August 27, 2001 Farmington, Utah

I just don't seem to be able to keep on my letter writing schedule. I have just come home from Park City where I went with Margaret and other condo friends to stay at her home there - it's Monday so I'm a day late!!! We went to the Utah Symphony Orchestra Concert of the 1812 Overture and it was just WONDERFUL with the cannons and everything. We go early so we can put our chairs and blankets to reserve our places on the hill - they have reserved seats too but we like to sit on the lawn. The music is just unbelievable - they had a concert pianist as the main attraction and he was SO good. It is a tradition for the people who sit on the lawn on the hill to take food and we sat right behind an adult family and it was fun to watch them interact - they had the most interesting foods and goblets for their wine. Margaret has taken all kinds of foods and goblets for that sparkling cider in years past but this year she didn't do that - we decided to just get subway sandwiches, pop and donuts. I was glad because it has been so hard to balance goblets, roast beef, salads, etc., etc. sitting on unsteady chairs on the hill. Besides that, we are all getting older and even though Margaret NEVER complains there are too many who have a difficult time even walking to the hill. She has a very lovely home there and I got up early and went for a walk by the golf course where they have just finished a big golf tournament and they were disassembling all the things that were used for it. I think Margaret is such a special person to share all that she has with her friends - I think it would be very hard to do that the way she does. There is a restaurant in Park City that is called the "Stew Pot" and we had a big breakfast there on Sunday and then watched the golf tournament with Tiger Woods and Furck - did any of you watch that? I just never sit and watch anything like that and I REALLY enjoyed it - we were on the edges of our seats for over two hours. All my friends are golfers - one was the golf pro at the Oakridge Country Club for over thirty years - and they all understand it but I don't!!! We went shopping at the Discount Store Plaza today and of course, that is always fun!!!

I was happy to get home a little while ago and access my phone messages and also my e-mail messages. Patrice - it was SO good to hear your voice on my phone machine - thank you for calling. I thought of the fun time I had with Emily when we went to the discount mall - I hope we can do that again sometime. Margaret is introducing me to some good places to eat in Park City so we won't just have to go to the fast food places the next time - besides that maybe I won't get lost like I did. Claire - thank you for your letter and the picture from the past - I LOVED your comment to Laura about her hair. I haven't accessed the Grandma B web site yet but I'm anxious to see more recent pictures of Michael. John - you're doing a super job with that. I also had a message from Cissy Beyers telling me that maybe they wouldn't be able to see me on their visit this time. I don't know quite what to do with my friends who call and expect me to stay home during a week's period of time waiting for them to call when they get time. I expected them to call or come see me last Thursday or Friday but I didn't hear from them and she finally called on Sunday morning and of course, I wasn't here. I love my friends and want them to come see me but it's hard to worry about not being here when they expect me to be here. I REALLY wanted to plan something so that Bob and Claire could come and be with Steve and Perianne and become acquainted so I was disappointed!!! Bob and Claire could have come on Thursday I think - They went to our favorite Thai restaurant and brought me some DELICIOUS Thai soup - it really was enough for at least four people and I ate the WHOLE thing. I appreciate it SO much when Bob comes over and listens and listens to me - Ha!!!

John - it was SO good to have you come by last Monday for your mail. It was SO funny - I was at my mail box but I couldn't find my key so I couldn't get the mail and right at that time John drove up. We had a good visit and I wish he could come more often - he had been in Los Angeles the week before and he said the trade show was good and everything was going good. He is handling all the calls coming about the Lehi Property and I'm happy about that - the developers of that housing area have offered us a good price - $40,000 per acre - but I REALLY do not want to sell until we have to. The only reason I can see that we would have to sell is because it must be on "Greenbelt" or the taxes would be too high. Cheryl has called me and they feel the same way. The developers want the water rights that go with the property too and I need to find out more about that. It is kinda' exciting to have this going on.

I think about all my "college bound" grandchildren and I'm excited for them. I can't believe that Jessie, Ricky, Mary Ann and Laura are attending my alma mater and I hope I will be able to go see them before long. Claire has been sending Laura some "pictures from the past" and she has sent them to me and I LOVE them!!! I want to know their schedules and their interests. I think back on those years as I'm sure all my adult children do and it is not all sugar and spice - many times I would ask myself "what in the world am I doing here" but I have never regretted it - Ha!!! Susanna is working hard on her R.N. degree and I'm proud of her and Barji will start at Weber State and I'm proud of her too. It's very different I am sure when you have to combine marriage and school. I think about Michael and Russell and I'm proud of the things they are involved in - I just devoured the first letter Russell has sent to his family - thank you SO much for sharing that Ron.

Lee Anna is stressed right now having to send a good friend into the mission field but it will be wonderful for her to correspond with him and learn about his mission - is he going to the Dominican Republic? Jimmy is working hard to be a good football player and I worry about him training in the heat we have been having since there have been so many heat related problems with football players. Sarah is going full speed with her D'Ettes - she's happy to be finished with her work at Lagoona Beach at Lagoon. Brett REALLY got introduced to what it would be like to be in the military service according to the letter Claire received from him during his "Band Camp" - that sounded a little extreme to me but I'm proud of him for sticking with it. Bob and Claire took Katie and her friend on a water skiing trip last week on Willard Bay - they had a GREAT TIME and now she is having fun being a cheerleader. I miss Emily, Timothy and Jesse - everything I find in my refrigerator that I forgot to fix for them to eat makes me feel sad. I don't believe I fixed ONE thing they liked and I bought LOTS of macaroni and cheese for them.