Monday, April 14, 1997

Ruth called last nite to tell us she will have a hip replacement on Fri. about 1pm. It will be at Swedish American Hosp, Rkfd. She'll be in the hosp. about 5 days & then will go to P. A. Peterson Home for therapy, etc.

At noon today our time Charles called to tell us Lila took a fall yesterday & will have an emergency hip replacement this aft. as soon as the Dr. finishes another schedule operation. She has complained of sharp pains & fell a couple of times at home yesterday. They went out to a meeting & she fell in the parking lot. They called 911. The nurse said the bone was already broken so the fall didn't cause it. That's probably the only way Lila would see a Dr. or go to the hosp. What a coincidence - both sisters having the same operation.

Chas. mentioned he was in Madison for a mtg. & called at the library to see you.  He said the library is so nice. Think he was surprised.  He spoke with someone who is active in Lib. work & she spoke very highly of you, Paul.  Nice words for a mother to hear!

Cleaned upstairs today.  Usually it's a Tues. job but tomorrow is suppose to be nice & warmer for a change.  So in the A.M. I'll walk over town & cash a refund check (returned 4 cases kitchen tiles ) & go to the library.  In the aft. have circle at church.

Saturday, April 12, 1997

It's a cold rainy day & I had to walk to get my hair done.  It's Dale's Sat. to work & Barb is taking care of Scott while Lynn & Bob are away for the weekend.

Kim talked to Ann Lesser this past week & Ann mentioned the new Lib. director is a man but she didn't say his name.  Ann is thru the end of Apr. & the new dir. comes near the end of May.

I got a book The Cousins by Rona Jaffe but it didn't appeal to me so I didn't finish reading it.  Now I'm reading The Daughter of Cain by Colin Dexter & I'm enjoying it. 

Just wrote a note to Millie who will celebrate her 82nd birthday the 17th.  Millie, Gen, & Edith (Ed's sister) usually go out to lunch at a nice place on birthdays.

Next Tues. I'll be able to watch the Mets on ESPN when they celebrate Jackie Robinson Day.  Baseball has gotten off to a bad start in some areas with all this lousy weather we've been having.  And the Cubs haven't won a game as of the 12th of Apr.  The Mets are a little better!!!  Not much.

Barb didn't look forward to this weekend with Scott.  He is such a rascal.

Thanks for the letter & the pictures.  What a wonderful week you had.  Enjoyed the descriptions of it all & know it was an experience you'll all treasure for a long time.  What a great experience for Andy & Eddie.

I'm watching "The Brian Piccolo Story" & it sure is a touching one.  Because of that I'm not getting much written.

Dale had a nice birthday this past week.  He managed to get home for a 6 pm dinner.  Talk about someone dedicated to his job.  That's about all he does now.  His "summer" car is now being given some repair & a new paint job.  Some of the floor was being eaten away & will be replaced.  At first Dale wondered if it would be worth the money.  But the fellow doing the work said he could do it so Dale agreed.

We are enjoying the Masters Golf on T.V.  I'm hoping Tiger Woods goes all the way.  What a beautiful golf course.

Soon time for lunch.  Barb & Scott just came by.  Will finish later.

Barb said Scott went to be at 9:30 pm and slept thru til 6:30 am.  This A.M. she took Marisa to her cousin's & she'll sleep overnite.  So Barb just has Scott.  She'll be home Sun. aft.

Oh yes, Paula Carey called Fri. to let me know she'll want the house key between 7-8 pm Sun. nite.  She's coming alone, why I don't know, except perhaps he hasn't taken his Pa. law exam.  She starts a new job Mon. A.M. at one of the banks.

Barb & Scott just stopped again.  They went to the Mall to break up the monotony.

Even on Sat. Dale doesn't get home too early & then he's gone to Seaman's to look for car parts.  It's also different with Barb gone & it would be pretty lonesome if we were alone.  So I'm glad Barb & Dale are home with us.

At 2:15 T.B.S comes on with Atlanta vs. Chicago.  I can't stand the Atl. announcers but I'll tone down the audio.  Then golf at 3:30 & that is interesting.  It's time for Chic. to win its first game.  Hope the weather is O.K.

I'm written out.  Things are pretty good with Dad.

P.S.  For Andy & Eddie Cady's store over town sells the Beanie Babies.  They had some this week & sold out fast.  Next time I'll try to get over & get one for each of you.  Any special one you'd like.  Tell your Dad & he can write it in a letter or you can tell me when we talk on the telephone.  Love you, Grandma.

Tuesday, April 1, 1997

Just a few words.  Finished cleaning upstairs & have some letter to mail for Dale.  I'm enclosing some clippings and a note from Gen, so I won't have to writer about her happenings.

Baseball today - ESPN - 1 pm, 4 pm, & 8 pm.  So you know what we'll be doing.

Followed the temps in Ariz. so I know you had summer weather.  We didn't get the snow the East had - today it's sunny & warming up.  Tomorrow will be even better so I'll walk over town & do some errands.

I'm back to reading.  Angel by Barbara Taylor Bradford & Home Song by La Vyrle Spencer.  Both enjoyable reading.

The kit. floor is so nice but I see more spots than with the rugs - no wonder it got so dirty.  So now I'm going to go after the spots 

Letter to Marion from Gen.
I'm at the Dr's office for Ed.  He has a rash that has been bothering him.

About a month ago he had a mild heart attack.  I went to the Dr. with him & the Dr. wanted to hospitalize him for observation overnight, but Ed didn't want to.  He has slowed down but can't understand why  he can't do what he used to accomplish.  I'm sure if he lets his heart heal a little he will be able to do more, but maybe he should slow down.  He does go up in the wood to cut wood, but he has a wood cutter to cut the logs into pieces.  We use the wood in the breezeway to keep it warm for the 2 cats!  We don't even use that room for ourselves!

They are cut tho and very clean, ...you should have one! or two!

I just grabbed this paper as I came out the door.  Yesterday Ed had an eye appt...no major change there.

John wants to buy his own house - doesn't want to live right near to us.  He has looked at several.  There is one in Wilbraham that he likes with a nice view - it is a large ranch.  He's made an offer on it, but quite a bit lower than the people want to accept.  It is empty now & I wonder if they don't sell soon if they will accept his offer.  It was owned by an elderly couple & the husband died & the wife is living with a daughter.  It does need some fixing but Ed says it is the best house John has looked at.  He has looked at several in Longmeadow, too.

Wally & Edna's house was put on the market for 127,500 & the price in last Sunday's paper was 108,000 or something like that.  It is a real nice house, but not the best location.  Betty & Bob scrubbed & painted & fixed everything up to make it like new.

We have robins in our back yard.  So good to see them.  I'm ready for spring.

Hope Barb is better and that the medication is working.

Yesterday after the Dr's we stopped at Gus and Paul's (or Dale) for coffee & a danish.  Wonder where we will stop today.  Ed feels we are entitled to something different once in awhile.

Frank isn't feeling too well, but I guess that is expected.  He's been in the nursing home for over 5 yrs.

Millie & I went out yesterday to do a few errands.  She enjoyed Las Vegas. She'll probably be writing you.

This is Tuesday, the 25th.

It's a gray day but tomorrow is supposed to be clear & warmer.

I should do some ironing & make some Brownies.  I use the Pillsbury Mix - it is so easy.

Sunday, March 23, 1997

Have a great trip & enjoy the warm weather.

Had circle at church this aft & on the way home noticed that Conaway's old house is up for sale again.  The people haven't been here 2 years yet.  A surprise.

Holder's house has been sold but I don't know who bo't it.  They got ride of a pile of junk.  Guess Betty Jean wasn't a good housekeeper.

Keep forgetting to ask if Albert's Cindy is expecting yet.

The kitchen floor is going to be so nice.  Right now things are a mess as Lar can only work a few hours at a time.  But it will be well worth the upset.  It's a lighter floor & will make the room look lighter.  Now I want to get rid of the yellow wall paper on 2 sides of the kitchen.  Maybe a beige color with a touch of peach.  That will mean moving things again.  Have more cards to write.

Sunday, March 2, 1997

My cold is much better but I think Dad has it now.

Saw in the paper that Mr. Van Volkenburg died.  He was 72.  He had been ill for some time but I don't know what it was.

Last Thurs. Bensons, Hollertzs, and Forstroms were here for lunch & as usual we had a great time.  Warren is preparing a paper to read at Ridgway's Historical Society & he found an interesting tho't.  When their church was founded by the Swedes they named it The English Lutheran Evangelical Bethlehem Church.  When the next generation were the leaders they officially renamed it The Svenska -----Church.  The new Swedes wanted to be "Americanized", their children wanted to go back to their roots.  In Warren's time they changed it back legally to the first name.

Bensons just came back from a trip to visit friends in Texas & Fla.  In June they are going to Sweden for a 3 week trip.

Signs of spring are appearing.  I haven't seen a robin yet but some people have.

We arranged for an electrician to put in a new elec. box.  But they have to wait for warmer weather.  I think I'm repeating myself but my mind seems to be blank in trying to write a letter.  I'm watching a Claudette Colbert war movie & that doesn't help.  Joel McCrae is in it but I don't know the title as it had already started when I put it on.  Barb & Dale are watching Nascar racing & Dad is asleep in his chair.

Now it's Fri the 7th & I want to finish this so I can mail it tomorrow.

My cold is much better but I did something to my back - lifted wrong or something.  Have had the heating  pad on it so that helps.

The materials for our kitchen floor were delivered.  Don't know when Lar will work on it.

Kim & Lar got the tile for their kitchen & yesterday Lar got most of it glued on.  Just the part left where the tiles must be cut to fit.  He said it looks nice.  They also got the hard wood for the floor & kit. bar.  But I don't remember what kind it is.  So that part of the house will be ready for summer entertaining.  Only the 2 bedrooms to finish.

Today is Lila's 85th birthday.  We plan to call her a little later.

We got a bit of snow overnite & the roads were slippery so school was delayed 2 hours.  It was a sunny day, for a change, so a lot of snow melted.

Gen called recently - have you heard from her.  She got the returned cancel check for Andy, but not Eddie's so she wondered if it was lost.  If so, she'll send another one.  She said she'd write to find out.

Johnny was in Texas for the Company he works for.

Larry G. has to go to Las Vegas for a convention & he wants to take his 10 yr. old son & wants Millie to come so she can care for him when Larry is at meetings.  It might be this weekend.  They'll leave on Fri. so they'll have Sat & Sun free & the mtgs are Mon & Tues. & they'll be home Wed.  Millie doesn't like to fly but they should have a good time.

Time to watch TV.

Friday, February 21, 1997

This will be a lazy day. Next week will be busy as our 6 friends come for lunch on Thurs. Have the menu planned & will get the house in order. Will have the same meal at nite when Lar & Kim come over. All of a sudden Torey is afraid of Dale - it must be the uniform - someone must have scared the god & now he barks at Dale & it makes Dale feel bad. Before he always went to Dale.

Today at 10 A.M. an electrician is coming about a new outlet box so we won't need fuses anymore.  We also need some new lines for more power when Dale uses the elec. tools.  He wants more power in the garage.  I can't use the microwave & the elec. roaster at the same time without blowing a fuse.

And I ordered new flooring for the kitchen.  Sent 1/2 the cost for the order & will pay the rest when it comes.  Next I need to call about getting the porch painted.  Dale said he'd do the garage windows & big door.  He already did the side door.  So the house will look nice on the outside.  Thanks to Edna.

We've had spring weather but it will change by the weekend.  The snow is just about gone.

Paula Carey was back again for an interview at Northwest Savings.  He has a job but needs to pass Pa Bar Exams.  They even looked at a house.  Lar & Kim ate at Jamie's last Fri nite & Paula & her husband came in & they talked.  Kim wonder why they want to come here - thinks Paula has outgrown Warren.  I think she wants to please her parents.

Do you remember Viola Seaquist - her daughter Betty Ann 59 yrs. died of cancer, due to smoking.  She had moved to Calif. 8 yrs ago to be with her children - 3 of them.  Last Sat they had a Memorial Service at church - 1 1/2 hrs & very different.  Planned by her kids.  They took her death hard.  Viola was in Calif. to help at the end.  They paid to have their pastor here for the service & he stayed at Viola's.  She had a houseful & she is 85 yrs & active.  A good group was there.  I attended the service.

Now I'm dressed, breakfasts are over.  There is a load in the washer & in the dryer.  Paid a few bills & now I'm drinking a 2nd cup of coffee.

Last nite we had halibut I got from Schwans & it was good.  Yesterday I got chicken on a roll - they sound good.  8 in a box.  Wanted to try their chicken meals but he didn't have any.  I'll get them in 2 weeks.  Their froz. peas are delicious.  Even Dale agreed & he isn't that keen on peas.  My orders are getting larger.  They are a little higher in price but since we don't eat out anymore that justifies the extra in my mind.

We called Stella & she is happy to be settled again.  Tried to call Ruth & then forgot to try again.  Maybe I'll connect this weekend.

Did I tell you Barb had more problems with her period.  She got a birth control shot the Dr tho't might help and it has.  She had a pap smear & blood test & all is well.  No cancer & blood O.K.

Should write to Gen so will bring this to an end.  When can  we expect the boys visit during the summer.  One sure thing will be a trip to Waldemeer Park.

Friday, February 7, 1997

Enjoyed reading your last letter received Feb. 6.  With our library some say their problem is that they have no overall plans for the future.  Don't think Ann Lesser was that good a lib. director - she just let things go along - altho there was the addition ion her time.  Nothing has been said about a successor.

When Taury sees Dale in his work uniform, he barks at him & will have nothing to do with him.  It's so funny.  Tonite the 7th Lar & some of the "guys" are going to a soccer game in Buffalo so Kim will be coming over here.  The game will be in the new arena & it looks like a beautiful place - from the Buffalo paper.  He can tell us all about it.

Barb has had a heavy flow again & cramps for a couple of days.  So she saw the Dr again ready to have an operation.  But they are trying something else first.  Today she will get a birth control shot that should stop her periods.  I hope it will help.

Did you know Charles Cataldo?  He was 46 - his death notice is in today's paper.

It's breakfast time & Dale has gone to work & Dad should be down anytime.  So I'll sign off & wish you a romantic Valentine!