Sunday, September 23, 1978

Dearest Ron & Ann, Rick & Jean, Bob & Claire and Roy,

Well, I'm home at last and I'm so-o-o glad - we had a good trip to Mayo and it was a wonderful experience but I'm happy it's behind me. I went in with Mother for her final consultation with the doctor and he said that all her tests were normal and there was no sign that she had any disease of any kind in her body. He had taken all kinds of x-rays of her chest and also given her breathing tests that she had never had - I don't know if you remember that she has had a really bad cough for a long, long time. I just couldn't believe that she could cough that hard and long without there being something wrong but her doctor told her that she could give herself bronchitis if she wanted to and she was supposed to suppress her coughing as much as possible and then he gave her a spray (vancilin) or something like that and it is a form of cortisone and she is supposed to use it three or four times a day. He also gave her an anti-depressant that she is supposed to take at bedtime - she was taking one that he really didn't like, he said it was making her feel really good and then letting her down low. Anyway, if her cough is helped and her depression is taken care of, it was well worth the trip. It was fund being with them both and I think they enjoyed it too and I just know it will help. For one thing, Daddy will be assured there is nothing wrong with her and he will have her do more around the house - I guess he does all the work now except for what Dee's girls do.

We were so thrilled to hear from each one of you. Roy - we are so proud of you for being able to have such a good job as well as take such hard, hard courses. We hope though, that if something has to give, it will be your job. That is wonderful experience for you - training others. We were so surprised that you are taking Astronomy. We think the Molecular and Microbiology and Biochemistry would be enough without that and the computer course. We can just imagine how hard you are studying for your MCAT - that will be next Saturday, won't it? We wish both your and Bob lots and lots of luck - we'll be pulling for you. We saw Debbie Kirkpatrick at the Forest Heights Football game last Saturday - she looked so pretty. She said school was going fine but she was studying for test and that was hard. I wanted to ask her about Jill but I didn't - how is Jill doing? I wanted to call Mrs. Tucker and find out about Janice's baby but I haven't done it yet? I saw her out in the yard but we were going someplace so we didn't stop.

Bob and Claire we love the wallpaper!!!! We worry about that taking up too much of your time though and hope you won't neglect your schoolwork and hospital work. We think the central heating for that house would be great - have you had someone come and give an estimate on it yet? I simply can't imagine what it would be like to go there and not freeze most of the time. I personally don't like furnaces in the attic but that may be the best place for it in that house. Do you remember the one we had in Phoenix and how it caught on fire one time??? Let us know what you find out. We really love your philosophy of life Bob and hope that everyone of your plans work out. We agree that sometimes the life of a doctor doesn't always make for a lot of time at home and that's something to consider. Most of the doctors we know plan their time just the way they want it but guess that comes when you get older. We are constantly amazed at the success of your garden - we have had trouble with ours this year - our tomatoes have been few and far between. David was over just a few minutes ago - he brought his two little nieces over and they're so cute. He told us that his Father is going to get married Nov. 4th - his girlfriend was here this week-end but we didn't get to meet her - Betty and Roy Jr. had brought her up. John Robert was here also - his divorce was in the paper this week and David said it was granted to I guess it's all over for him and Judy. He's having a little bit of trouble with something in his dental school so he might not be through until early Spring. David says Med school is much better this year - he says he really likes it now. I think you kids are great to have Gordon and Gene Puller for dinner - that Gordon is hard to be around for very long - is he just visiting in Provo?

Annie - we really loved your long letter and also your phone call - I-know we talked too long though!!!! We just can't believe all they are having Ron do in the birth of your baby - what an experience!!!!! We are really thrilled about your arrangement your apartment renters to take care of your baby - that sounds like an ideal setup.

The furniture for your nursery sounds so nice. We are really proud of you for being such good farmers - I can't imagine raising pumpkins. We had heard that all the peaches in Utah were frozen - I'm glad because they are favorites of ours. I made 12 bottles of applesauce Friday and I don't think I processed it long enough and it will probably spoil and it took me hours to make it. We were so surprised to learn that Dr. Levi was 75 years old - it was sad that he died because he was a great doctor Heze in Little Rock. We were also surprised that Jere Jane isn't married yet.

Jeannie - I loved talking to you and I'm sorry Rick was gone. You two probably have funny hours - he's working while you're home and vice versa. We can just imagine how discouraged you are about your home - it will be just wonderful when you finally move in though. Rick, you'll have to get ready to plant a garden for next Spring since Utah soil must be very rich and easy to grow things there. Grandpa Forrest would challenge that statement because he thinks it's hard to grow things there. Grandmother and Grandpa were so appreciative of the things you did for them to get them to the airplane - Mother told me that when Rick called he said, "And I knew he wasn't kidding, so I got ready". That tickled me because there is noon in this whole wide world as slow as my Mother.

You just wouldn't believe the damage done by that terrible flood. The worst thing in my eyes was the Drowning of the ten people - many of them children - and the second worst thing was the Carriage House being under water. Can you imagine all that gorgeous Ethan Allen furniture being covered with mud. Connie Bass called and told me a cute story started to flood and the policemen came in and ordered all the employees to leave. They all left but Tom and he just refused to go. Finally when it became very serious the policemen came in a boat and forced him to leave - they took him to higher ground on Asher Avenue. He decided to start walking home - they live in Otter Creek which is about ten miles away but most of the roads had been closed so there was nothing to do but walk. Connie became very worried about him so she started out in their car to try to fund him and she went in all directions trying to fund him - they finally both reached home at about the same time and Connie said she would never forgot it - here he come, just drenched and knowing they had lost everything in the store and he was clutching a bouquet of wild flower he had picked for her on his way. They are special people. All their Ward Members turned out to help clean up plus all the missionaries - it was great. All their Ward Members turned out to help clean up plus all the missionaries - it was great. Brother and sister Swaim were also flooded and lot two cars plus much damage to their home - Carla Pearce and Sandy Blankenship and Karen and Jim Woods also had flood damage and had to have floors replaced and Mary Climer's Mother had four feet of water in her home and when they were cleaning they found a water moccasin alive - ugh!!!! Bimbos was completely destroyed and many of the stores in that general area. The car lots opposite the Carriage House were also flooded. I was just sick when I heard it on the news in Rochester and I started to call home about 5:15 and finally got a line in about 10:00 - I was upset because they let Johnny walk home from school - we will out all these papers abut what to do in case of a disaster and we always have said to keep him in school until we can get there and then they just let him go - fortunately it wasn't flooding near us. Daddy said we got a lot of rain but now flooding. I worried about the Rest Home because of the creek over there but they didn't get it either - they had a roof in but that was because of the excess rain.

We think Aunt Marvel is slipping quite a bit. We went to see her last night and she looked at us for a long time before she realized who we were. She also had trouble eating her dinner - we were there and fed her and then she couldn't finish the ice cream we had taken for her and the is most unusual. This is really the first change we have seen in her in the two and a half years she has been here. We went over a few minutes ago and she was better than she was last night but still not very good. She isn't sick or anything she just seems to be so distant. Bless her heart - it would be such a blessing if she could just close her eyes and pass away.

We surely do love each one of you and hope you'll let us know if you need anything. Please be careful in everything you do.

P.S. Our former neighbor - Suzanne Godwin - just lost her father. He was Dr. John Smith.
Return to Home Page