Sunday - February 25, 1979


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

Wow!!!! This is the moth for news. I believe that all of you know that Daddy and I have been planning to retire for the past two or three years - that is, Daddy has been planning to retire from Olin and I have been planning to retire from housework. Well - they have been consolidating jobs in the Agricultural chemical Division and several months ago the big boss from Stamford talked to Daddy and wanted to give him more responsibilities which would have meant a great deal more traveling - like two or three days a week. Daddy has been stalling him off until we heard about Bob and Med. School here - we know we had to be residents of Arkansas in order for Bob to qualify. Well - when that was settled Daddy really took a long, hard look at things and we both felt it was better to retire than to go through another period of stress when it really wasn't necessary. They have asked him to stay on in a consulting basis until the end of his year but he doesn't need to go to the office every morning - in fact, he will give up his office. they are going to announce it this Tuesday, Feb. 27th and he is so thrilled and some am I. We calculated everything and really our take home pay will be just about as much as it is now. He is in excellent health and this will give us the opportunity to do some things we need to do-first of all, we're going to work on our home and paint and fix it up and we want to spend a lot of time in Utah looking around and being with the Woolleys and Weinerts and with all his ambition imagine hew I'll do something else - he has talked about learning the Real Estate business so if we should inherit some of Aunt Marvel's property he would know better how to handle it. Many people have said, "You're too young to retire" - he'll actually be 60 when he retires completely and that's an ideal age to retire - he just looks young. This will also give him an opportunity to give more time to being Stake President - that in itself is a full time job and he loves it. we will definitely live in Little Rock for this next year and then we want to find out how John feels about going to High School in Utah and let him choose - in other words - we'll be maintaining two residents for the next few years. Things have really worked out for us and we are so grateful. We feel bad for Betty Young - Daddy's secretary - she will still work for Olin but in another capacity and she isn't to' happy about that.

Roy - we were thrilled and relived to hear from you - we have stayed up until way past our bedtime this week to try to get you on the phone and your line stays busy - we're not going to call before midnight your time anymore because whenever get you - I have had some good visits with Link though. Your classes sound great - it's wonderful that you can take that scuba class because I know how much you love the water. We didn't know that Jill was going to go with your other friends from Fayetteville to see you - we know you'll have a good time and it's great that she'll be able to see your school and everything - please, please, please be very careful in your driving - I worry so much about your little car or those busy and probably icy roads. Robert said he would stop by before he leaves to go to the airport so if you have anything you want him to bring call us.

Annie - it so wonderful to find a letter in the mailbox from you each Monday or Tuesday I like that habit. I wanted to sit right down and write you a letter telling you how happy it makes me to see you learn economy - I didn't learn that soon enough - it is so smart to learn to budget. I wish we would have had a Mill & Mix when you children were all home because that really helps on the budget - I haven't bought one loaf of bread since we got that - I alternate making wheat and white bread so we won't get burned out of the wheat and I make wheat pancakes really often - the only thing, it really puts on the pounds!!!! I am so proud of you for doing as much canning as you did last Summer - you live in an area where that is really smart to do - you can buy fruits and vegetables so much cheaper there than you can here. I hope you will do that this year Jennie - especially since you have your pressure canner. Each baby I see, I try to envision what Susanna looks like - we can hardly wait to see her and spool her a little - we're so happy she is so healthy. I honest don't know how you do what you do - caring for Susanna and being able to nurse her besides teaching school - I know you'll be happy when Summer comes - she'll be walking about July and keep you hopping!!!!

Jeannie - we loved your long and newsy letter telling us about everything and we're so thrilled you are feeling good. I'm really glad that Rick has joined the Rotary Club.

Those clubs offer such great opportunity to meat people wherever you go. Roy Bass has belonged to one - I believe he is a Lion -and he wouldn't miss those meetings for anything. My Father is also a Lion and has enjoyed it so much. Jeannie, have you ever tried to do machine embroidery? They taught a class at church several weeks ago and I took it - it is really easy but you have to have the right kind of mashing and I'm not sure nice would do it - I was using some0one else to learn.

Bon - we really loved your letter too and it was great talking to you and Claire on the phone last night - we talked too long!!! I'm so proud that you would hake him to write everyone who had written letters for you Med. School - I know they helped also. You and Roy would be so good as partners in a Clinic - may I suggest Geriatrics!!!! We really want you top stay with us until you can get what you want in the way of an apartment or house. Daddy wants to go so Stamford about the first of May and I could go with him and then go on up to see Roy if you kids could "tend" John - then we have the Temple Excursion the first of July and we want to go to Utah the rest of August so you see it would help if you were here to "hold the fort down". Our home is certainly large enough for all of us - your and Claire could have the girls room, Roy his room downstairs, John his room upstairs and if the Woolleys and Weinerts come for a visit John could have with Roy and they could have his room - it would be fun. We will talk to David about that apartment and if possible go see what it is like- maybe you would decide to move into one in the Fall - anyway there is no rush - we have a million things we want to do this Summer and we hope camping, and skiing and finishing will be the top of our list.

We won't rent Aunt Marvel's home to a family - we agree that children could just ruin it -it may be that later on we'll decide to look for a student and his wife to just care for it -I would really like for flowers to be around it this Summer and that would mean hiring a caretaker again - we'll talk about that.

We're going to come for conference - John has that last week in March off so we'll leave on the 24th and we get there probably Sunday the 25th - we'll have to leave just ax soon as possible after Daddy gets through with his conference meetings onthe31ast so we can get Johnny home for school on Monday, April 1st. I hope I have those dates right but if I don't we'll let you know. John may not have that entire week off because of being out for snow days but they haven't announced any changes yet - we'll not have him miss any more school - it just isn't fair to him.

This has been a funny day - we awakened to about four inches of snow on the ground they had warned us on the weather news but we didn't believe them. They are having Wad Conference in Jacksonville and North Little Rock so Daddy left about 8:30. Johnny had a 2 1/2 minutes talk this morning so he was practicing that when the phone started ringing they canceled Priesthood and then Sunday School - the sun is out so pretty now and I can't believe they would do that - this is the second time they have cancelled when it wasn't necessary. John just simply can't be confirmed to the house so he dressed and has gone to take some books to a friend - this friend just happens to live by the creek and I'm sure he's hoping to be able to play a little. We have really had some terrible weather for the past two months - so cold and stormy - yesterday John wanted to go fishing so bad that we got up bring and early and went out to Maumelle - we just started out on the lake when it started raining - we stood it as long as we could and then we come home - we have a new depth fine (or something like that) and they wanted to see if it woks -it does!!!!

Do you remember Kathy and Law Henderson? We have heard they just adopted a little baby girl. They live in Boise, Idaho. They have named her Madeleine Rae and she only weights 4 lbs. 13 oz. We are so thrilled for them.

The little girl who lives across the street from us is such a cute friend to John - they organized a group to go to the movie together last night. They play a lot of basketball on their carport and have so much fun - she has sorta' taken Carol's place.

I can't think of anymore new. We surely do love each one of you so much and we are looking forward to spending a lot of time together now - please let us know if you need anything.
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