(Fragment 3)
It was small wonder that my father began walking down the road to Taycheedah to play cards with the men. He accused her of being solitary and none of the neighbors good enough to invite over. To tell the truth, that's the way it was. She was above them in education, had taught school and read every book she could. She even tried Christian Science, but it never quite came off.
[Editor's Note: With this fragment, it seems I have finally come to an end, because I cannot find, and may not have preserved, Polly's letters from the 1970's. My plan now is to re-arrange these extracts in chronological order and then, perhaps, find a way to publish them as a little book.]
Showing posts with label senior living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label senior living. Show all posts
December 1, 2013
January 21, 2013
Alone again
(1980 memoirs)
So Lorin studied and I taught school and at last we were married. I never wanted to do one thing in my life except to be where he was and share in his life, and now that I am alone again, the time is so dull and so long.
So Lorin studied and I taught school and at last we were married. I never wanted to do one thing in my life except to be where he was and share in his life, and now that I am alone again, the time is so dull and so long.
November 16, 2012
Bicycle
(1990s memoirs)
I was sitting around in the lobby [at the Schmidt Home] watching the clock go around when suddenly a man approached me to ask whether I was not the mother of Skip Kay, who bought a bicycle from him while he was at the time [1942] working at the Coast to Coast. I said I probably was and he said, "I knew it, I knew it!" ... He was Ed Hanson by name. Of course I didn't recall any such thing. ... I remember Daddy asking you if you were sure, and you said yes, that was the only one for you. And you said it was, that you had gone over it.
I was sitting around in the lobby [at the Schmidt Home] watching the clock go around when suddenly a man approached me to ask whether I was not the mother of Skip Kay, who bought a bicycle from him while he was at the time [1942] working at the Coast to Coast. I said I probably was and he said, "I knew it, I knew it!" ... He was Ed Hanson by name. Of course I didn't recall any such thing. ... I remember Daddy asking you if you were sure, and you said yes, that was the only one for you. And you said it was, that you had gone over it.
September 15, 2012
Roxanne
(1992)
Lying on my left side [at the Schmidt Home] I heard someone pulling out the waste basket under the night table. I opened my eyes and looked in the face of a slim girl, brown hair, pulled back in a pony tail. Hello, I said, who are you? Roxanne, she said. "Oh, you're in a play," I said. "I know," she said, "I've seen it all ready." I hadn't, so went back dozing and let her take the basket, thinking she may be a college student.
Lying on my left side [at the Schmidt Home] I heard someone pulling out the waste basket under the night table. I opened my eyes and looked in the face of a slim girl, brown hair, pulled back in a pony tail. Hello, I said, who are you? Roxanne, she said. "Oh, you're in a play," I said. "I know," she said, "I've seen it all ready." I hadn't, so went back dozing and let her take the basket, thinking she may be a college student.
May 25, 2012
Dachshund
(1994 January)
The maid often sits down, and we talk a while - tonight about our pet dogs. They have a wiener dog, her husband's pet. Sits up as easily as lies down. Never taught.
The maid often sits down, and we talk a while - tonight about our pet dogs. They have a wiener dog, her husband's pet. Sits up as easily as lies down. Never taught.
May 23, 2012
bible trivia
(1994 January 20)
This afternoon I wandered into the dining room, where people were sitting in a circle ... Those in the circle were playing Bible Trivia, and I was surprised to find myself the star performer. All those childhood story books, some so beautiful; I wish I never gave them away. [Actually, Skip still has them.]
This afternoon I wandered into the dining room, where people were sitting in a circle ... Those in the circle were playing Bible Trivia, and I was surprised to find myself the star performer. All those childhood story books, some so beautiful; I wish I never gave them away. [Actually, Skip still has them.]
May 19, 2012
Toenail scissors
(1994 early January)
Did we talk about baths here? You take one when your name comes up in a little notebook Dorthea keeps. So one night we had all this bath, and at the end she said, "This is as far as we can go. Your toenails need trimming, but we have no toenail scissors." - "Oh yes we do," says little Polly, triumphant by producing hers. Aren't these things always amazingly satisfactory? Beyond sense.
Did we talk about baths here? You take one when your name comes up in a little notebook Dorthea keeps. So one night we had all this bath, and at the end she said, "This is as far as we can go. Your toenails need trimming, but we have no toenail scissors." - "Oh yes we do," says little Polly, triumphant by producing hers. Aren't these things always amazingly satisfactory? Beyond sense.
May 13, 2012
Green choices
(1993 April)
Would you like spinach or broccali the third Sunday after Easter? Choice of food always given. Waitress goes around each of 5 tables and records preference.
Would you like spinach or broccali the third Sunday after Easter? Choice of food always given. Waitress goes around each of 5 tables and records preference.
May 12, 2012
Chorus line
(1993 December)
Yesterday a long row of girls, about a dozen, came in my room after being introduced and permission granted. The leader said, "We are a bunch of girls who likes to get together. I am from Ithaca." The large girl in the center gave the tone, and all sang Xmas songs, very lovely. Also one day kindergartners.
Yesterday a long row of girls, about a dozen, came in my room after being introduced and permission granted. The leader said, "We are a bunch of girls who likes to get together. I am from Ithaca." The large girl in the center gave the tone, and all sang Xmas songs, very lovely. Also one day kindergartners.
May 11, 2012
Bellringer's ghost
(1993 October 1)
My bell was peeping and a maid came to shut it off. I have no idea what set it off and thot it was someone else's - she said neither did she, and some times one got going when there was no one in the room, and they thot it was a ghost in that case.
My bell was peeping and a maid came to shut it off. I have no idea what set it off and thot it was someone else's - she said neither did she, and some times one got going when there was no one in the room, and they thot it was a ghost in that case.
May 10, 2012
Labor Day
(1993 September)
Labor Day. What time is the parade? Was always the question at home. No info from the Republican Observer, who had an article about it - doors were closed. We used to, LL and I, stand out on the hill and hear the band. Then he could quickly go back to stamps. People would go by with boats of all types tied to rear bumpers or a canoe tied on top. Here the day is observed by dinner napkins with a family having a picnic.
Labor Day. What time is the parade? Was always the question at home. No info from the Republican Observer, who had an article about it - doors were closed. We used to, LL and I, stand out on the hill and hear the band. Then he could quickly go back to stamps. People would go by with boats of all types tied to rear bumpers or a canoe tied on top. Here the day is observed by dinner napkins with a family having a picnic.
May 9, 2012
Yes, no bananas
(1993 November)
The woman across from me is a fast eater. On my right, Agnes Everson loves bananas and often is served half a one. By this time she knows I don't like them. One day she would not quit but kept asking, "How do they affect you?" At last I said, "They make me want to throw up." She was very shocked and now wraps the skin in her paper napkin.
The woman across from me is a fast eater. On my right, Agnes Everson loves bananas and often is served half a one. By this time she knows I don't like them. One day she would not quit but kept asking, "How do they affect you?" At last I said, "They make me want to throw up." She was very shocked and now wraps the skin in her paper napkin.
May 7, 2012
Bugged begonia
(1993 November)
My cleaning lady saw some bugs on my begonia, and she shrieked, "O! You can't have this any more." And took it off. Does she have the right to do this? I'm going to tell her she has to doctor it up and return it, and see how she responds.
My cleaning lady saw some bugs on my begonia, and she shrieked, "O! You can't have this any more." And took it off. Does she have the right to do this? I'm going to tell her she has to doctor it up and return it, and see how she responds.
May 3, 2012
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?
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?
May 2, 2012
Bedtime
I have been tucked in and my light put out (really!). "You have a good night now," Beverly says as usual. And after a bit, I start thinking of you and put it back on again [and write in bed].
April 22, 2012
Bridge again
(1993 October)
Upstairs to play bridge, a poor player but encouraged. The Pribenaus live here, and Mr. P. 'Skip's geometry teacher] was my partner, very good not to point out my errors until asked. No money was bet anyway. She [Mrs., Skip's civics teacher] was sick but better now, and we nodded later.
Upstairs to play bridge, a poor player but encouraged. The Pribenaus live here, and Mr. P. 'Skip's geometry teacher] was my partner, very good not to point out my errors until asked. No money was bet anyway. She [Mrs., Skip's civics teacher] was sick but better now, and we nodded later.
April 21, 2012
Not amused
I was swept away to hear "a reading" and sat in a circle by a window until possible to break away. ... Paper being read while nearly all dozed. As soon as I got back to room ... I was invited to "go for a ride to see the colors," a thing I have done many times, so no trouble refusing.
April 15, 2012
The passing scene
(1993 April 28)
Helen Bruns, room-mate, had a large sign with her name outside the door. Then children made name-tulips with our names printed and put on doors, and Helen found the big one 6 x 12" (I never had one) was gone. Heavens! As I sat in the foyer watching the passing scene, she nailed Lynn Clark, who didn't realize it was the honor of the thing, and said, "Well, by now you can find your way to your room - can't cha?" The passing scene.
Helen Bruns, room-mate, had a large sign with her name outside the door. Then children made name-tulips with our names printed and put on doors, and Helen found the big one 6 x 12" (I never had one) was gone. Heavens! As I sat in the foyer watching the passing scene, she nailed Lynn Clark, who didn't realize it was the honor of the thing, and said, "Well, by now you can find your way to your room - can't cha?" The passing scene.
April 13, 2012
False alarm
We were told to brush our teeth, as Dr. Williams was going thru here and give free exams. I didn't believe it, and I was right, but I brushed anyway.
April 10, 2012
Maid service
(1993 July)
Eva said tonight, "Will I ever get out of this place?" - She had dropped her butter and jelly! I told her to keep quiet about it and go, and she did. Leave it to the maid.
Eva said tonight, "Will I ever get out of this place?" - She had dropped her butter and jelly! I told her to keep quiet about it and go, and she did. Leave it to the maid.
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