Thailand Letter
November 2, 1997
Bangkok, Thailand
Dearest Family,
Patrice - thank you SO much for your "Halloween Letter" - I loved hearing that my Little Rock family is enjoying Halloween as much as the Utah Bunch. You didn't tell me how the children dressed - I'm wondering if Jesse went as a ghost and did Emily go to her party dressed in a costume - I can see Timothy as batman. I would love one of Grandma Suzie's pumpkin cookies RIGHT NOW!!!
Your white monster on the stairs sounded quite "eerie" and I laughed right out loud when I heard what the little boy said to you. (Patrice was dressed up as a "witch" and the first little boy who came trick or treating grabbed her around her leg and said "Mommy"). The aunt who was with him explained that his mother had been gone for a little while and the little boy really missed her. Please tell me when you find out what she looks like - ha!!!
Your Jack O Lanterns sounded very professional looking and I hope you took some pictures - the picture that I brought to Thailand with me of Roy, Emily, Timothy and Jesse on your front porch with last years' Jack o Lanterns have been shown in every classroom in the Bangken and Boomgoom Districts this past month. I have never heard of a "Pumpkin Master Kit" but I would have loved to see your Skull, Cat with a Moon, a Trick or Treating Ghost at the door and Dracula Jack O Lanterns. Roy - do you remember the year that Daddy carved a "Razorback Pig" Jack O Lantern? He won a prize, I think.
Your painting job sounds like a mighty BIG JOB - 15 windows to get painted and sanded to get ready for new storm windows - WOW!!! I think it's wonderful you are planting pansies now - they are so durable and go through our Utah Winters.
I called to Virginia when I saw the subject on your letter - "GOLDEN PLATES FOUND". I tried to think of a clever response to that and the best I could do is the one I used which in Thai says, "I NEED A DOCTOR"!!! I'm not sure the entire thing will be used so I will use it again; tong karn mor ma raksa.
We're in a quandary about tomorrow. The Director of Sai Mai is going to pick us up at 8 a.m. to take us to the home of the young woman who is getting married on Tuesday - we don't know if it is a bridal breakfast or luncheon or a school meeting or what - it is SO difficult to communicate with people who don't speak our language. We don't have a lot of choices about what to wear - I may wear the same thing I'm going to wear on Tuesday. I'll let you know what happens.
Our church today was all day - we left our apartment at 8 a.m. and got back at 5 p.m. We had a long bus wait coming back. I love you all so very, very, much!!! PLEASE BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL. Grandma B
Dearest Family,
I came to the computer to write a HAPPY BIRTHDAY message to little Jesse Lynn Mellor 11 and found a wonderful letter from Bob!!! Hooray!!!
I can't believe it has been four years ago since Rick came to me and said, "Grandma B, I think you need to go to Little Rock and see your newest little grandson and here are your tickets". That was a wonderful trip for me and I will never forget it. Patrice was SO well organized and their home was all decorated for Christmas and little Jesse was such a good and beautiful baby. I remember Patrice taking me and the little baby to the airport in a driving rainstorm - how inconsiderate of me!!! I hope you have a very happy day tomorrow Jesse - I was there last year and I remember that it was cold - I would love some of that cold weather now.
Bob - thank you SO MUCH again. Virginia and I always clean our apartment and do our laundry on Saturday morning and since it was cool this morning we REALLY cleaned. I was sleepy as we were studying about 11:30 so I went to lay down and three hours later I woke up - I couldn't believe it. Virginia said she thought I had died - Ha!!! She naps every day after school but I never do because then I can't go to sleep at night.
When I awakened we decided to walk down to our little market - I love to go down there. Virginia bought two dresses - they were both 100 bahts meaning about $4. each. I bought a little outfit - top and skirts for 150 bahts, meaning about $6. I haven't even tried it on yet - Virginia has one of her dresses on and it is darling. I also bought some popcorn but we haven't tried it yet. They have a million things there - it is hard to go by the meat places - the meat is covered with flies. We usually buy some fruit but the teachers have given us so much we didn't need any. I also bought a "shiny car". "a little boat", an "airplane" and a "circus train" to teach a song in class next week. I think you all would love the market and I'll bet you would buy some vegetables and we could cook some good food instead of minestrone or vegetable beef soup.
Julianna - before I forget. I have read "The Biggest Bear" to all the teachers in every school where we have taught and they LOVE it. I have also had them read Dr. Seuss' "Red Fish, Blue Fish, etc." and they laugh and laugh at all the made up rhyming words. Virginia teaches the chant for "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" and that is a favorite - I don't know what we would have done without the books you sent. Thank you SO very much!!!
Bob - I said to Virginia this morning "My children are just now getting ready to go out trick or treating" and I have thought about you all day. It is SO weird being a day ahead of where you are. We haven't quite figured out the time now that you are on daylight savings time. I laughed and laughed when I read that Katie wanted to go out by herself this year - that is so normal and is a good sign. The first of many, many things you will experience as you go into the "geaser stage" - Ha!!! You should have had a dozen children!!!
We just absolutely LOVE and DEVOUR the news you send. It is fun to read that Halloween is not just for children - the adults in Utah dress up as much as the children and rent their costumes like batman, catwoman, werewolves, etc. It was interesting to read that Westminster College has a party and 500 students attend and it is one of the top three events of the year. I didn't know they had that many students.
The BYU protest from the Liberal Arts Students about some of the sculptors "Roden"'s work being excluded from an exhibit is an indication to me that Pres. Bateman is going to have to get more of the students involved in the decision making of some of those things.
I thought the article about the Pioneer Wagon Train was so inspirational. A man who was baptized after the trek was seriously injured in a freak accident in Rock Springs and a fellow trek friend went to help him and is establishing a fund to help pay his expenses. This friend isn't a member of the church but is a friend of the Huntsmans and they are helping him. A lot of good has come from that trek.
I was also interested in reading about Camp Williams being considered as a place for the Army reserve units to move to from Fort Douglas to make room for some Olympic housing. Camp Williams has a special place in my heart.
Virginia was interested in the U. of U. news with the former Prime Minister of Israel. His remarks that there are no "nice wars" and "there can't be peace without risks" sound scary to me but then I don't really understand the problems over there. Virginia has traveled a lot.
The only comfort I can get from the stock problems is the quote "small investors are standing up to the Bear". We have all taken a beating this past week and I guess what happens next week will be very important.
I cooked a huge pot of rice - yes, rice - and I am going to eat some now. Tomorrow is Fast Sunday and I get so hungry I could die. I am used to being served six times a day - Ha!!! Would you believe I have lost 10 pounds and not on Fen Fen. You can't tell it by looking at me but I really have lost weight.
I love you all so VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL. Grandma B