Insert: letter
Salt Lake City, Utah
December 10, 1985
Dear Kirk and Norma,
As I commence this letter and look at your neat handwriting, I apologize for writing this on the typewriter. Honestly, my handwriting has deteriorated so, that I am ashamed of it. So I do hope you will accept this and my sincere hope is that I do not offend.
The opening comments in your letter were so much like you. Yes, they were most enjoyable. The spirit of what you sad was, indeed sweet. That you recalled administering the sacrament with President Benson there was a refresher that I had forgotten. There is no doubt in my mind that we were together. My recollection of that period in our life is that the administration of the sacrament was almost our private domain!
Your comments about your pending retirement were most interesting. You used the word “exhilarated” to describe your emotions. My first thought in reading your comment was that this was difficult for me to understand. Then as you went on to mention the words “despair”, “litigation”, and “greed”, I though, how sobering. And I began to understand why you may feel relieved to be placing that aspect of professional life behind you. A Common fallacy for many today is to make generalities out of specifics. No doubt the improprieties of some in the health care professions have tended to brand others---they get the broad brush treatment. Your comments about those who truly try to server their fellow-men is accepted and shared. It is good that you are able to look back with a clear conscience knowing in your heart that your entire efforts have been self-less. That is good! In our Ward we have possibly a dozen men who are so dedicated. I recall when attending a Stake Conference, sitting on the stand, I began to perspire and before I fainted, a young man who worked in the Emergency Room at L.D.S. Hospital, was by my side and helped me out. The next thing I knew eight doctors were standing over me in the Stake President’s office consulting about my problem and symptoms. It was reassuring to know they were there and had my interests at heart. Fortunately, the problem passed quickly but not until after an ambulance ride to the hospital. Do you suppose the cost of that ride had anything to do with the fact that the symptoms have not occurred again? But, levity aside, your comment that “it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ” is certainly appropriate. I can say without question, that this influence in my life has molded my actions when temptation invited efforts inconsistent with commitments and covenants. It is warming to know we share the feeling of importance which the Gospel plays in our lives and the bonding influence it has between us.
Thanks for your comments about the two outlines I sent. I was pleased to share them with you.
That family affairs may bring you to Salt Lake in February was good news. Unquestionably this will be a busy time for you. But if you will let us know when you plan to come, we will make every effort to see you, even if only for a few moments. But if the situation will accommodate, our invitation to dinner still stands. So let’s see how affairs develop for you.
You mentioned the winter weather you have been experiencing this year. If you have been in recent contact with your children here, you are aware that we, too, have been having cold, snowy, and windy weather the past few days. When we get winds from the east, they are particularly miserable. The channeling influence of the canyons in the Wasatch really create gales. During the past two days winds reaching 65-70 mph velocity have played havoc with power lines, traffic, and work schedules. As I understand it, the phenomenon of such high winds here occurs when a high pressure area and its accompanying clockwise air circulation moves just to the north and east of Salt Lake while at the same time a low pressure area with its counter-clockwise air movement is located to the south and east of us. These converging winds move down the canyons of the Wasatch and we experience the miseries of blowing snow and biting cold. It took me forty minutes in it this morning to move the drifts out of my drive way so that I could leave for work. I was glad for a snow-thrower! The winds continue tonight but they seem to be subsiding.
I trust you have not had any winter illness. Our whole family has had colds, coughs, and varying degrees of hoarseness. Beverly, our #3 daughter, has been so hoarse she has not been able to talk for over a week. This has created a crisis in her life. She is a recital and one German class away from her Masters in Vocal Performance. And her Doctor is anything but encouraging. Yet he tells her there is no apparent reason why she should be hoarse to this degree. Throat cultures he took revealed nothing. My throat has been tight since last Friday and I am experiencing the usual symptoms accompanying a head cold. So we shall see. Life continues to have its challenges.
Do you ever reflect on your experience at Bob Irwin’s?
One of my sisters in Boise recently sent me a newspaper clipping from the Statesman announcing the wedding of one of Sumner Delana’s children. I had heard that he no longer practices law but I have never confirmed the information as fact. My son-in-law was a law clerk for a Judge in Boise for over a year and he said he never heard of Sumner. I understand Frank Crowe practices Dermatology in Boise and serves in some capacity at the U. of Oregon. As I remember he married Valerie Delana. When you were in Portland, did you ever hear of a Doctor named Arthur May? He was a fraternity Brother of mine at U. of W. and I think he is in Pediatrics. Well, enough of that.
Please don’t feel pressured to respond to this immediately. I am home alone tonight. Audrey and the girls went to “Scrouge” tonight. My hearing is bad enough that I just can’t follow stage dialogue so I am happier at home.
Please know your friendship is cherished. Audrey joins me in expressing the hope that both of you will enjoy a wonderful holiday season and that the spirit of the Savior will be with you and yours.
Sincerely you friend,
Ted [signed]
Kirk---- I have addressed this to your office in the hope it will be forwarded if you have left by the time it reaches you. I only find your Northshire Rd. address at the moment and I am certain you have moved from there.
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