Dearest Family,
HAPPY, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE
FABULOUS MOTHERS IN MY FAMILY - I AM SO PROUD OF EACH ONE OF YOU!!!
Thank you for remembering me - I LOVE being a Mother to such FABULOUS
children!!!
I am thinking about Bob, John & Russell
while they are in Guatemala this week - they left yesterday and when I
talked to Claire last night she said she thought they would be there by
then. I didn't ever know their schedule - Ann said Russell & John were
planning to leave Highland about 10 a.m. Bob had told me they were
going to have a police escort in Guatemala to get to the clinic where
they will work and I'm happy about that - I really don't worry about
their safety and I think it is just GREAT for them to give of their time
and their means to help people who are desperatly in need of help. I
have talked to Bob & John and they were looking forward to it and I know
Russell will have a great experience too.
Annie - thank you for coming to see me
yesterday and I'm sorry I missed you. She went to the Democratic
Convention in Salt Lake and came to Farmington while she was this
close. I talked to her in the afternoon and found out she has been ill
this past week. She worked for 8 hours doing humanitarian services last
Friday and cut straps for 10,000 book bags and she thought she had just
over worked her arm and shoulder. She then developed some rashlike
sores on one side of her body - she asked Bob for an antibiotic
prescription for inflammatory problems and come to find out she thinks
she has "shingles". She assured me that she was much, much better after
taking the prescription pills but I worry about shingles. Carol Ann has
had them off and on for a long, long time and when Lynn had them he was
VERY miserable.
John - thank you for alerting me to a
problem in Layton. He called and said he had heard on the radio that
people in north Layton had been told to go to their basements and wait
until they were given clearance to leave them. There wasn't anything on
the news until about 5 p.m. - evidently there had been a domestic
problem and a lady had a gun in that area - WEIRD, WEIRD!!! My first
thought was an accident on the freeway involving some kind of poisonous
fumes because we had that problem not long ago close to where we all
live. There is always something happening isn't there????
Roy - thank you for your message and card.
I'm SO glad you are having such a beautiful Spring - Chris called me one
day last week and it was cooler in Little Rock than it was here and she
said your flowers and blooming trees were just gorgeous. I also love
the picture of Jesse - he is getting to look more like Patrice isn't
he? Is he sad about leaving Forest Park School? Timothy will be
changing schools too won't he?
Claire - thank you for your many phone calls
about Michael & Stacis' graduation. I knew you had many, many people to
arrange transportation for and I didn't want you to worry about me. I
admire you very much for taking care of so many things while Bob is
gone.
Jeannie - thank you for introducing me to
the fresh pork tenderloins to cook in my slow cooker. I would never
have bought pork if you hadn't brought me some delicious pork dinners.
Ellen Mae & Mel and Helen Jane came to my house on Thursday before going
to the Roger's Theatre to see the play "Civil War" and I fixed barbecue
pork sandwiches for them. I was SO surprised to find there wasn't any
fat in the meat and the meat was so tender. I cooked it for about 6
hours. I served cole slaw with the pork sandwiches like they do in
Arkansas but I'm not sure if Ellen Mae & Mel liked them - I love them
that way.
ABOUT THE GRADUATION!!! I left my condo
about 8:15 yesterday morning to get to the ceremonies that were supposed
to start at 10 a.m. Everything went fine until I got to Logan and then
I have NEVER seen so many cars in my life and the traffic was backed up
everywhere. I know Logan if I can get to Main Street so I decided to
not go East on 4th North and THAT WAS A MISTAKE!!! THEN, when I got to
the campus all the parking lots were full. I ended up parking about
three blocks north of the stadium right in front of the "Health &
Wellness Center" (Michael and Staci will know where that is.) It was
raining but I REALLY enjoyed walking because I didn't have to keep up
with anyone. I was also motivated by everyone else who was walking -
one couple was pushing a stroller with 2 children in it and there were 3
other children walking with them and they only had one umbrella. When I
got to the DEE GLEN SMITH SPECTRUM it was completely full with many,
many people standing in the hallways. I finally worked my way to one of
the openings and sat on the steps which is against the fire code but
everyone else was doing it without problems. THEN a man who had a seat
picked up one of his children and put him on his lap and gave me his
seat. I felt bad about it because the little child was unhappy so his
father ended up taking him out. ANYWAY - I had a perfect seat and was
in time for the opening ceremonies.
Merlin Olsen was the commencement speaker
and he did a GREAT job. He announced that his 90 year old mother was
with him - WOW!!! He gave such good advice to the graduates by telling
them about his life story thus far. He graduated from Utah State and
then played professional football for about 15 years before working for
a corporation. I didn't know that he also was in television - had a
part on the "Little House on the Prairie" for a few years. He said
there were three kinds of people: those who wait for things to happen;
those who sleep and wake up and wonder what has happened; AND then those
who make things happen which of course was his advice. He also advised
them to "Believe in Themselves" and to fight for their integrity because
they will be faced with failures and sometimes "the dragon wins" - he
said the real winners are those who are willing to learn from their
failures and have the courage to start over. I LOVED this thought -
"TALK LESS AND SAY MORE".
When the family that got up to give up their
seats I ended up further down the row of seats and was sitting by a very
pretty lady who was SO nice and friendly. We talked about many things
and she told me about her family and I told her about mine. FINALLY -
she asked me what my name was so I told her and I spelled out MELLOR
like I usually do. THEN she said "one of my roommates at BYU was a Jean
Mellor". I just thought that was unusual because in the little bit of
genealogy I have done I have never run across another Jean Mellor. We
both just looked at each other as we finally discovered that she was a
college friend of Jeannies. Her husband was a roommate of Neils (the
young man Jean was engaged to for a short period of time) and they all
lived in the Miller Apartments. She graduated in 1971 so she is about a
year older than Jeannie. Her name was Jandora Neiden and she married
Tom Jenkins. It was SO fun to talk to her and I'll tell Jeannie all the
particulars when I am with the Weinerts later on today.
I took a picture of Michael and Staci as
they got their diplomas and walked up the stairs but I hurried so fast
I'm not sure it will turn out. Staci's beautiful long hair was SO
outstanding with her cap and gown. I hurried to where they went
hoping I might be able to find them but it was just too crowded so I
missed them. THEN I left the campus and went to their condominium
thinking they may go there but I didn't recognize any cars in front so I
left. My friend, Vicky Burton, lives close by them in Providence so I
went to see her but she wasn't home.
I went to "Lowes" in Logan and bought some
of that "Muriatic acid" and went to the cemetery in Brigham City to
clean my folks' headstone. It is just covered with that stuff from the
sprinkling system. I couldn't believe how much came off but the acid is
so strong and I didn't think to get a mask so I didn't dare work with it
very long. They told me to be sure I washed the acid off or it would
discolor the headstone permanently so I did that and then it started to
rain and I left. I want to go back again when I am better prepared and
do a better job. I put some flowers on Mother's grave and it looked
pretty when I left. I should go to Lehi and put some flowers on Aunt
Marvel's grave today but Annie said she would do it sometime this week.
Mary Ann - it was SO MUCH FUN to be with you
on Friday night. The young man who was a special friend of Mary Anns
during their High School years was married and we went to their
reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Mary Ann looked SO
darling and we had fun choosing a piece of cake and then sitting where
the "sound system" was to eat it - Ha!!! The reception was held in the
same room as the one for Barji & Boyd but it wasn't nearly as pretty - I
didn't think!!!! Mary Ann & David are getting unpacked and settled in
their lovely home - Mary Ann said she has done a little cooking and
everything works!!!
Jessie - thank you for your sweet invitation
for dinner at your Mom's home today. Jessie & Lee Anna are preparing
dinner for their Mom. I'm going to have dinner with the Weinerts and I
believe Rick is doing the cooking but I'm not sure!!!!
That's all the news - I think. I LOVE EACH
ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN
EVERYTHING YOU DO.
Grandma B XXXXXOOOOO