December 14, 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:

Johnny just left to go to school and as he left he said, "Don't turn off the computer - I need to save the things that are on it". SO, I'm back with Ron's computer and I just noticed that Johnny has taken all the paper out of the printer so if I can't get some put back on it I won't get this in the mail today. Johnny starts his finals this week and his mind is "somewhere else". Ron spent a lot of time last night with him tutoring him in calculus - we really appreciate Ron doing this and I know Johnny does too. Johnny has some really tough classes scheduled for next year - he has decided to drop French and take a linear (sp.?) algebra class instead.

Last week was a really trying one for Ann & Ron and their family. Little Jimmy wasn't any better so Ann took him to their doctor and practically insisted they hospitalize him - they found that he had pneumonia and tonsillitis - one night he ran a temperature of 105.7. He was in the hospital for three days and Ron stayed with him at night and Ann during the day. He got well so fast we couldn't believe it and they let him come home Wednesday night with instructions from their doctor that they keep him inside for at least two weeks. They decided it was best for them to move to their new home so they left here on Thursday and moved in even though some of the things haven't been done - we have laughed because the thing that has bothered them the most is the fact that the dishwasher needed some changing because it wouldn't drain right so they couldn't use it. That would be the least of my worries. I talked to Ann yesterday and Jessie was homesick and Susanna wasn't feeling very good so what they have is going through their whole family - they all get well so fast though that they're probably all back in school by now.

Daddy had an appointment with his urologist on Thursday morning at 8 o'clock in Salt Lake. We left here at 6:30 a.m. and we were in the garage parking lot of the doctor's building by 7:10 - we had thought there would be more traffic than there was. Daddy took a nap in the car and we were his doctor's first appointment so by the time we got out of his office it was 8:05. It was so funny - we had planned to do some Christmas shopping but none of the stores were opened. We then decided to go see Jeannie and then on to Brigham City to see Grandpa Forrest. Daddy's doctor said he was healing "beautifully" - Daddy says, "Well, then why am I hurting so much?" - Ha!!!!

It was so fun to be at Jeannies at 8:45 in the morning. She had just showered and shampooed her hair - she was going with a group of her friends to lunch because one of them is moving to California. Mary Ann & Sarah were SO excited with hair darling Christmas tree. Jeannie had made dough Santa Clause faces and the children had painted them and they were the ornaments on the tree. Little Sarah just about burst as she showed us ALL the ornaments on the tree - what a doll she is!!!! Mary Ann was excited to show us how they had rearranged their bedrooms - it's so neat to talk to her this year about her pre-school - she just loves it and last year she was quite bored. We missed Barji & Ricky and hopefully we'll get to see more of them in the next few weeks because of the Christmas holiday. Jeannie fixed us ham sandwiches and drinks that lasted us all day.

Grandpa Forrest looks so bad - his hair was shoulder length and his whiskers were almost like Santa Clauses. I really got upset and before we left they had shaved him, cut his fingernails and he was next in the line to get his hair cut. We took him a beautiful poinsettia but he can't see it. That is really a sad thing!!!!

Daddy & I went to a neighborhood Christmas party last night. It was an open house and the man of the house is 32 years old and is obviously quite well-to-do. We asked him what his business was and he said he writes for investment brokerage firms - we asked him for a good investment tip but all he would say is that he predicts interest rates to soar during the next few years. Someone else asked him if they would soar up or down and he just laughed!!!!

Daddy is feeling better each day. His surgery has been ten times more painful in healing than either of us expected - he just can't stand up for very long. The doctor gave him some pain pills but he won't take them - all he has taken is some of those extra strength Tylenol tablets you gave us Rick. He still has a little sore throat from the radiation but that isn't very bad.

Daddy & I went to a "Wyoming" Christmas party last Monday at the home of one of our friends close by us who used to live there with us. It was so much fun but they all look so much older than we feel. One of the men there was hired by Daddy just before we left to move to Phoenix and it was so much fun to visit with him and his wife. He has just had a heart attack after heart surgery so he has to be really careful. They couldn't believe that Daddy has even been sick - they all said he looks as good as he did thirty some years ago.

Claire & Patrice - we loved your letters and beautiful cards. We also love the family picture of the Bob Mellors - what a darling family!!!! We're anxious to hear how the Arizona trip went - sorry we missed your call.

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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