Beach Haven

Week of 20 February 1984

Mom talked with her mother (Grammy Miller) this week. Learned my other grandmother (Grammy Beach) had a fall that week and was in the hospital. Another relative, Florence Gower Heckman, died of a heart attack at the young age of 46.

The previous week she mentioned an upcoming surgery with no specifics. This time she noted the specifics. “Went to Logan and had foot operated on. Took wedge shaped piece of bone out of top of foot. Wired 2 bones together. Have to be in cast for 1 month. On crutches for a week.”

That note was on Friday. On Saturday she notes that she was in pain all day. She says ‘the kids’ did the housework and waited on her. Curtis came over and helped. We all played games that night. She talked to Dad by phone. He was in San Diego for the Navy and staying at the house of ‘Uncle Ted’. Ted is Dad’s uncle. When Michelle and I lived in San Diego a few years after this, we got to know him and his wife. On Sunday she complained that we kids all left her and went to a missionary farewell in Brigham City. Despite our telling her not to go to work on Monday because of the pain she said, “But must, will take it easy today.”
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Week of 6 Feb 1984

Crystal started this week with tonsilitis. She had difficulty swallowing pills so Mom had to crush them before she could take the medicine prescription. By mid-week the tests came back, and it wasn’t tonsilitis, but strep throat. Little Jessica was also sick with a fever. Lisa took her to the doctor, and she had an ear infection. Mom also had a soar throat and worried she also had strep. Dad had a different issue. He had been having leg pain, so he went to the doctor that week also.
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That same week I went skiing and got a job at Crystal Hot Springs. She didn’t know it yet, but my first day on the job I met Michelle who eventually became my wife. Side note, this week I'm posting this entry will mark our 40th anniversary. I don’t know how Michelle’s managed to keep her sanity. On that Saturday Mom and I went to the temple for a few sessions. Also, at this point Curtis was a more regular part of her notes. That Sunday evening Mom, Dad, Lisa and Curtis played pinochle. 

Week of 19 December 1983

Poor Dan. As the previous entry notes, they purchased a car. Only a week later he lost control on some ice and wrecked it. The damage to the car must not have been so bad as Dan planned on repairing it himself. The damage to the trust they had in his driving was not so unscathed. This wasn’t the first car of theirs he left worse for wears.

As for me returning from my mission, after the initial excitement, she gives notes about some Christmas shopping on my behalf. The weather turned cold, and it was 0-degrees at their home. Lisa’s divorce became final this week. I spent time with a friend, Randy Owens. Curtis came over to visit Lisa. This would have been the first time I met him.

We took a trip to Pennsylvania to visit family over the holiday. She notes that we left that Thursday about 1:00am. I’m sure the parents would have had to work a full day before we could leave. Given the hour it would seem like Dad was working the swing shift and we had to wait for him. Going through Wyoming she noted that it was 70-degrees below zero. Perhaps she meant seven. I’ve been through Wyoming many times in the winter and that sounds more likely. In Wyoming the gas line froze, and they had to put some dry-gas in the tank to get the engine started. In Iowa, the snow was blowing, causing low visibility. There was similar weather in Illinois and Indiana. We arrived at her parents’ home about 10:30pm Christmas Eve. Grammy Miller had an open house for us over the holiday. Only a few people came because of an ice storm. Mom managed to get some genealogy done over the week. She mentions the names of people I remember and events that were common while I was growing up. For example, they played pinochle at the home of my Dad’s parents with old friends, Kate and Nick Morgan. 
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Week of 12 December 1983

​As  you might guess, much of this week was taken up with Christmas preparation activities. Shopping, decorations, crafts, cards, and a long list of things Mom did. The other preparation list related to my (Michael Beach) imminent return from my church mission to Spain. She did a lot of cooking for various parties this week as well.

That week they bought a 1978 Ford Fiesta for $2000. That week Lisa’s almost-ex was attempting to find her in SLC. Mom was thankful Lisa had returned to Honeyville so he couldn’t find her. Lisa was adamant that she did not want to get back with him. Mom was happy that was her position. He turned up at a hospital in Ogden with symptoms of an overdose. The hospital called to see if Lisa had any interest in going to the hospital. She said no. Mom noted “He’s trying the sympathy route.” After sharing some negative opinions of him she then points out, “Curtis came over. He’s a great kid.”

On Saturday of this week she writes, “Mike gets home tonight” then in large letters “Can’t wait!” Anyone who has ever sent out a missionary will understand that sentiment. That part must have been written during the day. After picking me up she writes that the plane was 40 minutes late. The airline apparently lost my large suitcase. I honestly don’t remember that. It was after midnight by the time we got home. It was 17 December but we decided to have our Christmas then and not wait, so presents were opened. She says we didn’t get to bed until about 2am.

On Sunday, after only 4 hours of sleep, Dad took me to the Stake Center to be released. There was a special Sunday School program that day. I was asked to give my testimony in Sacrament meeting. Vangie and her husband came up for Christmas dinner. More presents got exchanged and we watched a Christmas fireside on TV. Her last word for the day was “relaxed.”

Week of 5 December 1983

This week is the first I’ve seen mention of Curtis. He was among family helping Lisa pack and move her things. They all enjoyed lunch at the McDonalds inside Crossroads Plaza. Here’s a look at how things have changed. Mom grumbled about spending $16 on six people for lunch (not counting baby Jessica). Later that day they put up the Christmas tree. Her last note of that Saturday read, “tired – a full day.” Of course, that didn’t stop her from sharing another long list of stuff she did on Sunday.

The next several sentences on Sunday are telling about how life was for Mom at that point. “Most of the snow is going away. Feel very homesick for my family lately. Must be because it’s the holidays and we’re going to visit in a couple of weeks. Mike gets home in 6 days. Just can’t believe it. It seems forever. Dan needs a haircut. He don’t want one. Worked on Santas.”
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