Dear Family,
Mother goes into the Hospital on Sunday, the ninth and will be operated on, on the 12th. Recent
X-rays of her knee have shown a spot on the bone that the Doctors cannot identify. At first they thought
it came from the injections of cortisone they had given her, but it is on the opposite side of her knee and
is the only spot that is painful, becoming progressively worse. The pain killer gives her very short relief
now. Before deciding to operate, the Doctors at D.M. consulted a civilian specialist.
I am writing this while she is in Relief Society as she gave me strict orders not to say anything to
you. She is fighting very hard to postpone the operation till after the Stobbe’s visit, even though the Dr.
told her she would be able to go fishing, if we all take care of her – this she hates. We have an
appointment with the Dr. this afternoon when she will make her last effort for postponement. I don’t
think she will get it. I am going against her wishes in telling you this, because I would like all of you to
remember her in your prayers when she goes under the knife a week from to-day.
Bill, I have come to the conclusion that you and Fran cannot tell the twins apart. You sent us a
picture of the other twin, but kept both of the first pictures that were alike. Send one of them back and
indicate on the back which of them it is – if you dare.
Everything depends on the outcome of Mother’s operation, as to when we can go your way, but
I do hope we can get there before your garden is all gone.
We finally got a letter from David with some corrections. He fell off the mast! His home Station
will be long Beach not Venice however letters will still reach him through the FPO San Francisco Zip
96601 to USS Somers.
The Stobbes should be airborne to day and can read this letter today at Marta’s”.
No letters from the rest of you. Tell my Granddaughters that the Granddaughter decker just went out
of circulation---no subscriptions!
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Tucson, May 16, 1968
Dear Family,
We have the chickenpox in El Monte, (Rinda and Wendy now) and David is in the hospital, (ships?
) with a broken wrist, bruises and contusions. He fell off scaffold, or the scaffold collapsed with him
while painting aboard ship. Mother talked to him so I did not get many details.
Mother had quite a nice Mother’s Day. Most of you called. The cards were all late but Rina’s
and that went by way of Manila. Bill and Fran’s card was, “par for the course”, three days late, but it was
worth waiting for. They enclosed beautiful color pictures of all the kids. Lloyd is almost as big as the
twins and looks very McKayish. He must be a well behaved child. My contribution to Mother’s Day was
to get her a corsage and take her to dinner.
You “Smog Smelling “ McKays will get this one more issue because of your phone call, but this is
the last! From the cooing and aahing when she opened your present I gathered she was quite happy
with it. She will undoubtedly write and thank you for it.
Betty you are no help! Just when Mother was getting reconciled to her new job you write
something like that! The other day I picked her up at Relief Society and she came out crying; “I’ll never
get relieved of that job now.” she boo hooed. When I asked her what had happened she said that all the
mothers of the girls in her Primary class had come to her individually and had thanked her and told her
how much more interest the girls were taking in Primary. I think that she too is becoming attached to
her 11 year olds. Last Sunday they sang a Mother’s Day song and you should have seen the look of pride
and affection on her face.
We got a letter from Julie and she says in affect; We are leaving on the 5th of June, on the 5th of
June we are leaving. They expect to stay a few days in Hawaii and visit with and Marta, so it will be
toward the 1st of July when they get here.
I have a talk on Sunday in commemoration of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood so I had
better get with it.
“AN ARTIST HAD NO INVISIBLE MEANS OF SUPPORT”
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
We have the chickenpox in El Monte, (Rinda and Wendy now) and David is in the hospital, (ships?
) with a broken wrist, bruises and contusions. He fell off scaffold, or the scaffold collapsed with him
while painting aboard ship. Mother talked to him so I did not get many details.
Mother had quite a nice Mother’s Day. Most of you called. The cards were all late but Rina’s
and that went by way of Manila. Bill and Fran’s card was, “par for the course”, three days late, but it was
worth waiting for. They enclosed beautiful color pictures of all the kids. Lloyd is almost as big as the
twins and looks very McKayish. He must be a well behaved child. My contribution to Mother’s Day was
to get her a corsage and take her to dinner.
You “Smog Smelling “ McKays will get this one more issue because of your phone call, but this is
the last! From the cooing and aahing when she opened your present I gathered she was quite happy
with it. She will undoubtedly write and thank you for it.
Betty you are no help! Just when Mother was getting reconciled to her new job you write
something like that! The other day I picked her up at Relief Society and she came out crying; “I’ll never
get relieved of that job now.” she boo hooed. When I asked her what had happened she said that all the
mothers of the girls in her Primary class had come to her individually and had thanked her and told her
how much more interest the girls were taking in Primary. I think that she too is becoming attached to
her 11 year olds. Last Sunday they sang a Mother’s Day song and you should have seen the look of pride
and affection on her face.
We got a letter from Julie and she says in affect; We are leaving on the 5th of June, on the 5th of
June we are leaving. They expect to stay a few days in Hawaii and visit with and Marta, so it will be
toward the 1st of July when they get here.
I have a talk on Sunday in commemoration of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood so I had
better get with it.
“AN ARTIST HAD NO INVISIBLE MEANS OF SUPPORT”
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Tucson, April 30, 1968
A GRANDSON “DECKER”
Dear Grandsons,
I wrote a “Granddaughter Decker” not long ago and I guess they did not like it as no one
answered. So now I write to the boys to see if I have better luck.
I am working on my life story. As I complete each page I give it to your Grandmother to read and
correct. Yesterday I completed an episode about my experiences in the Horse Cavalry and passed it on
to Grandma. She read for a while and burst out laughing. “What’s the matter?” I asked, I did not
remember writing anything funny in that page. “Do you mean that you were in “F Troop?” She
answered and laughed all the harder. She was thinking of that goofy “F Troop” on TV, which is an insult
to a good Trooper.
As I wrote of my Cavalry experiences I was reminded of many experiences I did not write about.
My horse was a little red mare. She was as sleek as a race horse and could jump like a bird flying.
Everyone was armed with a saber, not a curved sword as you usually picture a saber, but a long straight
double edged blade. To stab the “heads” as our horse jumped the wall. “Red” as I called my horse, went
over the jumps so smoothly that it was no trouble for me to get a hundred percent hits with my saber.
Well, one day she got careless and skimmed the wall too close. A protruding rock caught her front legs
and tore the skin form them. I never rode her again.
I was leading Red to the vets, heartsick because of her injury, when I passed a group of Officers.
I kept turning to watch Red and paid no attention to them. A captain rode over to me and started to
bawl me out for not saluting. Then I heard a deep voice shout, “Leave that Sergeant alone Captain!
Can’t you see his horse is hurt!” I looked up and saw that the man talking was the Commanding General.
I received a letter from Steven McKay not long ago. I would like to hear from the rest of you,
especially you Bob , John and Mike. Did you have fun at Disneyland? Mark, we would like very much to
hear from you. What are your plans for this summer. Tell your Mother and Dad that their subscription
to the “old Folks” Decker just expired and the only way they can get it started again is to write.
Scot, you owe me two or three letters.
Grandma sends her love and joins me in hoping and praying that those of you who go to church
will continue to do so and those of you who don’t will start going. In this day and age there isn’t much
that is stable to tie to. The older I get the more I realize that Education is a must – it is no longer the
same as when I was a boy. All you needed then was a strong back and a weak mind.
Vaya Con Dios
Grandpa
Dear Grandsons,
I wrote a “Granddaughter Decker” not long ago and I guess they did not like it as no one
answered. So now I write to the boys to see if I have better luck.
I am working on my life story. As I complete each page I give it to your Grandmother to read and
correct. Yesterday I completed an episode about my experiences in the Horse Cavalry and passed it on
to Grandma. She read for a while and burst out laughing. “What’s the matter?” I asked, I did not
remember writing anything funny in that page. “Do you mean that you were in “F Troop?” She
answered and laughed all the harder. She was thinking of that goofy “F Troop” on TV, which is an insult
to a good Trooper.
As I wrote of my Cavalry experiences I was reminded of many experiences I did not write about.
My horse was a little red mare. She was as sleek as a race horse and could jump like a bird flying.
Everyone was armed with a saber, not a curved sword as you usually picture a saber, but a long straight
double edged blade. To stab the “heads” as our horse jumped the wall. “Red” as I called my horse, went
over the jumps so smoothly that it was no trouble for me to get a hundred percent hits with my saber.
Well, one day she got careless and skimmed the wall too close. A protruding rock caught her front legs
and tore the skin form them. I never rode her again.
I was leading Red to the vets, heartsick because of her injury, when I passed a group of Officers.
I kept turning to watch Red and paid no attention to them. A captain rode over to me and started to
bawl me out for not saluting. Then I heard a deep voice shout, “Leave that Sergeant alone Captain!
Can’t you see his horse is hurt!” I looked up and saw that the man talking was the Commanding General.
I received a letter from Steven McKay not long ago. I would like to hear from the rest of you,
especially you Bob , John and Mike. Did you have fun at Disneyland? Mark, we would like very much to
hear from you. What are your plans for this summer. Tell your Mother and Dad that their subscription
to the “old Folks” Decker just expired and the only way they can get it started again is to write.
Scot, you owe me two or three letters.
Grandma sends her love and joins me in hoping and praying that those of you who go to church
will continue to do so and those of you who don’t will start going. In this day and age there isn’t much
that is stable to tie to. The older I get the more I realize that Education is a must – it is no longer the
same as when I was a boy. All you needed then was a strong back and a weak mind.
Vaya Con Dios
Grandpa
Tucson, April 23, 1968
Dear Family,
We have received a couple of letters since my last “decker”, from Rina and Marta. Rina’s letter
was a tale of woe. It reminded me about the story of the Farmer, whose best mule broke her leg etc,
etc. She had a week when everything went wrong. You did not say anything about Lane, Rina. I trust he
has recovered from his illness. You must have been hard to get along with about then, with the Bazaar
toping everything off. I sympathized with Frank.
Marta too had her troubles. Wendy was quite ill, then Candy got the Chicken Pox. We, talked to
the Wilsons Sunday. The Meeker family came to L.A. Easter and it seemed like they had a really good
time.
Wow, you two think you got troubles, let me tell you mine! A couple of weeks ago, the First
Counselor of our Ward, (whose wife is Stake Primary President) came to our house and asked Mother to
teach a class in Primary- the 11 year old girls. She accepted, with a lot of reservations, but she did
accept. After her first Primary meeting she was ready to throw in the sponge, because she found out
that she not only had to teach but to deep records, make reports, take ‘em camping and what have you.
Between us both we have more books than a C.P.A. She has been trying to resign ever since, but the
trouble is, that the girls all like her and some of them have taken an active interest who were dragging
their feet before. SO, she takes it out on me! She has nightmares, because none of the Church
Authorities will accept her resignation or at least they talk her out of resigning every time she tries. She
even had a special Tutor to-day. I wish that some of you girls who have been in her spot would write to
her and offer her advice and or commiseration. EVEN MY TYPING HAS DEVELOPED AN ABRRATION AND
REFUSES TO WRITE PROPERLY EXCEPT IN CAPS.
I wrote a “Granddaughter Decker” right after Easter, in which I included other family news which
you must have read. I don’t think this effort was very well received, because I received no comment or
letter from any of the girls.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
We have received a couple of letters since my last “decker”, from Rina and Marta. Rina’s letter
was a tale of woe. It reminded me about the story of the Farmer, whose best mule broke her leg etc,
etc. She had a week when everything went wrong. You did not say anything about Lane, Rina. I trust he
has recovered from his illness. You must have been hard to get along with about then, with the Bazaar
toping everything off. I sympathized with Frank.
Marta too had her troubles. Wendy was quite ill, then Candy got the Chicken Pox. We, talked to
the Wilsons Sunday. The Meeker family came to L.A. Easter and it seemed like they had a really good
time.
Wow, you two think you got troubles, let me tell you mine! A couple of weeks ago, the First
Counselor of our Ward, (whose wife is Stake Primary President) came to our house and asked Mother to
teach a class in Primary- the 11 year old girls. She accepted, with a lot of reservations, but she did
accept. After her first Primary meeting she was ready to throw in the sponge, because she found out
that she not only had to teach but to deep records, make reports, take ‘em camping and what have you.
Between us both we have more books than a C.P.A. She has been trying to resign ever since, but the
trouble is, that the girls all like her and some of them have taken an active interest who were dragging
their feet before. SO, she takes it out on me! She has nightmares, because none of the Church
Authorities will accept her resignation or at least they talk her out of resigning every time she tries. She
even had a special Tutor to-day. I wish that some of you girls who have been in her spot would write to
her and offer her advice and or commiseration. EVEN MY TYPING HAS DEVELOPED AN ABRRATION AND
REFUSES TO WRITE PROPERLY EXCEPT IN CAPS.
I wrote a “Granddaughter Decker” right after Easter, in which I included other family news which
you must have read. I don’t think this effort was very well received, because I received no comment or
letter from any of the girls.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
April 17, 1968
Dear Family,
We enjoyed our stay with the Wilsons and the McKays, but our trip home was quite hectic. We
hit high winds most of the way home and at one point West of Indio, we drove for miles, (or so it
seemed), through a blinding dust cloud. We could not see the road, so we got behind a vehicle with a
tall silhouette and stayed on his tail until we emerged.
It seems lately we have been experiencing a number of firsts, besides driving in a dust cloud.
Most of these firsts happened in the Temple. There was another one when we went with Lloyd and
Carol. It seems there were too many people going through the marriage and sealing session, so they
pulled all those who were not close relatives of the bride and groom and formed another group. Even So
the room was full with those of us who were left. We did not get out of the temple until two o’clock.
There were quite a few of Carol’s relatives as well as friends from the Ward. Brian has penchant for
flipping light switches on and off. A few weeks past, the McKays attended Sacrament meeting in the
Wilson’s Ward. Somehow, they haven’t quite figured out how, Brian found the switch and left the
Sacrament meeting in darkness. When they brought him into the sealing room, which is illuminated by
beautiful crystal chandeliers, he looked up and said: “Ah, lights, lights!” I immediately checked the walls
to see if any switches were in his reach. He was very much a gentleman during the ceremony.
We found letters from Betty, Rina and David when we returned home. We were indeed pleased
to hear that David had received a promotion. We realize that the navy gives only earned promotions,
and he had to be on the ball and do a lot of studying to get it. His ship is presently in San Diego where is
will undergo a further course of training. His grade is now ETR2 and his address is the same. Why don’t
you drop him a line?
Rina was taking Scot to school when someone ran into her. The reason she had been taking him
to school is because the school bus had been in an accident. Scot should be getting gun shy soon and be
riding his bike to school. Congratulations on you’re pitching in the little league Scot. Your “Hole-in-one
and not hitters make you the only claim for fame this family has sports wise speaking that is.
Betty loaded up her “Bevy of Beauties” and paid Grandma Rice a visit in concord. She has a pool
and Betty said the girls really had a ball. They are so used to swimming in Tahoe snow water that I
wonder how they could stand that warm pool. Betty has promised Marta that she will let Robin visit her
for a while after school is out. Even though it puts my nose out of joint, (she would not let Robin visit us
last year). Marta has developed a bad knee; something like Mother’s and is having a hard time getting
around. Her own girls help her a lot, but there are a lot of things she can’t do.
Marion, we are still waiting for a letter from you. I told Mimi in my last letter to her that we
were tentatively planning on going to your house, if it is all right with you.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
We enjoyed our stay with the Wilsons and the McKays, but our trip home was quite hectic. We
hit high winds most of the way home and at one point West of Indio, we drove for miles, (or so it
seemed), through a blinding dust cloud. We could not see the road, so we got behind a vehicle with a
tall silhouette and stayed on his tail until we emerged.
It seems lately we have been experiencing a number of firsts, besides driving in a dust cloud.
Most of these firsts happened in the Temple. There was another one when we went with Lloyd and
Carol. It seems there were too many people going through the marriage and sealing session, so they
pulled all those who were not close relatives of the bride and groom and formed another group. Even So
the room was full with those of us who were left. We did not get out of the temple until two o’clock.
There were quite a few of Carol’s relatives as well as friends from the Ward. Brian has penchant for
flipping light switches on and off. A few weeks past, the McKays attended Sacrament meeting in the
Wilson’s Ward. Somehow, they haven’t quite figured out how, Brian found the switch and left the
Sacrament meeting in darkness. When they brought him into the sealing room, which is illuminated by
beautiful crystal chandeliers, he looked up and said: “Ah, lights, lights!” I immediately checked the walls
to see if any switches were in his reach. He was very much a gentleman during the ceremony.
We found letters from Betty, Rina and David when we returned home. We were indeed pleased
to hear that David had received a promotion. We realize that the navy gives only earned promotions,
and he had to be on the ball and do a lot of studying to get it. His ship is presently in San Diego where is
will undergo a further course of training. His grade is now ETR2 and his address is the same. Why don’t
you drop him a line?
Rina was taking Scot to school when someone ran into her. The reason she had been taking him
to school is because the school bus had been in an accident. Scot should be getting gun shy soon and be
riding his bike to school. Congratulations on you’re pitching in the little league Scot. Your “Hole-in-one
and not hitters make you the only claim for fame this family has sports wise speaking that is.
Betty loaded up her “Bevy of Beauties” and paid Grandma Rice a visit in concord. She has a pool
and Betty said the girls really had a ball. They are so used to swimming in Tahoe snow water that I
wonder how they could stand that warm pool. Betty has promised Marta that she will let Robin visit her
for a while after school is out. Even though it puts my nose out of joint, (she would not let Robin visit us
last year). Marta has developed a bad knee; something like Mother’s and is having a hard time getting
around. Her own girls help her a lot, but there are a lot of things she can’t do.
Marion, we are still waiting for a letter from you. I told Mimi in my last letter to her that we
were tentatively planning on going to your house, if it is all right with you.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
Tucson, April 9, 1968
Dear Family,
We have heard from several of you since my last Decker, Bill, Betty, Marion, Rina, and David.
While I have written to some of you under separate cover, I feel that I actually owe a letter this time.
Bill’s family is fine. Lloyd is beginning to have some of the twin’s tendencies of getting into
trouble. I am sorry about that. I thought, with that name he will be a model child- like his name sake.
Bill has been doing work on the McKay line. He has shook more relatives out of the bushes than I had
ever heard of. Two Aunts, Mary J. and Judy, the first born of David, (your great Grandfather), I had not
even heard mentioned. Bill, your Great Grandfather, Alexander, is supposed to have been born in
Scotland; consequently, he may not have been listed in that Tenn. Census, because he was dead or out
of the State at that time. Anyway it is very interesting. I have passed your findings on to Ruth for her
comment. Maybe we are descendents of Abraham McKay, (One of the early settlers in Tenn., and
a “Hard Shelled” Baptist). Maybe that is where we get our Yiddish snozzle.
Betty’s family also got the San Francisco bug, but they recovered much more promptly than I.
She was quite pleased because the girl’s report cards were so good. We did enjoy your long newsy letter
Betty, even though you did write it over a period of several weeks.
The Wilsons and McKays went to some Church sponsored program, a week ago. Wendy’s
babysitter let her get chilled and she caught a cold. Let’s don’t use that Sitter again Marta. Call me I will
Baby sit for you. We had hoped that the Wilsons might join us for Easter, but they can’t get away.
Marion, we sent three jackets for the boys and still have $10.00 left. Does Mimi still want the squaw
boots? If so send the size. If the coats don’t fit the boys, maybe you can sell them to someone there.
Don’t let them throw the coats in the washer or adios.
David says he has been so busy aboard ship that his extra-curricular activities have been badly
curtailed. He is going on another shakedown cruise soon.
I just realized Lloyd, that you are the only one we have not heard from. What is the matter? Has
Martin Luther King got you down?
Mother and I are contemplating hiding our over Easter week end. It makes us too homesick for
our grandchildren, to watch the Easter Program.
Mother was called by the Bishopric to be a teacher in Primary. She will have the 11 year old
girls, but she has lots of doubts about the whole thing.
Love,
Dad
We have heard from several of you since my last Decker, Bill, Betty, Marion, Rina, and David.
While I have written to some of you under separate cover, I feel that I actually owe a letter this time.
Bill’s family is fine. Lloyd is beginning to have some of the twin’s tendencies of getting into
trouble. I am sorry about that. I thought, with that name he will be a model child- like his name sake.
Bill has been doing work on the McKay line. He has shook more relatives out of the bushes than I had
ever heard of. Two Aunts, Mary J. and Judy, the first born of David, (your great Grandfather), I had not
even heard mentioned. Bill, your Great Grandfather, Alexander, is supposed to have been born in
Scotland; consequently, he may not have been listed in that Tenn. Census, because he was dead or out
of the State at that time. Anyway it is very interesting. I have passed your findings on to Ruth for her
comment. Maybe we are descendents of Abraham McKay, (One of the early settlers in Tenn., and
a “Hard Shelled” Baptist). Maybe that is where we get our Yiddish snozzle.
Betty’s family also got the San Francisco bug, but they recovered much more promptly than I.
She was quite pleased because the girl’s report cards were so good. We did enjoy your long newsy letter
Betty, even though you did write it over a period of several weeks.
The Wilsons and McKays went to some Church sponsored program, a week ago. Wendy’s
babysitter let her get chilled and she caught a cold. Let’s don’t use that Sitter again Marta. Call me I will
Baby sit for you. We had hoped that the Wilsons might join us for Easter, but they can’t get away.
Marion, we sent three jackets for the boys and still have $10.00 left. Does Mimi still want the squaw
boots? If so send the size. If the coats don’t fit the boys, maybe you can sell them to someone there.
Don’t let them throw the coats in the washer or adios.
David says he has been so busy aboard ship that his extra-curricular activities have been badly
curtailed. He is going on another shakedown cruise soon.
I just realized Lloyd, that you are the only one we have not heard from. What is the matter? Has
Martin Luther King got you down?
Mother and I are contemplating hiding our over Easter week end. It makes us too homesick for
our grandchildren, to watch the Easter Program.
Mother was called by the Bishopric to be a teacher in Primary. She will have the 11 year old
girls, but she has lots of doubts about the whole thing.
Love,
Dad
IT COULD HAPPEN (A bad dream by L.J. McKay)
We had been on vacation in the mountains for several weeks. We camped in a deep canyon,
where radio reception was nil. We had been completely out of touch with our ever worsening world and
had enjoyed it. When our mountain road joined the Freeway, on our way home, I drove for about an
hour before it occurred to me that something was different- something was wrong. I thought about
commenting to my wife, but she was dozing and I did not want to disturb her. I drove another thirty
minutes before it occurred to me that my perturbation was caused by the absence of trucks from the
freeway traffic, neither had we met or passed a train on the track that paralleled the Freeway. Now, for
the first time I turned on the radio and heard the frightening news that a strike had not only tied up all
trucking, but had curtailed rail shipments also.
I awakened my wife and gave her the bad news. We discussed the strike and its probable effect
on us. We now realized just why Church Authorities had been hammering at us for years to accumulate
a year’s supply of food. We had not done it. We are old, in retired status. We had concluded that we
would probably be dead before any emergency arose, necessitating the consumption of the year’s
supply. Now we had been caught with our procrastination showing. We had a small savings account.
We decided that we would use this money to accumulate all the food stuffs it would buy.
When we came into our Home town, we stopped at the first Supermarket we encountered. We
were confronted by a large sign as we entered the door; “ONLY ONE STAPLE TO A CUSTOMER. Two LBS
OF PRODUCE TO A CUSTOMER”. The shelves had a leprous appearance. Many were empty and others
badly depleted with large bare spots. Pushing through the crowded aisles we finally managed to
partially fill one cart. A can of this and a can of that. We got the last sack of flour, but the sugar supply
was exhausted. The produce notice was a laugh. There was none. Meat seemed to be in plentiful
supply, but our freezing compart would only hold so much. We dropped everything and shopped until
padlocks appeared on market doors with a sigh; “CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE”. We still had money
to spend, but no food was available. We did manage to buy a quarter of beef from a meat market, which
we cut in thin strips and hung on the clothes line to dry. We prayed that it would not rain and took turns
standing guard to fight off stray dogs, who had been released by their owners and were now half wild
and starving.
When we were force to stop buying, we took inventory. We concluded that we had enough food
stuff to last us several weeks, maybe, three or four months if we went on short rations. My wife
sighed; “Well” she said, “I hope the strike is over before we run out of food.” Then she brightened; “but
we can always drive to one of our children in California or Utah”. They have a year’s supply and they all
want us to live with them.” “You forget one thing darling” I answered
“What is that?”
“No gasoline”
where radio reception was nil. We had been completely out of touch with our ever worsening world and
had enjoyed it. When our mountain road joined the Freeway, on our way home, I drove for about an
hour before it occurred to me that something was different- something was wrong. I thought about
commenting to my wife, but she was dozing and I did not want to disturb her. I drove another thirty
minutes before it occurred to me that my perturbation was caused by the absence of trucks from the
freeway traffic, neither had we met or passed a train on the track that paralleled the Freeway. Now, for
the first time I turned on the radio and heard the frightening news that a strike had not only tied up all
trucking, but had curtailed rail shipments also.
I awakened my wife and gave her the bad news. We discussed the strike and its probable effect
on us. We now realized just why Church Authorities had been hammering at us for years to accumulate
a year’s supply of food. We had not done it. We are old, in retired status. We had concluded that we
would probably be dead before any emergency arose, necessitating the consumption of the year’s
supply. Now we had been caught with our procrastination showing. We had a small savings account.
We decided that we would use this money to accumulate all the food stuffs it would buy.
When we came into our Home town, we stopped at the first Supermarket we encountered. We
were confronted by a large sign as we entered the door; “ONLY ONE STAPLE TO A CUSTOMER. Two LBS
OF PRODUCE TO A CUSTOMER”. The shelves had a leprous appearance. Many were empty and others
badly depleted with large bare spots. Pushing through the crowded aisles we finally managed to
partially fill one cart. A can of this and a can of that. We got the last sack of flour, but the sugar supply
was exhausted. The produce notice was a laugh. There was none. Meat seemed to be in plentiful
supply, but our freezing compart would only hold so much. We dropped everything and shopped until
padlocks appeared on market doors with a sigh; “CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE”. We still had money
to spend, but no food was available. We did manage to buy a quarter of beef from a meat market, which
we cut in thin strips and hung on the clothes line to dry. We prayed that it would not rain and took turns
standing guard to fight off stray dogs, who had been released by their owners and were now half wild
and starving.
When we were force to stop buying, we took inventory. We concluded that we had enough food
stuff to last us several weeks, maybe, three or four months if we went on short rations. My wife
sighed; “Well” she said, “I hope the strike is over before we run out of food.” Then she brightened; “but
we can always drive to one of our children in California or Utah”. They have a year’s supply and they all
want us to live with them.” “You forget one thing darling” I answered
“What is that?”
“No gasoline”
Monday, December 6, 2010
From Bill, March 1968
Dear Lloyd,
We were really tickled to get your letter and couldn’t have been more pleased over the news.
I’m sure that this is a decision that you will never regret. I know from experience that there is nothing
that will bring more permanence and stability into your marriage than being sealed to each other. Or for
that matter nothing that will bring more joy into your family union. My only regret is that we probably
won’t be able to take advantage of your invitation. Fran wouldn’t leave the two little ones and I’m afraid
that to make the trip in two days would be a little bit too hectic. It’s too bad that you didn’t pick the
week end before (Conference weekend) we get our Easter Vacation then and get off the 4th 5th 6th and
7th. This would have given us four days which would have ment that we could have brought the whole
family.
I know that you have probably chosen the date after much deliberation and that there are a lot
of folks there to consider so we wouldn’t ask you to change it for our sake but it sure would nice if you
could without a lot of trouble. We would very much like to be there. This would also give us time to
spend more than just a couple of hours with you.
What ever the case we are very happy for you and Carol and know that you will not regret your
decision.
Even if we are not able to attend your sealing we will be looking forward with anticipation to
your trip here this summer.
Make sure you take advantage of having Dad and Mom in the Temple with you and get sealed to
them. Usually you have to make arrangements ahead of time with the Temple.
Bill, Fran and Family
We were really tickled to get your letter and couldn’t have been more pleased over the news.
I’m sure that this is a decision that you will never regret. I know from experience that there is nothing
that will bring more permanence and stability into your marriage than being sealed to each other. Or for
that matter nothing that will bring more joy into your family union. My only regret is that we probably
won’t be able to take advantage of your invitation. Fran wouldn’t leave the two little ones and I’m afraid
that to make the trip in two days would be a little bit too hectic. It’s too bad that you didn’t pick the
week end before (Conference weekend) we get our Easter Vacation then and get off the 4th 5th 6th and
7th. This would have given us four days which would have ment that we could have brought the whole
family.
I know that you have probably chosen the date after much deliberation and that there are a lot
of folks there to consider so we wouldn’t ask you to change it for our sake but it sure would nice if you
could without a lot of trouble. We would very much like to be there. This would also give us time to
spend more than just a couple of hours with you.
What ever the case we are very happy for you and Carol and know that you will not regret your
decision.
Even if we are not able to attend your sealing we will be looking forward with anticipation to
your trip here this summer.
Make sure you take advantage of having Dad and Mom in the Temple with you and get sealed to
them. Usually you have to make arrangements ahead of time with the Temple.
Bill, Fran and Family
March 22, 1968
I had begun to think that I had finished writing deckers as none of you had answered my last
one, when we received a long delayed letter from Rina. Who had been in Hong Kong – the Chinese
Santa Claus town. They came home with a lot of loot, including a “Golden Touch” Singer sewing
machine. Rina, I don’t think you read my last decker through or you would have caught the paragraph
about going fishing. Now if you read this far, we want you to set a date as when you want to go fishing.
They are having an education Program to-day. At the Priest Ex, meeting a couple of weeks ago,
Bishop Post, telling about the wonderful speakers, mentioned that he had seen you and Frank both cry,
when you attended one of these meeting several years ago. I think it is mostly about raising a family.
We are not going. We have already made our mistakes, besides, it cost five bucks.
The weather here is beginning to get nice again. I have had my shirt off a couple of times. Bill, I
heard over the radio day before yesterday that five feet of snow fell in S.E. Utah. Did you get any of this?
If you still have snow in May, all bets are off.
I am well enough now so that I have started doing a little work again. The other day I was
working on a missing Person case in Nogales, when our Landlady dropped in to visit Mother. When she
asked for me, mother told her that I was looking for a girl; “My goodness! She said, Don’t you mind?”
We did get a short note from David; you could hardly call it a letter. His ship went to sea on a
shakedown cruise. He was very proud of the fact that de did not get sea sick. He has a new address, but
he has changed his writing style and we could not make it our very well. When I am sure of it, I will pass
it along. This will be his permanent address now, F. P. O one, which will stick to him- even in Viet Nam.
We would like to hear from some of you Calif. People to learn how the “bug” treated you. Every
time we turn on T.V. we hear of someone who has gone to Cal. And caught the bug.
Vaya Con Dios
Dad
one, when we received a long delayed letter from Rina. Who had been in Hong Kong – the Chinese
Santa Claus town. They came home with a lot of loot, including a “Golden Touch” Singer sewing
machine. Rina, I don’t think you read my last decker through or you would have caught the paragraph
about going fishing. Now if you read this far, we want you to set a date as when you want to go fishing.
They are having an education Program to-day. At the Priest Ex, meeting a couple of weeks ago,
Bishop Post, telling about the wonderful speakers, mentioned that he had seen you and Frank both cry,
when you attended one of these meeting several years ago. I think it is mostly about raising a family.
We are not going. We have already made our mistakes, besides, it cost five bucks.
The weather here is beginning to get nice again. I have had my shirt off a couple of times. Bill, I
heard over the radio day before yesterday that five feet of snow fell in S.E. Utah. Did you get any of this?
If you still have snow in May, all bets are off.
I am well enough now so that I have started doing a little work again. The other day I was
working on a missing Person case in Nogales, when our Landlady dropped in to visit Mother. When she
asked for me, mother told her that I was looking for a girl; “My goodness! She said, Don’t you mind?”
We did get a short note from David; you could hardly call it a letter. His ship went to sea on a
shakedown cruise. He was very proud of the fact that de did not get sea sick. He has a new address, but
he has changed his writing style and we could not make it our very well. When I am sure of it, I will pass
it along. This will be his permanent address now, F. P. O one, which will stick to him- even in Viet Nam.
We would like to hear from some of you Calif. People to learn how the “bug” treated you. Every
time we turn on T.V. we hear of someone who has gone to Cal. And caught the bug.
Vaya Con Dios
Dad
March 6, 1968
Dear Family,
It seems a long time since I wrote the last decker and for a while I wondered if I would ever write
another. Whatever that bug was that hit me in San Francisco, it was sure a lulu. I began to get ill as we
reached Marta’s on the way back and was afraid I would pass the bug on to the baby. This did not
happen, but we left there as soon as we could. I remember driving the Freeway, than Mother took over
and drove almost all the rest of the way to Tucson. I sure had a time of it. It took the prayers of those of
you who knew I was ill, plus the administering by the Elders, plus a peck of antibiotics, to snap me out of
it and I am still a bit on the week side.
Rina, you are the only one we have received a letter from since we returned. In a way I am glad
that your “slow boat to China” tour was canceled. Knowing what a Mamma’s boy my buddy Lane is, I
hate to see him left alone. Now, our only plans for the summer are to go to Bill’s about the time School
is out, so that he can go fishing with us before he goes to work in the timber. Then we are coming back
to Tucson to wait for you. If you truly want to go to the white Mts., (I am afraid you will want to stay
around Tucson and yak with friends), I think you should be thinking of reserving a camper, tent or what
have you I mind, right now.
Another reason I have not written is because my church responsibilities were in such a mess.
The forming of the new Ward, (8th) took about 35 families from our Ward. I lost Home teachers, had to
regroup my Home Teaching areas and even lost my Assistant, which is the hardest blow. The fact that I
did not go to church for two weeks after we returned, did not help either. It seems the people we lost
were the young energetic ones, like Bill Biggs, way out in the East side of town. When I bugged the
Bishop about getting me an assistant he showed me a list of 16 vacancies he could not fill.
Mother talked to Marion Sunday. Her entire family had also been bitten by the bug that got me
and were just getting back on even keel. We have had not report from the Rices or the McKays and have
been wondering if they too were ill.
Mother and I started at the wrong end of Skousen’s thousands of years. We started at the
4ourth thousand and we are now reading the 1st thousand. His explanation of things I have always been
a bit skeptical of , seem very logical to me and I don’t believe I ever did thank you for your book, The
Naked communist”, also by Skousen. I am reading parts of it in our weekly Home Evening. Last night our
lesson was #26 in the Manuel. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
Mother is still having a lot of aches and pains, but keeps going just the same. I think she is just
feeling pains she did not have time to feel while I was ill. It was quite a strain on her. She is in Relief
Society to-day. Her work also went to pot while I was ill and she is working overtime now, getting it
squared away.
Hey David! Did you find a new girl among the mob that visited the ship? How about dropping us
a line?
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
It seems a long time since I wrote the last decker and for a while I wondered if I would ever write
another. Whatever that bug was that hit me in San Francisco, it was sure a lulu. I began to get ill as we
reached Marta’s on the way back and was afraid I would pass the bug on to the baby. This did not
happen, but we left there as soon as we could. I remember driving the Freeway, than Mother took over
and drove almost all the rest of the way to Tucson. I sure had a time of it. It took the prayers of those of
you who knew I was ill, plus the administering by the Elders, plus a peck of antibiotics, to snap me out of
it and I am still a bit on the week side.
Rina, you are the only one we have received a letter from since we returned. In a way I am glad
that your “slow boat to China” tour was canceled. Knowing what a Mamma’s boy my buddy Lane is, I
hate to see him left alone. Now, our only plans for the summer are to go to Bill’s about the time School
is out, so that he can go fishing with us before he goes to work in the timber. Then we are coming back
to Tucson to wait for you. If you truly want to go to the white Mts., (I am afraid you will want to stay
around Tucson and yak with friends), I think you should be thinking of reserving a camper, tent or what
have you I mind, right now.
Another reason I have not written is because my church responsibilities were in such a mess.
The forming of the new Ward, (8th) took about 35 families from our Ward. I lost Home teachers, had to
regroup my Home Teaching areas and even lost my Assistant, which is the hardest blow. The fact that I
did not go to church for two weeks after we returned, did not help either. It seems the people we lost
were the young energetic ones, like Bill Biggs, way out in the East side of town. When I bugged the
Bishop about getting me an assistant he showed me a list of 16 vacancies he could not fill.
Mother talked to Marion Sunday. Her entire family had also been bitten by the bug that got me
and were just getting back on even keel. We have had not report from the Rices or the McKays and have
been wondering if they too were ill.
Mother and I started at the wrong end of Skousen’s thousands of years. We started at the
4ourth thousand and we are now reading the 1st thousand. His explanation of things I have always been
a bit skeptical of , seem very logical to me and I don’t believe I ever did thank you for your book, The
Naked communist”, also by Skousen. I am reading parts of it in our weekly Home Evening. Last night our
lesson was #26 in the Manuel. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
Mother is still having a lot of aches and pains, but keeps going just the same. I think she is just
feeling pains she did not have time to feel while I was ill. It was quite a strain on her. She is in Relief
Society to-day. Her work also went to pot while I was ill and she is working overtime now, getting it
squared away.
Hey David! Did you find a new girl among the mob that visited the ship? How about dropping us
a line?
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
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