A quiet call at the vicarage

(1965 January 13)

From there [beauty parlor] to vicarage to call on Hamiltons. Here I met Father coming from church to house. Inside, Joe Rucenski was doing carpentry work. Mrs. H. put my things on her bed and resumed knitting. We talked. Soon Father came in from the church again. He clung in the doorway between dining room and living room near front door, thumped his chest, complained of pain. Mrs. H. and I got him to sit down and he was very white. After a few minutes he thot he could make it to the bed off living room (I took my coat off the bed) and we each got on one side of him and started, and down he went, heart attack. She put his feet up on a chair and I called Joe, who straightened him out, loosed his belt, took off glasses. I got a cold wet cloth for forehead and Mrs. H. took his pulse. After about 5" he wanted to try for the bed again and Joe and Mrs. H. got him to bed. At first he would not allow the doctor to be called, then consented, and Mrs. H. called Dick Edwards [with office just around the corner]. About that time I decided I had better absent myself from the scene. I put on my things, welcomed and directed Dick, went for my purse, and here was a man from the freight office with 30 barrels of water to store in the basement for Civil Defense, as our church is a Shelter. Well, there was the priest with a heart attack, there was his wife hovering over him, there was the doctor. Upstairs was the carpenter pounding away. And in the basement the men were carting the drums of water. A quiet call, indeed. I found out later we should have kept him in the chair and got the doctor. Inertia is the watchword. I called today and he had more pain.

Boxing day

(1965 January 13)

It's a wonder I am speaking to you at all after all the trouble I had getting a proper box and packing it! (I'd give an order so I'd get the box promised me. Groceries would come in bags. Me: Where's the box? Man: Someone took it. On and on.) Finally Daddy and I went after one Saturday and I packed it Monday morning, two hours and a quarter! A struggle!! ....

Back to the Box - guess we will have to noise it around Skip is fond of small gifts unless denomination of currency. Then it is OK to go big.

Lost anecdote

(1964 end of November)

P.S. Ask me how MM burned the element out of her toaster!!!!!

Like the Pilgrims

(1964 end of November)

How did you spend Thanksgiving? Marshalls gave us a turkey-duck, which I stuffed and roasted, and MM brought one of her roosters (ditto).... [Also] M's corn on cob I froze for Thanksgiving to be like the Pilgrims.

Bowen's Mill

(1964 December 4)

The old bridge at Bowen's Mill went down as a man was driving over at night. Second man also went in before flares could be put up. First man had to walk to farm house all wet and cold. Passed out etc. Another man stepped on gas instead of brake and went thru Masonic Temple door.

Treats & tricks

(1964 November 2)

Halloween we gave out 50 5-cent bars, 10 sticks gum, 2 lifesaver packages, and 23 cookies! Next morning we saw my jack with flashlight in it was stolen. Radio said some meanie on South Side sacked up her garbage and handed it out to them. And everyone is talking about the NY woman who gave out poison.

Patty Coy

(1964 November 2)

The other day there was a joke about me and the Dentist. When I got there they all burst out laughing and said, "O it's you who have the 3 o'clock appointment! We read it Patty Coy and called long distance to Cazenovia to Coys to notify Patty and no luck! No Patty." Solution: there are 2 [office] girls - Iola W. and Mary ?. Mary always writes me down Mrs. L-- K--. Iola knows me better, so P-- K--. Iola made the appointment ahead, then left for the West to visit folks and Lorna.