Free Wanda Barzee

Normally, all scheduling of the Sutherland family on Thursday nights is strictly off limits - we're not missing The OC for nuthin! However, we had to make an exception when given the opportunity to brush shoulders with a Utah celebrity. Was it Donnie Osmond? Kurt Bestor? Carol Mikita? No. Bigger.

We attended an art show and silent auction to raise money for an elementary school art program. We went with Traci's friend/coworker, LeGrand, who had donated some art. Well, that was the official reason, anyway. The main attraction wasn't the art, it was that Elizabeth Smart was playing her harp.

Now, LeGrand has some sort of comical obsession with Elizabeth Smart. He has a random assortment of pictures of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee that rotate as a slideshow for his screen saver. He thought it would be really funny to make a t-shirt that said "Free Barzee" to the art show. Then he said, "Maybe we should all wear white robes."



Once we got to the event we didn't waste any time - we went straight for "Lizzie," as LeGrand calls her. At the end of the hallway, next to the refreshments and basically shoved in the corner, was Elizabeth Smart and her harp.

She looked just like she does in all the local news clips that we're forced to endure. It's like "Here's a video of Elizabeth Smart playing her harp at the Superbowl. She must be fine if she's playing her harp." I looked at her and thought she probably must be thinking "just keep playing your harp, surpress those memories. Forget the fact that you were stolen and now you're some sort of awkward celebrity."

I am sure the last thing that she needs is people standing there gawking her. (I thought this as I stood there, gawking at her) Maybe it's good that we didn't wear the Barzee t-shirts. LeGrand said, "Now that we're looking at her, I just feel sad." So we went about looking at all the art and trying to act like pretentious art fans.

Before we left the show, LeGrand said, "Let's go look at look at Lizzie one more time," with a smile. We did.

Elizabeth, if you're reading this - sorry for all of the staring last night. Just keep playing that harp. We'll all go away sooner or later.