After Dad and I finally arrived in Utah, we stopped at Kathryn’s home and spent the night. Mom had gone on home to Cedar with Pattie and left David with Kathy and Jim. They had a good time with him and Kathy told me they wanted to keep him. I was very glad to see my darling boy again. I was also very glad to sleep in a bed and have a shower. Kathy washed my clothes for me and we were refreshed and ready to head back on the road to continue our journey to Cedar City; about 250 miles more to drive.
Mom and Dad opened up their home to us. As I look back on it there seemed to be no question as to what I should do. I should go home to Cedar City. There was really no reason to stay in Washington. Back in Cedar I would have my parents to help with the kids. I would be in familiar territory. I thought I could go back to school to finish my degree. It just seemed like the best place to be.
My parent’s home was fairly new. There were two bedrooms upstairs. The basement was unfinished. The kids and I set up our space in the one single room. We had a double bed that David and I shared and a crib for Pattie.
Mother was still working as a cook in the hospital kitchen and Dad still worked for the Power Company.
There was not much for me to do but take care of the kids and try to figure out my future.
I did not have a car so I had to use Mom’s car if I wanted to go anywhere. I was surprised how quickly the Social Security checks started to come. We got three checks, one for each of the children and one for me. Jim, my brother-in-law, advised me that I should take any insurance in full payment. It took a little while but they finally came through. I was able to take some money and buy a new car. I tried several models and then I settled on a 1973 blue Oldsmobile Cutlass. I put most of the money in some savings accounts that my Dad advised that would gather interest. We maintained these accounts for many years. I was able to use some of the interest to help build an apartment in Mom and Dad’s basement so we would have some space of our own. Uncle Reid build the kitchen cabinets for us.
As I was growing up we had a piano but Mom had given it to Sandra. I really missed not having a piano so I purchased a small upright and the store offered me piano lessons. I really enjoyed having a piano again.
We were able to get back to regular church attendance. Our ward house was just across the street. It was the same building that as a young girl we spent many hours raising money to build.
I was soon given a job. I was asked to teach the 11 year old boys in Primary. Why did they think I knew anything about teaching 11 year old boys? It also included doing scouting stuff. I hung in there. I never felt comfortable. We were just bidding our time. I don’t think the boys ever thought they were gaining anything from me. They were there because their parents made them come. I was there because I had been given that assignment. I accepted it and I did try but I never felt like I made any progress.
I registered to return to school. I decided that I should take business classes with the idea that I could be a secretary. I took some drama classes also.