Author: David Haldeman

Tuesday December 19th 1978
Routed to most of the day. Barry, Mike, Fred Somerlot driving. About 120 deliveries. Clara in at noon and held down history book area. Tom Bain in and had to go home sick. Commentator reporter in for interview on programs and pictures. Carroll in with $1 lease bid proposal for MCHSs to submit to library board. Well written. He is now a member of Marion County Fair Board. Ralph Felger called saying Corps of Engineers quite possibly will remove Seiter cabin to Fairgrounds at no cost to us. Carroll also needs about $500 more to finish Bowen house. He has to supervise CETA workers that federal grant is paying. Went up to see progress on house and ate with Carrol at Turoff’s. He attended Marion Township trustees meeting and they will give us all their old desks plus custodianship of records.

Monday December 18th 1978
Ordered more poinsettias from Lakewood and Warner briefs. Routed deliveries. Took calendars and corsages to Burroughs meeting, but didn’t stay. Shopped Frank’s again. Things are half-price now. Bought Kristy a doll like Sarah’s. Hope she will sew for it. Got mother a nightie and Karen pants liners. Clara in at noon to help on history. Scott in to do more commercial. Marion Camera Club meeting at shop. Served wassail and cinnamon crisp as they came in. Dick West elected president, Barry vice president and took picture of group for history and guys shot the shop as the program.

Sunday December 17th 1978
Framed and wrapped photos that I took for all family members. Dave brought out about 150 poinsettias after Lakewood delivered at shop.
Wasn’t out of the house and it was a beautiful sunny day.

Saturday December 16th 1978
Tonya has new sister- “Tiffany”
In at 9:15 and had deliveries routed for Mike and Barry at 10. Got 30 poinsettias from Marion Flower Shop to tide us over until tomorrow when 350 more come in. Sold about 20 of them. Helped girls wrap them. Don Howard and Ted Frericks in with their order. 37 poinsettias is this year, plus three wreaths- $55! Marion Power Shovel picked up their 150 candle ring arrangements and JC Clark company got their 25 arrangements. 4 weddings- I serviced 2 and sent Tonya to Cardington on one. White bride didn’t show up for black groom at Kings Temple!

Friday December 15th 1978
Tom Keiss in to check on Scott Foor and I told him Scott had not worked consistently and had not followed up on leads I gave him.
Bernard brought my Christmas letter in.
Our “final deadline” found another frantic bunch asking for more time. Where have they been for 5 months!
Clara in at noon helped a lot as I had to route. Took wreaths to cemetery. Found dandelions blooming wanley.
Got 18 Snuggie Shirts for shop girls Christmas. $1.19 each. Got frames at Penney’s for 8 by 10 color enlargements of my slides that I’m giving Jordans and Hutchman’s. Worked in proofreading and editing while watching TV. David called- having their caroling party. Sang “One Star”.

Thursday December 14th 1978
In at noon. Barry used my car for delivery. John Cottrell in to pick up orders for book. Many people in with stories. Tom Case in to check on Scott. Told him we couldn’t depend on him.
Brought all business histories home and proof read them. Also wrote up Kehrwecker* history from Martha Jeffers notes. Carol Conrath called from Merchant Avenue about ceiling fixture coming loose. Sent Barry to fix it. She was gone and her girls wouldn’t let him in.

[Walter Haldeman’s mother was Ruth Kehrwecker]

Wednesday December 13th 1978
Chris in to talk about problems with Connie and Laura.
Busy day but left at 4:30 after checking in 126 poinsettias from Lakewood. Bernard, Mary, Carl and Mary, Kenny Hecker in my wagon to Columbus to Ohio Village Colonel Crawford in for dinner. Early eighteen-hundreds atmosphere and the village is charming. Toured it after hearing carolers in town hall- cold!
Mary and Ken in rear seat seemed to hit it off. Could hear Ken’s voice rumbling continuously and he usually speaks in monosyllables. Home about 10. Proof read until 1:30. Marie English from LaRue called and would give MCHS her furniture if we had a museum.

Tuesday December 12th 1978
Called Nature Conservancy, Ohio office to see if they would be interested in Axthelm’s 40 acres at the corner of 162 and 163. e wants to sell for $100,000 but it should be kept virgin. They will send me forms to fill out.
Clara and Tom on the job, recording and rewriting.
To Altrusa dinner- almost missed hors d’oeuvres. Why would it be at 6:15 when it usually at 7? Good dinner catered by Virginia Cheney, Tom Bain’s daughter.

Monday December 11th 1978
In to see mother before work. She’s weak but better.
Rather tired from all the work yesterday. Cheryl called here saying she wanted to see me. When I got in, Kass and Connie asked about working December 24th. I said we had to. Last year that day was over $6,000 and we can’t afford to lose that. Then Cheryl and Dave in. Cheryl had taken a poll to see who wanted to work. I called all them in and said the shop could not afford to lose that day’s receipts and if anyone couldn’t work on Sunday to see me later. Chris and Tonya want off by noon. Chris says Laura says she’ll make it tough on anyone that doesn’t work. Addressed envelopes for Christmas cards.

Sunday December 10th 1978
Got tree up and decorated by noon and had just started onions for chili when David called saying he had the flu but would try to come. He started, but had to turn back. Marilee Augenstein* had seven of her family here Geneva Brewer played piano and Erick (Bob Erickson) the flute. Mitchell’s had Chris and Brooke here. Bernard and Ken Heckler came late and Tozer’s even later. Served wassail when people arrived and eggnog in coffee with all the goodies they brought. About 30 here.
Mother had gallbladder attack last night and Mary took her to hospital but stopped before she got out.

[*Mary Burtch Jordan’s daughter]