Whose dog he was

(Dogs 34)
And yet from the first, I think Mr. Dee knew whose dog he was.  I know I did.  Mary M. lovedhim too.  And if she didn't drill him in his tricks, she knew how to show him off to visitors.  And though she has left me, as have the rest, and he is 15, old for a dog, he and I are still keeping house, still putting up with each other.

Trying to forget

(1980 memoir)
The real reason [I am writing this memoir] is that I am trying to forget some of it myself.  Life for me has just about gone by, hard as it is to realize.  Here am I, 76, having outlived all those I am writing about.  Enough of this, then, and let's start going back.

Fruit cake

(1969 December 7)
On December 7 we were snowbound and [Lorin and I] made fifteen pounds of Fruit cake.  (Jokingly we wondered if such a big recipe wouldn't last us the rest of our lives.  Only too true [noted in margin, June 1970].)  It was unusual for us to do these things together, and we thoroly enjoyed it.  He helped me partly because of the fun and partly because both of these projects [mincemeat and fruit cake] were too much for me alone, and he knew it and came to my rescue, as always.  We packed it all away with brandy ... and stored it in the attic after first taking out a cake for Christmas and sending one to Aunt Mary Maibuchner in Fond du Lac.

Over 90

(1994 May 10)
I am often sleepy.  Does this have anything to do with being over 90?  Just refused invitation to kick a Beach Ball around.

Sheets

(1966 September 9)
It is amazing how long some sheets (linens) last.  I have some that were in Vina's household.  The sheet I sent you I got the year I moved here [1938] when Carolyn Bancroft worked in Krouskops.  She is a grandmother now.

My old things

(1968 February 21)
I often look at all my old things and wonder what will become of them.  When Richland Center has a museum, that might be the answer - those old flat irons - etc.  Oh well  --

Summer of love

(1997 July 16)
I hear you have been to California and had yourselves quite a time!  It made us tired just to read it, and we're glad you were the ones who had lived thru it and not us.  Stamina must be the watchword.  Oh yes - the Hippies and the Chippies - we hear about them in our remote village also.  I'm sure you must have seen a lot of lovely things also.

Sweet talk

(1993 November)
Not much here.  Yesterday a group of us - Jim was the only man - went in a room to read [aloud] and one chair was lacking.  Jim said, "Never mind.  I can take Polly on my lap."  It's things like this that keep us young, eh Sher?

Decubitus

(1993 November)
What a time!  Dorothea, this older maid, bathed me and saw the skin broken on left hip, the side I lie on.  So tonight, another mattress on top of mine, like porcupine back [or egg carton], which I must have until sore on hip heals.  ...  I have a decubitus ulcer from lying on my left side (reading) too much.  Gradually my pleasures are stripped away in my old age.

Listless

(1993 April 14)

Lobby of Schmitt Woodland Hills, Retirement Center, Richland Center. ... TV is on "Little House on the Prairie." Those watching are not aware of art in any form

Prayer helps

(1992 ?November)

Sometimes I think how useless this all is - it's about time for me to be dying anyway, and I am performing no useful service any more, unless it is prayer.

Updating

(1992 November 16?)

This might be Nov. 16, 1992. I don't go out nor see many people, but I could pay more attention to the date on the paper - that would be the Wisconsin State Journal.

Exit Annie

(1992 September)

One night I opened the door, and Annie, who is a black kitten, darted out, and MM hurt her arm trying to catch her from elbow to shoulder. Has been to doctor but still very tender. She does everything for me, and a good thing, as I can do less and less for myself - just tired. What I do pretty well is sleep.

Not thinking

(1992 July 12)

Today Geraldine and I were doing house work when I said, "I better run out and see if there is any mail." And she said, "Do you get mail out here on Sunday?" That is the first intimation I had it was Sunday! Mary M has gone to Madison to her family over the weekend, and being alone I wasn't thinking. ... Geraldine is coming to stay all night. MM thought I'd feel safter.

Watch lost

(1992 July 10)

I have not found the wrist watch Daddy gave me, and I wonder if it went with the trash before I missed it. I look every day.

What I felt like doing

(1992 April 5)

I have resolved to get up more. I was told to do what I felt like doing, and bed seemed easy and the safest thing. I have a pain in my upper right arm that is annoying. If I go to my doctor, he will send me on a series of tests again, maybe even to hospital, and I am tired of that.

Bedbound

(1992 March 7)

[After a false alarm about my heart] MM called Dr. Smith, who said I was to stay in bed (hell) - worse places.

Out of reach

(1992 late January)

Today I am going to try to mail your calendar. January has already gone with my prevaricating. MM is sleeping late today and no doubt has plans, but shall try. I need her help to get a bag or folder to put it in. I used to carry a stool and climb up to the saved bags, but I seem to be getting too old to be so frisky. Shall try to walk out to the mail box, tho.

Postmarked

(1991 late December)

Well, Xmas is over. ... I am going to try to answer a few things on your post cards to me. I need a magnifying glass to read your fine writing but that is all right, as I have a glass handy. The Post Office, instead of using that round stamp near your stamp, will put it on your writing; so if I do not answer to suit you, you'll know why.

A loner

(1991 September 21)

I feel as if I am getting older, and I wonder why that is. Alvira Snodgrass called me a few hours ago, and she said she is 94 and likes it better when she lives alone. She gets her own breakfast but has help in.,