Author: David Haldeman

Sunday, September 26, 1976
To David’s though a murky morning & it didn’t improve all day. Karen had brunch of ham & eggs & canteloup. Had our board meeting in basement with Italian Tile floor which David is laying.
They convinced me I must dismiss Martha & Debbie. Debbie because of poor production & Martha because she won’t do anything I ask her to.
To “Buster Brown’s” for supper. Had to wait 1 hr but it was fun. Waiters in all sorts of historical & fictitious costumes & clown with balloons. Then to “Sound of Music” – Cincinnati Music Theater. David played in orchestra. Home about 1:30.

Monday, September 27, 1976
[No entry]

Saturday, September 25, 1976
Jesse Mai’s funeral will be 10:00 AM Monday so I won’t go.
Picked Kathi & kids up at 4:30 & headed for Lebanon, Ohio. Stopped at Clifton Gorge on way down. People scaling the cliffs with ropes – and steamboat rock is big! On to Lebanon where we had reservations at the “Golden Lamb”, Ohio’s oldest Inn – Founded 1807. Interesting room – good dinner & kids enjoyed gift shop. I couldn’t sleep all night. Wrote a rough draft of new will.

Friday, September 24, 1976
Francis Hemmerly called about 8 PM saying Jesse Mai had died at 6:18 PM. Heart attack. One on way to hospital & second one while Francis had gone home. We are all in shock. Called Mother, Mary, Kathi & Doris & Floy.

Thursday, September 23, 1976
Filled out Colonial Dames of XVII Century tracing my line to Alexander Chalker. Lack a few dates.
Kathi called saying Ferol Hazen had died in Tuscon, Arizona & I told her to send flowers. Worked in greenhouse – repotting & making room for things now outdoors. Pressure lost on pump so Peacock’s sent Wes Sharp out & he adjusted screw at top of pump housing & we got water again. Howard took in the River pump & the “Casita”.
Carter-Ford debate on TV. How anyone could vote for Carter after hearing them I sure don’t know. Carter criticized Ford for vetoing bills (which saved 7 billion dollars) and at the same time accused him of not balancing the budget!

Wednesday, September 22, 1976
Asked Dave Woessner to come in & talk to me. He had approached Kathi about Debbie’s attitudes, her lack of production & her “secret” orders. We had a good discussion & I showed him production figures I’ve been keeping.
Hirt’s Wholesale in & did regular & Christmas buying. Mother up to “stuff” statements. Kathi, kids & I to Ponderosa for supper & then back to shop for the dried arrangement class. 16 registered & Nell Bryant is helping me. Stopped at Miriam Stowe’s for impatiens cuttings.

Tuesday, September 21, 1976
Had talks with Kass & Cheryl & find they feel as I do about Kathi marrying Bob – & especially about dragging kids in & out of school. Also find that Debbie prefers Thursday because I’m not in the shop.
Kathi took kids for dental checkup & swimming at the Y. Then I took them to Burger Chef for dinner & out here for Davy to collect leaves for school project. Got about 25 kinds & he wrote each name on the newspaper as we pressed them. Took them to Carl Lehner’s with me where Kathi picked them up. Historical Society meeting at Lehner’s & then we toured his barn full of collections. Unbelievable.

Monday, September 20, 1976
Left the shop at 3 & drove with Burroughs Club members to Melmore, Ohio where we had a picnic in the restored log house (20’ x 30’) moved to their lot by the Valentine family & furnished with early 1800 furniture. A delightful experience. Also visited Miss Rollison (?) tree lot with 60 species. Dorotha Davis rode with me & we talked genealogy.

Sunday, September 19, 1976
David called & we talked for about an hour. He feels much as I do about Kathi marrying Bob again. But evidently when Kathi called him she has a list of complaints against me as he said after listening to my point of view I wasn’t the ogre Kathi made me out to be.
Went to Kaelber’s woods with Howard & got lots of good weathered wood – will take some wire brushing. At 3 picked up Mother, Mary, Rocky, Kathi & kids & Julie Armbruster to go to Ohio Caverns. Hadn’t been there since David was about 4. Gorgeous stalactites & halecites. 103 ft underground.

Saturday, September 18, 1976
The 7 weddings went fine. Barry helped me set up 5, Lillian did Likens Chapel & I did Rhoads outdoor wedding with arch. I serviced 3, Debbie 2 & Leota Fish didn’t need help. She married a Gates. Jim Schultz in to deliver as Barry left at noon.
Weeks total of work showed Martha (6 days) $1,089 ($161 per day), Dave 4 ½ days (He worked on dried ½ day and 1 day off) $1.250 ($230 per day), Laura 4 days $890 ($222), Debbie 5 days – (All on wedding work except $55) $590 ($118). And this was a week with 3 very busy days.