August 31, 1987 Orem, Utah

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

There probably isn't any need to write this letter since we will all be talking to and seeing each other this weekend so I guess I will mainly be writing it for my journal. I surely wouldn't blame you if you don't read it!!!!

We had an absolutely marvelous trip to Alaska - the only way we would have changed it would have been at a slower pace. Wayne & Chris were so good to us but I could see the age difference for the first time - they were like little kids compared to us. They took a pop-up tent trailer and Daddy & I slept in that and they slept in their van - we fixed our meals in the tent and they were ready for breakfast by six every morning and we didn't blame them because it was freezing cold outside and nice and warm in the tent. Daddy was generally up at least a dozen times each night so maybe if we could have rested normally we would have been more ready to get up that early. It was so funny - Daddy really felt good with his radiation treatment problems and then he developed a "king" in his neck that really gave him fits. We tried EVERYTHING: Massage, hot packs and we even made him a neck brace out of sponges but it just lingered on - the roads were real bumpy and Wayne is not the most careful driver in the world. We bought some "icy hot" and everything in the van and the tent smelled like that. Daddy was a good sport about it and went fishing with Wayne when he didn't feel up to it but I felt bad for him - it finally got better on the way home but I felt bad for him - it finally got better on the way home but I can tell he still holds his neck in a different way. Wayne "customized" his van himself and the front seat where Daddy sat just constantly rocked back & forth and up & down - I sat in back of him and tried to hold it still but it was impossible. He tried to sit in the back but those seats didn't come up high enough to give any support at all for his neck.

Alaska is just gorgeous and I hope so much that our pictures turn out good. Daddy & Wayne caught huge silver salmon and we brought home about 30 pounds of filets - we'll cook some when we're all together this weekend. The weather couldn't have been better - it rained quite a bit in Canada on our way up to Alaska but for the last ten days of our trip it was just perfect. We had beautiful camping places - especially in British Columbia. We didn't stay in one motel and we prepared all our meals except for the last two days in the tent. It was Kinda' hard because the tent is old and for some reason all the dirt from the road would come up into the cabinets - we finally got smart and put all the things from the cabinets in boxes and just left them in the tent. We had Alaskan King Crab one night - Daddy & I loved it but the Smiths didn't like it. The food prices in Canada & Alaska were much higher than in the states - we knew they would be but we were surprised at some of them - cokes were $7.00 compared to $1.49 in the states and for a package of ice we paid $3.85 compared to $.99 in the states. We drove 7,500 miles and our gas totaled $465.00 - we paid anywhere from $12.00 per night to camp to $6.00 and we thought that was great. Wayne got his windshield broken on the passenger side by a big rock flown by a huge truck - I thought it was going to come right in and hit Daddy. He also had to buy two new tires for his tent trailer - he started out with two really cheap ones so they wouldn't have lasted very long any way. I'm sure he won't replace his windshield - it isn't noticeable and they didn't think it would spread any further. Next Summer they are going to bring their two grand daughters and come to Utah and spend a month or longer - we plan to take our trailer somewhere and let them use it - it is a million times nicer than their tent trailer.

We have never seen so many different Recreational Vehicles and they were always filled with old coupled having lots of fun. Chris and Wayne just go from one trip to another. We love to go occasionally but we would go bananas if we had to constantly be trying to have fun outside our home.

Annie just called and invited me to go to Costcos with her so I will finish this later.

It's much later and I'll try to finish this quickly. Annie and I had a good time at Costcos - I love to shop there but haven't been to able to use the large quantities you have to buy - with Johnny home we'll use things like that. I just marvel at the way Ann juggles her time to get their children to all their schools on time. Their schools started last week and since they are all in different schools from last year she has to take them and pick them up. Jessie & Susanna go from 8:30 until 3:00 - Russell & LeeAnna go from 12:15 until 3:00 and little Jimmy just tags along. They love their new schools though - it's always hard to make changes like that.

The Weinerts and Woolleys all went to Lagoon last Saturday and they spent the whole day. I haven't talked to you Jeannie but Annie says you had a "BALL" and the children all loved it. We think it is so wonderful the way the "cousins" love each other.

We're anxious for the Bob and Roy Mellors to get here this week. I talked to Roy last night and told him I have given up trying to keep track of everyone's schedules. We will have such a wonderful time just being together and we are really looking forward to it. We are keeping our fingers crossed that Bob and Claire will find the job interviews out here the way they want them to be - I can't think of anything more wonderful than for that family to be close to all of us. Roy - I talked to the Doctor in our ward here who did his training at your hospital there in San Antonio - he told me they just hired an anesthesiologist for Utah Valley from that hospital. This doctor is our neighbor, Dr. Stoddard, and he wants to meet you and find out how things are going there - hopefully you will have time while you're here.

Johnny started school today and he is downstairs now studying calculus - he has Dr. Fletcher for his teacher and he is the grandson of that famous Dr. Fletcher. John really has a tough load and he is going to try to keep ahead of everything. He is such a joy to have around - WE ARE LOVING IT!!!!! He had a trying experience while we were gone. He walked across the carpet in his stocking feet in that study room next to his bedroom and discovered the carpet was soaking wet. The pipe had broken. He called Ron and he arranged for the plumbers who are working on their home to come on Saturday and replace the pipe - they had to dig up a little bit of the yard in front and then they pulled the pipe out and replaced it with copper pipe. Johnny arranged for a company here in Orem to come get the carpet - they were supposed to clean it and relay it on Friday - they still haven't come to do it and we can't get a hold of them. Needless to say we have been in somewhat of a mess. When we called from Tremonton to tell Johnny we were coming in Friday night, he really hated to give us the news. Since we didn't have any water, the Smiths went to a KOA camping ground that night. They stayed with us on Saturday night though because they got the water turned back on. That's all the news and I'm out of space!!!
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