Gerald--The Senior in High School

9/24/1967 “MY FLAME DOESN’T BURN SO BRIGHT”

About Beverly – I still like her and think she is the best around but my flame doesn’t burn so bright any more.

You asked if I dated Mary. The answer is no, and it will always be no. I’m not mad or anything, but personally I can’t stand her personality. Don’t tell anyone this though. I know she is real nice and all this, but she and I are like black and white. I intensely dislike being around her because she “bugs” me more than anyone I can think of. This may come as a shock, but that is the way it is. I don’t dislike her or hate her – I just can’t stand to be around her. Some people think that because Marilyn Monroe is so beautiful that she was the “ideal” woman and very lovable. Well, certain people think that a testimony of the gospel is all it takes to make a person “ideal.” I disagree. She is perfect for a certain type of person, but people are always pushing me - telling me that we are two of a kind and I just back out of it. Mom and Dad, I think, know how I feel and they don’t push me at all - it is some others that do it. Mary has a crush on me, I know, and it nearly drives me crazy. It is getting to the point where when I see her coming, I feel like running the other way. She is nice, and truly converted, but I just can’t stand to be around her.

10/21/1967 LOVE OF RPC

I have decided that I want to go into the company for sure. You know, I was thinking about a CPA - with a law degree maybe. Well, I’ll tell you about that. The reason I was thinking about that was one thing - $$$$$$$. All the time I am thinking about this I was uneasy about it, yes-no, yes-no, yes-no. Well, you know about that. One thing changed my mind - pride. Not vanity, or wicked pride, but a good kind of pride in the heritage that Romney Produce has. Maybe it doesn’t affect you that way - I know that this would be Greek to Grant or Dennis Larsen or someone else and I have never told anyone this. When I see one of our trucks, I don’t see just a truck - it means something to me, something very dear to me. It reminds me of what Romney Produce Company used to be, and how through careful planning, and lots of hard work, it has expanded and grown into what it is today. The way I see it, Romney Produce will keep on growing and expanding if we, the sons, will give the company the same hard work and sweat that our father has. I want to be a part of this heritage. I don’t mean to paint a picture of roses. I know that there will be times I will get so mad that I won’t know what to do. I know that I will have fights and scraps, but I think that I have the type of personality that can’t take it. When I get mad, I blow and then I forget it after a few hours usually. I know I won’t make as much money as I would if I was a CPA, but if you want to be happy you have to do something you enjoy and I think I will enjoy this. I don’t know if I could take sitting at a desk all day working for someone else. I want to work for myself. I think I have an ability for business and my ambition is to climb the hard and tough road to the top - the president. I think that I will have something to contribute to the company. At least I am willing and I am preparing now - that is why I am trying to sell to the people that won’t buy from us now. If I can beat the competitor out, I’ll be on the road; if not, at least I’ll have experience. I want to get all the practical experience I can and I have got Dad to let me go on the T or C truck when I turn 18 to learn how to handle a country route and drive the trucks. He said that I could go some of the time, not all the time. Well I have a goal… if I can prove that I can handle the truck, the route, and I am dependable, I am going to attempt to get him to let me go every time and then if that works and I get that far I will try to get him to let me take it alone. This is only for the Saturday run. The driver would have it every other day and then he would have Saturday off. This would be good for him, and save Dad all the overtime pay. There are an awful lot of ifs in there but I’m going to give it the old never say die try. I know I am young, but that doesn’t keep me from trying - after all, Dad was doing it at my age. Don’t tell Dad what I’m going to try to do. If he knows about it now I am sunk because I HAVE TO PROVE MYSELF FIRST. If I make one mistake, I’M DEAD, NO SERVE, NO TENGO CHACNA - good old border Spanish. I also want to be able to be selling $750 a week by the end of the school year. Impossible? Probably, but you have to think big.
I’m still the same here. I’m a loner but trying to kick it. Since Bart left, I haven’t really had a good friend. David Shelton and I get along well together well so I am going to start doing a couple of things with him. We both have the same problem, no one to date.

Well, that just about does it except for one thing. I want you to know you much I miss you. The summer before you left, we really got to know each other and get along better together. It was then that I finally realized how good a brother you really were, and how immature I had been. I really think that it is the reason that we used to fight is because I had always been a baby and very selfish and most of all immature. Deep down I know this, but I hated it and I just wanted to avoid it instead of bringing it out and fighting it so that I could overcome it. This is the reason that I always used to get so mad when you would correct me. I think, at least I hope, I have overcome most of this (I’ve got a long way to go yet.) Whatever I’ve said I said because I was mad, not because it came from deep down. You are my brother and there is not a better brother to be found anywhere. You were just what I needed, the Lord knew that, and we knew it in the pre-existence, and that is why we were born to the right parents and born so that we would grow up together. I don’t know how to put it so that you will know exactly what I mean so I’ll just say thanks - thanks for being the brother you were and helping to make me what I am. I can’t wait until you come home. By then, I will be at the Y and you will be coming up for the 2nd semester. We can double, have fun together, do things together, just like we use to. Just do one thing for me - keep up the good work, be the best missionary in the North Argentine Mission, and do the will of the Lord. Your loving brother, Gerald.

P.S. your check for October will be for $10.00 extra. I though you could use a birthday gift. Now you can have a big bowl of ice cream. By the way, Mom has already begun stocking the old deep freeze for when you get home. By then one whole deep freeze might be ice cream.

11/23/1967 STUDYING RECORD

These past 3 weeks have been murder. During this time, I had to read and write a report of a Shakespeare play (the report was longer than the play.) The play was about 30 pages typed and printed in small print and my play report was 32, but handwritten. So, in reality it wasn’t longer but 32 pages is a lot to write. I also just finished my term theme in Civics. The body of the report was 37 pages long, and altogether the thing was almost 45 pages long. My report was the longest in the school and included 67 footnote references. I had a limited topic, but man o man did I research. I had 16 books in the Bibliography that I actually used and that doesn’t count the piles of books that I went through and didn’t use. Quite frankly, I don’t think I am bragging when I say that I think that it could pass for a theme in a freshman college course. I consider it to be my masterpiece. I sure lost a lot of sleep over that thing. On two different times, I worked around the clock and didn’t go to bed. I would have done it again except Mom found out about it and she wouldn’t let me; because of that, I slept straight through both sessions of stake conference except for Dad’s talk. Boy, did she get mad about that. Anyway, the thing that made me so mad about this thing was that I had to write the thing 4 times at 37 pages each try. I had two pencil copies and typed it and found that it had to be absolutely perfect if I typed it, so I had to write it again. A new studying record for myself -19 ½ hours straight. Boy was I sleepy after that. We also read Macbeth during that period and I haven’t gone to bed before 11 in a long time. I’m not complaining because I am getting a good education. My theme got quite a reputation at school and everyone asked why I worked so hard at it (even Mrs. Carson) and I didn’t have an answer for them. I guess I just got enthused. This year, for some reason, I am really studying. I could get along without it and my grades aren’t any better for it, but I’m still going at it. Sooooo, that’s why I haven’t written. It is all over now though.

Seminary used to be a blast and a lot of fun. But, Brother Willis was transferred and we got a new teacher, Brother Knudsen. He is very boring, even worse than Sr. Redd, and talks us all to sleep except that everyone is afraid to go to sleep because he can and will, with almost no reason, get you unto hot water so deep that you will never get out. So now seminary is boring, a chore, and we learn absolutely NOTHING. That is what was so ideal about Brother Willis; we had a lot of fun and learned at the same time. The only problem was that when everyone (adults) found out that we had a blast in seminary, they automatically assumed that we played all the time and didn’t learn anything. None of the parents that I know of thought he was any good. Mom and Dad were happy when he left and they think that now we will learn something. HA!!! I hate to get up so early, then go, sit, and listen to 45 minutes of boring, monotonous, and monotone speeches. No one pays attention and the situation is pathetic. Sacrament meetings are just about the same thing. We are a very small ward and the speakers repeat real often and the talks are boring, ill prepared, and monotonous. The next time they ask me to speak I plan to do a hum dinger and see if anyone will follow suit. Last week, Brother Lyons READ a list of questions and answers about home teaching that I bet I have heard at least 50 times. All I wish is that someone would do something interesting for once.

12/25/1967 “DENTISTRY IS FOR THE BIRDS”

I agree with you that dentistry is for the birds - - you may make money but I wouldn’t like to make a living looking down people’s mouths.

I am really looking forward to going to BYU. Tell me, is it really the solution to all the problems that it is claimed to be? Is it the answer to the old “Wait till you get to the Y … I realize that it is the greatest college on earth and I mean it, but I will still be the same old clod and the Y can’t solve that because I will have to do that.

December 25, 1967--GERALD ON HIS BEST CHRISTMAS EVER
Our real Christmas came on Christmas Eve. We went to see the Jarvis family. You might remember them; we used to pick them up when we went to MIA when Mom used to be President. Well, the father died last summer and they have been in a pretty bad way. We had a present (a nice one and not a repaired one or a cast off) for each one of them and I filled two banana boxed with food for them. Boy those were the heaviest banana boxes I have lifted. With no exaggeration, I bet the two of them weighed at least 150 pounds. I really packed them. They had 3 or 4 presents under an approximately 2 foot high tree for 8 children plus the Mother. I know one of the boys and he is real nice guy. He makes good grades in school and really studies hard. Dad said he would give him a job once he turned 16, which won’t be too long. I really admire him and with me, he stands 10 feet tall. He has done a tremendous job in spite of all the difficulties. I enjoyed going there more than any gift I gave or received. You should have seen the look of gratitude in his eyes and the eyes of the others too. He kept on brushing away the moisture under his eyes although he never really cried. They were so happy that we came. It was really great. We sang some Christmas Carols and all the kids joined in and we had a great time. In the 2 boxes I put 6 dz. eggs, about 15-20 pounds of beans, approx 8 pounds of lard, bananas, apples, tangerines, oranges, avocados, mixed nuts, cheese, onion, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, potatoes, other staple items, and a few other small items. After we went there, we went and saw the Spain’s (because Dad home teaches them), the Hollings, the Carbines (an old couple), the Baumans and well I guess that is all. Anyway, we caroled at all of the places and then went in and gave them some dried fruit and had a nice little visit.

To me it was the nicest Christmas I have ever had. I sure hope we do it again next year. The look of gratitude in that 15-year-old boy still warms me to the core every time I think about it. How selfish we are, and how little we think of those who have nothing. We did one nice thing, and it wasn’t much, but how many people would give up one present to help a family like that. No one does, or rather very few do, and no one ever thinks of them. They are too involved with the getting this for Suzie and a football and train set with all the trimmings for John to think about the unfortunate people who have nothing. How neglectful society is; once you make it you seldom look back down the ladder.

Christmas Day was real nice and Dad played basketball with us. The boys got a sling shot from Dad and off we went to the big ditch for a lesson. Dad liked those things more than anyone!! He is also pretty good with one despite no practice for 30 years. He can really shoot one of those things and knows just how to do it. The boys really got a bang out of it and Dad had the best time of all. Then we began to run and jump off the bank. Man oh man is that fun. You can go 25 feet with little effort and you drop about 12-15 feet. It feels so graceful just to go sailing through the air and when you come down you land it is like nice soft moist sand. It reminded me of the times we used to have our club spot over there with Mike and Bill Hudson. Do you remember that tunnel that took so long to build? The one where you just slid down the hill and under the brush down to the edge of the water? Boy that was some place. I remember also the bushes on the other side that were hollow on the inside that we used to crawl into. Boy, those memories are gone for good. Dad took some pictures of us jumping off the top from the bottom and they should look real neat, I hope. He took them of us in mid air in the highest part of the jump.
Well, on Christmas night there was a big dance at the church house and I went with Mom and Dad. The dance was pretty good and guess who I danced with the most? It was Donna Cardon (Gerald’s little sister). Boy is she nice and sweet. When I asked her to dance, she said that it was the first time anyone had asked her. Boy that is hard to believe but I guess that is right because it was the first dance I had seen her at. She is too young to really fall for but she was the most enjoyable person there and one of the most enjoyable to be around that I have ever met. She is really charming. She is a really good dancer (especially for her age). She is easily guided and it isn’t like most of the girls - it’s like dancing with a tank. A day or two after the dance, Sr. Cardon really thanked me for dancing with her because she was my cousin and because no one else her age was there that knew her. I liked it but it wasn’t true. All I did was dance with the most enjoyable person there, even if she was my cousin.

December 25, 1967--GERALD THE BRILLIANT SALESMAN AND DRIVER

We have been running some demos on the new hot lard from Armour. They decided to put the demos where they would do the most good, South El Paso. Well, I was called upon to coordinate the four demos. They wanted us to do the demos on the last 2 days of business before Christmas. I was supposed to do one in Canton Grocery. The Chinaman that owns the place speaks no English, very little Spanish, and the rest is Chinese. I couldn’t make him understand ANYTHING. How do you tell someone about chili-flavored lard without the use of words? Well I never did get to set up the demo there. On the next day (Saturday), it was the same routine. First, I didn’t know when to go so I was late, then I couldn’t find the girls to run the demos, the store owners didn’t know what the sam hill was going on, and neither did I. It was one great big mess. I wound up running one of the demos everyday for two consecutive weekends and I wasn’t supposed to because the demos were supposed to be in Spanish. Well, that is how I ran them, in Espanolo. I learned quite a few things to say about the lard and then put it on. I mean really put it on. I sold more than any girl did. I used enthusiasm and really talked the people into buying the product. I learned that if you ask them to buy one they will buy it, if you ask them to buy 2 they buy it, and the same with three, but at four they begin to balk. Really I gave them about 3 or 4 minutes of explanation and introduction and then told them, “a este precio nececitas tres, verdad?” (At this price, you need three, right?) Then I dumped 3 in their basket. I had less than 20 people in about 18 hours of demonstrating that took the lard out. We handed out a 7-cent coupon with the lard so that was really the big sales pitch. I could tell them everything about the lard but if they ask a question, look out because I couldn’t understand them too well.

Well the week before Christmas was a disastrous one. I had 2 accidents in the same way, caused by the same thing in 3 days. I also got my first ticked and what a way to start - $25. The two accidents were caused by stupidity. I backed up when I couldn’t see where I was going. The first time it was late at night and I could have gone on and never got caught - but I went and told the man and he was real nice about the whole affair. It cost me $16 to fix his car and there wasn’t a scratch on the car I was driving (Dad’s new Rambler). I didn’t get in much hot water for this one because it was minor and I was honest when I could have just gone on or paid for it and never told Mom and Dad. But 2 days later I backed up in a company car and hit a lawyer’s car. I was delivering gift packages and I went past the house that I wanted. When I went to back up, the truck lid was popped up so like a fool I backed up anyway. Well I decided that this wasn’t too good and decided to stop (fine), but I thought I better not stop in the middle of the road - so - I pulled over to the blind side (I was using the outside mirror to back up with) instead of turning to the side I could see - and I hit his parked car. That is the dumbest accident I can think of. Well I learned the lesson the hard way, $25 for the ticket. Luckily, I don’t think I will have to pay to fix his car or the company car. The damage to the company car is very slight and I did about $50-70 of damage to his car. But, he is the very, very, very particular kind and he wouldn’t even drive it in to have it fixed - he had to have them come out and get it. Well for $50-70 damage, he will run it past $200. It is a sad story.

I now spend more time selling than working on the floor. My main assignment is the 11 A&W’s in town. I now am selling Morton’s and Nesbitt’s to all but three of them. I am sure the other one will buy our products and the other two are lost for sure unless we can get the A&W print. The individual ketchup servings are packed in ½ oz. squeeze packs and our product and the A&W ketchup are the same thing, made by the same company, except that ours is about $.50 a case cheaper. Well anyway, 2 of them refuse to buy anything that doesn’t have A&W on it. I made the biggest sale I ever made ($480 sale) the other day. Boy I was on cloud nine for days. I sold 3 Hot Chocolate machines to the Tasty Pastry bakeries at $160 apiece. Boy, it was great. In addition, two A&W’s have started to buy produce and the only one that does not buy powdered potatoes now buys our frozen potatoes. Carmen’s café is almost certain; I think that I have got it but she is a cantankerous old thing and I don’t speak Spanish very well and she doesn’t speak any English. I will end up giving the account to Ray in the end so I am thinking about calling him now, but I want to win the account by myself. If everything turns out right, I have got another Hot Chocolate machine sold and that makes (if it comes through) for $640 of machines in one week and 5 all together that I have sold. We have the best line as far as quality that exists and our prices on some items, like sugar, are unbeatable. Others, like hams and jellies (individuals), are way out of line. Well we are getting them to go, and right now, I am the only salesman that is really selling these products with the exception of Al.

1/25/1968 “EMOTIONAL TWIN”
When you speak of your companion, I can’t help but think that you feel right at home. Kind of reminds you of your little brother, if it doesn’t it should. We sound like twins, “Every time I correct him he jumps to the defensive and starts off why he was right.” Yep, you have found my emotional twin. Well I guess that is all. Gerald.

2/1/1968 “A PRETTY PENNY”
Flying is back in the news. If Brother Currie could have gone with me yesterday and today I would have soloed. I am just 2 days away, but he now works for 2 firms at once and it is getting hard to catch him. Once I solo and get checked out, it is “Katy bar the door.” It will cost me a pretty penny - $12 an hour - but it isn’t going to get any cheaper. This is one thing I am willing to spend a lot of money on. It is going to take $300.


February 5, 1968--GERALD AND ONE OF HIS EARLIEST AND BIGGEST CRUSHES
Well the reason for this letter is to let you know of my good luck. I probably mentioned to you that I had 2 tickets to the Gold and Green Ball that I didn’t know what to do with. Well I asked a new girl out that I hardly knew that had just moved in from the colonies. I took her to the banquet, which was nothing, but the ball was HEAVEN. Man oh man am I hooked. She is quite tall and with her hairdo, she is taller than I am. Her name is Rosie Taylor. She is a very good dancer, and man oh man did I have a good time.. She and I went over to the orchestra, asked for some Mexican songs, and then danced up a storm. She is from the colonies and speaks Spanish very well. While we were dancing, she would stare at my eyes and I would just melt and stare back. Her eyes are the biggest green and beautiful that you have ever seen. Man! What a night, but I just hope that she feels the same way I do.

I decided to take her the Saturday before when she and I danced a lot at a Saturday night dance. Me and David Shelton had to fight it out though to see who would dance with her the most. Well, that was about even, but he took her home and when this came about, I got everybody to go to the Taco Box. Shelton doesn’t have a job and he was broke, so I knew I had to get him to go so that she would come too. Well I wanted Jim Nash (David’s friend and convert of about 3 weeks) to come too. He had a car and he took it. The only thing was that I agreed to (well I really had to do some fast-talking to let me pick up the bill for David. That was necessary to the whole thing but Nash showed up broke and with 3 girls and I wound up picking up that bill too!!!!! DANG IT!!!!!! There went $1.50 out the window.

I felt bad about it afterwards because I forced (more or less) David into going, although Rosie was with him and he was broke. I am afraid I kind of humiliated him - not all that bad, but I did put him in a bad spot. Especially because he is the most fiercely, financially independent person that I know. I can remember few times that he has let anyone buy anything for him - his parents have a lot of money, but unless he earns it he has very little. Now, since I took her to the banquet, although it cost me nothing because Dad gave me the tickets, I am afraid of getting the rich boy reputation. I don’t want her to get the idea that I am a big spender - she isn’t that kind of girl, but I hate that reputation.

The situation is complicated by the fact that I drew all of my paycheck a week ago so that I could do some flying, but no one knew how much I had on me, which was about $50. When somehow (not derogatory and not really noticeable until you look at it in retrospect) the subject came up and I was asked how much I had, all I would say was “enough.” I also lost a bet to Jim Kemetzsch, Bobby Cardon, and Jim Nash for a dollar each. Boy that was bad. We bet on the Y&E basketball game and they beat us. It really doesn’t bother me though, except for the fact that Shelton is broke. I saw him at the Gold and Green Ball, and when he saw that Rosie was my date, he left. I guess he left because I never saw him again.

This weekend the Scout troop is going on an outing and we have to be at a Priesthood meeting at 7:00, so I will be here for that. It should be over at 8:30, just right for me to take Rosie to a movie. That is what I plan, but I have to ask Mom and Dad and they are in San Francisco. I am sure they will let me and I have the movie all picked out. At the Fox theatre, is a show about the wilds of British Columbia in Canada. It is a special feature that you don’t see very often and I really want to see it. If she has seen that, I can take her to a Walt Disney movie that is on. It is one of those rare occasions when 2 decent shows are on at the same time. I want to take her out this Saturday because the next Saturday I will be in Tempe for a speech tournament, the next weekend is the Irvin tournament, and then pretty close is the Austin tournament and the district meet. Make hay while you can.


Spring 1968—PLAIN OLD FASHIONED BORE

My social life is a flop again. I do have a date for Sat. night though with Rosie. I am just a flop though when it comes to being interesting. I’m just a plain old fashioned Bore.

I know this is short but it is 11:00 at night and I have to get some sleep. I’ll try to write Sunday and let you know about everything. By the way, they finally let me drive the trucks. I drove the T or C route Saturday. It fulfilled a life long dream.

Spring 1968 (next letter)—I’M NEVER GOING TO MAKE A GOOD BIRD

The rambler is in Juarez being painted MARLIN POLY BLUE. It is a real nice color but you never know until you see the car. I can’t drive it for a while anyway. I am now on restriction. I had another accident.-------------------- the 12th of my career…I was going up Giles road an a guy was traveling about 10 or 15 miles per hour and I went to pass. To make a long story short he turned left unexpectedly and BAM. It didn’t do anything to him, but it sure got me. It cost $22 across the border. It would have cost at least $250 in the states. I am following the family tradition and keeping up our reputation. I have been on restriction for 2 weeks and the end is no where in sight. In the mornings I get up and run 4.2 miles to seminary and get there by 6:30. Then I run 4.2 miles back, take a shower and hitch a ride to school with Tim. The worst part about the thing is that it happened on a Friday and I had a date for Saturday with Rosie. Well, I had to cancel the date and then latter found out that was the weekend of Eastwood In Elegence. So----because of me #1 she couldn’t accept a date to the big dance and then #2 she had to sit at home anyway. Boy did I feel like a heel. I have sort of flipped and got something going for me----I think----and then I go and blow it. I swear I’m never going to get off the ground. EVEN YOU DID BETTER THAN I AM!!!!!!! I guess that is the way it goes. I want to take her out so bad that I can taste it. Boy it hurts and the restriction might even last 2 months. For 2 years I haven’t had anything going and for 2 years I haven’t been on restriction. But now that I am finally getting off the ground-------I get grounded. I am never going to make a very good bird.

May 1968 “HAIR RAISERS”
At school, I never let anyone know that I would go to a church dance because I’d be laughed out of school. Last night, I never thought twice about choosing the Saturday night dance over the Junior-Senior Prom. I don’t like the school dances at all. You stand there and hop around, she stands five feet away and hops around, and the music is so loud you couldn’t talk to her if you shouted. The place is so dark that you couldn’t meet someone new if your life depended on it. At church, I like the kids, the atmosphere, and the music. Most teenagers would call it a dud, but it suits me just perfect. I hope it is that way at the Y because it’s not like that at the church dances in Phoenix.

The warehouse is really hopping. I worked 55 hours and missed earning $100 by $1.50 last week - and went to school too. I also got up and made it to Seminary (6:30) every day - and on time. I think I deserve a brownie button. I do mostly sales work now and I have seen so many people this week it isn’t even funny. I am really happier when I work on the floor though. When you do manual labor, you get tired and then you feel like a king when you rest. That is one of life’s greatest joys - when you get real real tired and then lay down to rest. But when you are a salesman, you get frustrated, man, and unhappy - and there is no satisfaction in resting because you aren’t tired at all - just confused.

I would really like to head the unloading crew but I guess that either they won’t have one or Johnny Mullen will do it. Dad says there won’t be one but you know that even if it isn’t called an unloading crew that they will always have the summer workers come in to unload the rush trucks and one man will be in charge. That is what I would like to do. I really like to come in late at night, although all the other guys detest coming in. Today for the first time they let me handle the Sunday unloading without Johnny or Paul, although Lavar did come down. I volunteer for the dirty jobs because for some reason I like it.

Last Saturday, I almost turned over a truck. It was a 40 footer full of potatoes and I wanted to put it in door number 5. Well there wasn’t a tractor under it so I went and got #10. I backed under hard and banged it 3 times to make sure the 5th wheel locked in. Then, with the loading gear down, I tried twice to pull back out from under the trailer but it was locked. I tried to pull the trailer forward - perfect - so I got out, hooked up the air hoses, rolled up the loading gear, and took off – FINE. Well I went around the lot and was ready to back up but decided I was too far to the left so I was going to go around again to get a better slot. Well when I was turning by the shop and the tractor trailer separated. I heard it, looked back, and saw that the trailer was sliding off the 5th wheel. I immediately slammed on the brakes and the tractor stopped dead but the trailer kept on coming. I knew there was nothing to stop its 60,000 pounds but the cab - you talk about scared! Well, I heard a bang, got out, and saw that the 5th wheel had hit a support on the frame and stopped the trailer about 3 inches from the cab. It took about an hour and a half until we could jack the trailer up enough to get the cab out and put another tractor under it. Man I lucked out on that one.

That was last Saturday, and this Saturday I had another hair raiser. Boy that place is exciting lately. After the birthday party and the dance I went to the warehouse to fill up the gas tank because I had burned it up on my sales run and Dad said I could. Well when I got there at 12 o’clock the gate was open. I was a little suspicious so I drove around the lot and didn’t see anything so I went to the warehouse to get the gas key. It was missing. I went outside and there was a panel truck creeping out the gate with the lights off. I ran and tried to get the license plate but it was already too far away. I went to the shop and called Dad and he reported it to the police. They were in the shop – the lights were off and the doors were shut when I drove in but when I went to the shop they had rolled up the big doors to get out. When I drove up, they must have been trying to get into the parts room because the door was all beat up but not opened yet. I got there just in time or else we could easily have lost 3-4 thousand dollars in tools, parts, and maintenance equipment. I sure was mad at myself for not shutting the gates so they couldn’t get out. I let them get away but Dad says he’s glad that I didn’t corner them because I might not be around if I had. I guess he is right.



May 27, 1968 “I SOLOED!”

Man oh man what a week. You will probably think I’m a liar when I tell you all the things that have happened during one short week. I wish every week was this much fun and exciting.
Today is Monday, May 27, 1968 – and in seven more hours, my high school career will be all over. What’s more, at 7AM this morning I soloed. What a day, solo and graduate in the same day. I guess the easiest way to write this letter is in chronological order, so I’ll go back.

Monday: the next day we had finals so Chuck Campbell and Mary Branum (my buddies – they have all the same classes and teachers I do) came over to study. We started at 7:30 and quit about 11:15. We really had a lot of fun and did study about 2 hours though. We scared the pudding out of Mary with Park’s pet snake.

Tuesday: Took Gov’t and Trig finals and that night we all went to Chuck’s. We studied about an hour and then Chuck brought out his record player and well – forget the books, who cares? One night down the drain.

Wednesday: Took Miss Douglas’ 5 hour (not quite that long- supposed to be 2 hours) exam and man alive, I wrote 2 ½ pages on 1 question. I think I wrote a book for her. Tonight, we went to Mary’s house and studied only about 15 minutes and played around till 12. We decided we were all studied out and - what the heck –“we won’t pass the physics test anyway, so why worry.” We sure had a great time though. I guess I’ll miss some of my friends after graduation, but I don’t have a lot of sentiment about graduation.

Thursday: Not much happened except I took the physics test and boy was it hard –especially since I didn’t study. About ½ the problems were so simple it was pitiful but the other half were impossible.

Friday: Spent the morning checking in books, cleaning, saying goodbye, etc. That afternoon a bunch of us went to Mary Branum’s house. We went swimming and now, three days later, I am still as red as a beat.

Saturday: At five, I got up and went to work as usual, but about 8 o’clock Lavar called me (Dad was out of town) and told me to hop in number 18 and go get Tony Zamora. He had the T or C (Truth or Consequences, New Mexico) load and he had broken down about 10 miles from Las Cruces. So I was about gone when they decided to send Phil too, so he and I went out and changed tractors on the load. It was neat the way we had to do it though. #21 had gotten hot and lost air pressure. When it did, the brakes locked and we couldn’t budge the thing when we tried to use 18 and pull it out from under the trailer. So what we did is take a special hose and hook it up to 18 and pump air from it into #21 to unlock the brakes. After we got #21 out we had to pull it to start the darn thing.

Tony and I went on to T or C. I went with him to speed things up because the stores were waiting for us. Well I drove on the way back because I was in a hurry. Tony could probably drive the truck better, and I know that he is easier on the equipment that I am, but I can drive it faster – or at least I do drive it faster than he does. Boy, I speed that truck up and let her fly just as fast as she’d go. I speed shifted every time. I really got on down the road. We had to stop in Las Cruces and pick up 335 cartons of lettuce too, so I was really running wide open.
The reason I was in a hurry was that I had a date for 7:45 with Vickie and I did not want to break it because it was to the Rose Prom and I had bought flowers and all that rot. Well to make a long story short, I got to Vickie’s house at 10 till eight – five minutes late – in the truck. I was, of course, in my work clothes and dirtier than two hippies. I was dirty, greasy, and looked like a bum. I was driving a truck with a 35-foot trailer and picking my date up for a formal dance. I thought it was pretty funny myself. Well she wasn’t ready to go yet (I was going to take her to the dance, and then go get cleaned up). So I decided to go drop off the truck (Vickie lives about 1/3 mile from the warehouse or I never would have tried to pick her up in the truck) and get cleaned up and then come back. It was really funny – her family didn’t know what to think – what a scream. If I had taken her to the dance, she would have been the only girl escorted by 335 cartons of lettuce.

The dance was a blast, and I took her and Donna Cardon (Gerald’s sister) and her boyfriend out to get a bite to eat. What a fun night. Donna is still the best girl around as far as I am concerned. She and I are kind of like brother and sister. She tells me all about her boyfriend and she is always asking “Do you think Mike will like this?” and so on. When I take Vickie out, we always give Donna and Mike a ride home. Sort of like doubling except it’s just the ride home. I really like the set up and the boy she likes is a great guy too.
Sunday was Seminary Graduation and that was also quite a day. You really don’t expect much form an ordinary old Seminary Graduation, but this wasn’t the case then. I went to the 4th ward since I was the only 2nd warder to graduate from the Eastwood Seminary. Bro Knudsen (the teacher) asked me to talk so I did along with Jim Kmetzsch and Rosie Taylor. Rosie talked about what seminary meant to her and I gave a serious talk on knowledge and intelligence and their differences. Dad sat on the stand with Brother Abegg (the keynote speaker) and told him all about how I had an automobile accident, I got grounded, and then I ran to seminary, etc. Well Brother Abegg told all of this to the congregation and I was sitting on the stand, embarrassed to death. He also used me as an example of just about everything good (la de da) and referred to my talk - and every time he mentioned my name, I cringed with embarrassment.

Then when Brother Knudsen got up to give out the diplomas, he cracked a joke about it and then gave out the 3rd year diplomas. When he read the names for the 4th year students he said Gerald “Jim Ryan (a famous runner)” Romney and everyone just about died laughing. I was embarrassed but inside I really enjoyed it, although I couldn’t smile back at the audience – that would been a bad scene if you know what I mean.
Mon: (Today) I got up at 6:00, went flying at 6:30, and soloed at 7:00. That is the best feeling in the world to fly that thing all by yourself. I just did touch and go’s though. I can’t wait to be able to fly over the valley and get to do a little pleasure flying. My control wasn’t too good today though because it was really hot and the darn thing wouldn’t float. When I pulled the power back, the darn thing would fall like a rock almost. I had to use power on landings on everyone except the last one. I decided to correct for the bad gliding conditions by starting to land with an extra 300 ft altitude and it worked just perfect.

Tonight I’m going to graduate and I made the top 10% of the class. My grade average (not including speech and tennis – 6 A averages) is a 3.37 and I’m in between the top 5 and 7 percent. Final grades were Physics B, English B, ??? B, Speech A, and Civics A.
I have been offered a job at the Y for next year. I didn’t apply or anything but NESBITT’S offered me a job. The Vice President of NESBITT’s and the Denver region manager told Dad that if I wanted a job in Provo I could have it. In fact, according to Dad, the Vice President wanted to hire me full time. I don’t know what to think. It sure is great though.
Well, I’ve written myself to death so I’ll say goodbye. Love, Gerald

1968-07-14—BAPTIZE SOMEBODY EXTRA FOR ME

Vickie sure is a great gall. She is really a fascinating person and I enjoy being around her tremendously. The only thing wrong with her is that she hasn’t got any sense—she likes me. She is a cheerleader at Burgess and in the top 2% of her class and has only one “B” average in high school—which is only 2 completed years. Next year she will be a junior and she is only 16 ½ but who cares.

Note from Vickie:

It’s really too bad I didn’t get to know your brother earlier. What a great guy! He has really treated me like a QUEEN since we’ve been dating.

It’s really funny how Gerald game me his ring. He was at Girl’s camp and was going to give me his ring. Well, he lost it and the next day we found it. I kept it all week and when we went out on Saturday, I pretended as if I hadn’t found it. Later on that evening we had to leave the dance and go to the warehouse. Richard had kept it for me and so in the car, I gave it back to him. While we were at the warehouse, he gave it back to me. So, ever since June 22 I’ve had his ring.

Well I guess I better go now. We’ve got to leave for church.

It was nice writing to you. Hope you do good in your work—baptize somebody extra for me—ok?

Sincerely,
Vickie Cardon

8/26/1968—GERALD ROMANTIC AT HEART

In your letter you mentioned the idea of getting a single rose and giving it to Vickie. Well I thought it was the greatest idea I’d heard in a long time so I decided to try it. That week I was running Pena’s vacation and driving the truck to Pecos and Van Horn. I had just one more trip to make and I decided to get the rose and leave it on her door step when I left town at about 2AM. But------nobody in El Paso will sell me just one rose unless I buy a vase to go with it. The bill--$.65 for the rose, $2.25 for the vase. I told them to hang it in their ear. I looked around and one lady would sell me a rose, but not in a box or anything, just wrapped in wax paper and no card. I found out that the only kind of rose box in this blasted town is a great big thing that holds a dozen—nothing smaller. I know that they make boxes just for the single rose idea, but nobody in El Paso has any so there went a great idea. They just don’t cater to the Jewish business here. It would have been so great to have her wake up and find that I felt a rose on her doorstep—I tried to get it delivered but that bombed out too. I had my little sweet thought all planned out and what I would say and then the florist blew the idea all to HEL^&^%$#%$#@%%^%^&#.

8/27/1968—THE “INTERESTED PARTICIPANT”

Today Park’s pet snake bit him on the neck and would let go. It scared him and Mrs. Hildabrant too. They called me at the warehouse and I told them to just grab it behind the head and force the jaws open, and that I would be right home. Well I went outside and came home. When I got there (about 5 min) the fire department and a police car were here and red lights blinking everywhere. Mrs. Hildabrandt had panicked and called everyone in town. I’m surprised that the FBI wasn’t called in. She was worried that the snake would get the jugular vein so she didn’t wait for me and cut the snake loose. The poor snake didn’t have a head by the time I got there. It was really funny---all the red lights---the neighbors all standing around wondering who shot who or something else—the neighbor kids looking at the snake with eyes 19 feet wide and whispering to each other, and Park in the middle of the whole thing bawling. He was so afraid that he would have to take rabies shots. That is impossible because only mammals get rabies. We checked it out and took him to the doc though.

And now for my love life. This section might get to be pretty long and have to be concluded tomorrow as I have a party to go to. Things are just fine and rosy here except for one thing. The 13th of Sept. is coming too fast and for the first time in 3 years I don’t want it to get here. I am actually dreading the day that I have to leave. You can always trust me to get into a thing like this just when I have to leave. Vickie is the finest young lady I have ever met and I really enjoy being with her. She is the first person to ever show that same interest in me and to tell the truth I thought it was impossible. When I am with her not much else matters and the world is all roses. That is a lot different tune than I was playing a week ago when I was toying around with the idea of asking for my ring back so I could date Rosie Taylor. Before I get any further don’t get the idea that you younger brother is now a big wolf---I’m just what you might call an interested participant. I don’t know for sure but I think that Rosie likes me and that she would like me to ask her out. That, I know sounds conceited etc, but it sure is good (bad?) for my ego. But right now I am a very contented and satisfied human. There is a long story behind all of this and I’ll tell you the whole story. It goes like this. Thursday (the 22nd) makes that exactly 2 months since I gave Vic my ring. We went to a swimming party that the M-Men and Gleaners had and had a blast along with Richard and his date (Barbara Hunter—he had been dating her a lot). Well the party was at Vickie’s pool so we had to stay and lock the thing up. After that we went to ---confidential---and talked for awhile. I gave her a charm for a charm bracelet and she gave me a shirt—one that matched hers. Then we went to her house and she put a pizza in the oven and we sat in the living room watching TV. Well to make a long story short after we ate I asked what time it was and she said 11:15. Well I decided I better get home in a hurry since I had to take the Las Cruces delivery and be out of the warehouse with it by 5:30 which meant I had to get up at 4:30 to put the shorts on and everything. Well when I got in the pick up I got my watch out of the glove compartment (because of the swimming) and looked at it and IT WAS 12:10. I almost died right there. I really flew home—I didn’t stop at a single stop sign. Well just after I left Dad called Vickie’s and asked if I was there. Well I had just left and Dad was hotter than a pistol. In fact, he started to chew me out right then—“What in the heck is the matter with him? Doesn’t he have enough sense to come home when he has to take a truck out and has to get up at 4:30.” It scared the living daylights out of her and really upset her. This was about the 5th night but he had to do the same thing before. Well she thought Dad was mad at her and was chewing her out and it really upset her. When I got home I got ripped in the “Como se lama” butt good. I explained that we had to close the pool and the watch and everything and then they weren’t so mad, but they still hit the ceiling. Well the next night Friday Vickie and I and Richard were going to go to a movie out on post (Bliss). I decided to stay home and not even ask to go since my stock wasn’t doing so well and let Richard and Vickie go without me. The movie started at 7 and at 6:40 I finally gave in and decided to ask to go. First I asked Mom and she said “It’s up to your father.” Then I asked Dad and he said no. Well I just took it at that and went back to work without arguing or pouting and then Dad came back and asked a few questions and then said “Well, let me ask your Mother---finally after the long process was through they gave me permission to go at 6:55. Well I went home and changed and Richard and Vickie picked me up there. We were really late and Richard decided to take another friend so we were really late. After the movie Richard raced home so I could make it by 10 (my deadline). When I got home I asked if I could take Vickie home (if they said no Richard would take her home.) But first let me back up a little. At the movie Vickie didn’t say anything and on the way home she talked to me about once. All she did was answer my questions. Dad had tome me I could ask everybody in for malts and I asked her but she absolutely and positively refused to come in. Again she told me that she was plain scared of my parents—especially Dad. I kept trying to tell her that they were mad at me and not her. She was positive that they thought that she was wrong and said “I wonder what your parents think of me now?” Well, I got to take her home and again she didn’t say one more word than was absolutely necessary. When we pulled out of the driveway, Dad came out and asked if we were coming in and I said no—for the 4th time. When I said that we weren’t coming in (the first time in the house while Vickie was outside---I was getting the keys. Mom asked why we weren’t coming in and I told her that Vic was scared of Dad. I just told it like it was. Well when we got to her house she looked at me and told me that she didn’t want to, but she thought that it was better if I took my ring back and then she started to cry. Well, I talked to her for awhile and asked her to keep it and she said “All I’ve done is cause trouble between you and your parents.” I told her that she hadn’t caused anything and that I am always getting in how water like that and that I don’t ever think twice about it because I’ve seen all my brothers go the same route and I’ve been there my fair share of the time anyway. Well, she insisted and I got the brainy idea that maybe if Mom and Dad found out about it that it might just shake things up enough to settle the whole problem. Well, when I got home they saw the ring and asked what had happened and I told them the whole story. WHERE DID SHE GET THAT IDEA???WHAT DID I DO???? Well we have the kindest man in the world for a father and Dad’s heart is as big as anyone’s that I have ever met. He wanted to know what he could do to fix things up and then he decided to call her and talk to her and he did. He called her that night, and I don’t know what was said because I figured that was between her and Dad so I didn’t stay. Well Saturday I went to the warehouse to go to work and was going to go up to her house at lunch (about a mile is all), but the Alamo truck had not been loaded right and all the cafes in Cloudcroft didn’t get their potatoes. Well there was nothing left to do but send them up there-----How convenient-----This is a fairy book ending if I’ve ever seen one. Of course they sent me and then Dad said “and if you would like to take your young lady friend you are welcome to.” I can still remember his exact words. That day I took my full hour for lunch (and then some). My, my, my what the mountain air will do for your spirits. WE had a little picnic. It was a great day (of course she took my ring back.) On the way back we passed some missionaries and then we decided to have some fun and let them pass us again when they were in front again we made a sign and put it in the window so they could read it when we passed them again. It said “How much do you know about the Mormons? Well they passed us again and they had a sign—would you like to know more?” After that all the way to El Paso we passed each other with signs in the window. It was really a lot of fun. Saturday and Sunday we went to the dance and the fireside. But ever since the little shake up things have improved 100% By now if you think this whole thing is as funny as I do you are probably rolling on the floor. I don’t think I’ll forget this affair for quite awhile. That is about it on that story.

9/16/1968 PARKING WITH NO SHOES

Friday night was my last night at home, and was it ever a sad one. When I fall, I fall hard and it was sure hard to say goodbye. I took her to the Yslete-Midland game and watched us get stomped 35-6. We sat around and joked with Mom and Dad for a while. Then we went driving around until I got tired of driving. I just wanted to sit and talk so we went to a dead end street that is away from everything—close to the warehouse. Well after a while here comes a blinking red light. We were just sitting there talking and I had my shoes off, which is technically against the law if you are on a date. When she told me they were coming, I started fumbling around trying to put my shoes on. Well, there I was, and the officer points his flashlight in the car and asks “Got any booze in the car?” “No sir, officer.” “What’s going on here?” “I’m going to college tomorrow officer and I just wanted to talk to my girlfriend.” “How old are you young lady?” “Sixteen.” “Do you know what time it is?” “No sir.” “Well, it’s around 12 o’clock. Don’t you think you should be home?” “We’re leaving right now.”
So we left and went to her house. I sure had a hard time saying goodbye. When I finally left she was crying. I felt terrible. In fact she cried half the night. Oh well, the worst part about leaving is thinking about it. After I left her house I had to go to the warehouse and I didn’t get home until 4:30 and Richard was up and almost ready to go. I 45 minutes of sleep and then off we went. Dad gave me a blessing and then there came those terrible goodbyes again. I hate to say goodbye. I couldn’t even stay awake long enough to get out of town. I fell asleep in El Paso and woke up 15 miles out of Albuquerque. That was a long sleep.
Richard bought a T.V. in Albuquerque and tied it to the top of his car. He already had a tape recorder, stereo, records, and the works.
Well, 30 miles out of Provo, it slipped off the car at 60 mph. It dented the roof of the car, the trunk lid and no TV. $20 down the drain plus a scratched up car. That’s what happens when people want all the luxuries of life.
I intend to have a blast at the Y, but my prime concern is to prepare for a mission. The deal in El Paso has helped me a lot to realize how hard it can be to have a girl behind and when I go on my mission there aren’t going to be any strings to cut. I want to be 100% missionary not 95% and 5% home sick. You can’t concentrate on missionary work if your girl takes first place.