March 24, 1985 Billing, Montana

Dearest Johnny; Roy; Bob, Claire, Michael & Laura; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean & Mary Ann; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell & LeeAnna:

Wow!!! What a week this has been - we have heard from each one of you and that is so wonderful and we also had a wonderful time having Johnny home with us - BUT - we have also had some unhappy moments and I guess I'll tell you about that first!

Daddy and I went to the Relief Society Birthday dinner at the fourth ward on Friday night - we worried about going because we had a sick Elder in the home who wanted to go home - we were invited to a wedding reception but we didn't go to that - so we got back to the Mission Home about 9 o'clock. There was this big note for us to call Bishop White (he is Johnny's Bishop) because there had been an emergency - the note said Johnny was okay but they needed to talk to us. Well, we called the Bishop and his daughter said he was at the hospital and would call us as soon as she could reach him - we called Johnny's apartment and none answered. I never remember a more anxious time - we thought there had been an automobile accident and all Johnny's roommates were involved - we died a thousand deaths before Bishop White finally got back to us which was about thirty minutes later. Johnny and his really good friend, Dan, had been up Provo canyon to a target range practicing shooting their guns (Daddy and I had given Johnny permission to buy a gun for us to have in later years - it is like the one Dan has) - WELL Dan's gun had misfired someway and the bullet hit Johnny just below the hip. Dan had rushed him to the hospital and the doctor said if there was ever a good place to get a gunshot wound in the leg that was it - it had missed the major artery and had not splintered the bone but had gone right through it and out the backside. They had run a saline solution through the hole and pumped Johnny full of antibiotics and sent him home with the Bishop. We talked to him and he was quite incoherent but the Bishop assured us he was okay - they Bishop's sweet wife talked to us and said she would care for him as if he were her own son. Of course, we worried all night and finally decided we should call Ann & Ron to go check on him. The Bishop had told us he would probably be able to go back to his apartment that next day. Ron went over and got him and moved him into their home and we have talked to them several times since and I guess it is much worse than I could ever imagine - the doctor doesn't want him to put any weight on it because of the danger of breaking the bone and besides I guess Johnny can't even walk or sit or do anything but lie down. He will be on crutches for at least three weeks. Ann says the hole is about an inch and a half wide and looks just horrible. SO, Ann has four little children and one really big child to care for - Ron assured us everything is fine and he is there this weekend to help but will have to leave town tomorrow for a week. We are trying to decide if we should bring Johnny home with us when we come for conference next week - we'll just have to wait and see what happens. I tell you - we have counted our blessings a million times since this happened - I wake up in the middle of the night just sick thinking about what could have happened. We feel it is really a blessing in disguise and will be a great lesson for both Johnny and Dan - Dan has called us and could hardly talk - he is such a fine young man and just feels terrible - one thing we have learned in rearing our family - accidents like this can happen to anyone and we surely don't hold him responsible. We're also so grateful for Ann & Ron and their willingness to help - I'll get even someway, someday!!!!

Roy & Patrice - we were so thrilled to receive your wonderful letter - I couldn't believe it - a two page typewritten letter - Roy has never written that long a letter before in his whole life. Patrice - I wish I had remembered that you were Irish so I could have wished you a special Happy St. Patrick's Day - your corned beef & cabbage and Irish soda bread sounded so good. We were so interested in the Masterpiece Theatre series you have been watching - I'm so far removed from the world I don't even know about "The Raj Quartet" by Paul Scott. I have never been a "reader" and I keep thinking sometimes in my life that will be important to me - I hope so! We're so happy you enjoy your work as much as you do. We wish you could see the "Montana" snow in person - the wilderness scenes are really gorgeous but you wouldn't believe how cold it is. Roy - it was so good to hear some news about your Little Rock friend they were special young people and we hope you'll keep up with them so you can always be friends - you would LOVE your High School reunion - doesn't seem possible that will be in another year. I'm glad Dan Watson has made it through med school - the last we heard he was having a few problems and Trip is at Stanford - he has seen the world!!! I'm not surprised to hear that Dot Tucker had a face lift. Your work in the Recovery Room sounds interesting - you are very modest in telling about your responsibilities. I worry about you riding your bike to work but we're proud you have kept it this long and have it all fixed up - I can remember when you made the bike rack to fit on the back of your car so you could take it back to school with you. We hope you will be able to swim a lot soon and exercise as often as you an - you have always been one to really keep in shape.

Bob & Claire are in CanCun, Mexico this week - doesn't that sound fun??? They drove to Houston yesterday where they left Michael & Laura with Claires' parents and then they flew to Mexico. I'm sure it will really be a relaxing and fun vacation - especially without their children and we hope they have a wonderful time. Bob went to Michael's Nursery School class to tell them about what it is like to be a doctor last wee - I'm sure Michael was mighty proud. Claire says Bob looks like a dead person so we hope he will be able to get some sun!!!

Jeannie - it was so good to talk to you - you sound so "Chipper"!!! The doctors are trying a very small dosage of codeine for Jeannie and she says it slows down the intestinal tract or something and she is feeling a lot better. Rick was the Emcee for a "Fifties" party at their ward last weekend and Jean said he really stole the show - I'll bet he would be good at that.

Annie and Ron didn't get to go to California last week. One of Ron's clients (is that right) is the Aetna Insurance Company and they hold the insurance for the Gold Miner's Daughter Lodge at Alta, Utah - I'm sure you are all aware of the explosion they had there - anyway, Ann said he spent the week at Alta. Ann went to a "Mellor Reunion" planning committee yesterday and she said the tentative plans are for a July reunion!

Johnny and I made noodles one afternoon last week before he went back to school. He has helped Ann make them and when I showed him the machine here in the Mission Home he said it was just like hers so he showed me how to work it. I really couldn't believe it - I have made noodles before and have rolled and rolled and rolled them but could never get them very thin and with the machine it really is very simple. We had a ball and he really knew what he was doing - the noodles were just wonderful and I still have a big bag to use in another batch of soup. I should get ambitious and make them for the Elders. Johnny spent much of his time last Monday & Tuesday at the dentists - he only had one small cavity but they had to take x-rays and clean his teeth, etc. etc. We really loved having him home - it just makes the Mission Home so much more like a home. He left Wednesday about 1 o'clock to go back to Provo and he promised to call as soon as he got there so Daddy & I planned to stay up until about midnight or later waiting for his call. We were surprised when he called before eleven and everything was fine. We took all the pictures that we have bought down so he could take them back with him and the Mission Home really looks bare.

Let me tell you about the new Mission President and his wife & family that will be coming to take our place. It is John Kunzler and he is Chairman of the Department of Technology at BYU and they have eight children - four will come with them. He is originally from Willard, Utah and is 51 year old. The picture of them is darling and they will be just wonderful for the home - I had been hoping it would be a family with a lot of children to fill up these rooms. They will have to change from the way we're doing things because there is no way they could prepare meals for six in this apartment - they will either hire a cook or have the missionaries move out (that's what I would do but I won't tell them!) We were surprised the announcement has come this soon but we're glad - the letter came from the Missionary Department and the missionaries opened it and came to tell us we had been released - that was kind of a shock!!! The change is supposed to be made on July 1.

We just came home a little while ago from Dunmore where we went for the Custer District Conference. They have that beautiful remodeled building with carpet on the floors and new upholstered benches and just everything is so nice and would you believe someone has already ruined the front door - they backed a truck or something in it and just shattered the glass and broke the door. They served a dinner after the meetings today and the children were spilling food all over the carpet and I just had to turn my face - that is hard on me!!!

Daddy and I spent most of Thursday in the Billings Clinic with an Elder from West Jordan, Utah. He is one of our new Elders and he has been sick with ulcers, etc. so Daddy took him in for tests - the Doctor gave him some medicine and we tried everything we could think of but he went home Friday morning. He likes to "stripe" cars so Daddy had him striping everything!!!

We love each one of you so very much and we're so proud of you - please let us know how we can help you - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!



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