The Jerdons are Coming! The Jerdons are Coming!

Since Caleb returned home from his mission (in 2023), we have wanted to go with him back to Boston to see his mission stomping grounds, as well as the rich American history rooted there. But with life happening faster than we seem to be able to keep up, time has been getting away from us. Luckily, there was an opening after Caleb's BYU graduation and Air Force commissioning for us to sneak a quick trip in over the Memorial Day holiday. Riley only had to take a couple of days off of school, and we were off on a revolutionary adventure!

We found a cute AirBNB in a town called Waltham, just north of central Boston near Cambridge. With our home base there, we were able to get around easily with our mini van or with the public transit trains. Josie's experience using the trains while she was on her mission there was extremely helpful in navigating. She had also come back with her family shortly after her mission, so she felt confident in her guidance.

We managed to kick off the trip with brunch at a place featured by Guy Fury in Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives. The place is called In a Pickle and was yummy!

Jacob's pumpkin French toast - it was like a LOAF of pumpkin bread fried and topped with a cream cheese frosting

Riley's chocolate chip cookie dough pancakes

Caleb's chicken and waffles

Josie's slam of a breakfast. Nobody started their day hungry.

The first day, we went straight into the Commons of Boston and followed the Freedom Trail all around town to see the historic sites of the revolution and other memorable events. The old architecture was stunning. It was fascinating to be in a part of the country that dates back to the 1600s!

Recognizing the 54th Massachusetts Infantry - the first African American soldiers to fight in the Civil War (featured in the movie "Glory")

An old graveyard with John Hancock's grave, as well as Samuel Adams'.

Old churchs

The spot of the Boston Massacre (don't mind the smiling faces haha)

At the Boston Market

We walked through the WWII Holocaust Memorial. It is harrowing to see all the serial numbers listed as far as you can see.

The Freedom Trail goes right by Paul Revere's house...

by the famous North Church in the poem about Paul Revere's midnight ride...

by Josie's favorite bridge...

and to the U.S.S. Constitution.

Apparently, the ship is still "in service" and is manned by active duty sailors. We got a tour of the ship, including below deck. As expected, the crews' quarters were pretty cramped and the ceiling was rather low. What was NOT expected as to find out that young boys would be assigned to serve on the ship, even during battles. They were among those who would bring the ammo up to the cannons. There was a plaque on the wall that listed all those who died on the Constitution, and several were young boys. 

The Freedom Trail ended at the monument remembering the Battle of Bunker Hill, which we found out was not actually fought on the place known as Bunker Hill. Rather, it was fought on "Breed's Hill", which is just south of Bunker Hill.  Colonial troops had been ordered to build defenses on Bunker Hill, but they moved closer to Boston and fortified Breed's Hill instead. Therefore, the monument for the Battle of Bunker Hill is located on Breed's Hill. Ah, history. You are confusing.  

We enjoyed more yummy Bostonian eats. They have a lot of diverse restaurants!

Then, we explored the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Apparently, Isabella was an eccentric American art collector and philanthropist. She was SUPER rich and very well connected. Her museum was her crowning achievement, which she donated in her will for the public's enjoyment. However, there were very strict requirements that nothing be altered. So, even after an unsolved art theft left the museum devoid of 13 invaluable art pieces, the empty frames still hang on the walls.  

On our second full day, we had the opportunity to do baptisms at the Boston Temple together. It was a beautiful day!

Then, we went to Mount Auburn Cemetery, which has graves dated from before the revolution. It is a lovely cemetery with the ornate headstones, sculptures, and sepulchres. 

Writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's tomb

There was a huge tower like Rapunzel's, which we climbed up to see the view. Riley may or may not have been convinced by Josie and me to ASL sign "I See the Light" from Tangled before we climbed back down.

Next, it was off to Harvard University to look around and visit the museum.

Josie showed us the statue in the Harvard Commons which people rub the toe of for good luck. There was a line of people waiting to take pictures with it and rub the toe. You can even see at a distance that the toe is rubbed bright gold. 

While walking through, we happened upon some missionaries on splits. One was a Mandarin-speaking elder serving in Josie's old areas and one was an English-speaking elder serving in Caleb's old areas! It was so perfect! Both Josie and Caleb got to visit at length about their old areas and friends. What a special surprise!

The Harvard Museum was full of things to look at.

We found a quetzal!

Then, it was finally time for one of the big highlights that Caleb wanted to hit...Boston Burger Co. He had been talking about their Boston-famous 420 Burger since the mission and was itching to have another...and also challenge Riley to eat an entire one, plus chips and baked beans. Riley was up to the task and would not be bested by the enormous meal. 

Please note the onion ring at the bottom, the twin patties, bacon, fried mac 'n cheese, and mozzarella sticks. Some burger! 

And the desserts were no less crazy and huge, and we absolutely did try them. 

And Riley absolutely did finish that entire monster of a meal. Though he opted NOT to have a shirt to commemorate the occasion. Photo evidence it is.

We closed out the day with a trip to famous Fenway Park. It was Josie's first major league baseball game! It was the Boston Red Sox versus the Minnesota Twins.

The manual recordkeeping on the "green monster" of a wall was a throwback, and the concessions people were a breed all their own. We were especially impressed with the Clam Chowder girl who managed to carry her wares on her head with ease.

The following day, we went on a little road trip south to see Plymouth. There is a little recreated pilgrim village called Patuxet that includes characters in period dress, in character, as well as a Wampanoag settlement with modern Indigenous interpreters teaching about the ways of their ancestors. It was absolutely fascinating to see what their communal dwellings and farms would have looked like and learn about how they did teach the pilgrims to grow food and manage the climate of the eastern seaboard.

There were also old games for us to try. Caleb and Riley gave the old hoop and stick a try.

Next, we headed over to the site dedicated to the landing of the Mayflower as "Plymouth Rock". There is a rock there, stamped with the year, but it is not known exactly where the ship landed. More inaccurate history, but fascinating none-the-less.

There is also a recreated "Mayflower II" in the harbor nearby.

Afterwards, we found a local place, Alley Kat Bowling, that offers "candlepin bowling". Apparently, the Boston area is one of the only places where you can play this variation of ten-pin bowling. There are ten thin pins and small, palm-sized balls like what you use when playing skeeball at Chuck E. Cheese. The rules are slightly different and it is actually pretty hard to knock down all the pins, but it was really fun to try.

For our last full day, we went north to check out the Minute Man National Historical Monument and visitor center. This is right in the heart of Lexington and Concord and is the place where "the shot heard round the world" occurred. We arrived before the visitor's center was open, so we walked in the drizzly rain to look at the monument. 

The colonials had been stockpiling powder, guns, and munitions in a local farmer's barn and had to keep it away from the invading British soldiers sent to take it. 

It didn't go well.

The colonists were scrappy and willing to fight, though mostly inexperienced. The British were professional soldiers, but not expecting a real fight.   

We were surprised to find a marker commemorating all the British soldiers who were doing their duty, with no idea that the "rebels" would fight back and end up taking many of their lives. It was humbling. War sucks. It really is sad that it takes bloodshed to make some kinds of change happen. 

There are two visitor's centers and the park is actually quite long, as it takes in much of the march made by the British in retreat back to Boston (while the Americans took pot shots at them all along the route). There were examples of their uniforms in the visitor's center we looked at, as well as some actual musket balls which were excavated from the sites. 

We also stopped at the Hartwell Tavern along the marching route and watched a black powder musket demonstration. The park rangers dressed in colonial garb and taught us all about what it was like at that time, and how the little villages along the road to Boston were alerting one another and people were ducking behind the wall of the road to shoot the red coats. 

After the demonstration, we hurried back to the Air BNB to change clothes so that we could attend sacrament meeting with the Belmont ward which Caleb served in. He bumped into one of his favorite members from his mission, Portia Thompson. She was so thrilled to see "Elder Jerdon" and meet Josie and the family. Her and her family were wonderful member missionaries who always were ministering and keeping the elders fed and busy. 

After church, we went on one more road trip. This time, we were headed to Connecticut where Caleb served the first nine months or so of his mission. Hartford is definitely sketchy, but luckily the rain kept the "wildlife" indoors while we drive through. Caleb had us drive by his old apartment and through the neighborHOODS where all their friends were. He says that he never felt unsafe while out there. The Lord surely protects his missionaries!

The last highlight of the trip was the stop at BirdCode Chicken. Caleb was so excited to have one of their spicy chicken sandwiches. Apparently, they have varying levels of spice which you can order your chicken in...the "eat-at-own-risk" level being "Code Breaker". Back on the mission, Elder Jerdon thought he was a match for the Code Breaker. He did manage to finish the sandwich, but paid the price for it. This time, he enjoyed a lesser level. No shame in that. He was one happy boy. 

I'm so grateful that we had the opportunity to experience a slice of Caleb's mission and take him on a trip down memory lane. My only regret is that it took us so long. He had not kept in contact with any of his old teaching friends or member friends, so he didn't have a chance to reconnect with anyone other than Portia. I am immensely grateful for the man he became because of his experience serving there, though. And for Josie, as well! Thank you, Boston. 'Til next time!