In mid-December 1996, we drove from Tallahassee, Florida, to Cleveland, Ohio, so that I could attend the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS). This was my first time attending the conference, and at the time, ICIS was the most important conference in my field. We did not really have the money to go, but it felt important for me to be there. I felt attending the conference was an important way to show my advisors that I was serious about the field and about pursuing an academic career.
To save money, we drove instead of flying. We were grateful that my Aunt Colleen and Uncle Ray Knowles were serving as full-time missionaries in Kirtland, Ohio, and were willing to host us and feed us while we were there (see Lost Checkbook).
At the time, Jamie had just turned four, and Tanner was 29 months old. Although Annette and I had both grown up in Wyoming, the kids had no real memory of snow. Jamie was two when we left Utah to move to Florida, and Tanner was just one week old.
After the conference, we stayed with the Knowleses for one more day before heading to Nauvoo, Illinois, to meet Annette's sister Rachel and her family.
On our last morning in Kirtland, Uncle Ray arranged for us to tour the Kirtland Temple. Because of his connection with the Community of Christ missionaries who cared for the building, we were able to see areas that were not part of the regular tour at the time, including the upper room. It was a special experience to be in that space.
There was already snow on the ground during our visit, but it had not actually snowed while we were there. As we were leaving the temple and walking back to our car, a light snow finally began to fall. Annette and I were excited. We pointed it out to Jamie and Tanner, trying to show them what falling snow looked like.
I was carrying Tanner in my arms when a large snowflake landed on his cheek and melted.
He looked up at me and said, "I don't like snow, Daddy."
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