47 Life History -- 2004 Visit to Dad and Ginnie Merrick

Garrett, Ken, Mel with John Merrick seated

In 2004 Garrett, Cheryl, Ken, Bev, and Stephanie visited Dad in Akron, Ohio.

48 Life History --- Retirement Activities

I graduated from BYU in April 1978 with a degree in building construction.   However, interest rates were so high at this time that not much building was occurring, and having been seven years at the Post Office, we decided that it was not a good time to go into building construction; so, I’ve been at the Post Office ever since.



In January I began studying real estate in earnest in preparation for my post-retirement career.  We listed the land for sale, but the economy, especially real estate, is down; so, the chances of its selling are poor.  I registered our PINC Property Investment Company LLC 
with the state so that we can transfer the house title into it.

44 Life History --- Postal Career

I started working at the Post Office in Salt Lake City on 7 September 1971, while I was still getting used to new contact lenses.  I worked in the Parcel Post Annex by the railroad tracks.  I learned quite a few un-required schemes, did my job well, especially as a caller on the truck unloading belt, on the parcel post carousel distribution, and as an occasional expediter, and earned a quality step increase.

30 Life History --- On Leave in Japan 1970

Tokyo Japan at night. It was Christmas season.

45 Life History --- 1990 Mom's Funeral

Ken and I flew to Akron in August 1990 to attend Mom’s funeral.  Mel and Kathy did a fine job of handling all the arrangements.  I gave him $500, in hopes that it was an appropriate amount to help with his expenses.  We renewed acquaintances with many relatives, especially enjoying Aunt Peggy, as usual, and Aunt Floy Rollyson Hilbert.

43 Life History --- Brigham Young University 1971

At the first of June 1971 I packed up all my goods, departed the army and headed west for BYU.  I located a private apartment and began job searching, part of which included taking the postal test.  I enrolled in BYU in civil engineering, but changed to building construction a year or two later.  Lon Wallace was my primary instructor; he was a good teacher.

39 Life History --- Touring Florence, Italy

After Rome, I went to Florence where I stayed for a few days.

Italian town

38 Life History --- Touring Rome Italy

Trevi's Fountain

The train traveled through Switzerland at night, and I viewed the Italian countryside during the day.  I visited the USO near St. Peter’s Square and found a small room in the vicinity.  I had dinner at a nice basement restaurant with two American girls who were teaching in  Germany, whom I met on the train. I visited the traditional Rome historical sites, including St Peter’s basilica, and attended Easter Mass in St Peter’s Square - along with about a hundred other people.  I arrived early and got a position near the front, where I got a good view of the Pope and the visiting dignitaries. I was in Rome for a week.

Easter at St. Peter's in Vatican 1970

37 Life History --- Touring Germany 1969

I rode the train to Frankfurt Germany where I visited some church members who had known the Rufs before they left for the US twenty years earlier.  The finest week of my journey was learning to ski at Bertschesgaden in southern Germany.  I did pretty well for only one week of skiing.  And, boy, did I eat well!  I also took the salt mine tour on the little train, and visited Saltzburg Austria and one of the “Sound of Music” set locations.  I hated to leave but had to head south in order to visit the Pope at Easter Mass.

lodge stayed in Berchtesgaden Germany

ski top

36 Life History --- Touring Paris

The Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

Paris was my second stop.  My French was weak, but sufficient to allow me to get along well.  I saw the Follies Bergere, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, the cathedral at Chartres, many other sights, and loved the Versailles palace. I spent about a week in the Paris area.