June 9, 1997

Dearest John & Julianna; Roy, Patrice, Emily, Timothy & Jesse; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, Lee Anna & Jimmy:

It is a rainy and quite cold day here in Orem. I LOVE this kind of weather and would like to get involved in a sewing project or something that I had to do indoors!!!

HOW ABOUT THOSE JAZZ!!! The Woolleys invited me to come to their home again last night and watch the game on the big screen. I truly did not think the Jazz would win. I watched the first half and then came home because I could do things in the kitchen and watch the game and besides I could turn it off if it got too exciting. I don't go to sleep for hours after the game if it is close and we don't win - isn't that dumb!!! Now the series is tied - 2 to 2. And they play again on Wednesday at the Delta Center. I have heard on the news this morning that they are going to clamp down on the cheering at the game because it is much too loud. It is fun to see the entire state so involved with the team. Michael Jordan was a contender for the MVP award and when Karl Malone got it all the news media kept reminding everyone that Jordan really deserved it - especially after Malone didn't do well during the first two games of the playoffs. I was SO happy last night to see Malone get his two free throw shots when it was critical after he had missed them in game 1.

Roy and Patrice - do you ever watch the games? We were never very interested in Utah Sports until we moved here. I have always loved sports but I'll have to admit that I love them more when my side wins. Joy called me last night right after the game and I was so excited and when I told her why I could tell she thought I was crazy!!!

I have been waiting in Doctor's offices all morning and it is about time to go get a permanent so this will be a very short letter. I had an appointment with Dr. Ririe, the eye doctor, to get my prescription straightened out. He gave me a new prescription but I don't believe he was convinced that the other one didn't work. I then went to Dr. Donaldson, the dermatologist, and he checked me over again - I had to wait one hour and 15 minutes for my appointment. Bob - he gave me a prescription for that "BacoBan" (sp.?) - I REALLY like that!!! He is very impressed with the surgery you did on my leg - he said, "That has really healed well". The biopsy he took of the mole on my arm was a benign growth.

Then I went to see my Equitable Insurance Agent. They won't cover me while I am out of the country so they are going to suspend my payments until I get back. The church has a good insurance plan that I am going to have and it is about the same cost.

Then I came home to write my letter and then I will go have a permanent. I took my HUGE suitcase back and got a smaller one. I worried that I wouldn't be able to lift it when I got it packed. I have it packed and will start on the smaller one - I want to have everything packed this week.

We had Stake Conference yesterday and I sat way at the back. Do you remember the stake conferences in Little Rock? We always had the General Authorities staying at our home and by the time I had fixed breakfast and other things I was always late so I sat at the back - I feel more comfortable there. Well, when Pres. Hawkins got up to give his talk he starting telling a story about getting a call from Salt Lake to call a sister in his Stake to go to Thailand. I knew immediately that he was talking about me and I just hoped he wouldn't mention my name but he did. Everyone turned around to look at me and I wanted to be swallowed up!!!

I got my itinerary and I leave June 23rd at 8:40 a.m from Salt Lake. It will take 19 hours and 45 minutes to get there. I fly Southwest Airlines from here to Los Angeles and then take a Thai Airlines from there. I am getting excited!!!

Dorothy Woods called me on Friday night. I had answered a letter she had written to me and told her about my mission. The first thing she said was "Well, Barbara, are you going to try to convert all the people in Thailand?" I told her my mission was not a proselyting one. She told me there was a big article in the Arkansas Gazette about the church - she is going to send it to me. Roy & Patrice, did you see it?

Cissy and Charles called me last night. They had had Stake Conference in Otter Creek yesterday and Chris Jordin had told them about my mission. They were absolutely shocked - I surely must seem old to a lot of people. When people here hear about it, they come up to me and say something like this, "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question? How old are you?" I guess the important thing is that I don't feel old. I am SO grateful for my good health.

Speaking of health I must tell you about my gift to John for his birthday - I hope he won't mind. I have been worried about his cholesterol so I gave him a one time cholesterol kit. He called me to tell me the results and his count is 186 so I'm not going to worry about him anymore. John is a big man and I think about my family's genes and I know the poor health that my brother Dee had most of his life. My Mother had bad health also but in those days I don't believe they took cholesterol tests. I have kinda' taken my good health for granted until this last year and now I am trying to eat better and I want everyone else to also.

Ellen Mae and Mel came down on Saturday. They called me in the morning and said they wanted to spend the day with me. I told them I was already to go to the cabin so they said to wait for them and they would go with me. I had planned to wash all the sheets but by the time we got there I didn't have enough time to get them washed and dried. I guess if you want clean sheets when you go there you will need to either take them or take sleeping bags. I was surprised to find the refrigerator in the skunk room. I cleaned the kitchen area where it should have been and then Byrd helped me and we put it back in there - it seemed to be working fine. Ellen Mae vacuumed all the ceilings, walls and floors. The belt in the vacuum broke so she just used the hose attachment. I have a new belt taped on the door going into the kitchen from the garage so when anyone goes up there please stop by and pick it up.

I REALLY would have liked to spend the night up there - it is just gorgeous. As I looked at the cabin I thought, "This is probably much nicer than the apartment I will be living in in Thailand for the next 18 months". Byrd has a beautiful new "party barge" and they are catching fish up there like crazy. They had had an enchilada dinner in the bowery just before we got there - they have really improved that. BYRD TELLS ME EVERY SPRING THAT WE NEED TO GET A SHUT OFF VALVE FOR THE WATER SO THE PIPES WON'T BREAK UNDER THE CEMENT DRIVEWAY. He says it wouldn't be hard to do.

Claire - thank you for your note. I decided to order the brownies and cakes for the reunion. I went to the BYU Take Out place and ordered three full sheets - mint brownies, cherry surprises and a lemon type bar. Each sheet will be cut into 120 so that should be enough. I felt like each family should take a potluck dish and I didn't want you to have to worry about dessert too.

The Woolleys are so involved with Russ and Bev's 60th wedding reception and also the meals for the family while they will be together in Jerome. Ann said she would think about the Mellor Reunion after that was over. John is completing his plans for the t-shirts - he was going to be with Bob yesterday to get the dates of the trail right. Weinerts - I hope to see you tomorrow night.

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