Not-So-Well-Oiled Machine

Lexee and Shilo attended EFY at BYU while we were in UT (love those acronyms).  This was Shilo's first year, but Lexee had attended several times before.  In fact, between all of my children, we have done an EFY check-in for a total of seven times.  That's seven.  7.  So you would think that we could go through the process with some degree of expertise.  Ah, but no.

You would think EFY check-in would be the smoothest, easiest, most convenient process around.  I mean, BYU's been hosting summer EFY programs for who knows how long.  Every Monday, all summer long, floods of youth and their parents from all over the country pour into Provo... youth excited for new adventures with new people, and a whole week to socialize... parents excited for the gospel-centered activities and testimony growth potential for their children.

We have always gone with our Feil cousins, so last year, my sister and I thought we had it all figured out.  We would do our customary grocery store run for snacks, get the kids lunch, THEN check in, once the crowd had died down a bit.  It worked well.  We arrived at the check-in area to find no long lines.  We crossed our fingers as each of our children had their temperatures checked (remember the swine flu?).  We got our room assignments, notebooks, and DVDs.  Then we went to pick up the shirts, where we were informed that they only had large shirts left.  Sorry, we were told, that was all they had.  Our petite girls and slender guys would need to wear a large shirt.  We were frustrated, knowing that there were many more sessions of EFY to come, and that there certainly had to be small shirts somewhere.  We took the shirts, the kids wore them at the required times during the week, and then they brought them home, where Lex's ended up in the Goodwill pile.

I'm sure you may be thinking this is really not a big deal.  BUT (and that is a big "but"), my girls have always worn their EFY shirts around proudly.  Around their non-member friends.  At school.  Here and there.  Endless opportunities to advertise their values and beliefs.

So this year, we determined to be at check-in on time.

The past two years, check-in has been held in the parking lot just west of the football stadium.  Prior to that, it was held at the Marriott Center (where there is shade... a detail that is important to note as you read further).  When we arrived (at 11am on the nose), the line wound up the side and around the back of the parking lot.  There were four simultaneous sessions, so we confirmed we were in the correct line for the Red session.
And it was hot.  And we waited.

On that black asphalt.  For an hour and 15 minutes.

See those white tents?  Those were just to provide temporary shade once your line finally got there.  There was more line to follow.  

Once we got a little closer to the tents, they divided our Red session line into four lines, determined by your last name.  My sister and her kids, along with Lexee's friend Hailey, moved over to their line (A-H).  We stayed in the the O-Z line.  And we waited.  And waited.  No movement.  My sister's line made steady forward progression.  I saw them reach the tents.  Some EFY counselor came by to "fan" the line and made a comment about how we were all in the same place as when he last came by, 15 minutes ago.  I started to come unglued.  Or I guess "melt down" would be the proper verbiage.  

Why isn't our line moving? I asked.  Why are the people we arrived with almost through, and we haven't moved at all?  Do you know how hot it is out here?  We are on black asphalt on a nearly 100 degree day.  We've been here for nearly an hour.  His response?  There are simply more O-Z people here to check in.

My husband told me I was embarrassing our daughters, and why don't I just go sit in the air-conditioned car with Mauri, my niece Hannah, and Grandma.  I was still fuming as I walked to the car... past the 20+ EFY people standing in the shade.  Past the table where very slowly, one-by-one, the lanyards and room assignments were being handed out to the O-Z line.  (Oh, and those tents set up to provide temporary shade as your line progressed?  There wasn't one for that O-Z line.  Are you kidding me?)

So here's my issue:  Registration for EFY is in January.  It's all done by some kind of lottery system these days, and the sessions fill up pretty darn fast.  You can register late IF someone withdraws in the session you want, but for the most part, the session assignments are made by March or April.  They should know how many people are registered in each session, and how many of them have O-Z last names, and make the necessary arrangements to accommodate everyone equally and make the process efficient.  Goodness knows, we Mormons like efficiency.  No one should have to wait an hour and 15 minutes in sweltering temperatures to check in.  Especially girls who get up at the crack of dawn to look fresh and beautiful in anticipation of meeting all those cute boys at EFY.  And their peri-menopausal mothers.

After waiting and fuming to my mother-in-law (the tears were almost ready to flow, for pity's sake), Bill and the girls finally arrived back at the car.  The parking lot was nearly empty.  Thank heavens they got the small shirts, or there might have been another ugly scene.  (My nephew did NOT get the size of shirt he wanted, however... which at least helped my sister sympathize with my frustration.) And we still had to purchase snacks, get lunch, and find dorm rooms.  Needless to say, we were running late.

By the time we got to the rooms, groups were already meeting together.  No time to make beds, no time to fill out questionnaires, no time to freshen up.  But those amazing girls still managed to smile for their melted, frazzled mom.  (I almost took this picture while Hailey was changing her shirt... that girl is FAST!)

Shilo smiled through her newly formed blisters, and my niece Rachael was just so darn happy to be there.  Thanks for spreading the joy, Rach.

Was it worth it?

That would be a resounding yes, if you ask my girls.  They loved it.  It was the best ever.  We must come back.

I've told them they will have to pay half, and they've both determined to start saving now.  I am so grateful that they had such a great experience.  And I've resolved to maintain my composure better should the EFY machine be not so well-oiled again next year.  (Although I plan to share my feedback... in a kinder, gentler way.)