Another week where I didn’t have a good image to go with our post so I found one of the flowering almond bushes mentioned in her entries. I’m making notes of all the things she’s planted since I’ve been trying through the years to plant a “grandma/women of my life” garden” where I’ve incorporated flowers that grew at my grandmother’s houses; I’ve come to realize that I’ve somehow inherited my Grandma Clara Lou’s fondness for roses in particular. This year I’m adding silver dollar money/coin plants that Grandpa Archie had outside the front of his house for a long time – I remember pulling them apart and he yelled at me. I’m hoping aside from the lily of the valley I remember from Grandma Rose’s house that I can find something else in her diary that tickles my fancy to plant. The almond bush is a prime contender – how pretty!
Anyway, I digress… this week is busy for Len with his surgery. Sad to think of how many he’d endured to this point! I had to think of how she was packing her bags to go to her sister’s house while her husband was in the hospital and yet she managed to take this journal with her. I don’t know that would be on my mind in that same moment but it shows how dedicated and important journaling was to her that she included it with her packing. The entries aren’t as robust but she’s not at home either so I don’t think she had as much to report but I secretly wish she’d have told us what all she and Ethel were up to as they visited. Maybe next week will give us more.
NOTE: As always, I left her spelling, capitalization, and punctuation as much as possible.
April 2, 1977 – Rained about all night. Still misting this morning. Did some hard washing this morning. Pump stayed up. Surprise.
64° 1:30 S.W. Winds 20 gusting 30 M.P.H.
Laid down and slept from 2 to 3 – Rosie came this afternoon – Sure was surprised to have her shake me awake. She stayed for supper. She got her job at the air base. Started Mon. 28th. looked good and happy. Bought some items Darryl was selling. $8.25
64° Winds S.West 16 M.P.H 68° high 53° low
April 3, 1977 – AFB Rosies no. 492-4737
Did some more hand washing to take with me. Blouses, bra – panties, etc. Dried them outdoors – temps 50’s. Beautiful. Watered a few of my flowers.
We called mom & David. Mom not good. Dorothy N. called – Things not going good with her either. Jim’s mother dying of cancer.
48° winds 8 M.P.H. Low 46° high 56°
Thought for today: I’ve never been hurt by anything I didn’t say. – President Calvin Coolidge 1872-1933
April 4, 1977 – Raining about all afternoon. Not too bad this morning. Went out to look at the flowers coming up on the bank. Flowering almond loaded with buds.
Ironed up all I’d washed – Mended clothes and partially packed my suit case & Lens over night bag.
60° Low 49 Hi 53
S.W. 15 M.P.H.
Thought for today: Like your life without comparing it with that of another. – Condorcet
April 5, 1977 – Cold Snowing rainy morning. I’ve got the shakes for some reason. Finished and mailed letter to Dorothy.
Watered all the flowers this P.M. (Drew Len 2 more rooters.)
Packed suit cases. Sent Susie a B’day card for 15th.
4:30 Winds clocked at 40 to 50 M.P.H. Trailer sure doing some shaking.
Looked like the flowering almond bush may get nipped tonight if it gets to low 20’s.
35° low 51° high
S.W. 15 M.P.H.
Thought for today: It may be true that hard work never killed anyone but you never heard of anyone relaxing to death, either. – Anonymous
April 6, 1977 – Ralph and E came about 11:40. Len went to the hospital 1:00 P.M. Got him settled in and went on home with Ralph and Ethel. When I left him the nurse was giving him an electro-cardiogram.
Spent a very pleasant first evening with Ethel. Frist time since Len was in the hospital for his fourth operation in July ’76. Took a walk around the yard.
Sayings: Isometric exercises started when man first yawned without opening his mouth.
April 7, 1977 – Len operated on this morning. Went down 10:20 Back in his room before noon. Ralph brought me to the hospital 10:15 A.M. Was to go to surgery at 9:00 Dr got tied up. Went 10:20 back in his room about 11:30
Foot bled thru the bandage – all over his foot & leg, foot pillow, sheet & spread.
Len woke up about 5:15. Fed him some supper. He slept all afternoon. Housekeepers changed curtains in the room – he didn’t even know they were there. He didn’t remember eating supper. Ralph & Ethel picked me up about 8:00 P.M.
[She wrote in the crack of the book that Len was glad to see her, said it made him feel better.]
April 8, 1977 – Didn’t go in to see Len today. Called him about 10:00 A.M. Said he was feeling better. Was getting his last bottle of Lactate Ringer and bottle of antibiotic.
Ethel, Ralph and I came home and got some of my washing. After we got to Ethels. She did some of the wash after Ralph went back to work at the garage.
Sayings: It is possible to own too much. A man with one watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.