Gerald--Missionary and RM before marriage

4/20/1970 “My moose”

I acquired a new problem last week—I now have a moose. To explain the word, moose means a girl that has her eyes set on a missionary and then sets out after him. “My moose” will probably set a mission record for the ugliest moose in the mission. She has one tooth in front and it is ¾ black from decay. Every time I walk into the chapel for MIA or on Sunday, there she is to talk to me and when she talks to me she stands about a foot in front of me, so I take a step backwards and she takes a step forward. Sometimes I get the biggest kick out of this problem---every missionary has the same problem—but it was a lot funnier when it was my companion instead of me.

1972-09-10 “There is nothing more important than self improvement.”

One of my classes this year is a class in Shakespeare, and I just love it. I never thought I would like it this much, but I would have to say it is just about my favorite. I don’t think that much of the class per se, but Shakespeare is really great. Our first assignment was Romeo and Juliet, and I never knew Shakespeare was so passionate. Wow!!! The pages just burned up as I read them. He is very skillful and once you catch on to his writing it is very enjoyable reading. You really ought to try reading some of his plays.

This year I have decided to make a lot of changes and form some good habits. Steve and I have challenged each other to get up at 6 each morning and run around the block once before we go to school. I also read that scriptures daily and attend the temple each week. I am going to stick with it this time and make it go. There is nothing more important than self improvement, and I’m not going to let school pressure or laziness foul up the program this year. I said I was going to do it this summer, but it just doesn’t work that way at the warehouse. I’ll let you know later how it goes.

My meeting starts in a little while so I better close. I haven’t got much done today as a bunch of mission buddies came over, and then I got into a big political discussion with the guys in the house. They ask me what I think just once, and I will shoot 2 hours before it is all over. In this political campaign, I’m going to learn to walk away from a debate once in awhile. It is beginning to take too much time. I had a big scrap at the Mc Govern booth at the Wilkinson Center with one of the campaign workers Thursday, and it was a lot of fun. I really turned him around to where he was for Mc Govern and advocating atomic bombs in Viet Nam at the same time. Pretty soon it was damn this and damn that and damn the other with out any reason or attempt to justify what he said. It is funny how people turn to profanity when they can’t express themselves.

1972-09-12 “Something just might happen”

(to Marshall)
April was up last weekend, and we really had a good time. I was really happy. We had a great time and some great talks. Things are going pretty well, and if the current trend continues something just might happen. Sun. night we talked about some delicate points, and we are both at work trying to see what we can do about it. It is very possible that she will be going on a mission in Jan. after the semester is over. Both her home and BYU Bishops have advised her to go, and she is thinking and praying about it. It is my own UNSUPPORTED belief that she will go, but then I don’t have any way of knowing. I think it would be great for her.