Author: David Haldeman

Friday, January 23, 1976
Loaded car & breakfast with Marjorie & Mary Emily at the “Ranch House”. Left Ft. Lauderdale about 9:30 & headed West on “Alligator Alley” (Rt. 84)
Good birding – took my time & stopped often. At Buena Vista Beach ate lunch & gathered shells. Arrived at Carl & Esther Rieger’s in Venice about 5:00. Kathi called & Judy not back to work. Kathi worried about receipts but I assured her we’d have enough. Called Lillian at Mark’s in Ft. Lauderdale – she got in at 3:30 but won’t go to Plant Workshop with me. Drove Carl’s no power steering or automatic transmission Dodge to see Katie & Charlie Schneider. Charlie looks like daddy did. Grey.

Thursday, January 22, 1976
Looke through pcitures at Historical Society for project of one of banks. Met Patsy West of Miami Museum & man who is evaluating new building for Ft. Lauderdale Historical Society. Picked up things for lunch at Publix. To Gertrude Cole’s to see her garden. It’s about 50×100 – Palms special interest, but bromelids, stag horn ferns, orchids, anthuriums, begonias,& much more. Very knowledgeable. To March’s Nursery & bought $12 worth of plants for Marjorie, Mary Emily & Mrs. Dickey’s terrariums.
Picked up Mrs. Dickey & Aunt Ruth & ate at Moore’s Cafeteria. After making terrarium – packed.

Wednesday, January 21, 1976
Cloudy & rainy temp in 60’s
Cashed check at Mary Emily Brooks’ bank where she’s exec. V.P. Found area where we lived in 1927 on then Metcalf Ave. It’s now 6th Ave & 16 St. SW. Cay at name around corner. Then to Brickell Ave. house – Construction Co. there & front porch windowed into house. Man saw me taking pictures in rain & invited me in. Told them about spending 1926 hurricane in that room. To Burtch Willey’s camera shop for PC to hot shoe connection.
To Historical Society & took back tape recorder Marjorie picked up yesterday & got one that works. To King Cromartie restored house. Lucile Vavak picked me up at 3:15 & we drove to Greynold Park near Hallendale. Thousands of cattle egret, ibis. 14 speicies. Dinner at Ranch House with Marjorie.

Tuesday, January 20, 1976
Sunny Temp 70
Breakfast at Marjorie’s after she left for meeting with Broward Cou. Historical Commission. I opened up the Historical Society & answered phone & looked at files on 1926 hurricane. Marjorie in & out again & I Xeroxed storm pictures. Then went shopping. Bought blue pants suite $20 – walked beach near Galt Mile – visited Carlstedt wholesale florist – Buzz Peters not in – Met Marjorie & Hobby Shop (cameras) & Burtch Willey recognized me from Marion. His grandparents that Ruth Ruhlmand worked for.
To dinner at Pioneer House & he was there also!
Kathi called at 12 midnight. Bordeaux house rented at $250 mo. WMRN wants advertising contract to sponsor Charlton Myers Salt Rock Twp remininsces. $500 – I said ok.
Judy not working. January receipts $22,000.
Dinner at Stranahan Home, 1907 along New River.

Monday, January 19, 1976
Cold about 59.
To Historical Society with Marjorie & sorted National Geographics to find Florida articles & eliminate duplicates. Xerox man came to install copier.

Ate at Chinese Restaurant on St. Andrews Ave. near Old Dixie. Marjorie showed slides of her Lindblad Tour along Central American Coast.

Sunday, January 18, 1976
Stopped at Sears for paint & I bought apricot pants $14 & printed shirt $13 & shell. To Historical Society & I browsed through picture files while Marjorie painted. About 4 went to Antique show in Memorial Auditorium in Holiday Park near Historical Society. Much jewelry, crystal, silver. Marjorie found Chntilly (Gorham, like my sterling) forks that Mary Emily had wanted.
Dinner & Mary Emily’;s luxurious apartment on the 7th floor – Did laundry in laundry room on 3rd floor.

Saturday, January 17, 1976
Up at 6:15 & threw clothes on to get on deck. Lights starboard – that probably the keys, but on Port side realized we were heading into Port Everglades. Moon in clouds over the condominiums cluster at the inlet was gorgeous. Sun coming up but clouds obscured. Farewell breakfast with Peters & Tuefels & finally met Wonder Garden people from Mansfield – just 2 tables away! Long line for custom check so took turns while the other picked up things from cabin. Finally off ship about 11:40. I went to airport on bus & picked up rental car. Back to dock & got Kathi & luggage & over to Marjorie’s. Drove to the Broward State Park just across inlet & then took Kathi to airport for 5:20 plane. Marjorie (Dickey Patterson] & I to seafood place for dinner. Talked until 12.
Cold in Ft. Lauderdale about 58 & 40 mph wind.

Friday, January 16, 1976
Cuba off starboard side all day.
Slept in until 8:30 & had breakfast sent to cabin. I went to Ralph Wright, President of SAF, session but I knew all AMFC & FIC – Kathi did better with Dr. Fineberg – psychology. Changed to swim suits & had lunch on deck – Hot! At 1:30 Jim Schmidt – president of Florifax – gave pitch for FX new programs. Credit Card Reporting – Total Merchandise Service & a pitch to buy stock $1.25 now. At 2:30 I went to Fineberg & Kathi to tax expert. I later went there & he says absolutely I should not pay tax on assets transferred to Corp. Up on deck for a gorgeous sunset about 6. No one else there. Last dinner & show & to bed about 10. Got up & went to midnight buffet to see it. I ate, Kathi didn’t.

Thursday, January 15, 1976
Wakened by much chain clanking & just made it to breakfast by 7 so we were anchored in Montego Bay [Jamaica] & ready to leave by launch before we got our bearings. Low lying hills from the bay & we landed about 4 mi. from downtown. Shopped in the cluster of shops at the dock & enjoyed that – then took a taxi – $10 an hour for a ride up into the hills – Fairfax Hotel & through town to Cornwale Beach across from Casa Montego. 25 cent charge for a great hour of swimming. Waited in sun for 1 1/2 hrs. for calypso show which wasn’t calypso but was good. Back to ship by launch. Gorgeous sunset. Farewell Dinner – dressed – Show in Amalfi’s Lounge – full moon on deck.

Wednesday, January 14, 1976
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