Author: David Haldeman

Saturday December 13th
Front room very busy but not much funeral work so finished up by four. Corsages for River Valley dance.
Had Stafford wedding at Caledonia- no corsage for grandmother, Violet Stafford. And bride’s bouquet improperly packed so Mother’s Rose broken.
So tired I went to bed before 9.
Gary told me he will be leaving December 27th instead of January 3rd.

Friday December 12th temperature 48
To Ted Mitchell at 11:00. He and Halberstein had a typewritten projection of estate taxes- about $87,000 down quite a bit from Charlie Dunn’s $137,000. I would have liquid assets to handle that. Also suggested an agreement with Kathi and David that the corporation buy their Hemmerly shares if they died. Becomes treasury stock and elevates value of remaining shares and protects Corporation from having stock owned by outsiders or minors. I can give $3,000 a year to each with no tax liability. More than that uses up unified tax credit.
Howard Isler delivered and laid white shag carpet in living room before I went to work $30.
Lakewood delivered 150 poinsettias. Nellie Kline in to help wrap. I ate my lunch at mothers. She seems better each day.
Picked Mary Jordan up at 6:15. We had dinner at Turroffs and then to Palace to see “The Nutcracker”- good dancing- poor sets and recorded music. But I enjoyed Mary’s Christmas gift to me.

Thursday December 11th
Got Christmas cards in mail. Put pictures in many of them.
Cleaned living room area where white bedroom rug will be put when it’s returned from cleaners. Hung draperies that had cleaned. Been up 11 years! But cleaned beautifully.
Picked Lil up at shop at 6:00. Took me 30 minutes to drive in. Had snowed some and temperature dropped to 32 so very slippery. Went to Presbyterian Church for Madrigal Choir dressed 1400’s style and dinner served by wenches. Harpist from Findlay very good.

Wednesday, December 10, 1980
[No entry]

Tuesday December 9th
Kathi called at nine (6 her time) to tell me they had a fire last night- wall around stove set in fireplace caught fire. Got it out but have a hole cut through the wall covered with visqueen. Smoke damage and ash all through house.
Took Judy and Kass to lunch to discuss replacement of Gary and tell them that I want to be out by this time next year. We all feel that Chris is too immature to do management. Asked Judy [Etter] if she and Greg would want to buy? I think they should manage a year or two like I did before daddy would sell to me.
Charlie Dunn in with projected probate cost if I should die now. About $135,000. I told him I was going to start spending it!
Had a talk with Terry about flying off the handle after complaint from volunteer at Community Med Center. Also asked him to shape up in appearance.
To Altrusa Christmas dinner. Allan Lust family sang- good.

Monday December 8th
Gary Bigler taking job with Wilson’s Florist in Columbus on January 5th. $0.75 an hour more which would give him $4.75. For his sake I was sorry that I didn’t want him to stay. But he moves too slowly to suit me.

Sunday, December 7, 1980
[No entry]

Saturday December 6th
Slow in back room but busy in showroom.
Cindy Haynes Kroeger wedding in Epworth Chapel. Kass took the order and didn’t even note that it was in Chapel!
Bought more pillows at Rinks- one for Mary Jordan.
Very warm temperature 55 today.

Friday December 5th
To Norman Lubboff Choir with Margaret Kuenle after having dinner at Ponderosa.
Took my proposed stock disposal plan to Halberstein and Mitchell. Charlie Harmon thought I had brought his pictures of Lady Justice up.
At Home Federal for one hour getting CDs for grandchildren. Transferring $10,000 to money market 6 months at 15%. Also opened checking account for Jan 2. No charges because I have $10,000 on deposit there.

Thursday December 4th
Wrote Christmas letter first draft. It’s too long but so much to tell about 1980. Called Mitchell -lawyer- and he said write out my proposal for giving shares to kids and he’ll check it for legality and tax liability.
Made fudge and brownies in microwave.
Pulled muscle while taking down living room draperies to be cleaned- been up since 1969 and never cleaned. Hope they don’t fall apart.
In at 6 took items to Altrusa Bazaar, called on Margaret Brooks Kirk Murphy at Boyd’s. Saw Bernard and Betty- they were in different rooms! Then to Quest Club Christmas party. Pretty boring.