My Views in October 1983

Letter to Mom and Jeanne...

We attended a Seminar in Las Vegas with Mr. and Mrs. Jones put on by the Mortgage Broker's Institute.  It was all about the heavy regulation in the business and the necessity of having all forms and disclosures correctly done.  And, of course, representing things accurately to your clients.  lt was very informative.  Richard is the one who appears to be in charge of this so it was especially important for him.  You can be liable so easily if you do not know what you are doing and saying.

I get very depressed because I do not really like the business and every day l have to be something I am not and it is fatiguing.  There are not many women in this business but there are getting to be more and more.  All of them seem to be somewhat frustrated because of the way things are and just not sure where they are going.  The days of the loan on the house alone are over and credit on the borrower is getting more and more important.  It is good we have learned how to broker FNMA loans but I was really inspired, I think, on the way over to Vegas with an idea for the business.   Richard and Jones are both excited about implementing it immediately.  Richard makes me feel so necessary that I can't even think of quitting even if I could make money doing something else.  Sometimes I get so miserable I think I can't possibly go through another day but I pray about it and something always keeps me going and makes me feel enthused again for a while until I get discouraged again. 

One day you can be working on a million dollars in loans and the next day you have lost most of them for one reason or another.  There is so much competition in the business and it has changed so much--that is why everyone is so discouraged and then, of course, the foreclosures.  A lot of the seminar was about the foreclosures. etc.  You have to be somewhat aggressive in this business to make it and it is just not my nature but you can be that way if you have too--it is just hard, I would so much rather be doing something else.  And I feel so bad that I am such a bad homemaker and never have any decent meals on.

Speaking of meals, Richard and I kept eating the buffet there--twice a day--much too much food as you can imagine but cheaper than the restaurant and very good.  They had apple cobbler that I wish I knew how to make--and I think it was like your bread pudding with apples and raisins in it and a little juicier--where would I find that recipe??

Jimmy was home working on a research paper when I got home--he has taken a real interest in doing his school work this year.  John had had him using some of John's college books to read and Jimmy did very well with his paper.

Instead of going to a  show this year at Vegas, they are all the same and so expensive, we took $20 to play on the dollar slot machine and the last dollar I won $20 more and then we played and played for about a half hour and went home with $65.  l should have quit when I had a hundred!  I have never won like that before but they say the dollar machines are the best to play.  I should send some to Maria for her birthday, I know she likes school, but she really liked working and having her own money!

Jimmy is working as a photographer for the yearbook and tomorrow he and his friend are being disc jockeys at school, I do not know if that is for a long or just a one-time thing.  He does get out and do a variety of things and enjoys life.  He was nominated "Class Flirt".  He has also been doing some construction work but I wish he would keep working at Sea World,  he just doesn't like work all day Saturdays and Sundays, which I can understand.

Every time I come back to San Diego I realize what a gorgeous city it is,  Las Vegas is so ugly I can't believe it.  Lots of loan rate sheets waiting for me when I came back and I need to get them all looked at and in my notebook before tomorrow or it will never get done.

Thanks for sending me the money but I do intend to send it back, you need it as much as we do I am sure.  I have got to be careful not to call you when I get depressed.  I do wish I had someone to talk to, there just is no one,  it only makes Richard feel worse to talk about the problems and now Maria is gone and Linda is so far away and I see no one in the Church anymore except the young gals in Primary.