Dearest Family, September 5, 1998 7:45 a.m.

I was SO thrilled to find some messages on the computer last night - I couldn't answer them until now - THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!!

PATRICE - I LOVE hearing from you often - even little short messages. It is hard for me to believe that little Jesse is in preschool - what a very special teacher he must have to call him on the phone before he starts in school. You have some good schools and teachers in Arkansas and I get homesick just thinking about it. I again think it is WONDERFUL that you have a garden and that you are now planting Fall vegetables. I can't remember if they plant Winter squash in Arkansas - do they? I do remember that Emily likes squash.

ANN - I LOVE hearing about you going through the Willard and Perry fruit areas to get fresh peaches, etc. I kinda' compare the mangoes here to the Utah peaches but there isn't anything as good as a Brigham City Peach - Ha!!! It brings back a million memories to hear about Jessie and Barji at Utah State - I want to hear where their apartment is and what they are doing now. I can't believe it will be Labor Day soon - what a fun experience for Lee Anna and Susanna to go to Logan to see a campus other than BYU. This is such a beautiful time of year in Logan. I'm anxious to see Ron's new offices - when you said walls being built, did you mean partitions? WHAT WILL YOU BE TEACHING AT BYU? I hope you don't get too involved - 47 students sounds like too many!!!

BOB AND CLAIRE - CLAIRE - I LOVE to hear about the fun things going on in your life. Your children are doing so many things and I know it is hard to keep up with them and do your Relief Society work too - the year around school schedules would drive me crazy. Your “Back To School” night sounded fun and I know you know how important it is to be involved as parents. I didn't know that Brett was taking percussion instruments - that is such a good release for all his energy!!! I remember watching Brett play soccer and I wish I could do it again but the season will be over by the time I get home - I can just see little Katie running like crazy. Laura - the beautiful cheerleader and so full of energy. Michael - you are going to end up being the family genius!!! I think Dave sounds like a great friend - if he could get you to sign up for honors English and honors History maybe you could get him to help you if you need help - Ha!!! BOB - I will keep my fingers crossed that you pass the allergy examinations. Helen has been 100% better since you gave her some medicine - she doesn't ever say anything about it but she was very sick for about 3 months and now she is doing really well. She is allergic to mangoes, papaya, pineapple, coconut and other things I can't remember and she is pretty good about not eating them. I REALLY appreciate your watching the construction of the condo.

JOHN - I believe yesterday was the day you were to meet with Wayne Snow from Prudential. I'm anxious to hear how my investments weathered the recent storm. I appreciate SO VERY MUCH all you do to help me. I hope my Visa card will come this week - if it doesn't I will send a message to you to wire me some money via Western Union. Have you been comfortable with the evaporative cooler this Summer?

WEINERTS - I know you are doing good and going a million miles an hour. I think about Ricky all the time - is he still enjoying the MTC and how is his Spanish language coming? It is hard to learn a new language but SO worthwhile.

We have had the strangest things happening in our apartment. Do you remember that I left my camera on the dining room table and it disappeared. WELL - last Saturday, Helen left her camera in her bedroom on her bed and it disappeared. This has happened on Sunday when we are all gone to church. The worst thing about Helen's camera is that it wasn't hers. A teacher friend had loaned it to her to see how she liked it because she wants to buy a new one. It was an Olympus like the one I lost only it was brand new. We hate to accuse anyone but they have to have been stolen. There has been money around and they haven't taken it but we feel certain that someone has come in and stolen our cameras.

The air conditioner in my bedroom hasn't worked for about two weeks. I finally complained loud enough so they came and fixed it but it only stayed fixed for one day - SO I complained again and they came back and took it completely apart and cleaned it and now it works great. BUT in the process of cleaning it they got water all over the little journal I was keeping and made the BIGGEST mess in my bedroom and the kitchen.

I went to see the apartment yesterday that Mr. Witt has found for me. I am not kidding when I say it is “To Hell And Gone” - it took me an hour to get there from here. It is like a hotel room - one large room with one bed and one bathroom - it doesn't have a kitchen - BUT it does have a wonderful view of the Chao Phraya River. I'm still considering it and they have promised things. I will keep you informed.

Some friends are going to take me to China Town and they have just come and I am still in my robe so I will close. I don't want to buy anything there but they just want to do something together.

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