May 19, 1980
Little Rock, Ark.

Dearest Ron, Ann, Susanne & Jessie, Rick, Jean & Ricky and Roy,

I can't believe it's Monday and I'm writing my letter - there was not one single minute to write before now. Our friend, June Bohmont and her friend Marjorie came on Saturday about noon and they left this morning - I went to the airport to pick them up at 11 Saturday morning and their plane was late and didn't get there until 2:30 so really my entire week-end was spent with them. It was really quite sad - they are both so lonely and frustrated and try to find happiness in empty things - for one thing they are "hooked" on Barbara Cartland paperback books and read those while they travel all over the country. Marjorie appears to be quite wealthy - has two sons who live in Hawaii and a daughter who lives in Oregon and she spends most of her time with them. June would not say one word about Dale (her former husband) so we don't know any more now than we did before she came. I can really see how our lives have changed since we knew them in Laramie - we couldn't get them to go to church with us and their interest are entirely different. Dale is still Dean of Agriculture in Reno - we did find that out!

I'm happy that I could write my letter today because we received your wonderful letter today Annie and we received a wonderful one from Jeannie last week - we still haven't had one from you Roy for quite awhile. Jeannie - it was so good to talk to you yesterday - could you tell our conversation was a little strained???? I had just put Daddy to work cutting up vegetables to make "Chicken Cashew" in our Wok and he was tired from his trip to Memphis and I was tired from taking our friends all over Little Rock and to church while they "rested" and they were in the kitchen while we were trying to get dinner ready - we were a little "unstrung"!!!! I should have had a casserole fixed to heat up but I couldn't get my heart into getting a lot of food prepared because I really didn't think they would stay with us. You both sound so busy and yet so happy and I feel quite guilty because I think I could really help you at this time of your lives by taking Susanna and Ricky for a little while - we'll be able to do that soon. Jeannie - your diet classes sound great - we don't how you are finding time and strength to do all that but it is good for you to have that interest. Annie - we're so happy you have such a good baby and your trips on your bicycle sound so much fun - what a nice Mother's Day Gift and you have a wonderful area to ride it in - now many hills. Your patio sounds just great - is the wall around is similar to ours? I'm sorta' glad you didn't go to California - I think Jessie is a little too young for a trip like that. We couldn't believe that you would be assigned such a big job for your Ward Carnival Jeannie and Rick - in your condition - but we are so proud that you are active and trying to do your share because that will bring you such happiness. Your carnival sounded really fun and we could just see little Ricky in the middle of the big gym having a ball!! We got our pictures back from our trip to Utah today and we have a darling one of Ann, Daddy and little Jessie - I'm going to have it enlarged- John is pleased because he took it - all of the pictures are good - one of Susanna is darling too and the ones we took of Grandma and Grandpa Forrest with you Jeannie and Ricky and Susanna and us are good and I'm so happy to have them.

I must tell you about Claire!!!! She left yesterday to go to New York on a buying trip for Cohns - I believe she has to buy something like $30,000 worth of jewelry and other things. Friday they gave her $500 in cash for her trip and she put it in her purse. She works downtown in the Cohns's offices and when she left that evening a black man came and grabbed her purse - she hung on to it but he finally got it and she chased him (dumb girl) but he got way from her. She called Bob but he wasn't home so she called here and Daddy went down to get her - a few minutes later they called here (another man) and said he had found her purse a few blocks from Cohns. He said he found the keys, credit cards, combs and other things scattered all over and her purse was under a tree - needless to say, the money was all gone. She called her boss and he assured her that Cohns would stand the loss so she felt better - I'm sorta' glad it happened and she didn't get hurt because she is not the least bit scared and thinks she can handle any situation. Bob started to work today - he is really thrilled to have his classes over for awhile - he seemed to think he had done fine in his finals. They'll move into their new home the day after we leave for Rhode Island.

I am hurrying to type this and I'm making a million mistakes - I want to take it downtown to mail so you will get it sometime this week. Robert came to see us right after I got home from school today and he is always so much fun to visit with and we haven't even had dinner yet - oh well!!!! Robert is going to be here all Summer and is trying to find a job - they are really hard to come by. Chris Jordins' son John can't find one without joining a Union and the dues for that are $200 - she told me that the Government had frozen a lot of jobs that were available last year. We were happy and quite surprised to have Jill come by to see us one day last week - she brought you a graduation gift Roy. She was home for her Father's birthday - she looks so much better that she did the last time I saw her - she has gained a few pounds ad seems much healthier. She said her mother weighs 160 pounds - that's hard to believe Jill is going to be in Fayetteville all Summer going to school and working - she's a cute girl - Daddy took a picture of Jill and me and I'll send it to you Roy - you can tell how much weight I have gained - ugh!!!! We felt bad that we missed your phone call. I had locked my keys in the car and even though there was one under the car I couldn't find it and Daddy had to come to school to unlock it for me - when we got home we tried to call you back but your weren't there - we had a terrible connection and couldn't tell who answered the phone. We never know when to call you. We're so excited about coming for your graduation and happy to have the name of the Motel where we'll be staying - is it very far away? Will the weather be cool or hot? We'll talk to you before we leave I'm sure. We hope all your finals go well - we'll keep our fingers crossed.

I am really involved in my teaching - I can see where a regular job takes a lot more out of you - I offered to type the school paper and I haven't even started yet and the news from each room has been written by students and it is a big mess - I am so dumb!!!! When you told me I wasn't too old to go back to school to get certified Annie - it gave me so much confidence and I was just sure I was as young as any of the teachers - UNTIL TODAY - one of the little boys I was helping asked me when I was going to retire and I said, "Do you think I am old enough to retire?" and he pointed to another little boy and he said, "Well, he said you were about 70" - I could hardly make it to the car to come home; Daddy has been doing quite a bit of teaching at Forest Heights and a lot of the students there have asked John "What class his Grandfather is teaching" so I guess we're not as young as we think we are. We really do enjoy it though and I can tell you WE ARE IN DEMAND!!!!

Don called me Saturday and said he had signed the papers for the church to buy farm at $550 an acre - he said Mr. Hinton was sending them to me to sign. We think that is just great and we hope it will go through. I guess that means that we won't have to sell any of the canyon land or anything else - we don't think that will be enough but Don seems to think it will and he has met with Mr. Hinton about it. He said that Bert probably lacks one class before he will graduate have an excellent degree when he gets through but he is 24 years old and has been going to school for forever- he is still living at home so it easier for them. Pam is home from Utah State and Bart from BYU so they have a house full.

Dave Gonce is in the hospital - he has been sick for the past few days and they thought it was the flu but now they have determined it isn't and they don't know what is wrong - may be kidney problems. Ralph Hipp is also in the hospital- he has been depressed lately so he has been taking anti - depressant pills and he got hooked on them and was having some real problems-he doesn't want anyone to know he is there so we haven't been to see him. He has emphysema so bad that he can't do anything and it really bothers him to see Pete doing all the yard work. We are so grateful for our good health and hope we can keep it.

The Beyers called us this morning from Idaho - they have been gone for about three weeks and will be home this week-end. Cissy said she had talked to you Jeannie. They're really pleased with Shawna's home and everything in Idaho-I could tell from talking to her this morning that it is going to hard to leave her and I can relate to that- we really love the Beyers.

Well - I must close - I'm sure I have forgotten some news but we will be seeing all of you soon and WE ARE REALLY EXCITED-we love you all so much!!!!!

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