In the morning we went to Weston where Mary taught a piano lesson to sister Rampton while I talked to brother Rampton about a multitude of things but mainly about history books. It turns out that both of the Ramptons love to read biographies and other history series. I noticed that they had Churchill’s books on WWII and History of the English Speaking People, Shelby’s volumes on the Civil War and a biography of Nelson that I had not read. I borrowed the latter which runs some 600 plus pages and only covers part of his life.

After the Ramptons we decided to explore Sawgrass Mill Mall. It is a huge mall that is not only filled with shops but also has a number of factory outlet stores. I just realized I did not take any pictures…I did not want to look like a tourist…but will in the future when it is not so crowded. I have never seen a mall with so many kiosks. Some companies have more than one spread out through the mall. There are two food courts and lots of restaurants. We went from one end to the other with pauses along the way to rest. The only thing I bought was a shirt from Penny’s Outlet and Mary did her grocery shopping at a big and beautiful Super Target. We had lunch at Popeye’s – the only place it seems that I can get a shrimp Po Boy! While Mary was shopping at Super Target, I walked back to the car – I only got lost three times and that was with a map! I also kind of got lost trying to get out of the parking lot…this is one huge, sprawling mall and we did not see all of it.

  

While I was driving around the mall to pick up Mary, I came across this portable police station that they have in the parking lot. I guess they either have a lot of problems at the mall so they need their own station, or the police who are stationed there need a flight tower to handle all the police and hospital helicopters that land to pick up the people who collapse from the exhaustion of walking around the mall. While in Target I found myself walking past this freezer and realized that there was about 36 feet of it filled top to bottom with frozen pizzas…that has to say something about America in general and Southern Florida specifically. I happen to know that some missionaries never get beyond cold cereal, sandwiches and frozen pizza style of food preparation. The elders in one area has a sister in the ward who brings them big boxes of treats – chips and cookies – from Costco…boy do they love that!

Once we got home we pretty much spent the rest of the day napping and reading. A truly relaxing p-day for the Piers.

I did get an e-mail from the Bells who are serving a PEF mission in the Philippines. It sounds like they basically go to the office early in the morning and leave late at night but they are having a great mission, helping many young people get an education, and serving with all their heart, might, mind,  will.