Beach Haven

Week of 11 June 1984

Mom missed a few days of work this week. She wasn’t feeling well, but perhaps it was more the result of the previous week’s discouragement than something physical. Most days this week in her journal simply list tasks accomplished on a given day. That Thursday there must have been some reconciliation. She went on a motorcycle ride with Dad. He worked overtime that weekend and she went to a bunch of yard sales with Lisa, Crystal, and Jessie. She found some things for Michelle and I in expectation of our wedding. She lists a few other items for herself and others.

That weekend was Father’s Day. We kids gave Dad a rolling tool chest we had pooled our money together for. Despite the day, Dad was working overtime. 
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Week of 28 May 1984

That Monday was Memorial Day. Interesting that I’m writing this on Memorial Day 2025. Aside from a long list of chores she got done, we had a picnic at the house. Michelle’s parents were there. She notes, “It was fun getting to know them. Like them a lot.” She specifically mentions making homemade ice cream, a favorite activity for Michelle to do now for our grandchildren.

Some sadness this week. “Someone stole our 3 dogs Sadie, Charlie, and Pete. Everyone upset.” Next she immediately states, “Cleaned kitchen cupboards.” Mom’s way of saying ‘moving on’.

That Saturday she attended Crystal’s first recital. Then on Sunday, Mom and Lisa sang in a choir at stake conference. Afterwards she spent eight hours working on genealogy. “Transferred records and got entry forms done – 72 names and 3 marriages.”
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Week of 21 May 1984

Dad received new baby chicks in the mail. There were 75 in all. They had work done on the truck clutch. Mom felt sick this week. Dad had an ear problem and had to get a special medicine for five days. Jessie had a fever. Crystal and Lisa were sore from some dance they participated in. That Wednesday was the only day Mom didn’t have a list of tasks to report on. That day she claimed a case of ‘lazyitis’.

Michelle graduated this week. Mom and Crystal attended and met her parents. I attended also of course. Interestingly, she doesn’t mention how that night I proposed to Michelle and she accepted. I guess she wasn’t ready to give up one of her boys yet.

That Sunday she notes how, “Crystal baked her first cake alone – I gave her directions.”
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2 weeks beginning 1 Apr 1984

I bound the time frame this way because Mom entered an undated post that starts “I’m so far behind – see if I can catch up!” Despite feeling ‘so far behind’ immediately following this entry is a normal one dated 15 April.

In this undated section she talks about an exchange student living with them for a month. His name was Hans Becker and was from Germany. Dan and I took him skiing. We also treated him to a dip at Crystal Hot Springs. Dan spent some time with Hans at a BYU language fair. He was also treated to a trip ice skating. Mom notes how he had never done any of these things before.

Jessica had two teeth come up on the bottom gum. Dad spent time with the Stake President in preparation for being rebaptized into the church. They finished painting in Crystal’s bedroom. On the 15th of April she mentions my then future wife, Michelle Thorsted, for the first time. We took Hans to visit our friends who have a large farm and ranch in Montpelier, Idaho so Hans could do some horse riding (another first for him). She noted that Michelle came along. That Sunday we had a large group for supper. Aside from the core family and Hans, Lisa and Jessica joined us as did Michelle. We played Tripoli that evening. 
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Week of 26 March 1984

Mom worked on removing wall paper from Crystal’s room walls. She found it to have six layers! Dad was also in the work. He was building something Mom called ‘wall units’. Not sure exactly what she means by that. She had a sick day from work that week, but still managed a list of tasks she knocked out at the house after resting in the morning.

That Thursday Mom and Dad had a dinner date. She also notes how Lisa had a date. Dan had a date. Mike (me) went skiing (no date then). That Friday night there was a big wind storm. She notes, “It howled all night.” 
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Week of 12 March 1984
 
As usual, Mom includes a long list of tasks she and others knocked out this week. Lisa and Crystal offered cleaning services to the senior center. I assume that was in Brigham City. There was a Relief Society birthday event. Mom made cakes and Lisa sang at the event.

Mom describes baby Jessica’s progress as follows:

“Jessica is 5 months, and she rolls over by herself and sits up by herself. She’s real strong, cutting teeth and slobbers a lot.  She does a lot of the same things I did as a baby. She sticks out her tongue and chews her clothes. My mom always said I did the same things.”

I believe Jessie has managed to advance from there. 😊

​Mom also notes there was continued snow this week. She was clearly ready for the snow to stop and spring to get started.

Week of 5 March 1984

Things were mixed this week for Mom. It was her 43rd birthday. The relationship between her and Dad was struggling. She was being cold to him as he was not always around and had no real reason for when he was away. He was feeling guilty because all we kids had gone out of our way to give her a good birthday with presents, cards and the like. Dad had done nothing. Mom bought a few things for herself and told Dad they were from him. He told her he felt guilty and that he was feeling like a bad example for the rest of us.
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There was a strange phone call in the middle of the night once this week. It was a man’s voice making crude remarks. Mom and Lisa assumed it was her ex-husband seeking some sort of sick revenge for the marriage breakup. It only happened that one night. Just in case, I slept on the couch and would answer any other phone calls to come in. 

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 30 Jan 1984

Lisa was having trouble finding work. Mom was worried about the family finances. She wrote, “They’re in pretty bad shape right now with all the kids back…” At the time, Dan and Crystal were still in school, Lisa moved in during the process of divorce, and I had just returned from serving a full-time mission for the church. She seems to have been down.

​Much of the family was at one stage or another of illness. On that Sunday she wrote, “Crystal had a headache. She was supposed to sing in Primary and had a scripture to read. I went to Choir practice along with Lisa. Fred was at work. Just at the end of choir, Sister Hocker came and got me and said Crystal had passed out during song practice. We went and got her in the bathroom. I got the bishop and Mark Bingham to give her a blessing. I brought her home. She had fever all day up and down, couldn’t eat much except chicken soup.” I think we’ve all had our version of this experience.

Week of 23 Jan 1984

That Monday states, “Dan stayed out too late – grounded.” The next day he was running a fever, then later that day Lisa began to have a fever also. The next day, Crystal followed suit. She doesn’t say anything about Jessie getting sick, but on Wednesday she notes that Jessie is getting better, then on Friday, she gets worse again.

This week, Dad flew out to San Diego for a trip with the Navy. After listing a bunch of chores, on Saturday Mom notes that she went to the gym and worked out, then went into a sauna. I have no idea which gym. She doesn’t say. Dad’s trip was only over the weekend, so she had to go back to the airport Sunday afternoon to pick him up. That day was very foggy. They got home late in the evening. Dad had brought her a silver necklace and a leather purse from Tiajuana. 
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