Letter received Nov 3, 2009

(Editor's note: The salutation dates back to the mission experience of Katie's brother, who served in Hungary...the country. Anyway, the Hungarian words for 'Dear Family' are apparently very similar looking and sounding to the words 'dragon salad,' so many of his letters were addressed thusly. We found Katie's first letter from the MTC addressed to Dragon Salad, which brought surprise, memories and great happiness to us all. Usually it's only on the address on the envelope, which is why you haven't seen it. But since this letter came in a box the letter itself specifically starts with the happy greeting. Now that all that's out of the way...)

Dragon Salad,

Allright, so I'm leaving for Fallon in the morning & these are things (Editor's note: Some clothes and stuff.) that I have not found useful in the last 3 months - so I'm sending them home to make more room in my suitcase for the results of Makeover Session #3 - clothes shopping. I felt like I was on "What Not to Wear." Sis. Chapman literally went through the racks at lightning speed throwing things in the cart "I like this, I don't like that, too long, too short, try it on, faster!" (We didn't have much time because - long story - too many people have been going over miles so the entire mission had to park their cars for one day & we actually went over just a teensy bit over so we got parked a second day so we had to work around member schedules for rides and didn't have the leisure time to dilly-dally.) But, she is a tremendous shopper & has a great eye - I think I've come out looking like the dignified missionary I had hoped to appear but didn't have the time or skills to prep for. So Mom can have her skirts back, Amy can take her slip, the rest can go in my closet till I get back. Also, wilst thou include in the next package the long sleeve shirts I recently purchased from Shade as well as my long sleeve brown shirt, I thank thee & should be able to provide the street address in my next email. I'm including a reply letter to the Flowers to save a stamp - would you be so kind as to hand deliver it? And thank you for the FedEx slips - if I had only known I would be sending this package so soon, I wouldn't have sent the other one separately. But I guess (well, I know) it's nice to get lots of things in the mail, so I hope you enjoy! Oh my, I can't believe I'm leaving already; everything about this area is so precious to me. My next companion, Sis. Compten, is going home in six weeks which means in my fourth transfer I will already be on my fourth companion! I only have to think of how many companions David had to realize it may be a family trait, but I'm sure the Lord knows what he's doing and I'll just take what He gives me. Well, I still have some final packing before I go to sleep so I'll let you go for now - let me know if there's anything you need from me or anything you want to know more about. Oh, I guess we'll have to start all over with a dentist, but I'll ask around the first week to get some recommendations - thanks for all the info you sent, Dad, it was very helpful!!

Sister Cloward

I LOVE YOU!!!