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.

Christmas Card 1983

 Well, it's been a strange and wonderful Christmas!  We began with Christmas Eve on December 22 so Jimmy could be a part of it.  He and three friends left for Park City on the 23rd and are having a skiing holiday.

     Meagan, who continues to delight us, performed "Up on the Housetop" this year, with accompanying actions.  She also helped with the Christmas baking this year and wrapping of presents.  3 1/2 is a wonderful age!

     Maria arrived home from Utah and immediately prepared all kinds of Christmas goodies to give away.  Maria always makes Christmas fun and festive.  We are happy to have her back for a while...she is doing away with the poverty student routine and getting a real job...hopefully, in our mortgage business, she is a real dynamo at getting things done.

     John will be joining Jimmy for skiing also.  He is continuing his studies at San Diego State, working on his MBA!  We're very proud of John's graduation from UCSD with a very high-grade point average this last spring.  He received a Bachelor of Arts in History with a Minor in Literature.  (When John was once asked what he could do with a History Degree, he said he could make good conversation while standing in the Unemployment Line.)

     The most precious Christmas gift of all was delivered December 23 during the Holiday Bowl game (at a hospital) of course).  Kristi Marie Pulsipher made her debut into the world with both sets of grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles cheering from the hallway.  She is a real beauty and we are all looking forward to lots of baby tending.  Linda and Gary did a super job and will somehow jostle parenting, schooling, and earning a living.



     Richard is talking seriously about exercising and is continuing to sell all the foreclosure properties his business acquired during the economic slump we have had in San Diego.




     Janet lost and gained innumerable pounds this year and decided to go au naturale (grey hair).  She continues to be fully enmeshed in the very hectic, pressured world of commissioned loan officer but has managed to survive and even succeed--much to her surprise. 

     We enjoy hearing from you even though our cards don't go out every year like they used to do...Have a very Happy New Year!

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Note written on Christmas Card to Mom:

We're off to Park City for a few days--never did hear back from Carole--be fun if they could come. 

Meagan says, "Grandma is going to Utah for a rest!"  I closed 18 escrows on Thursday and Friday I had all my other 8 loans approved!  So I am tired and need a rest.

The problem with this business is you're always in the middle of some others,  no rest.

Linda's Kristi is a doll and Linda feels really good.  

Enclosed is $500 I owe you--thanks so much.  We surely needed it.  

Jo Anne (my working partner) is so depressed I feel sorry for her.  She sees how neat our kids are and what a different life she has led and what problems she has because  of that and she's not making it moneywise besides.    

But we have been blessed and I appreciate so much our solid beginning from y and Dad.  We love you very much!  I didn't do well on the Christmas gift,  I never do,  I'll look for something else!

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Business Update:

Since Richard Jones retired, Bill and Amy and Richard are at logger heads as to how the business is to be run.  We have agents doing the A paper loans, a couple in La Mesa office and a couple in La Jolla office and I supervise the whole operation.   But Amy and Bill do not understand that side of the business at all and there are and have been a lot of Richard's family involved in the business, which is good, but they are probably concerned about it all.  It has become very ugly.

Carla is a Financial Consultant with Shearson/American Express Inc, 1984

On April 25, 1984 Carla sent me a form letter stating that she was now associated with the newly merged American Express and Shearson Loeb Rhoades.

Her title is Dr. Carla Huston Bell, Financial Consultant

This was a great surprise to me because she has always been associated with music and for the last several years as a professor in music at a private school.  Her partner Aaron Bell was also working there and her  2 boys were getting an excellent education as well.

What she explained to me is that Shearson/American Express was trying a new program in which they call experienced people in another field who have associations with many people and then teaching them how to be financial advisors to their associates.

So this is fascinating and we will see how she does.

It is interesting that we both have ended up in the financial industry when our backgrounds were both in totally different fields.

It was so fun to touch base after all these years and we promised to stay in touch!

Carla (Berta Mae) is the birthday girl with the plaid shirt in front of her.  I am the solemn girl on the right.  We were with our best friends and  (Kay, on Carla's right) and Lorraine on my right.  Other girls were also in our class and a large clique.

This is me taking pix at Christmas vacation from college.

Carla is on the left, also home from college.  Lorraine stayed home and got married and Deloris and Kay were both in college, too.

Berta Mae had many talents and became Miss Montana and was in the Miss America contest and then sang on the Perry Como Show and sang in stage musicals.  She had such an imagination that I loved all of our playing different roles on the hillside or at the river or whatever in our growing up days.

Her life became very interesting when she was in New York and in musicals meeting famous people.   And her mother once queried "Why couldn't you just be a school teacher like Janet?"  Because she had great gifts and talents and so much ambition for what she wanted to do and be and I was always her best audience.  But even I did not know how ambitious she was and we were best friends from second grade!

Update:  Carla did very well and became rich on what she earned in the stock market!!!

Silver Wedding Anniversary, October 23, 1984, La Jolla, Ca

Our children organized a Silver Wedding Anniversary party and sent out invitations and somehow about 50 people showed up to our home on Sugarman Court in La Jolla on a Tuesday night. 

We must have eaten before the guests came and taken pictures.

This is the note I found in the Anniversary Book about the preparation.

"Well, the kids did a super job--mostly Maria's organization--she is something else!! By noon the next day she had a book all completed for me with pictures and everything about the Anniversary Party--about 50 came which I was amazed at on a Tuesday night--Sherry did a beautiful fruit bowl--Linda and Jennifer, meat and cheeses and rolls -- there was a beautiful cake and punch--Connie, my loan processor, had a delicious Mexican dip--sending recipe, it was really a hit.  John had taped music--they gave me a beautiful engraved tray.  Enclosed are copies of pix taken before the party.  Love, Janet "  ( it must have been a letter to my Mom) 

There were 14 cards in my book that had been mailed by out of towners. 

Connie, my processor, and Sherry, my niece, and her son Zack.  Connie was a San Diego City school secretary but would work with me after school.  We worked very well together and became great friends.  Sherry lived with us after she graduated from high school until she married.   They divorced and Sherry and Zack came back to live with us.  Richard had taught her the business and it was a good place for her to be until she got on her feet.

These gifts were listed: 

Silver Platter from  Maria, John, Linda, Gary, Jim, Sherry 

Silver Frame from Jennifer and Meagan

Birds of Paradise from Nelia  and family

Flowers from Arky and Marilyn

Plant from Candy 

Silver tongs and sliver spoon and fork from the Fiorenza's

Chocolate Bar from JoAnne 

See's Candy from Ron 

This was at a time when we were working round the clock so here are a few interesting messages from cards.

My Mom.-"With Much Love, wish I could be there but I will be in Spirit.  My best wishes for the next 25 years.  Have some fun!"

"You've survived the test of time and I might say most graciously."

Candy-"For today well-lived makes yesterday a dream of happiness and tomorrow a vision of hope."-the Sanskirt

We opened presents after everyone left.   

The girl's friend Patty.

John's friend John in the background.

Linda's daughter Kristi and Sherry's son Zack.

About the Business 1984

In late 1984 everything began to fall apart when Richard and his partners had strong differences of opinion as to the direction the business would take.  For one thing, the partners did not understand the first trust deed side of the business that I and other agents were into and so the partners decided to close the La Jolla Office.  Certainly, I could understand when we are not making money things have to be done but we had finally trained a "full-time processor" (very time consuming) had good calls coming into the La Jolla office and with some good agents could really have made it go.  I figured out how much I alone made for Jones Mortgage and I was covering the cost of the office.

When the office was closed without so much as a word to me after giving so much time and effort (never compensated for), I felt it would be best if I worked where I was just bringing in income and not involved in donating my time for someone else.  By this time I had sold whatever assets I had to keep us going.  Our house was fully mortgaged, there was not enough income to cover 1/3 of our expenses, our personal life was a disaster, and my frustrations were greater than ever--of the two "best " opportunities I had, I guess I chose the wrong one.  If I had gone with Fouts, retired football player who was starting his mortgage company and asked me to join him, I would perhaps have stayed there, however...

At La Jolla Newport it was great for a while.  They bought me a new desk, a Xerox memory typewriter and all I had to do was bring loans in--all processing was done by them--they were completely computerized.  Everything was great, except the way they treated clients and other agents.  They were very kind to me, but... I finally could not work any longer where clients were intimidated and spoken nastily to, and put down, mostly because Don, as smart as he was, had serious problems.  Because of their attitudes, they cost me at least $3000, but I did earn over $3000 net in the two months I was there anyway.  After I left I again could have gone straight to Fouts or ICA or who knows.  I didn't try to go anyplace, but the opportunities were there.

What I did is work from home for awhile but the plan was forming to split with Jones Mortgage.

So with the situation the way it was, Richard eventually split with Jones Mortgage and we formed our own company, Choice Mortgage Inc. and began to look for an office.  Two of the Jones employees followed Richard and one of the LJN employees followed me.  The partners in La Mesa accused Richard of possibly leaving them with liabilities and doing things for himself when he opened the La Jolla office when actually his whole time and effort had been spent in trying to make Jones Mortgage work.  All our personal life had been completely turned upside down because of his financial involvement in Jones and his working all hours of the day and night to see properties and collect rent, etc. and then they accused him.  It was unbelievable to me.

I do think his partners were probably not happy that so many of Richard's relatives were working in the business.  It certainly was a challenge to see that everybody got the income they needed.  So many problems, it is hard to know for sure what the right solution was but a new office and business is what we did.

Maria and Mark Elope, Christmas 1984 and Other News from the Year!

No Christmas card this year, in a disaster zone as far as the business is concerned and Maria and Mark eloped!!!   So I do not know what I am doing about now.  Maria saw Mark at the cash register at a local store and had us check him out.  Next thing they were dating and then went to visit Jimmy at BYU and came back married!  We had a dinner and cake celebration with friends at a restaurant at UTC and I can't find any of the pictures!!!!  

They both appear very happy, came to the L J office to share the news with me.  What a huge surprise!!!  

The only pictures I have of us at Christmas are of Kristi, Linda and Gary; John and Meagan.  Good grief, hope we do better next year!   

John poses with Meagan in her Dance Costume

Meagan at '84 Christmas

News from earlier this year is that my friend Carla from Glendive is also in the financial business!!!  She is a financial consultant for Shearson/American Express.  This, after all her years in the music business and then as music professors in a private school.

Evidently the Wall Street firm is experimenting with teaching highly educated individuals (Carla has her Doctorate) to be financial consultants and use their contacts as clients.

News about the Silver Gate Cabin.  I suggested to Dick sometime ago that we start having family times scheduled every year and that all families contribute to the cost and the ownership of the cabin goes into a Trust for all the heirs to use from now on.  I think we are all on board to finally make it happen.

Business is Good but Always Problems and Miriam's Family revisited, 1985

I lost my calculator again!!! So I will have to buy another one.  I have about 22 loans working right now, with only about 5 of them iffy that may fall out, that's over two million in loans!!  I have been up till midnight every night and then up early.

Maria has had a kidney infection and been really sick so I've been running there, too.  Her medicine cost $59 and I cannot use my insurance for it, bummer.  I kind of hope they will decide to move back here and save some money.   Maria says their home teacher calls them a lot and Mark is playing on their basketball team so that part is better than our ward.

Richard and I went to Seegmiller's for a Swiss Sunday night supper and it was potatoes with melted cheese over it, so good.  

Richard turned his ankle today.  Did not go in to the Doctor, called Kunzman but he wasn't there so he has been limping, do not know how he can go to Knott's Berry Farm with us.

I have been so busy I haven't even been able to buy a turkey yet, etc.  Guess we'll have one Sunday at least.  Meagan is spending the weekend.  Maria's baby Michael was 14 lbs 10 oz at 2 months and he is solid as a rock!  

Mark's car broke down and then my plymouth had something in the carburetor causing problems, just one thing after another!!  But I did give a pretty good lesson in R S on Sunday on marriage.  I envy James on his mission having classes all day,  just learning more and more.

Susan Degn called and said they all love Escondido.  

Things are so hectic, rates are down and everyone wants to refinance,  don't blame them.  A couple guys are getting foreclosed out and time is pressing.  Richard is still having problems with Jones Mortgage but otherwise we are doing ok.

We are going to Knotts Berry Farm for Thanksgiving!!!  

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In 1974, Miriam, wife of Richard's brother Scott (death in 1962), remarried to Don and this is a picture of the family 11 years later.