April 30, 2012

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.

April 29, 2012

Celebrity

(1993 November)
Christie, who has some job here, said yesterday she was at a book store in Madison and saw your mushroom book, and told the clerk she knew the mother of one of the authors!  And couldn't resist, felt so important!

April 28, 2012

No apple man

(1993 November)
Today I extracted one of my Macintosh apples from the fridge in dining room; washed and cut it up and passed it, and delighted all but Jim, who said he didn't care for apples.  Only one I ever knew so.

April 27, 2012

T-shirt

(1993 November)
A Guide by the three authors to the Mushrooms [of Kansas] book - all on my new T shirt, for which I do thank you v v much.  Yes, it is a bit large, but you must know better than I do by this time what Experience with Laundry will do.

April 26, 2012

Dear little tea pot

(1993 December)
When she [Susan Hirschy] grew older, she became v v fond of tea, and showed this by finishing up all of that elixir left in their tea cups by the company.  So after a few years, I put the kettle on when she was coming and brewed our own tea in my dear little copper tea pot, which through the years somehow was felt to belong to both of us.  "Shall I get out our dear little tea pot?" she'd say.  This affection, and her affection for me, led me to give that dear little pot to her today.  I hope you won't feel too bad about it.  As one gets older and older, one is more inclined to part with keepsakes, I find.  [P.S.]  Do say it's all right.

April 25, 2012

Sugar baby

(1993 December)
[Susan Hirschy] used to live with her family next to us.  Jan used to put her snow suit on her and give her a well sealed paper bag containing the one cup of sugar I had phoned over for in desperation, and say "Give it to Polly, Susan."  And I on my porch would urge her on to come.

April 24, 2012

Train special

(1993 December)
Susan (Hirschy) Hesod from Seattle has just paid us a visit (came all the way - two days on the train) ... I think the train had a special to advertise against planes and buses.