1974
Our Birth Is But A Sleep And A Forgetting;
The Soul That Rises With Us, Our Life’s Star,
Hath Elsewhere Its Setting
And Cometh Afar.
William Wordsworth

This will be another very difficult year for us. . . even though it began quite happily.

On January 1 we took Gary and Gerri with us to visit Tom and Nikki and the boys in Palouse, invited for a post-Xmas ham dinner with them. We took along their Christmas gifts. Nikki cooked up a delicious dinner.

January 11 I had my scheduled thyroidectomy. Dr. Saxon performed the surgery. There were no problems -- except that my throat was so sore that I could barely talk for several days afterwards. And, as Dr. Saxon would tell me, "It can sometimes happen that a little too much thyroid is removed." Such was my case, so I had to begin taking thyroid from then on!

The Spokane River on January 20th was the highest it had been since 1933. It would keep a water shortage from ruining our forthcoming EXPO '74 -- Spokane's World's Fair. We needed lots of water, as our theme was "the environment."

Spokane was using an environmental theme; almost a new concept at that time. I recalled a few years back, when an aged Senator Dill spoke at one of our Radio Amateur Banquets, and brought to our attention the new subject of "Ecology," a study concerning the environment.

The logo for our EXPO '74 was a graphic of a Mobius strip in green and blue colors. This is a continuous one-sided surface formed by twisting one end of a rectangular strip through 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the strip and attaching this end to the other, thus forming a continuum form . . . as explained in the dictionary . . .did you already know that?

Spokane gained much from the Fair. The skid rows and the railroad tracks through the area of the river were removed along with the train depot. The depot's clock tower remained as a landmark and became a part of the theme.

I was now sufficiently recovered from my surgery to become helpful at Brown & Sam's TV. I was learning the double-entry system of bookkeeping. The work was not particularly inspiring; Bob and I were earning only a small allowance on which to live. The rest of the B&S profits were going back into the business.

We re-arranged the sales room; I made several signs quoting service charges, and we put down a serviceable carpet. We also added to the "flooring" which was the stock of new Quasar televisions.

Sam appeared to be a self-taught serviceman -- that is one of the reasons he was always looking for partners. He didn't know the first thing about color sets, whereas Bob was constantly upgrading his knowledge and continually taking new courses. He actually studied schematics even while lying down to rest on the sofa!

We posted Bob's credentials in the sales room. And on one occasion, a customer who seemed to know what it was all about said, "Those certifications sure underscore this business' credibility!"

Whenever a TV was brought into the shop to be repaired, Sam would jump right on it. Cherry picking Bob called it. Then, when he discovered he couldn't do anything with it, he would turn it over to Bob, "Here, you can take it." And Bob would handily fix it.

And Sam's tube checker was set "light" so it suggested tubes were bad when actually they could more often be used for a long time yet. Bob didn't go along with this precept, and used his own tube checker. A lot of tubes were sold in grocery stores and other places where a customer could check his tubes and buy replacements.

In April, Sam felt it was necessary to have a little talk with Bob. He was laying down some rules as to what Bob had to do for the business. Guess old Sam still felt he was sole proprietor of this venture. We had invested $3081.90 plus another $100 needed immediately soon after the agreement was finalized.

Of course, this proposition of Sam's was not open for discussion and was very upsetting to Bob. What had we got ourselves into? That night, Bob couldn't sleep and his depression continued into the next day and the next few days.

Then on the 29th, Bob was unable to sleep at all, and Dr. Saxon prescribed some sleeping capsules. On the 30th we got the same kind of pills that Dr. Cressey had prescribed in 1963.

Expo opened in May and our president, Richard Nixon (that Republican!) gave the dedication speech.

May 14, Kathryn Jean Nance (Katy) was born. My first granddaughter!

On June 15 we attended an interesting Quasar Seminar with Sam and Helen at the North Shore in Coeur d'Alene. Bob seemed to be doing okay.

June 15, I was taking some days off from the business because it was slow. TV repair is very seasonal. I began checking around tentatively for work, and then I applied for unemployment.

Now Sam had a talk with me. He said that if I didn't continue to help Helen, it just might possibly kill her. She was not very well, and I would be putting too much work on her! Wasn't she doing all right before I came along? This was almost comical! I had never before been told I would be responsible for someone's life! No! Don't put this on me, Sam!

By June 28, business had really come to a standstill and Bob was a total wreck trying to live up to the expectations of an unsatisfactory partnership. He told me he wanted out of it. He became progressively despondent -- worried about the lack of work and the lack of rapport with Sam.

By June 30, Bob became unable to perform satisfactorily, so Sam and Helen came to our house for a meeting to discuss Bob's and my future plans. We explained our situation and our desire to back out of our agreement.

Then Bob saw Dr. Saxon, and on July 1, he sent a letter to B&S giving a 15-day notice of his intention to withdraw from the partnership.

By July 5, 11 years from Bob's last bout with depression, I again felt my world crashing down around me. Bob was on a collision course down that now-familiar, no-win road of mental illness. Allen, his brother, came to the house and we decided Bob needed immediate psychiatric care. We engaged Dr. Wetzler.

Electric shock treatment was again the course prescribed for what was now a third nervous breakdown. Treatments began July 6, with a second one July 8.

EST treatments put only out of one's mind the small aggravations, and the overwhelming crucial problems still remained. But the treatments slowed down the deep turmoil which goes along with the depression.

As an example, once when I had dinner ready, Bob stood by the dinner table in puzzlement, wondering which place was his at the table. Then, while driving home on the freeway after one of the treatments, he asked me, "What did Helen say? Is she going to send my things?" -- his equipment. Bob wanted to get his testing equipment and tools from the business, but Helen said, "No, Sam is using them!"

July 10, one more EST treatment, the third.

July 11, we received a registered letter. I answered the door, and my heart sank as I signed for it. In the letter Sam was announcing that he had finally agreed to dissolve the partnership effective July 25.

This was a very confusing time for me. I was at a loss to know what was best for Bob. I felt that when he recovered, he should have the option of working there in our partnership should that be best for his recovery.

After receipt of the letter from Sam, I called the Attorney General's office. I was advised to get a letter from Dr. Saxon. If supplementary information was required, I should get a letter from Dr. Wetzler.

We learned that when Bob wrote of his intention of dissolving the partnership, he was under extreme duress, and therefore couldn't be held to his statements made at that time.

After the receipt of the registered letter containing Sam's ultimatum, I went to bed that night feeling that this was definitely the lowest point in my life. I couldn't find any right answers. While lying there with much on my muddled mind, I felt a calmness come over me. I began to relax into a tremendous, peaceful joy! The sensation which filled me also brought back the remembered -- He shall direct my paths! And I knew from that moment that things would work out for us. .

The next day I called Helen and said that Bob needed to stay in the commitment as he could not be held to any agreement so long as he was undergoing psychiatric treatment. Helen said, "Okay, forget about that letter. I talked with Sam and we will send a short letter canceling the last one." She said I wouldn't need to get a statement from the psychiatrist and it would be okay for Bob to continue until he felt better.

EST treatments on July 12, 14, 15, 19 and 22--making eight so far in the series.

July 16, Sam called me. He informed me that they wouldn't put it in writing, but they would give Bob until September 1, or until the doctor releases him to either get out of the partnership or make up his mind to stay.

August 1 I told B&S that Bob probably wouldn't want to stay in the business.

August 3 and 4, Opal, Bill and I thought it would be good for Bob if we took a little vacation trip along the Cascade Highway. We drove my white '66 Pontiac. We stopped at Winthrop, Washington, and went into a little gift shop. I was amazed when glancing at Bob, I hardly recognized him -- he had lost so much weight!

We drove through Deception Pass and Whidbey Island, staying overnight at Oak Harbor. Then next day took the Mulkateo Ferry and continued back through White's Pass. Here the car heated up. Opal realized that Bob was having a hard time of it and becoming nervous. She suggested that we head for home.

August 5 Bob was doing pretty well. He took a job with X L Communications, but was extremely tired when he came home that day, but. . .

Next day he didn't make it to work.

August 7, he was somewhat better, and got on his Ham Radio. It sounded wonderful; code-music to my ears!

August 8, Bob felt he should work a day for XL without pay, and worked in Cheney all day.

August 9, Bob and Neldon, his boss, worked on Mount Spokane. Then, he installed some mobile equipment at A & M Quality Heating & Electrical, and had a very good day. The owner of this business was Ed Mertens, one of the sons of a neighbor family I had known since I was a child.

On August 12, Bob was on a tranquilizer pep-pill high. He bought a red Datsun pickup and said the salesman remarked that men always liked red pickups. He immediately had installed in it a red carpet, black "fur" seat covers, a console he had made up that contained his 6-meter ham rig and his CB radio in a neat little arrangement from the floor of the cab. He very much loved this truck.

I thought he seemed to be doing great now. He had interesting work such as at Bayview, Idaho, where he went on board the underwater installation at the Naval Research Center.

On August 18, we attended ceremonies at the new Spokane Valley Foursquare Church. Our granddaughter, Katy, was dedicated, and Bob was baptized by immersion the same day. We were getting support by attending church.

Now, Bob got me off unemployment. I had made three afghans already. He told me that Ed Mertens could use me temporarily to do bookkeeping. I fell into the job. The bookkeeping was not hard to learn and Ed asked me to stay on permanently.

Bob was not feeling well the last two days of August and I was not ready for any more of this! I had thought that since I was now working, he would feel more secure and would continue to improve.

September 6 Bob was so nervous at work that he told me he wanted to get a different job. On the 8th he was much worse, and on the 9th, he took two days off and did not return to work all week. On the 14th he quit his job with X L Communications.

September 18, I thought I would like to work at the Pacific Trail, located in the Spokane Industrial Park. The work would be making jackets on heavy-duty machines. I applied there, but didn't like the place at all. Filling for coats was everywhere -- floating in the air and covering everything. I decided my little job with A & M wasn't much, but was neater!

September 19, Bob was sick again, and was given two more EST treatments on the 23rd and 25th.

October 3 Bob and I went to the Veterans' Hospital and met with Sam Nakagawa. It was decided Bob needed care at the Veterans Hospital located at American Lake in Tacoma. He left on October 4. Bill and I took him to the airport.

October 5, Bob called me and on October 9 I received a letter from him. He didn't have much to say about the hospital or about how he was getting along.

October 10, Ed Mertens thanked Jean (his secretary) and me for all we do. He "likes to have strong people around him!"

On the 15 I had a second letter from Bob.

Jim and Dorothy Torney took me to Expo on the 17th. On October 18, another letter from Bob. Jim and Dorothy took me to the Opera House to hear the Barbershop Singers. They are such wonderful friends. Always glad to be of help to their friends in any way they can.

21st - Had a good letter from Bob.

23rd & 25th - Two more letters.

October 27, I drove Bob's Datsun to Palouse to celebrate Dean's birthday, taking him a cute Halloween birthday cake that Opal baked for him.

October 29th, 30th, and 31st, I received letters from Bob.

November 2 - Another letter.

I worked in the yard and raked leaves all day. With a prayer, I hoped to be able to do just a little work in the yard. I accomplished all that I had set out to do, and surprisingly, found I had enough energy left to do everything else I could think of that needed done. Bill and a good neighbor, Jack Keck, mulched all of my leaves for me.

Besides feeling the Lord had helped me get a great deal of my outside work done, I began to pore over my bills. It always happened that "mental illness" was not an illness on most medical coverage, however, "alcoholism" was an illness. That meant that my income had to cover all of these expenses.

As I sat by the fireplace looking through my statements, I thought, "I already have health insurance for myself with A&M, even though it probably isn't going to cover much . . . and, I also have been paying on my Conversion Plan with Medical Service Corporation." So suddenly on a whim, I threw the MSC bill into the fire! I wasn't planning on needing any medical care, and I acted out of faith that should anything unforseeable happen, I could take care of it.

Thus, it came about that in a couple of months I was not only forgiven the back premiums by MSC so my coverage would be continuous, but I was hired by that company about six weeks later and worked for them for 12-1/2 years until I retired. So great to have acted out of faith.

November 5 - Another letter from Bob. He is doing about the same.

November 7, Allen, John, and Nora wanted to go to the hospital to visit Bob, but in a letter on the 8th, Bob said, "Don't come over!"

On November 9, at 8 a.m., Allen, Nora and I got in the car and went to see him anyway.

As we waited in the visitor section of the hospital, we could see Bob coming across the campus to greet us, and he did not look very pleased that we were there. His clothes were loose and baggy on him, and we felt sad. We were allowed to take him from the hospital and to a motel for the night so we could have a good visit.

Pam Buchan, Loretta's daughter, was stationed at Fort Lewis, and came to our motel room to visit.

The next day we drove to Port Defiance. Then it was time to take Bob back to the hospital. Before heading back home we had a little time to visit with Pam in her barracks. Pam had made us some soup in her crockpot.

November 11, I received two letters from Bob.

November 21, there was a letter from B&S remitting to us $1,132.58. Our share of our partnership from our $3,181.90 investment in Brown & Sams TV Sales & Service.

December 12 Bob called. He said he would probably be coming home on the 16th! When he began thinking that he really wanted to leave, they felt he could probably make it. While there, part of his therapy was working on repairing electronic equipment, even though the instruments he had to work with were very antiquated. He was paid a small sum per hour. He did not do baskets, but did begin to make me a leather-tooled purse!

On December 13, Bob returned home by bus.

December 16, Jim Torney, who was third in command at Medical Service Corporation, had set me up for a job. I went there at 7:30 for my interview. When I told Personnel that Jim Torney was one of my references, I was told, "What more do we need than his recommendation?"

The Sales Director told me that I was in the right age bracket (50 years old?)

I started working for Medical Service on the 17th as an in-house sales representative. I was required to set up a new individual plan which was replacing the Conversion Plan. When I asked how to go about it, nobody could say, as it was all very new. I felt good about the responsibility, and did a pretty fair job of making up forms, checking applications, taking phone calls, and writing letters. I was working with Ann Kula. We two were the only women in the Sales Department. There were just three salesmen and the Marketing Director.

December 19 Bob took a job with K & H TV, located close by us on Trent Avenue. The owner was Bill Collinson.

Tom and Nikki’s house in Palouse burned December 27 because of a chimney fire. They were able to save a few of their belongings; however, Nikki’s piano was ruined from water damage. The insurance covered replacement of smoke and water-damaged items.

December 28 Bob was depressed.

December 29 Gary and Gerri went to Palouse to help Tom and Nikki clean up the mess from the fire.