August 27, 1989 Orem, Utah

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

It has been almost a month since I wrote my letter and I have a lot of things I want to write for my journal do you won't need to even read this - you will have heard everything I will write about!!!

We had Daddy's birthday party right on his birthday - Saturday, August 5th - and all our Utah family was here except for John and he was in Boston. We missed Roy, Patrice & Emily too but San Antonio is a little far to come. Ramon & Winston, Carol & Elly and Elaine came to help Daddy celebrate too - they are special sisters!!! I had said no gifts but they all brought things and the cutest gift I have even seen was a fruit basket from Elaine - she had painted faces on different fruits and vegetables and decorated them with that squirt cheese - we took pictures of it!!! We ate chicken spaghetti, salads, fruit, birthday cake etc., etc. and then the grandchildren performed. We couldn't believe how much they have all improved since we had last heard them. We just loved the whole night and appreciate SO much all of you coming - we know it is a long old drive from Layton and Farmington!!!

Daddy & I and the Smiths left on Monday, August 7th for our trip to Alaska & Canada. We went in the Smith's Toyota Motor Home and Daddy & I were very apprehensive about the whole thing. They had had to put in a new transmission on their way out here from Alabama and then they broke an axle and had to have that fixed. We kept telling them we would be happy to just spend a couple weeks up in one of the canyons here in Utah or if they wanted we could spend the time in Yellowstone BUT Wayne really wanted to go "all the way" as we had earlier planned.

We went by way of Yellowstone and it was interesting to see the destruction of the fires there last year - it was kinda' sad!!! After Yellowstone we headed up through Kalispell, Montana and then almost straight north into Canada. That was simply beautiful - much prettier scenery than the last time we went. Wayne did a remarkable job in driving - the motor home was back heavy and Daddy & Wayne sat in the front seats and when we came to a hill Chris and I would move up to the front of the motor home. Daddy said that several times Wayne would have such a hard time stopping he would have to use the emergency brake - especially when the roads were wet.

Our goal was Hyder, Alaska where Wayne had had brochures and other communication telling about the fishing. Daddy & Wayne had planned to rent a fishing boat and go out from there to catch salmon. WELL - you just wouldn't believe Hyder, Alaska. It was right on the water but there was nothing there except fishing - and the little creeks were just lined with dead salmon on the banks where the bear had dragged them from the river as they were spawning. THERE WAS NO FISHING IN HYDER, ALASKA - Ha!!! We spent one night there and they got a name of a guide in Prince Rupert who was supposed to be the best if they wanted to charter a boat. We left the next morning and on the way Wayne forgot to slow down and hit the railroad tracks going about 75 miles an hour and there was the loudest noise you have ever heard - I big spring under the car had broken. I really believe it would have broken sometime soon anyway but Wayne felt it was because he hit the tracks going too fast. We were lucky to be close to a town - he drove it back about ten miles to a service station and they said they would fix it the next day which was Monday, August 14th. We spent that night in a motel in the town - Terrace, Canada - and it was heavenly - a real live TV., good beds, ice, etc., etc. Chris started having problems with her foot at that pint and she couldn't do any walking for the rest of the trip - she says it is arthritis but Wayne says it is a small spur - I can't believe they don't have it taken care of. Daddy & I did laundry there while Wayne stayed with the car and Chris stayed in the motel. We got it fixed and left Terrace about 2 o' clock that afternoon.

We stayed at a really nice camping park in Prince Rupert for the next week. Daddy & Wayne chartered a boat and went out into the ocean to catch salmon - I will never forget the afternoon they came back to the camp - the salmon were the biggest fish I have even seen up close. Chris & Wayne didn't want to take any home with them so we bought a Styrofoam box and kept it filled with dry ice - we'll have a salmon dinner soon. Daddy wants to buy a smoker so he can smoke some of it. Our camping place was very close to the Ferry ad we stayed there until Friday night when we went to the Ferry and spent the night. We left Prince Rupert on the Ferry about 7 o'clock Saturday morning and didn't get to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island until about 9 0'clock that night. The Ferry ride was really like being on a cruise ship - Daddy & I & Wayne stayed out on the deck most of the time and the sights we saw were just unbelievable - whales, seals, gorgeous islands, deer along the banks, etc., etc.

When we reached Vancouver Island we plotted a course that would take us on six additional ferry rides and to the most unique island you could ever imagine - Gillee Bay. Some people at the campsite at Prince Rupert told us about it or we would never have there and we are SO glad we did. Daddy & Wayne chopped oysters off the rocks and dug for clams when the tide went out-Daddy & I ate at least 100 raw oysters and then we made oyster and then we made oyster and clam chowder that was out of this world. Chris & Wayne don't like fish and especially do they not like oysters and clams so they watched us but it is something we will never, ever forget. Roy - I have saved the shells from those oysters you brought to Daddy from Boston when you came for Mother's funeral and we compared those to the shells from Gillee Bay and the ones from Gillee Bay are at least six times larger. We learned that the oysters there were called Japanese oysters. We only stayed there one day because it was quite cool and rainy but we loved every minute we were there.

When we left Gillee Bay we ferried down to Bellingham, Washington and from there we came on home. We thought Vancouver Island was one of the prettiest places we have ever been and it is certainly growing - beautiful homes being built right on cliffs.

We got home kinda' late Wednesday - August 23rd - so we had been gone two and a half weeks. We stopped to touch base with Bob & Claire and also Rick & Jean. We had worried about Jeannie - she had been in the hospital with an abscess - but she was to a Primary meeting so we didn't get to see her. We were very, very happy to be home.

Chris & Wayne have been gone from their Alabama home since the first of June and they were anxious to get back. Their son, Ricky, and his wife were expecting a new baby so they called Little Rock really often. They said they would call us and report but we haven't heard from them - I'm sure she has had it by now. Their daughter, Linda and her husband and three little children moved to Dallas while they were gone and they were anxious to touch base with them and see where they were living and all. I don't blame them for wanting to leave Alabama during the Summer - they don't have air conditioning and it is 95 degrees with 95 percent humidity and higher from June until November.

Daddy & Wayne did a lot of work on the cabin - I believe we will probably go there on Tuesday. Daddy bought a six gallon water heater that he wants to install - it's an electric one and he is going to put it right in back of the stairway. It will be just the right size.

John broke his eardrum while he was water skiing in Boston. He said he would never have been able to stand it if Bob's nurse hadn't phoned in a prescription fir him. He says it is fine now. He took some of his roommates out on Utah Lake yesterday but he promised to not get in the water and I'm sure he didn't. He is really enjoying his work and will start school in a week.

We saw the Woolleys yesterday and they're doing fine. Susanna had her tonsils out and she still looks pale to me but says she feels fine - Bob took them out for her the day we left on our trip. We talked to Jeannie the other night and she is feeling much better. Little Laura got a new bed and I have never seen a little girl any happier about anything than she was. We talked to Roy & Patrice and they're fine - they had a wonderful trip to Little Rock where they went to attend Tripp Strauss' wedding - it sounded really special - in the Jewish temple with the reception at the Arts Center.

We love each one of you so very much - PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL!
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