Sept 21, 1980
Little Rock, Ark.

Dearest Ron, Ann, Susanna & Jessie,
Rick, Jean, Ricky & Barbara Jean,
and Roy,

I finally got my typewriter back and I am so-o-o glad - it seems to be working much better than it did when we first got it - would you believe they charge $50/hr. to work on it???? We limited them to one hour labor because it would be better to buy a new one than to spend much more on this one.

Well - the big news this week is the explosion of the missile silo up in Damascus - I'm sure you have heard a lot about it because it has been on national television. They had just announced on television that they thought there was a leak and they were going to attempt to fix it when you called Roy - I regretted that I didn't mention it to you when it was such big news the next day. It surely has a lot of people in that area wanting to move - they were really alarmed when they found there was a warhead on it similar to the one that blew up Hiroshima - I guess if that had gone off it would have taken Little Rock too because we are only 40 miles away. Damascus is where the Boy Scout Camp is and it is beautiful country.

It was so neat to have you call us Rick - sorta' scared me for a minute! We hope you had a happy, happy birthday - we loved talking to you too Jeanie - we worry about little Ricky exploring so much - he is going to be really hard to keep up with now - I'm sure you have to let little Barbara Jean "fare for herself" more than you did Ricky at her age but it won't hurt her and he could get hurt if you don't watch him.

We're proud of you Annie and your new calling in the Primary - I can't believe you don't feel it is a sacrifice to miss Relief Society - I don't feel as if I have even been to church - spending two hours in Primary is hardly a spiritual experience even though the children are adorable and I have the easiest class. I think of you and you don't even have a child in Primary yet - our new schedule is really a challenge. I worry about little Susanna having to give up her "binkies" - I'd let her have one at night until she went to College if I were you - it's a good thing Jessie doesn't use one or it could be a problem. Ron - Johnny really loves that Billings shirt you got for him this Summer and he's proud of it because noone has one like it - he wears it a lot.

Roy - I finally have a little bit of news for you. Daddy and I went to the Medical School Parent's Club meeting yesterday and visited with the Deers - maybe you have already heard that Jim had been accepted. I hadn't seen Flo Deer for a long time and it was fun to visit with her - I also didn't know that Jim went to Hendrix - I thought he went to Baylor - their other son is at Hendrix also. She asked me all about you and said to tell you "hello". They said that Mark Murphy was at the University again and would try to get in Med School again this year. We enjoyed the Parent's Club meeting - Dr. Bruce, the Dean, told all about the new VA hospital being built right in back of the school and it will have all the modern technology and will be a big asset to the school. Your schooling sounds so interesting - we can't believe you are seeing patients with a Doctor already and you have your own "little black bag" - we're really proud of you!!!

Grandmother and Grandpa Forrest called last night - they had heard the news about the silo explosion and called about it. They're doing fine - they are going to go to Jackpot next week - they really enjoy that and it's good for them. They have sold their property and the people will start building in the Spring - that will give Grandpa a whole new lease on life to be able to supervise that.

Bob and Claire came over and had dinner with us today after church - they're doing fine. They are so sweet to Johnny - they take him to the movies in town during the "Happy Hour" when they can get in for half price and he has seen more movies the past month than he has for the past ten years. This is a hard time for him - I long for him to have some good friends who go to his same school and have his same standards and there just aren't any - a lot of his friends spend their Friday nights at "Studio 18" in Breckenridge Village - it's a Disco place for kids under 20 and they go there to dance - Daddy and I aren't ready for that yet and it's presenting a bit of a problems - what do you think????

It is still hot and muggy here and so-o-o uncomfortable - we had a couple days of cool weather last week - it was in the 80's during the day but the humidity was still quite high. This has really been a Summer we will never forget - when the folks called last night they said it was 45( there and their furnace was on - How wonderful!!!! Our yard is one of the most beautiful in Leawood - the front yard looks like a golf course as Bob and Claire say - Daddy has watered it constantly. We haven't had any significant rain since the 27th of May!!! the State is 12" below normal. People are really worried that we will have a hard Winter too but it can't be too hard for me!!! We're looking forward to seeing the Woolley's yard this next Summer - we know it will be wonderful - have you solved your fence problem yet?

Daddy taught everyday last week - he enjoys it most of the time but Friday he was at Hall and had some "smart alecs" in his class - he doesn't put up with that and after awhile they will know that. He teaches in the Science and Math classes and he says some of the kids are really sharp - he was at Parkview too. It is so good for him and I am thrilled that he will do it - when we decided to do this we said that we could teach 10 days a month and clear $500 to put in a vacation fund or for something special but they call every day so maybe it would be better to get a full time job. It really is nice though to be able to not feel any responsibility and not go if we don't want to. I taught three days last week - two in a reading lab at Southwest and a 1st grade at McDermott.

The Powers are going to move on Oct. 11th - they haven't sold their home yet but she is expecting her baby the first of November and she needs to get settled. We're going to have an Open House for them here on Oct. 3rd - I am going to ask everyone to bring a pie and then we'll fix the drink and have chips and dips and some rolls and ham for sandwiches if they want. We got an antique "Printer's drawer" for them and Daddy took all the old paint off and sanded it and we're asking the members to bring miniatures to put in it - it will be really nice and remind them of Arkansas.

Marilyn Harris is working at a Micro-wave Oven place in the Market Place - she gives demonstrations on preparing food and I went with Dianne and Chris last Monday morning. She fixed the best chicken, scalloped potatoes, squash and cherry pie - so today that is what we had for dinner - it is so much easier than in the conventional oven. Marilyn's husband's business has really fallen off with the slump in the building of homes so she says she has to work - I told her they should sell their $150,000 home but they don't want to do that!!!

We had a sweet letter from Ramona and Winston - they sent pictures of the little box Elaine fixed for Carol and Elly to take with them on their Mission - it looked so beautiful. Elaine did the painting and Winston did the lathering on the inside that said, "Families are Forever" - Carol was thrilled with it. We haven't heard if they are on their mission yet - Daddy should call but he hasn't. Winston received the Arthur Watkins Outstanding Citizen Award for Orem and they were going to a banquet in his honor at the Osmond Studios on Friday night. He really is a Civic Minded person, and they are special people.

Johnny just left on his moped to go to the Littlefields for a Youth Fireside - it scares me to death every time he goes on that but I guess I can't keep him in a glass bubble. They have torn up Rodney Parham again to fix that bridge just before you get to Brookside - by the Nursing Home there - they're going to widen it because they are going to widen all of Rodney Parham - what a mess!!!! I feel bad for the Jordins because they have routed all the traffic to go on Brookside and it's practically impossible to get in and out of their driveway.

We sure do love each one of you and miss you so much - we hope all is going well with you and that you will let us know if we can help you in anyway.


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