Robert writes home #37 Sept. 4, 1994 (Includes the parable of the bus trip.)

Sept 4, 1994

Dear Mother,

                We went to a high priest quorum party last night. Arlin and Mary Louise Hillysand (quorum pres. ) hosted it. It was really fun. The women stayed at their house and played “phase 10” while the men went to the park and played horse shoes. We had a tournament. He gave awards for the winners. They were horseshoes mounted on a base with first, second and third stamped on the horse shoes. The horseshoes were painted gold, silver and bronze they were classy trophies. (I won the silver kind of by default. Ray Montero beat me in the second round then had to leave to go pick up his kids, so I took his place in the order)

                After the activities we went back to Hillyard’s for hamburgers and homemade potluck. It was great… homemade ice-cream, homemade root beer, corn on the cob, potato salad, beans and cake.

                We’re going to host the Halloween party at our place.

                We got a new counselor in the bishopric today to replace Dennis Brown, who moved to Oregon. He is Chuck Edler. I think he’ll really be good.

                Charlie’s first game will be next week against Los Banos they had a scrimmage against Bullard (Fresno) last Friday. DP scored the most points. So they felt pretty good about doing well against a bigger school.

                The weather is getting pretty nice but the air is getting little more allergenic.

                I hope everything is going well with you. I love you and you’re in my prayers every day.

Love,

Robert, Janet and boys

PS Here’s another essay:

Bus Trip

                Some people have a very difficult time getting their momentary actions in harmony with their long range goals. It’s kind of like having a long range goal of getting to Los Banos(home of your greatest potential and resources) while at the moment you are on a bus in Dos Palos whose destination is Fresno( a place with no potential for you but misery). However, the bus is very comfortable and pleasant with air conditioning and good company and plenty of good things to eat served by a hostess. Most of the passengers find the comfort of the moment far more real than the prospect of a future moment when they might realize the benefits of achieving their goals or arriving at a miserable end. As a result they delay getting off of the bus to walk to Los Banos and choose not to think about the future but to enjoy the moment. But every mile they delay means one more mile to walk if they decide to get off so the decision to do it becomes less and less appealing and they delay their repentance, so to speak, until the bus finally deposits them at their misery.

Now going back to the start of the trip in Dos Palos, a few disciplined people who could do what had to do when they had to do it, immediately got off the comfortable bus and started walking to Los Banos. And, though the ordeal was hard and hot, they achieved their goal and had a fulfilling extended future.