October 5, 1987 Orem, Utah

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

It's Monday afternoon and I am going to have to hurry if I get this mailed today. We are really having gorgeous Fall weather - it's almost too warm for Fall but it is really pretty and Daddy loves to be outside - right now he is changing the oil in the four-wheeler.

Daddy & Johnny went elk hunting on Friday afternoon - Daddy's hunting buddies had all gone on Wednesday but Johnny couldn't miss school so they waited until Friday. The plan was for them to come home on Sunday evening but Daddy couldn't rest sleeping away from home so he came back Saturday night instead - Johnny stayed up there with the rest of them. Daddy's neck is still giving him "fits" - it just doesn't seem to change no matter what he does. He has an appointment with a neurosurgeon on October 16th (that's the soonest he could get one) and if he can't help him I don't know what he will do. Roy - he really appreciates your sending him your "neck collar" and I hope so much that will help him - it hasn't come yet but it probably will this afternoon. He says his headaches are better and his tongue paralysis seems to come and go. He looks wonderful - his skin tone is so good - and he has lots of energy, etc.

Johnny got home last night about 10:30 and he had had a great time but he didn't even see an elk - one of the couples in their party got one but that was all. He loved riding the four-wheeler and just being up in the mountains. He left to go to school early this morning - I'm sure he had a lot of studying to catch up on.

Our Missionary Reunion was on Friday night - they were all disappointed that Daddy wasn't here but they had a good time just visiting with each other. It was a beautiful evening so I decided to have it out on the patio - Susanna & Jessie came over and helped me and we put the refreshments on the cement picnic table and then arranged chairs around. I really enjoyed it and usually I am so busy making sure people have places to sit, etc. that I haven't enjoyed it before. We only had about 35 come but they came right at 7 p.m. and most of them didn't leave until almost midnight. We just served an ice cream punch (delicious) and cookies, chips, vegetables and dips and they could help themselves - it was fun!!!!

Yesterday was General Conference in Salt Lake so we didn't have church meetings. Ron had to go to Houston so Ann drove her van their children and came by and picked up Papa and me and we all went to Farmington to have dinner with the Weinerts. Jeannie & Rick had cooked a turkey and set up their picnic table on their patio and we just sat and ate, and ate and ate all afternoon - it was just wonderful and the "skuzzins" played and played. We just loved it and Daddy played football with Ricky & Russell so he felt good too. We listened to all the afternoon session of conference too. We got home about 7 and while we were reading the paper our friend, Francis James, called to tell us about an article in the Salt Lake Tribune about a new treatment for prostate cancer. We don't take the Tribune so he went to the 7 to 11 store and bought one - it is a good article concerning a new drug that is used in Canada but not permitted in the USA yet. It was funny because that same article was in Annie's paper and she saw it and brought it over to us this morning. I wrote for more information about it.

Daddy called me Saturday night to tell me he was coming home but wouldn't be here until about midnight. I had driven our Lincoln into the garage the night before to make more parking places on our driveway for the reunion cars. After I got in bed I remembered I had done that and I knew Daddy would want to drive his car into the garage. I got out of bed and put on a robe but didn't put on shoes to go out to drive the Lincoln back onto the driveway - when I got out of the car I caught my little toe on the trailer hitch that was parked right next to the driveway. It hurt like everything and when I got inside and looked down at my foot, my little toe was completely separate from my other toes - I had broken it. It taped it up good and put on one of those Ace bandages - I don't have to tell you all how much that dumb thing hurts. Daddy and I were laughing a few minutes ago about how we have fallen apart lately but really I believe it is our turn. I really feel bad when I think how many things you all have gone through when we were so far away and couldn't help you. I honestly don't remember your having problems with your neck Roy and I guess you didn't tell us much about it because I would have worried myself sick. We were also talking about the time Bob went completely deaf while he was here at school and we didn't know too much about that either. Annie & Jeannie have had problems too and Johnny has had more than his share. SO now it is our turn - just be patient with us!!!! By the way - the dentist has discovered that Ron has a wisdom tooth imbedded into his jawbone and that has probably been causing his low-grade earaches. (Bob suggested that there was probably something wrong with his jaws.)

I have forgotten to mention that the CT brain scan they did on Daddy was negative and there were no signs if any tumors - we were so relieved to learn that. We may go into Salt Lake for that more extensive one called MRI if he doesn't get feeling better. We know he is going to get feeling better soon!!

We love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Let us know how we can help you!!!!!

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