1980

We went on a trip to England May 8-24, 1980 to visit Lin Vasey in Cambridge and Tolkien biographer Humphrey Carpenter, whom I’d met at HRC, in Oxford.

We also went to Windsor and Hampton Court. We took the train to Edinburgh and toured the castle. We went to a Haggis meal and Smoot was dragged up on stage to do a sword dance. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me. On the way back we stopped in York and saw the cathedral then back on the train for Cambridge. After that we went to Bath and Stonehenge. We also drove to Oxford to visit Humphrey Carpenter. Smoot turned 30 on Jun 20, 1980. We had a party that had a tombstone cake. It had an uplifting message, “But the best is yet to come!”

On June 21 we celebrated Mother and Daddy’s 40th anniversary. We gave them a set of Waterford crystal goblets we’d gotten in England. We got our first new car in 1980, a manual transmission Chevy Citation.

We went to Utah in the summer of 1980 for a Mitchell family reunion. We were at Ann’s ranch again. We visited Helen and Russ Humphreys in Pocatello, ID and Garth, Dad’s friend. We got t-shirts that said ‘Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you may be in Utah!” We also went to Yellowstone Park and I got to stand in snow.

I turned 30 on Aug 26, 1980. Ron threw a party for me.

We went to a Halloween party in our togas. Ron and Jency joined us for Thanksgiving. On Dec 19, 1980 we went to the Kirk’s Frog Day costume party. Mark Jorjorian celebrated his first and only Christmas service at St. Michael’s.

We decorated for the holidays and celebrated Christmas with Mother and Daddy. I got new clothes and jewelry.

Then on Dec 27, 1980 we drove to Houston and on to New Orleans to visit Catherine and Gayle in their new home on Pine Street.

1981

I was promoted to professional librarian in the Manuscripts Dept and started work as a catologer on Jan 5, 1981. Diocesan Council was in Galveston Feb 5-7. The photo above of me with Mark might have been taken at that time. The Mitchell’s came for a visit on Feb 9 and we gave a Valentine’s Day party on Feb, 14. Jim got smoochy!

Mother and I went to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras with Catherine on Mar 1, 1981. We went to a parade and attended the 100th anniversary Proteus Ball. She and the kids came to Austin in Apr. We went to San Francisco Jun 14-20. I went to an Episcopal HEW meeting at a convent in Burlingame. Smoot says we stayed at the convent. Smoot went to a database training near the airport. We motor/sailed across San Francisco Bay and had supper at the Berkeley Yacht Club with Marti and Rudy.

We celebrated Smoot’s 31st birthday and Father’s Day and on Jun 22 took part in Mother and Daddy’s OES installation. The Bealls came to Austin in July 1981 and celebrated their 17th anniversary and 37th birthdays.

I celebrated my 31st b’day. I was on the diocesan HEW Committee and in Sep 1981, I presented a Venture in Mission check to Carl Siegenthaler of MetroMinistries. Mark celebrated his last service at St. Michael's on Aug 2, 1981 and died on Aug 5. The Rev. Will Spong,was asked to serve as Interim Rector and Seminarian Bob Bonnington performed many administrative duties. Fran and Leonard came to St. Michael’s the week after Mark died. On Sep 27, 1981 we celebrated St. Michael’s 20th birthday. The choir wore our SMMC (St Michael’s Makeshift Choir) t-shirts.

We gave shirts to the Revs. Bob, Will and Keith, all of whom had helped us through the difficult time after Mark’s death. On Sat, Oct 3, 1981 we threw a party. Above right, Tom, our architect showed Stuart Kershner our renovations.

My vacation was Oct 17-31, 1981. We went to Virginia and visited with the Stanfords and toured Mt. Vernon and the National Cathedral. Then we took the train from DC to Mystic and visited the Mitchell’s. We met Sara, Rick’s new girlfriend. Then we visited the Bealls and showed them around Mystic including the Seaport.

On Nov 29, 1981, Lisa, Suzanne and I made a gingerbread house. Catherine and her family came back for Christmas 1981. We celebrated at 5409 and came over to our house to see the renovation of our upstairs.

After Christmas 1981, we went to El Paso to visit Jency.

1982

On Jan 13, we had snow. Maria came out to see what it was like. Mar 13-15 we had filmakers use our house as a backdrop for a small independent film. The house looked neat all lit up at night.

Mar 18-20, 1982 Mother and we made a visit to ranch. The lease holder, Mr. Jobe showed us around. Barbara Rugeley joined us at the OES tea in May 1982. We celebrated the 20th anniversary of the original St. Michael’s building. I was still singing in the choir.

Father’s Day fell on Smoot's bday, Jun 20 so we celebrated both. Catherine, Gayle, Holly and Rusty came to Austin Jul 1-6. Madeline and her family were there too. We ended up in our usual gathering spot, the kitchen.

And then we ate. The family came by our house during their July 1982 trip. They got to see our brand new, finished paint job on the house.

We celebrated my birthday on Aug 26, 1982. I was on the diocesan HEW committee that awarded a check from VIM, Venture in Mission, to start the first Hospice program in Austin.

We had a series of Old West photos taken. Since we were going to be gone over Christmas, we celebrated with my parents early. The Dalfereses came back to Austin from Dec 24-28, 1982 so my parents weren’t alone for the holidays.

Smoot and I spent Christmas 1982 in snowy Mystic, CT.

We also visited the Bealls during our Christmas 1982 trip. Another busy year.

1983

We and Mother went to New Orleans to see Holly be a trainbearer for the queen of the Olympian Ball on Jan 8, 1983. We also did some grave rubbings. (Smoot went to Mystic in Jan 1983 for his parent's 40th anniversary party.)

On Mar 12, 1983, we gave a party for Fran’s birthday. On Apr 28, Sally Leach, Ray Daum, Decherd Turner and I flew on a private plane to Marshall on HRC business. Catherine and kids helped celebrate Smoot’s 33^rd birthday on Jun 20. We celebrated our 10th anniversary on Aug 4, 1983.

On Aug 6, we left for China. Smoot had been asked to join a People-to-People delegation of computer professionals to China. We went from Seattle to Narita, Japan then on to Beijing. We saw the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs.

We went from Beijing to Tianjin then took a 20 hour train ride to Wuxi then on to Suzhou and Shanghai and Guangzou then to Hong Kong.

We were in Hong Kong on Aug 26, 1983, my 33rd birthday. We were able to eat salad and ice cream again!

I put in a Square Foot garden and we had two Siamese kittens. Mother and I took in several events during UT’s centennial year. On Oct 18, 1983, the Diocese of Texas took part in a satellite conference on aging. I was one of the note takers for the break out discussion session.

Smoot went to a Halloween party as Enormous Bank, obscuring the Capitol views. Mother and I took part in the Hyde Park Reading Club’s 75th anniversary tea on Nov 13, 1983. We celebrated her birthday on Nov 22. We took pictures of us outside our house to use on one of our picture Christmas card. On Dec 17, 1983 we gave a Christmas Party.

We celebrated Christmas with Mother and Daddy. Catherine gave us tiles of the numbers 2,8,3,6, our address on San Gabriel. It was hard to leave them when we sold the house and moved. They’re still on the house.

1984

Diocesan Council was in Waco Feb 10-12, 1984. In Mar I showed our China slides to Holly’s school. On Sat, Apr 7, 1984 we threw a surprise bday party for April Floyd. We had 26 people for a pot-luck supper.

Aunt Helen Rugeley died on Fri, Apr 14, 1984. Catherine and the kids were driving in from New Orleans for a visit when Mother got the news. We decided to go to the funeral, but first we celebrated Rusty's 10th birthday early. Then on Tues, Apr 17, Catherine, Holly, Rusty, Mother and I flew to Tulsa for the funeral.

Mother’s Day was Sun, May 13, 1984 so we celebrated that and Daddy’s 75th birthday at the same time. On Jun 17, 1984, the choir presented Vivaldi’s Gloria at St. Michael’s.

Sun, Jun 17, 1984 was also Father’s Day. It appears Smoot and I gave Daddy his little TV. We don’t remember that, but will take credit for it! We celebrated Smoot’s b’day on Jun 20. Barbara and Greg came by on Jun 30.

We went to Jefferson in 1984, possibly over the July 4th weekend. Smoot and I drove Mother to Houston on Sat, Jul 28, 1984 to attend Jessie Mary and Julian’s 50th anniversary party. We celebrated my 34th birthday on Aug 26.

Minnie Ray was visiting over my birthday. We celebrated our 11th anniversary on Aug 4, 1984 and had some photos taken on Sep 21 at Montgomery Wards. Jane’s birthday is Sep 22. Lin’s is Sep 24. We gave them a joint party on Sep 22, 1984. We went to the World’s Fair in New Orleans in Oct but I don’t have any pictures from the trip because my camera was stolen on the plane on the way back. I flew to Phoenix for an ESMA meeting at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Nov 1984. (Little did I know I'd be driving by there twice a week to go to choir practice and Sunday services at UUCP after we moved to Scottsdale.)

The Mitchells and Madeline were with us for Thanksgiving. Mr. Mitchell helped Smoot bring down the dining room wall at our house as part of our renovation.

We gave a Christmas party on Dec 22, 1984. We sang a Lessons & Carols service at Westlake Methodist on Dec 23. We celebrated Christmas with Mother and Daddy. On Dec 30, 1984, we played Trivial Pursuit with Larry, Ron, Lin, Fran and Leonard.

1985

The year started with Smoot putting together his political team to make a run for the Austin City Council. Mother and I were at his announcement and supported him all during his campaign.

On May 4, 1985, Smoot won a run-off election for a seat on the Austin City Council. We were very excited. After the election, much to John Hrncir's dismay, I insisted that we take some time off to recuperate. We went to Castroville and stayed in a B&B. Later Jency flew in from El Paso to attend Smoot’s inauguration. I was sorry his parents nor siblings were able to attend.

We celebrated Smoot’s 35th birthday at the Council chambers and with Jerry at a joint party at Fran and Leonard’s.

I was still involved with the diocesan funding program, Venture in Mission and awarded a check to a nonprofit that recycled building material and tools and made them available to groups like Habitat for Humanity. We got a new car, a Honda Civic on Jul 12. We had a joint birthday party for Joan and Monty Roberts on July 26, 1985.

On Aug 2, 1985 we had a campaign volunteer party to thank them for their hard work. I had birthday portraits made. Madeline and Becca were in town and helped celebrate my 35th birthday early on Aug 24.

On Oct 19, 1985, we went to the Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, near Houston, with Lin and Ron. I wore a peasant dress and a garland in my hair.

Barabara, Suzanne and I on Suzanne’s wedding day, Nov 2, 1985. We celebrated Mother’s 74th birthday on Nov 22. In Dec 1985, we celebrated Xmas early with Neon & Dadders then went to visit the Dalfereses for three days on our way to spend Christmas with the Mitchells. We went to Williamsberg and saw the Vietnam War Memorial in DC.

We also drove down to New Milford, Conn to spend two days with Madeline and Billy and their family It was a very special year!

1986

On Feb 20, 1986, Prince Charles came to Austin to take part in Texas’ sesquicentennial celebration. Smoot and the other Council members met him when he arrived at Bergstrom AFB. I got a close-up but not a handshake. Catherine and the kids came to Austin on Mar 23, 1986. On Sat, May 3, 1986, there was a St. M parish retreat at the T Bar M ranch. Above right, me with Bill Krulak.

We celebrated Mother’s Day and Daddy’s birthday on May 11. It would be his last one. On May 19, 1986, Smoot had a fundraiser at the Barton clubhouse in Zilker Park. He pointed the way to the future! Right, Denise Olarte, my hair stylist who catered the event.

Lots of our St M friends were supporters even though they couldn’t vote for him, living as they did in Westlake Hills. Father’s Day was Jun 15, 1986. It too would turn out to be Daddy’s last.

We celebrated Smoot’s birthday on Jun 20. On July 12, 1986, the family gathered in Annandale, VA to attend what was supposed to be Suzanne’s wedding but became simply a 40th birthday party. In Aug, I got to visit with Becca. On Aug 4, 1986, we celebrated our 13th anniversary. On that same day, I left to fly to Scotland to visit Jerry and Jane.

A flower clock in Edinburgh, smashing my birthday cake, something I’d always wanted to do, J & J. On my b’day, Aug 26, 1986, we had a party at our house. I thought I looked sexy in my slinky green dress and white hose.

More from my party. On Sep 25, we had the portrait above taken at Wards. On Oct 28, 1986 Smoot was a Celebrity Waiter at a fundraiser for the Leukemia Society of America. On Oct 30, we flew to San Francisco so I could attend an ESMA meeting, We visited Marti and Rudy and ran into Tim Spragens in Muir Woods!

My manuscripts list was published in the HRC magazine, my first publication. I was also on the diocesan Commission on Aging. For Mother’s 75th b’day we gave her a microwave and new house wiring. Catherine was in town so she could celebrate with us. Brenda came to visit in Dec.

Fran & Leonard gave a tenure party on Dec 10, 1986. We celebrated Christmas as usual with my parents, the last one for Daddy. Mother pulled a fast one on me. I’d been dropping hints for weeks about a dress that I wanted at the Mayan Lady. Mother kept saying she hadn’t had a chance to go by there. I was disappointed until I opened my gift and there it was! Mother could be sneaky! I wore the dress for years.

1987

Daddy died at 3:20 PM on Tues, Jan 27, 1987. He had been ill for so long, it was probably a blessing, but it was still so hard to lose him. Madeline and Catherine flew in, too late to say good-bye. Catherine made the necessary calls.

On Thurs night we had a visitation. The funeral was on Fri, Jan 30 at Weed-Corley, the burial at Austin Memorial Park. Mother took us to the bank to get the items from her safety deposit box that Daddy had wanted us to have.

Diocesan Council was Feb 5-7. The Commission on Aging helped staff the Ministry to Human Needs (formerly HEW) booth. To celebrate Valentine’s Day 1987, we went on a boat ride on Lake Buchanan to see the eagles with Fran, Leonard, Rose and Russ and had dinner together. On Mar 9, the Mitchells came to visit us.

Jerry and Jane Jensen came from Scotland to visit and Fran and Leonard gave a brunch for them on Sun, Apr 5. Mother’s Day was May 10, 1987. May 31 was Uncle Bill Rugeley’s funeral in Tulsa.

I went to Under One Roof in St. Louis Jun 4-6. We celebrated Smoot’s b’day on Jun 20. The Johnsons threw a party for Jackson on Jun 28. Madeline and her family were in Austin July 12-15 1987 to help Neon buy a new car. Catherine, Gayle and Rusty visited Austin July 14-16, 1987 so the three sisters were back together again. Smoot had a fundraiser at the Caswell House on Jul 15, 1987.

The choir celebrated Nancy Mann’s birthday at the Longacres on Aug 10, 1987. Clifton was obviously having an affair with Jo Merriam and we wanted to do something to cheer Nancy up and show our support. We celebrated my birthday early on Aug 25. After Daddy died, Mother wanted to travel. We left Austin on Sep 25, 1987, on our whirlwind trip to New Orleans, Philadelphia, Mystic and New Milford. We visited Catherine and her family, saw the sites in Philadelphia, then went to Mystic to visit the Mitchell’s.

We went to New Milford to visit with Madeline and her family. We also got to see my cousin Bonnie Carl Poston and her husband Randy who lived in Conn at the time.

Oct 20-23 I went to the Episcopal Synod meeting in Wichita, Kansas. My primary memory of the meeting was that the priests pumped me for information on the irregular relationship Clifton had with Jo! We had Thanksgiving in 1987 at Rose and Russ’. On Dec 12, like we did in 1984 before Smoot’s first election, and gave a party to test the waters about Smoot’s re-election bid.

Rick, Geoff and Mother joined us for Christmas and lunch. Fran and Leonard hosted a Christmas party that evening. She served a standing rib roast and Yorkshire pudding!

1988

Catherine flew to Austin to be with Mother on the first anniversary of Daddy's death, Jan 27, 1988. We visited his grave and brought flowers. Catherine came over to visit at our house too. Diocesan Council was in Houston, Feb 4-6. The Commission on Aging had a booth. On Feb 8, Smoot announced he was running for another term on the Austin City Council. Mother and I and other supporters were there to cheer him on.

SMIFL (St. Michael’s is for Lovers) a choir fundraiser was on Feb 14, 1988. On Mar 6, we had a surprise b’day party for Fran at her house. I became a board member of the Capital Area Food Bank. My 1st meeting - Mar 22, 1988. Mar 26,,Mother was honored by Austin Assembly #5 for her work in Rainbow. I could wear my Worthy Advisor dress!

Catherine, Holly and Rusty flew to Austin to be with Mother for Easter on Apr 3. Election Day, May 7, 1988 was a nail-biter. We didn’t have the money nor did Smoot have the physical strength to wage a run-off. We went to Palmer Auditorium to await the results. Eventually Smoot was sure he’d won without a run-off and we could enjoy his triumph. On May 8, we went to Garner State Park to relax.

On June 12 1988, Madeline came to Austin to visit. Jency helped us celebrate Smoot’s 38th birthday on Jun 20. On June 26, Beverly graduated from New Milford High School in Conn. We escorted Mother to the celebration. We also visited with the Mitchells in Mystic.

Mother and I went to New Orleans Jul 15-17 for Esli and Gayle Dalferes’ 50th anniversary party. On July 23, with Fran, Leonard, Mark and Joan, we celebrated Jency buying a house. On Aug 4, we celebrated our 15th anniversary in our wedding outfits that still fit. We celebrated my 38th with Mother, then went on a boat trip on the lake.

On Sep 18, 1988, we celebrated Jency’s birthday. On Oct 1 we flew to Cascais, Portugal for Smoot to attend the European Unix Conference. After that, we spent a week in Spain. We went to Merida, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Toledo and Madrid, a whirlwind trip. We drove during siesta time, eating bread and cheese, to get to a new city when things re-opened. Then we flew to England for a few days with Mark and Joan.

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Fran and Leonard’s house on Nov 24, 1988. We went to Boston Dec 2-7 and made a detour to CT for a quick visit with the Mitchells. We celebrated Christmas with Mother on Dec 18 because she was spending the holiday with Madeline and her family. The Mitchells came to Austin on Dec 21. Fran and Leonard had a Christmas party in between the two services on Dec 24. The Mitchells joined us.

We had Christmas dinner at Jency’s with the Mitchells and Ron. Mother returned on Dec 28 so she had a chance to visit with the Mitchells before they left on Jan 4,1989.

1989

Mother and I put flowers on Daddy’s grave in Jan 1989, the second anniversary of his death. Mar 10-18, 1989, Smoot went to a League of Cities meeting in Washington, DC and I tagged along. The Mitchells came down and we went to Jefferson's Monticello and Monroe’s house, Ashlawn, with them. We also visited with the Stanfords and Brenda and her Omani friend, Isam.

Larry and Mother joined us for Easter on Mar 26, 1989. AAE didn’t work out so in Apr I got a job as Outreach Specialist at the Austin Woment’s Center. On May 8, Mother had an attack of congestive heart failure. Madeline and Catherine flew in to be with her. We created a photo montage to give her for Mother’s Day, May 14.

On Jun 20, Smoot had a surprise b’day party at the Council and then another celebration with Mother. We went to SeaWorld on July 3 in San Antonio. On July 8, Catherine and Rusty came to Austin to visit Mother. They saw Smoot’s business office in the Omni Hotel. It was convenient to his City Council office. Clifton’s going away party was Jul 19.

Aug 4-9, 1989 we went to Conn to visit family and friends and NY for a bond trip. We showed Barbara and Jorge Cervera the new Mystic Historic Society building and toured a lighthouse. In NY we went on a boat ride by the Statue of Liberty. Catherine and Holly came to UT’s Scholar’s Day on Aug 14, 1989.

In 1989 interviewed Fred Carl for the history I was writing on Daddy. I celebrated my 39th b’day at Mother’s and then on Aug 27 on the lake along with Smoot, Jency, Ron, Rose and Ron’s rat-on-a-stick friend who owned the boat.

Jim Williams became our interim rector on Sep 3, 1989. We celebrated St. Michael’s day on Oct 1. Smoot and I went on a trip to CA Nov 3-8, 1989. On the way there we drove through Hobbs, NM and visited Jack and Ginny Reynolds.

We went to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite Park, Mono Lake and took the medium tour of Hoover dam. I flew back from CA while Smoot picked up John Q and drove back to Austin. We celebrated Thanksgiving 1989 at Fran and Leonard’s. Mother joined us

Mother joined us for the Christmas eve service at St. Michael’s in 1989. I was sick and couldn’t sing but could snap a photo of the choir in action. The Mitchells had rented a condo in Austin for a month, arriving on Dec 5. We celebrated Christmas day with Mother in the morning and then the Mitchells. Suzanne and her kids had come down to celebrate with us too.