Beach Haven

​Week of 7 March 1983
 
Mom starts by wishing herself a happy 42nd birthday. It was a normal work day for her. The evening was about running Dan, Cris, and ‘3 Ellis kids’ to go skating. On Tuesday, Dad was supposed to return home from a navy training trip. He didn’t show and didn’t call. The next day she checked with the Navy Reserve Center. They didn’t seem to know anything either. By Wednesday afternoon they got word the ship had been held up and got back to port for a day late. Mom and Cris were really upset that there was not a phone call. It’s clear they did not understand what it meant to be on a military vessel at sea in the days before cell phones or the Internet. Even at that, exact ship movements are considered classified information. Dad finally arrived home in the middle of the night on Wednesday night after she had gone to bed.
 
She had a foot doctor appointment on Friday. The doctor was a no-show. Dad was back at work as well, including overtime as usual. She did her normal listing of the many chores accomplished. Dad fixed Cris’ bike. That weekend she had a mammogram. She had a few lumps. She didn’t believe them to be cancerous, but expressed some concern. She was also stressing over poor decisions of Lisa’s first husband. He seemed unable to support her no matter where she was, which put financial stress on everyone else. Mom speculated more that he was unwilling rather than unable. 

Week of 28 Feb 1983

Like usual, Mom lists out all sorts of chores done by her, Dan and Crystal. She sent a letter to me on my mission, and got one as well, also a letter from Grammy Beach. On Monday she notes watching the final episode of M*A*S*H, “2-1/2 hour special when the war’s over and they all go home. Watched with the kids. Quilted.”

That Monday evening she spent time talking on the phone with Lisa about her trials, stuck in PA with grandparents who were not really feeling able to support. Dad was away with the Navy so she was feeling overwhelmed without him. The stress caused Mom to snap at Dan.

Much of the rest of the week was about Relief Society events (she had to teach a lesson), getting Dan to events like play practices and a Sunday School skating party. On Saturday, Dan rode his bike all the way to Brigham City for his play practice, about 10 miles each way. No note about how he got home. Likely the same way. She wrote, “It was good exercise for him.” Crystal was getting into needlepoint while Mom kept quilting. Work seemed to be good that week as she felt a need to mention it several times.