Dearest Family, August 19, 1998

It was SO fun to come to the computer and find messages this afternoon - it almost seems like a telephone conversation with you when you answer so quickly.

BOB & CLAIRE and RICK & JEAN - Thank you for looking at the condos - I can't envision an East and West View!!! We have bought three new homes and each one has had a North and South View - do you remember the ones in Phoenix, Little Rock and then in Orem??? It will be great to have someone else make a decision for me and I trust your judgment. I think John & Julianna and Ron & Ann should go see them too - Ha!!!

ANNIE - I am SO glad you have your computer back - I expect more letters from now on. I'll bet you were all excited when Susanna called - did she wake you up or did she use good sense and check the time difference? I hope she will let me read her letters so I can get some information about Jerusalem and also Egypt. She has never said that she has met my friend, Liesel McBride? I hope she has. I hope Elaine will learn how to use the computer and get on the internet - that would be so much fun for her because she has a lot of free time. I haven't heard from her yet. The school where you went with Janet and Darlene is Lumpini School - not the one where I am going to be transferred in October. They teach in about 50 schools - Helen and I teach in 38. I thought Claire was an absolute doll while she was here in Thailand - my favorite memories are of visiting her in the Marriott and seeing how calm she was as she quilted - she didn't waste a minute. I'm SO glad you got your suit from Gulati - I was in that area this afternoon but I didn't venture across the street - you remember the traffic there. I am going to order a Winter suit from him before I leave this area and it is comforting to know that he can make them and send them - I'll make sure he has my measurements before I leave.

JIM - I DEARLY LOVED YOUR LETTER - IT SOUNDED JUST LIKE YOU - THANK YOU!!! I hope you like your teacher, Mrs. Williamson - is she a new teacher or has she been there long enough to know Susanna, Jessie, Russell and Lee Anna?

JEANNIE - I was SO happy to hear more about Ricky. I'm surprised that Boyd is going to California - are they having problems getting Visas to Brazil? Plans for family things and missionary things just don't work out do they - I will never forget the time I had to wait to leave to come here all because Virginia was SO slow in getting her paper work done!!! I laughed about Ricky's snoring companion - they will work that out just fine!!! I'm glad that Barji and Sarah could see Boyd off at the airport. What is “Survival” at Utah State? Is that a new name for Freshmen Orientation? I can remember being in charge of all that a hundred years ago - I had files and things all over my bedroom in Brigham City for one whole Summer. I'll bet Barji and Jessie have the cutest apartment at Utah State - I can hardly wait to go see the campus when they are in school - I still can't believe they are going there. HAPPY 22ND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO THE WEINERTS - I hope you have a fun, fun time in Sun Valley. I want to go there again sometime.

I hope “The Roys” are home from Colorado!!! I know how busy they are getting things organized after a vacation. I AM SO THRILLED WHEN MY FAMILY CHOOSES CAMPING VACATIONS - I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THEM GETTING COOLED OFF IN THE MOUNTAINS AND IT WILL BE HOT IN ARKANSAS FOR AT LEAST TWO MORE MONTHS - they don't get any sympathy from me - Ha!!!

I feel bad about President Clinton's situation - it was inevitable but still I wish it hadn't happened. I bought a USA Today so I could get caught up on all the news - so many of our teachers ask us about it!!! I had a sweet letter from Helen Bridges not long ago and she mentioned that it was hurting everyone in Arkansas. I guess it is just my nature but I think that “Starr” guy has a lot of meanness in him.

JOHN - I was surprised that you didn't let me know that he had confessed - you have kinda' kept me posted on that. Yesterday morning we had a HUGE NOISE in our apartment and all the electricity went off - we never have found out what happened and it was back on within an hour. Last night our friend from Channel 9, Nut, came over and told us about the Clinton thing and we decided that the huge noise must have come over the airwaves when he confessed - Ha!!!

I haven't had a night class tonight and it is SO nice to have a little free time. My night classes really keep me hopping - most days I teach from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. I like some of my night classes more than the ones in the schools.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL. Grandma B