As I communicated in my last post, transporting, moving, and herding the 600 people of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square and our “entourage” while on tour is a daunting task.  Perhaps, not quite as daunting, but still no mean feat is FEEDING that many people in a timely and courteous (and palatable) manner.  Most of the time, the massive meals come off without a hitch.  And typically, the food is bounteous and delectable.  (The tale is told of one sister in the Choir who returned from tour, marched angrily into the general manager’s office, tossed one of her wardrobe dresses on his desk, and declared, “It doesn’t fit anymore, and it’s YOUR FAULT!”) 

Having traveled straight from the airport to the concert venue (a hockey arena) in Columbus, OH, we were greeted with the delicious and inviting aroma of barbequed pork.  (Well, what else would expect in the mid-west?)  Right there at the arena, a sumptuous and mouth-watering feast was prepared: pulled-pork sandwiches, salad, home-style macaroni shells and cheese, potato salad, cookies, and of course all the bottled water and soda we could drink.  Actually, I’m listing that in reverse.  It was the bins of ice-cooled drinks that greeted us as we entered the buffet area.  We found orange soda, lemon-lime soda, diet and regular caffeine-free cola.  Now there is no strict prohibition against good Latter Day Saints drinking caffeinated soda.  Some drink it, and some don’t.  (I’m in the “don’t” category.)  Still, it was gratifying to find that the caterer was sensitive to our Mormon sensibilities. 

However, the first iced bin that greeted the mob of thirsty Mormon troubadours was filled to the brim, untouched (except perhaps by our wonderful bus drivers).  When I arrived, one choir member had his cellphone out.  He was taking a picture of the contents. 

With a big grin on his face, he snapped a picture of the numerous cans of iced-tea and said, “I’ll bet that’s not a big seller.”