10/21/09
Dear Kirt, Thank you so much for a great labor of love! You did
a magnificent job on this journal and we are so happy to get it in this format.
We are thinking that now Richard has the ball in his court, as he has the
original journal, and he can do what editing is needed. With winter coming he
should have more time to do it too, without all the gardening etc.
Dad really, really enjoyed your nice letter and he will have to get back to you later. I would write more but have to get busy working downstairs before the Hammonds move in this weekend. I guess I told you about that. Anyway, we are all so richly blessed it takes my breath away. Always in ways we don’t expect-- but better. Again, thank you for a wonderful and very readable history. I think this is why grandpa wanted it brought out of obscurity. Love, Mom
Dad really, really enjoyed your nice letter and he will have to get back to you later. I would write more but have to get busy working downstairs before the Hammonds move in this weekend. I guess I told you about that. Anyway, we are all so richly blessed it takes my breath away. Always in ways we don’t expect-- but better. Again, thank you for a wonderful and very readable history. I think this is why grandpa wanted it brought out of obscurity. Love, Mom
On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 11:24
PM, Kirtland Stout <kirtlandstout@hotmail.com> wrote:
Dear Dad,
Several years ago, well before you moved out of the house on 10th East, you sent me a copy of your dad's abbreviated autobiography. I began transcribing it almost immediately, finishing within maybe 60 days. From that point until now I've had it in the back of my mind that the document needs to be edited for accuracy in comparison to the handwritten journal. As you read the transcription you'll see that there are question marks here and there indicating that I couldn't make out grandpa's handwriting, although I like his handwriting a lot. So where I had found adequate time to transcribe the document, I suddenly couldn't seem to find time to edit it for accuracy. And that's where it has hung these several years.
So I've decided to stop thinking I could finish it, and just send it out. I've got a copy of grandpa's journal from which I took the text here at home and am happy to make a copy for anyone who would like to do the editing. The document I created is in Microsoft Word format, and is easily edited and improved.
I enjoyed transcribing grandpa's partial life story because he took the time to write about his youth, his military and mission stories, his struggles to gain an education at a time when most didn't understand the need for people to get a formal education beyond high school, and how he saw himself as a bit different than those around him. I enjoyed reading about the actual classes and instructors he had at BYU and the University of Utah. I note throughout his early life story his love for family, even if that love was manifest a bit differently than this generation is used to seeing it.
Several years ago, well before you moved out of the house on 10th East, you sent me a copy of your dad's abbreviated autobiography. I began transcribing it almost immediately, finishing within maybe 60 days. From that point until now I've had it in the back of my mind that the document needs to be edited for accuracy in comparison to the handwritten journal. As you read the transcription you'll see that there are question marks here and there indicating that I couldn't make out grandpa's handwriting, although I like his handwriting a lot. So where I had found adequate time to transcribe the document, I suddenly couldn't seem to find time to edit it for accuracy. And that's where it has hung these several years.
So I've decided to stop thinking I could finish it, and just send it out. I've got a copy of grandpa's journal from which I took the text here at home and am happy to make a copy for anyone who would like to do the editing. The document I created is in Microsoft Word format, and is easily edited and improved.
I enjoyed transcribing grandpa's partial life story because he took the time to write about his youth, his military and mission stories, his struggles to gain an education at a time when most didn't understand the need for people to get a formal education beyond high school, and how he saw himself as a bit different than those around him. I enjoyed reading about the actual classes and instructors he had at BYU and the University of Utah. I note throughout his early life story his love for family, even if that love was manifest a bit differently than this generation is used to seeing it.
To me the most interesting part of the
story was his earliest encounters with your mother. It was fascinating to
look into a window of his life that he left open, after having had it closed to
all of us for so many years. I loved reading of the early years of strong
attraction between him and grandma LaRene. I noted how he came into the
marriage with a long history of self-discipline and delayed self-gratification.
She, however seems to have flummoxed him with her "let's do it right
now" attitude (for example, their "instant" marriage in the Salt
Lake Temple), her desire for instant gratification, as well as her sparkle and
creativity. For the first time in my life I can see how the early seeds
of two very different personalities in love sprouted, but not into a strong
marriage, but into conflict and eventual dissolution of that marriage, with a
tsunami effect that is still being felt in the Stout family today.
That's enough of my commentary. I hope you enjoy the transcribed partial personal history of your dad.
Please note that I am copying this email to Vaughn, David, Richard, and Maxine. I can't find Aunt Lois' email address in my contact list, so I'd appreciate it if one of you could send it to me so I can send her a copy too. I hope my address list is correct.
Love,
~Kirt
That's enough of my commentary. I hope you enjoy the transcribed partial personal history of your dad.
Please note that I am copying this email to Vaughn, David, Richard, and Maxine. I can't find Aunt Lois' email address in my contact list, so I'd appreciate it if one of you could send it to me so I can send her a copy too. I hope my address list is correct.
Love,
~Kirt
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