A Basket of Chips: An Autobiography

Basket of Chips, page 140

A Basket of Chips please her that it is maddening to think about. Hence I choose to think that she can still help and enjoy my efforts, and I work to that end. If it is not so, no one is the loser, and I and others are by far the gainers. Yesterday, May 5th, I planted shrubs and trees for her. OUR CHRISTMASES Some of our most happy Christmases were when we were the most hard up. We could not afford a tree so we would make all sorts of other surprises for the delighted children. I remember one in particular. We built an Indian tepee and decorated it with tinsel and popcorn. Next to it was a tripod with a kettle hanging from the center which was filled with inexpensive presents for each. She made paintings for each of her sisters and my sisters. OTHER THOUGHTS Life was so fine to us: every day WAS Smday, and each day came with a thrill. During her sleepless hours at night many of our daily prob- lems were solved. Could she have slept it would have been better. I once wrote her from Paris before we were married that we would spend our summers in the mountains as her family had always done, and that was her dream. Each year passed and that continued to be only a dream. Our earnings would not per- mit it, and our interest in our garden was such that we never mourned for the unattainable. We took our joy from day to day, and that was always her philosophy. We had some very happy, short trips in American Fork and Mill Creek Cany0n.l" 16 American Fork Canyon is east of Lehi in Utah Valley, and Mill Creek Canyon is to the east of Holladay in Salt Lake City. Both canyons are beautiful 140