May 27, 1991 Orem, Utah
Dearest John; Roy, Patrice, Emily & Timothy; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
Happy Memorial Day!!! I guess the thing that makes this a special day for many people is the fact that they get a day off work - it seems kinda' strange to celebrate it that way when the real purpose of it is to remember those who have died. I am happy to be back in Utah where we can visit the graves of our parents and other relatives who have passed away - for so many years it was just another day!!! Daddy & I went to Manti on Saturday to decorate his parents' graves there - Sunday, the Woolleys came over and we went to Lehi to decorate Aunt Marvel's grave - today Daddy & I picked up Jeannie, Barji, Mary Ann & Sarah to go to Brigham City to decorate little Christopher's grave and also my family and we also went to the Kaysville cemetery to put flowers on Rick's mother's graves. SO WE HAVE DONE IT ALL!!!
Last week, I felt SO bad because I forgot to wish Sarah a Happy Birthday and I wrote my letter on her very day. I was in a hurry, I guess, because we were very much aware that it was her birthday. She looked like a beautiful birthday girl today when we were with them - she wore a little "watermelon" shirt we had given her and she had a matching umbrella and some "stick on" earrings and she was SO happy with everything. Barji & Mary Ann looked so cute too and we LOVED being with them. Rick & Ricky are on a camping trip (they are supposed to come home tonight) - they have been in Wyoming and Jeannie was so worried because it has been cold and rainy where they have been. The landscaping they have done on their yard is such a big improvement we couldn't believe it - it is really beautiful!!!
CONGRATULATIONS SUSANNA!!! They give an award here in Utah county to two girls and two boys in the sixth grade and it's entitled "The Hope of America Award". Susanna was one of the girls who got this in their awards assembly on Friday and we're really proud of you Susanna. Jessie got the Presidential Physical fitness award and I don't believe that surprises anyone - I watched her on the trampoline yesterday and she flips around like a little bug. We invited them to come eat with us after going to the cemetery in Lehi and I had set the table so carefully - I counted their five children and Papa & I and was SO pleased that I could seat seven so easily at our dining room table - I had forgotten Ann & Ron. HONESTLY - am I getting old or what???
It was good to talk to you the other night, Roy. We're happy that Suzie is with you and hope she stays long enough to get strong on her leg again. Your trip to San Antonio sounded fun (they had flown there for some kind of anesthesia conference).
Bob & Claire - we were sorry to miss you today (we had stopped in to say "HI" on our way back from Brigham City). Claire - we appreciate your planning "Lake Power" for everyone. It's kind of a scary job but "someone has to do it".
John just came home from Moab a little while ago. He and four of his friends went down on Thursday to do some mountain biking - he said it was the best trip he has ever had. He has REALLY needed a trip like that - they rented a big tent and camped out and cooked their meals over a fire (he even made a peach cobbler in a dutch oven he borrowed from the Woolleys). He got the results back from his DAT and HE SCORED IN THE 94 PERCENTILE - we are proud of him. Most of his scores were in the 98 and 99 percentile but he didn't do well in organic chemistry and that took his overall score down to 94. He has never had organic chemistry so considering that he did wonderful. He still doesn't know what he wants to do but he wants to work for a year and stay home and we're thrilled about that.
The luncheon we went to last Tuesday in Salt Lake was SO good - I don't believe we will change our financial situation but we really enjoyed the food. We went in to Salt Lake again the next day, on Wednesday. Our friends, Marian & Malcolm Jeppson had invited us to come have lunch with them in the church office building. It was Ellen Mae's birthday so we celebrated that and of course, I always love being with them. Ellen Mae, Marian & I have been close friends for forever. We ate in the dining room where the General Authorities eat and it was really special and then Malcolm showed us around in the rooms where they have their quorum meetings. Malcolm is in the Second Quorum of Seventies. They had a prostate cancer scare but he has had radiation and they seem to think it is all taken care of.
Daddy & I went to the cabin on Thursday and stayed until Saturday. WE HAVE ANOTHER SKUNK!!! Daddy doesn't think he is still there but we can smell him so where can he be? Daddy made a new door for that place under the house so he will be able to close it good and keep the skunks out from now on. After we are there for awhile the smell goes away (or else we get used to it) so we're thinking it just needs to be aired out. The cabin looks really good and we just loafed for two days so it was fun. There is one couple there who will be there until October - they sold their Salt Lake house and will live in Scofield for the Summer and St. George for the Winter. We bought three lamps (dare I tell you that we got them at Deseret Industries) and they really make reading much more comfortable.
I will leave the rest of the space so I can write and tell you what the doctor says to Daddy in the morning. TUESDAY MORNING: We just came home from seeing Dr. Brown and our news is not good. Daddy has had some problems in the prostate area and Dr. Brown examined him and said he has a nodule there. His PSA has gone to 73 - over 25 points in one month. He has put him on "megace" - has taken him off eulexin - wants to see him in 3 months!!!