Author: David Haldeman

Friday, April 18, 1975
Radio with news that Wagner is suing the Citizens Committee & its officers for 1 million dollars. Carroll’s statement that he is “confident” all charges can be proved. Naher took pictures of the delinquent accounts that no attempt was made to collect.
Bought 2 pants suits at Franks $30 each. At 4:00 closed the deal on 418 Merchant. Withdrew $3,000 from Home Federal account & used $3,000 from Hemmerly plus $1,000 had already given Ruby. Mary called at 6:00, Rocky in a room. Down to see him & took her home. TV & Bed at 1:00.

Saturday, April 19, 1975
At shope until 1 – Did wedding at First U C of C. To hospital to see Rocky. Met Mary coming in with blooming cactus as I left. She said she could stay nights with Mother so we went to Marion Manor & signed her out. She got into car fine. Took her and Mary to Prospect to do a wedding for tomorrow. Got ice cream. Let Mary out at hospital to get her car – first she’s driven since last Friday. On way to Mother’s I ran out of gas near Susie Anspaugh Hansens. Geor got gas for me. Got to Mother’s same time as Mary. Got her settled – She gets around fine. Back to shop – Then to Marion manor for Mother’s medicine – Grocery store – Col Sanders for chicken back to Mother’s. Worn out. Did payroll – bed at 12:00.

Thursday, April 17, 1975
First Daffodils blooming – scilla gorgeous.
First really warm day. Howard & I worked in area along road picking up junk and burning down wood. Got very tired. Did some weaving. Repotted in greenhouse.

Wednesday, April 16, 1975
To see Mother at 2:30. All nurses kept saying “See, we told you she would be here.”
Met Bill Hutchman at 3:00 at 418 Merchant. Took a roll of Polaroid film & measured rooms and sent to Kathy. Can have house May 12. To see Rocky when I picked Mary up at 6:00. Looking much better.
Called Kathi at 11 & Bob answered. Chit-chatted with him & when I asked how he was he said “Not good – It’s my own fault.” Probably is having second thoughts about asking Kathi to leave.

Monday, April 14, 1975
Jim Waddell not in at Home Federal for our 10 AM appointment to apply for loan on 418 Merchant.
To Manor to see Mother & she upset because I was talking to Ruth Wylie. Ruth wanted to loan Mother her toilet apparatus & was giving me instructions. To hospital but missed Mary. Terry Simpkins sprained her ankle & in walking cast. Debbie off on vacation – Connie & Cindy’s regular day off & Isabelle went to Columbus without getting someone to fill in. Martha left at 4 for Dr. appointment leaving only Dave, Laura & me. Signed loan application about 2:30. Cold & dreary weather.

Tuesday April 15, 1975
To see Rocky at noon. Mary fed him lunch in wheelchair- first he’s been up. No oxygen. Then to see Mother. Wrote up Historical Society notes. Picked Mary up at 6 & we both went to see Mother. Then Mary & I had supper at LK. Took her home and went to Historical Society Board meeting. George Rogers Clark Militia Group gave presentation. Discussed constitution and by-laws amendments.
Meeting at Van Oostens. The new Citizens Committee voted for recall of Wagner at their meeting last night. Glad I’m out of it. I think they should have waited for audit report.

Sunday, April 13, 1975
Sunny high 45
Howard & I in to see Mother at Marion Manor & then to Marion General Hospital to take her over. I went to 229 E. Fairground to get Mother’s papers & take cat food. Back to pick up Mary. Cardiograms show Rocky had a 2nd heart attack Thursday night when he had so much pain. Mother walking without aid – just cane. Has lost weight.
Howard & I to Mrs. Wait’s woods to dig trilliums. Just through the ground. Got about 500. Planted soem across the river & burned flood debris. Rest in woods on this side. Chicken in crockpot. Bath – washed hair & bed at 9.

Saturday, April 12, 1975
Dr. LaStrapes put Mary’s ankle in a cast so she can work. But still painful. Plans for Lydia Hopkins to stay with Mother fell through.
Vicki Lenzo wedding. $150 reception flowers, 150 bottles of wine & a champagne fountain. Callas for church decorations. 6 bridesmaids.
Spring Dance and 2 other weddings! Girls worked last night – and two wedding appointments & Mother couldn’t understand why I didn’t come to see her before 4. Erma called & invited me to supper. Home about 7:15.

Friday, April 11, 1975
To see Rocky at 10 as Mary worked this AM. He had a painful night and looked flush. Took new clothes to Mother. She was in the dining room at the weekly sing but wasn’t enjoying it.
Kass & I to Country Club – Mrs. Kerr of Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts. Shop very busy. Isabelle off for her cousin’s funeral. At 4:30 call from hospital that Mary was in emergency room. Fell in front of hospital!. X-rays showed only sprain – same ankle as broken – right. Also sprained hand. Took her home – she called Kate Gillen to stay all night. Back to shop to get things ready for tomorrow. Worked on Historical Society.

Thursday, April 10, 1975
Sorted out insurance policies to raise $3,000 for down payment on house, but then Dick Myers called saying I could get $3,500 on my IDS annuity.
Dave Hempstead over with chain saw & cut dead trees & box elders & trimmed. Also cut up elms that have been down for 15 years. Howard had previously done a lot of work down near David’s treehouse.
In at 4 – took pictures of 418 Merchant, bought 10 lbs of grass seed & to marioon Manor to see Mother. To hospital at 6 after Mary went in I got in to see Rocky. Looks good.
Shopped for panties, slip & robe for Mother. Called Karen, she talked 35 minutes.*

[this was the day last year that their first son Benjamin died at age 1 day.]