best to get the moves right. He kept saying "This is the most fun I've had in years," and every time he said that it brought tears to my eyes -- happy tears, though.
So we danced, and we talked, and we ate a whole bunch of sweets, and we danced some more. It was one of those times when you're having so much fun that you don't even care what time it is, or what other things you could be doing instead (homework), or when you're supposed to be home. I wish I could accurately express how much fun I had. Just understand this: my feet hurt from dancing so much, my stomach hurt from laughing so much, and my face hurt from smiling so much.
I will never forget this new friend I have made. Being there last night made me realize how thankful I am for my family and friends. My ward family; my home away from home. Nothing could kill the spirit that was there, and that came home with me. The church is true. That's it.