Cathy and I went to the fair this day. Saw the exhibits, which I thought were quite interesting. They were interesting to stock raisers, farmers, poultry men, etc. What I had hoped to see was scientific and industrial developments. Went down to meet Will Holmes this morning for a vocal lesson but missed him, so I spent about 2 hours on my personal genealogical records. I have 486 completed family groups with all ordinances completed. I have only scratched the vast surface of vicarious work. The vacation I had scheduled for next month, I am postponing until May. Of course, if our home sells in the meantime and I move to Rochester, I'll take the vacation after I leave here and before I start there.

A letter came the other day from Mother. She seems very sad and very lonely since her baby left her and got married. I feel so very sorry for her, but just what to say to her to comfort her, I have asked her to return to Utah as I could see nothing to keep her down there eating her heart out. Tonight a mail letter is here from Ed, reporting he is in excellent health and was very busy unloading ships. On the following page is a poem I clipped to keep. It seems to tell a simple story of a man's youth and boyhood days, which seems so close to my own. A poem composed by Ray McMurtry, serving in Europe, and sent to his sister Ramona. "Remember the day? Remember the days we spent together on that dear old farm out west. Riding through the canyon and climbing hills. Good day, which seems so close. Remember the leaky old granary, where we used to put on plays for the family and the neighbor kids to watch on rainy days? Remember the rosebuds we strung for beads, and our catalogue paper dolls; and remember the day the mouse ran up the leg of my overalls? Remember the hills we trudged together in dear old Indian hollow; jumping over sagebrush here and there. Remember the tiny kingscaps, and the bluebells along the creek; the buttercups smelled so sweet, that we couldn't wait to pick? Remember the good old swimming hole, and where we'd herd the cows on greenest pasture grass; remember the dandelions all over the fields, that grew in a bright yellow mass? I want to go back to those dear old days, when I knew no cares at all; where there never was a dull moment from winter around to fall."

Today Lucille started working at the Archive. I am glad, I hope she stays there for many years to become a mainstay in that department of our Church's program of record making and record keeping. I have revised and corrected my poem to read as follows: Remember the days of my childhood; Happy, carefree days. Alone, I used to wander. Amid scenes I'll remember always. The sagebrush covered knolls. Many a secret they lured me through summer's sun and winter's cold, foul was the odor of one remembered cave today. Its smell floats to my nostrils as I peer down to the bottom. There carcasses of unwary animals lay. At the foot of the knolls is nestled the old town burial ground. Where in rest, my sires sleep. With kin and friends around. I see again the spacious home of my uncle. Surrounded with grass and trees. Here I worked, here I played; Here live my fondest memories. I'll probably add more to these stanzas at another time.

Yesterday was Dorothy's birthday. She was 20. How the years have flown since the last entry. Grace, Cathy, and I have been on a three-day vacation. Grace, Cathy, and I caught a bus Wednesday p.m. and arrived 9:30 that evening in Richfield. Art and Bessie met us at the Richfield bus depot and we spent that night and last night with them. Yesterday, Art and Bessie took us on an all-day scenic drive up to Fish Lake via a remote trail, "the Bear Creek" road. We camped at Bessie's father's cabin near Fish Lake then, after a little rest, we drove back to Richfield over a most beautiful drive down "Seven Mile Canyon", "Zion's" and into Salina Canyon, which reminded me of pictures of Wayne. But today is over 110. miles of beautiful mountain country. Someday, when we have a car, I am going to buy myself a good Kodak with color chrome film and spend a lot of spare time in the beautiful spots of the west taking pictures.

Today is Charles's birthday. He is twelve, old enough to be ordained a deacon. Charles needs his eyes corrected, his teeth checked and a general medical overhaul. He eats too much junk that's not good for him and doesn't eat regularly. Mama made Charlie a birthday cake, and am eating the piece left for me. Our family is quickly growing up and instead of several little girls and a baby boy or two we now have a daughter in the U.S. Navy, aged 21; a daughter who has been employed for three years in a downtown store; a daughter married with a year-old baby, our fourth girl is in high school; Sonny, who is nearly 14, is as tall as his mother, and Charles is twelve. Cathy is now the only baby we have. Thus the years go by. Soon I will be old, which seems so strange. Where have all the years of my life gone so swiftly? Yesterday was election day. Two city commissioners, a city auditor, and four city judges were elected. I voted in the morning before going to work. Snow, first of the season, has been very cold.

On the preceding page is a token of remembrance from the days when our children were all small and Mama and I were young. Those, to me, were happy days, but Mama doesn't agree. She says those days were terrible and how did we survive those terribly lean years. Harold and Elise Duncan, who during the lean years of 1930-1940 were our close, very close friends, have sold their home in the city and have moved to a little place in Pocatello, Idaho where they have bought a ranch. Success to you Harold, you deserve a break.

For some unexplainable reason the old journal has been neglected of late. More than a week has gone by since I last wrote a line here. Since the last entry our house has had a new roof put on and now a new paint job is needed more than ever. I have been shopping today for money to remodel the kitchen and bath, to the tune of $700 payable at $22 per month plus the $10 per month for the new roof makes a total of $32 per month for about three years. How I am going to pay out so much money each month and still lay away $300 for an eastern tour I don't know. The $40 we have been getting from Ardis we won't be getting anymore, instead we will have to pay out money to someone to have Cathy tended each day. Ardie and her two children leave next Monday evening at 11:55. Mama is going with them to help tend the kids during the four days they are in San Francisco waiting for the sailing date of the Okinawa boat. Grace will be gone about a week. 24 Weeks from last Thursday I hope to leave on my touring vacation into the east, taking me into Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. Add to these Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, California, Arizona and if I can get up to the northwest this spring or summer that would add Oregon and Washington to the long list of states visited.

Painting, cleaning, remodeling, etc. has interfered with recordings in the old Journal, but I can't let this important anniversary day pass without an entry. it was 19 years ago today that I took my wife and three children to the temple. Grace and I received our endowments and she was sealed to me for time and eternity and her children were seal To us by the same authority, to endure throughout all the ages of time.

Cathy and I went to the fair this day. Saw the exhibits, which I thought were quite interesting. They were interesting to stock raisers, farmers, poultry men, etc. What I had hoped to see was scientific and industrial developments. Went down to meet Will Holmes this morning for a vocal lesson but missed him, so I spent about 2 hours on my personal genealogical records. I have 486 completed family groups with all ordinances completed. I have only scratched the vast surface of vicarious work. The vacation I had scheduled for next month, I am postponing until May. Of course, if our home sells in the meantime and I move to Rochester, I'll take the vacation after I leave here and before I start there.