Gerald and April--Young and married in Provo

1974/03/17 Childbirth Class

Things here in Provo are rather quiet and regular. One bright spot in the week comes every Tuesday evening when April and I go to the baby class. Here at our hospital the father is allowed in the delivery room if he completes a course (pre-natal). It is taught by one of April’s doctor’s wife, and it is a real blast. She makes the classes very interesting and at times very funny, besides giving a lot of helpful ideas. I am also encouraging April to go to a class teaching the Lamaz method of childbirth. The method stresses breathing methods that minimize or eliminate pain in child birth. The doctors in the area support the classes, although they caution not to expect it to do away with all the pain. I think it is a good idea so I’m encouraging April to go. She has been really sick this last week, and missed school Thursday and Friday. Thursday she finally went to the doctor, and found she had a bronchial infection. She used to take shots for asthma every week, but last year she tried to do without them. She still has pills to take when things are getting shut off and she can’t breathe, but it has been bothering her an awful lot lately. The pills speed up her system and especially her heart. It really bothers her and she hates to take them, but it is either the pill or no air. As a result, she is going to be skin tested and we will start up the shots again. It really hurts me too when she lays on the bed struggling for every breath.

03-4/1974 Laying down the law

April is just beginning to get pretty uncomfortable. The backaches are getting pretty bad, and she says her ribcage hurts a lot. I guess the baby keeps giving her the elbow or a knee in the ribs. I had never thought of that before, but I guess that would get pretty bad. She also is tired most of the time. School really wears her out, and then with the things she does around here she doesn’t get to bed very early sometimes. Her worst trick is to wash her hair about 10 o’clock and then “have to” stay up until it partially dries before she can go to bed. Of course that takes an hour and when she doesn’t get very much sleep she also gets on edge and things are rough for both of us. I really let her have it last time, and told her I didn’t care how dirty her hair was if she didn’t wash it earlier in the evening it would stay dirty.

1975/04/28 Church Callings

For those of you that don’t know, April and I have just been called to a new position here. I am the Asst. Stake clerk in charge of the historical records, and she is the typist for all the minutes I take. I am really looking forward to it and although it might sound odd, I really enjoy being a clerk. I suppose I am different that way as I don’t’ know too many people that like clerking. Maybe the reason I like it is because it is easy for me, where being an instructor in the elder’s quorum was really difficult. That assignment got me down sometimes-----especially when I would really prepare, and then have the lesson go to pot. What hurt also (and I suppose this shows my vanity) is to week after week notice that more and more guys went to the other instructors class. By the time the year was over the ratio was about 45 to 15. Next time I’ll just have to try harder.

1974/09/09 “One of the favorite parts of my life”

In El Paso I took the Pecos run for a week because I wanted to have one last chance to ride the trucks. That has been one of the favorite parts of my life, and it sure was a hard thing to give up. However, I will admit that I had my fill of leaving El Paso at midnight.

11/3/1974 Weight of the World

(Letter written days before taking the CPA Bar)
That brings up the next problem. I just can’t get in step with things. I just don’t care much about anything. I feel lazy, I’m putting on weight, have no drive, not reading scriptures regularly, not doing everything I should in my church calling, etc. I guess I’m just plain old blowing it. When I told you on the phone I really feel bad. You are so busy, going and going all the time and getting so much done. I really feel guilty. Every time I get a big burst of energy and get determined to do all these things, I have to do something else around the house, or take care of the baby, etc. Becoming a family man takes a little adjustment. I sometimes feel a little tied down, but I really sympathize with April. She is really confined. She stays home during the day, and except for an L.D.S. girl that lives here in the apartment, she doesn’t see many people or do much. Her whole day is built around when I come home. She wants to hear all about how the day has been and then have the two of us do things and go places. But I’m either tired, or else I want to study, or work on the books for the house, etc. It makes things not all peaches and cream. She is on the way up when I’m on the way down, and it is taking some real adjustment. I’m getting to the point where I’d even classify myself as a patient person, and more. Anyway, I don’t know why I’m writing all this except that I got started and it seems good to tell someone else about it too. Also, it lets you in on what some of the normal adjustments that come when you get married. It’s a great life though—I wouldn’t want to go back. Nonetheless, sometimes I wish things would go a little smoother.

Gee, I want to call you on the phone so bad I can taste it. I would except that our phone bill was $70 last month. That is ridiculous, but $25 was installation, $10 for long cords, and I can’t remember how much for deposit. The actual bill wasn’t that bad, but it only takes one of those and the budget is shot.