(Lyndon 6)
So we grew up and went to country school. He was smart but not an excellent student. I was a sophomore in high school when my mother died. ... If she had lived, she would have been a good influence on Lyn and seen to it he had his lessons.
Showing posts with label coping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coping. Show all posts
October 19, 2013
October 17, 2013
Comfort
(Lyndon 5)
[When I tore up Lyndon's valentine] he let out a wail and my mother scolded me. My father asked, "What's wrong?" Mother said, "She tore up the only valentine the poor boy had!" My father said, "Well, doll -- it's hell to be the oldest."
[When I tore up Lyndon's valentine] he let out a wail and my mother scolded me. My father asked, "What's wrong?" Mother said, "She tore up the only valentine the poor boy had!" My father said, "Well, doll -- it's hell to be the oldest."
October 1, 2013
On patrol
(Dogs 38)
When Mr. Dee first got the hang of our house, which is long with wide window sills, he started to patrol it. Sitting in one window, he would peer thru his long eyebrows until he saw someone going by, a cat on the hill, not country cars, then he would give the alarm, running the length of the house, jumping on each window sill as he went. After a few weeks of this, I decided this was too hard on the paint as well as the ears and got thru to him it wasn't wanted.
When Mr. Dee first got the hang of our house, which is long with wide window sills, he started to patrol it. Sitting in one window, he would peer thru his long eyebrows until he saw someone going by, a cat on the hill, not country cars, then he would give the alarm, running the length of the house, jumping on each window sill as he went. After a few weeks of this, I decided this was too hard on the paint as well as the ears and got thru to him it wasn't wanted.
July 23, 2013
Determination
(Dogs 8)
Always docile, Jennie surprised me one day by showing me she had determination to solve a problem when she thought she knew best. She had had a litter of pups and they were in the utility room. Hoping to speed up the weaning, I had tied her to a chair in the living room and sat down nearby to read. A few moments later I was stunned to glance up to see her busily, silently, with no fuss at all, calmly chewing the rope in two, to regain her offspring.
Always docile, Jennie surprised me one day by showing me she had determination to solve a problem when she thought she knew best. She had had a litter of pups and they were in the utility room. Hoping to speed up the weaning, I had tied her to a chair in the living room and sat down nearby to read. A few moments later I was stunned to glance up to see her busily, silently, with no fuss at all, calmly chewing the rope in two, to regain her offspring.
June 29, 2013
Depression years
(1934)
Because of staying home so much and having so little company, I became very nervous and went to a specialist. *** [Polly's memoirs, written in 1980, stop here (in mid-page) . For some years thereafter she was badly depressed. She stopped writing in her 5-year diary on September 14, 1934, about a year after Caroline came. In 1980 she wrote another set of memoirs, "My Pets," which will follow on this blog. A bit later, she wrote a memoir about her brother Lyndon, which will also be posted eventually. For the next few months, this blog will be posted only on alternate days, when Skip can get to his desk.]
Because of staying home so much and having so little company, I became very nervous and went to a specialist. *** [Polly's memoirs, written in 1980, stop here (in mid-page) . For some years thereafter she was badly depressed. She stopped writing in her 5-year diary on September 14, 1934, about a year after Caroline came. In 1980 she wrote another set of memoirs, "My Pets," which will follow on this blog. A bit later, she wrote a memoir about her brother Lyndon, which will also be posted eventually. For the next few months, this blog will be posted only on alternate days, when Skip can get to his desk.]
January 29, 2013
Bare fawcett
(1980 memoirs)
that about all [about the dining room], except I do think there was a faucett, a bare fawcett, with a pail underneath for drinking water.
that about all [about the dining room], except I do think there was a faucett, a bare fawcett, with a pail underneath for drinking water.
December 23, 2012
Spencer Carrier
And yet some how, some way, out of the the past Spencer Carrier came to see her one day. I didn't know what to expect and came wonderingly down the stairs from my room. He was such a nice man! Just a little Mortimer-Sneerd-y - that deep guffaw: alugh! It sort of went out all over and all over us. He was a small person and wore a dark grey suit - straight tan hair - guess maybe a mustache. As I recall he didn't stay to dinner, only the afternoon. Cousin Frankie was pleased, but not altogether at ease. Unexpected company frequently makes us feel that way. I was always glad I saw him, tho, and knew how nice he was.
December 20, 2012
No-kissing cousin
(1980 memoirs)
Especially in my freshman year [at Ripon] I was new on campus and probably cute, and so I had a lot of dates. Often when the evening ended in kissing we would be aware of a dark Shape within the window, which, if ignored, tapy-tap-tapped on the pane. This was usually enough to bring the good night to a Climax.
Especially in my freshman year [at Ripon] I was new on campus and probably cute, and so I had a lot of dates. Often when the evening ended in kissing we would be aware of a dark Shape within the window, which, if ignored, tapy-tap-tapped on the pane. This was usually enough to bring the good night to a Climax.
December 12, 2012
Newberry Street
(1980 memoirs)
[Henry Clapp's] sister Frances [1866-1958] was a very dear and unusual person. She lived in a nice little white colonial house on Newberry Street [in Ripon] and let out some rooms converted into an apartment to an unmarried lady - Clare Mears - who sewed beautifully and made her living by it. They got along year after year with no bathrooms, no furnace, no refrigeration. Imagine that.
[Henry Clapp's] sister Frances [1866-1958] was a very dear and unusual person. She lived in a nice little white colonial house on Newberry Street [in Ripon] and let out some rooms converted into an apartment to an unmarried lady - Clare Mears - who sewed beautifully and made her living by it. They got along year after year with no bathrooms, no furnace, no refrigeration. Imagine that.
December 9, 2012
Helen & Carol
(1980 memoirs)
But later two children were born to them [to Florence Clapp & Herman Hillsburg]: Helen, dark haired, smaller again than her mother but like her, musical; and her brother Carol a couple of years younger. They had many slim years and Florence gave piano lessons to help out. I believe eventually Florence and Herman were divorced. No doubt once passion was satisfied the difference in their education and experience made living together too trying to be bourne. [In 1910 Florence wrote Lois a long letter detailing her life as a single mother in New Hampshire.]
But later two children were born to them [to Florence Clapp & Herman Hillsburg]: Helen, dark haired, smaller again than her mother but like her, musical; and her brother Carol a couple of years younger. They had many slim years and Florence gave piano lessons to help out. I believe eventually Florence and Herman were divorced. No doubt once passion was satisfied the difference in their education and experience made living together too trying to be bourne. [In 1910 Florence wrote Lois a long letter detailing her life as a single mother in New Hampshire.]
September 18, 2012
Pranks
(1992? Halloween)
Well Al Hallows' Eve is over for one more year. Cousin Frankie and her brother Henry, who married Lucretia out East, never tired of telling how they used to put the outhouses on top of someone's woodshed. And the goat that was found on the church roof discovered the next morning. The pastor guessed who did it and publicly asked those boys to get it down so they couldn't refuse. They were great on pranks in those days, more so than now when kids are watching TV.
Well Al Hallows' Eve is over for one more year. Cousin Frankie and her brother Henry, who married Lucretia out East, never tired of telling how they used to put the outhouses on top of someone's woodshed. And the goat that was found on the church roof discovered the next morning. The pastor guessed who did it and publicly asked those boys to get it down so they couldn't refuse. They were great on pranks in those days, more so than now when kids are watching TV.
September 13, 2012
Euchre
(1929 August, Buffalo, WY
The edge on the friendships were pretty thin this afternoon. Vi and Jeannette [Jurgeson] were going to play euchre and wanted me to play (Tommy was driving down a perilous mountain about then, but we had to have some diversion, hence the cards). She was quite horrid about teaching me, but I tried hard to be noble -- aren't you proud of me for holding my temper? Please do be -- it was noble.
The edge on the friendships were pretty thin this afternoon. Vi and Jeannette [Jurgeson] were going to play euchre and wanted me to play (Tommy was driving down a perilous mountain about then, but we had to have some diversion, hence the cards). She was quite horrid about teaching me, but I tried hard to be noble -- aren't you proud of me for holding my temper? Please do be -- it was noble.
August 6, 2012
Gall stones
(1966 August 10)
[The day of LL's operation, Polly was waiting in his hospital room.] About 2 along came a RN with the [gall] stones in a neat little box!! Offering them to me?!!! I gave her a disgusted look and she laughed and said, "You can make them into a necklace and wear them around your neck." I turned away and looked out of the window and think it revolting. However, I guess this is the usual procedure, as you say.
[The day of LL's operation, Polly was waiting in his hospital room.] About 2 along came a RN with the [gall] stones in a neat little box!! Offering them to me?!!! I gave her a disgusted look and she laughed and said, "You can make them into a necklace and wear them around your neck." I turned away and looked out of the window and think it revolting. However, I guess this is the usual procedure, as you say.
June 30, 2012
Nice try
On my birthday Daddy asked me out to eat at the Park [hotel] and then to the Eskin [theatre] to see "The Taming of the Shrew" Usually I am home at night (also days) and when I do go out, I prepare for it by resting up beforehand. Too too bad but a nice try.
June 26, 2012
Detour
(1968 February 3)
The Seminary [Street] bridge is unsafe and closed and being worked on, therefore all traffic to clinic etc. goes by our house, including school buses, trucks, etc. Big difference. People walk over the dam. Cabs charge 50 cents instead of 40. I was going to town to do a few errands but doesn't seem wise to add a dollar to my small purchases, so may rest up and go with LL at one some other day. He works late - TAXES.
The Seminary [Street] bridge is unsafe and closed and being worked on, therefore all traffic to clinic etc. goes by our house, including school buses, trucks, etc. Big difference. People walk over the dam. Cabs charge 50 cents instead of 40. I was going to town to do a few errands but doesn't seem wise to add a dollar to my small purchases, so may rest up and go with LL at one some other day. He works late - TAXES.
April 18, 2012
Greenhouse
(1993 last of July)
Did you know she [Ruth Andrews in Madison] had a greenhouse built? I knew this but can't recall having seen it. I think she was dismayed by it, in that she got more and more seedlings to grow and didn't know what to do with them.
Did you know she [Ruth Andrews in Madison] had a greenhouse built? I knew this but can't recall having seen it. I think she was dismayed by it, in that she got more and more seedlings to grow and didn't know what to do with them.
March 26, 2012
Tension
(1993 August)
I am sorry to have to say I have the heebee-jeebees today. What brings on these spasms of nervousness and what causes them to leave, Heaven knows. It is utterly silly to think of your even calling when you get this, as by that time all will be OK. The nearest thing to this is how you felt, Skip, first days at Ripon. Utterly tense.
I am sorry to have to say I have the heebee-jeebees today. What brings on these spasms of nervousness and what causes them to leave, Heaven knows. It is utterly silly to think of your even calling when you get this, as by that time all will be OK. The nearest thing to this is how you felt, Skip, first days at Ripon. Utterly tense.
March 5, 2012
Dinnertime
(1993 February)
When it gets near meal time, I hear the clank of crutches and every other [such device] known to man. So sad, yet good they can go. I myself cannot go as well as I used to. Now 5:15 and time to lurk around the dining room until Dorothea says, "Ladies and Gentlemen, time to come to your evening meal."
When it gets near meal time, I hear the clank of crutches and every other [such device] known to man. So sad, yet good they can go. I myself cannot go as well as I used to. Now 5:15 and time to lurk around the dining room until Dorothea says, "Ladies and Gentlemen, time to come to your evening meal."
January 10, 2012
Catplay
(1992 October 27)
I said, "What is Annie doing?" MM said - "in the bathroom wopping the hot water bottle corks as they hang over the shelf." Very dull just now.
I said, "What is Annie doing?" MM said - "in the bathroom wopping the hot water bottle corks as they hang over the shelf." Very dull just now.
December 30, 2011
Watch found
(1992 September)
I found the gold watch Daddy gave me in a pocket - won't go, so now I am trying one from Mary and Bruce. Gotta know the time.
I found the gold watch Daddy gave me in a pocket - won't go, so now I am trying one from Mary and Bruce. Gotta know the time.
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