Life in Phoenix, then 2nd Year at BYU, 1951-53

I was overjoyed to receive a cablegram informing me that my family was returning and we would be reunited again! I was so excited to have them back. The younger ones had changed so much in the sixteen months we had been apart, I hardly recognized them, especially Nancy. I did not return to BYU but stayed with them and we moved to Phoenix where Dad started working with O.C., his brother, in the insurance business plus other things. We had a nice home on 19th Ave and Bethany Home Rd. At that time it seemed on the very outskirts of town. Dad taught me to drive and I got my first driver's license.
I was rather a loner that year, not having any close friends. Gina was busy with Keith and her marriage, which took place around the first of the year. I worked as a secretary for Lincoln National Life in downtown Phoenix. I rode in with Dad each day and would wait for him to pick me up in the evenings, sometimes for half an hour or more. I ate lunch at a little drug store then would roam all over downtown Phoenix during the rest of the lunch hour. Before Gina's marriage, while she worked at Penneys, we would go together.
Gina and I went to the temple on December 7, 1951, in preparation for her wedding. I can remember feeling so awed by everything. Dad would point to the beautiful paintings on the wall, wanting me to see them, but I felt I shouldn't be looking around. Afterwards, I went with the folks once a month to the Spanish session, enjoying it very much.
One of my former roommates, Lois Stratton, came to visit us in Phoenix. She talked about a quartet she sang in and told me one of the boys in it wanted to meet me; his name was Leon. I was planning on returning to BYU that fall and room with her again.
I went to Mutual at Manavu Ward when I returned to the Y and met the boy she talked about but he certainly wasn't interested in talking to me. I should have remembered that Lois would always tell you what she thought you wanted to hear, true or not.
I lived in a house with about six girls. We each took turns cooking, doing dishes, and cleaning house. One girl, a young freshman, was my constant shadow. I couldn't even go to the bathroom without her coming along to keep me company. I enjoyed my Spanish class and University Choir, directed by Crawford Gates; you didn't have to audition for this one.
Six boys boarded with us; five of them eating only supper and the other, Leon, had all his meals with us. I enjoyed cooking and acquired a good reputation as a cook. Leon was at our house a lot of the time, mostly working on his car.
I took Opera Workshop Winter Quarter and we put on "The Bartered Bride" by Smetana. I was in the chorus and a friend and I played two young village girls who flirted with the hero. It was a great experience. Leon played in the orchestra and so he would give rides to my friend and me, and others, to rehearsals. He said that my place was next to the driver's seat so that is where I sat.
We became very good friends.
One of my roommates was Yolanda Vinci, a member girl from Uruguay. The Junior Prom was coming up and Leon asked my roommates if they thought I would go to the prom with him if he asked me. They told him yes and, of course, told me about it. But he didn’t ask me! He thought Yolanda might never have the opportunity to attend one so he asked her. She said they talked about me all night. For some reason, I stayed up and waited for them and after Yolanda went to bed, Leon kissed me! I never went to a Junior Prom! We were together all the time after that.
We had one date, went to the Ad Ball. Spring break was coming up and he asked me to go to Albuquerque with him. He was also taking a returned lady missionary, who had served in Albuquerque, and her roommate. I got to meet his mother, father and sister Joan. His brother Bill was serving as a missionary in Uruguay. They were very nice to me.
One afternoon, we drove up in the Sandia Mountains and he asked me to marry him. I told him I’d have to think about it. Returning to Provo the generator went out in the car and he used his school registration money to pay for the repairs. Driving back I told him "yes." That cheered him up. I gave him my registration money, $50.00, since we were going to be married and I wouldn’t be returning to school. My decision felt good, like the right thing to do.