Author: David Haldeman

Thursday, February 18, 1982
Ray Foertsch moved mother’s springs & mattress & things I had sorted for me out here. Howard clearned snow from font walk so they could get in. Also had them fix closet doors, move file cabinet to basement & look at Rec Room bookcases to put filing cabinet in it. Also considered putting lavatory & stool in closet in my bedroom. He’ll give me an estimate.

River flooding with huge chunks of ice.

David called about 7:30 & talked about an hour. Judy had called to tell him she didn’t want me in the shop and that I caused problems because I was there. Why couldn’t she just tell me. I can never forgive her. Doesn’t she realize I wanted to be an ally – not an enemy. Am really upset.

Wednesday, February 17, 1982
Mary & I over to mother’s. Took all the dishes out of her kitchen cupboards. Some nice pressed glass. – all so dirty.

Helen Romine up about 1:00 and helped price things – [her prices] seemed low to me. $7.50 for an upholstered chair? = 10 cents for a goblet.

Darin with her – gave him a little brush & Helen a hand painted china hot pad.

Tuesday, February 16, 1982
In to Dr. Lenzo’s office at 8:45 for blood for tests.

Then picked up Cheryl to go to breakfast. Owed it to her for auditing MCHS books. Then to courthouse to transfer title of Olds station wagon to me. Big discussion as to whether I had to pay sales tax since it was a gift. Then to Mall to get new license. If we had waited until March 1 I would have saved $14!
6 month license is half price. To MCHS Center & cleaned ice off side entrance.

Dinner with Jordan’s & Heckers at Turoffs at 5 & then back to shop to finish agenda for MCHS Board. Picked up Irma Campbell.

Meeting went well except Joan Van Oosten thought their group (Old Village Marion) had $400 coming from their funds instead of $141 – Their records showed only 2 dipostis with us – not four totalling $400. Tentatively set April 25 for dedication of Center.

Monday, February 15, 1982
Got ready to go in for blood tests but can’t go until tomorrow when I called.

John Keggan called – Had seen article about MCHS needing kitchen. Wanted to pledge $1,000 over 2 yrs with a placque on kitchen door that is was given in memory of Jack – killed 2 yrs ago in auto accident. Chatted for about an hour on accounting firms & my actions in retiring. He hopes to do same in 1985.

Howard shoveled snow off dirve AM. I worked 2 hrs on the ice it exposed. PM Temp 48 – almost balmy.

Mary & Kenny out to see the wood Howard was carving & get catalog. Dr. Whitehead coming in to see Mother tonight & they wanted me to be there.

Worked in Rec Room. Have decided it should be my “office” – Will need to adjust the built in shelves to accomodate filing cabinets.

In at 5:00 & worked on indexing while waiting until 7:30 for Dr. Whitehead. Went for pizza for supper. Dr. left medicine for cough & more antibiotics – Too late to go to Camera Club.

Sunday, February 14, 1982 Temp 38!
If Ray had lived we would have been married 29 years.
Howard had carved a heart design on piece of wood with XIV Feb MCMLXXXII for my valentine.

In to shop at 10 – Judy’s family all there & Cheryl & Diane.
Customers in steadily until we closed at 3:00, but I had time to work on ice – 3″ thick in parking lot. With Terry’s help-

To Mary’s for lunch – Mother feeling better – but insists we will poison her with medicine. Really makes Mary feel awful when she talks like that. Mother never could see how the terrible things she said to people hurt them.

Back to shop & cleaned out my desk. Cheryl has ordered a name plate for Judy.

Called David after I got home to tell him I had Karen’s keys. Put them in my purse after going to store.

Sales Fri $6,550 – Sat $7,750

Saturday, February 13, 1982
In at 9:00 – Everything going well. Terry handling all routing & dispatching. Greg, Doug, Virgil & R. L. Litzenberg driving. Wayne & Judy’s son there too. Dorothy – Chereyl’s mother on phone – & Wanda Straub. Everyone working with no extra talk.

Customers in steadily – Plenty of flowers ready – even enough roses. Not too many sales at $35 a dozen.

Up to see Mother at noon. She has been sick – flu I guess. Temp of 102 over weekend but Mary giving her antibiotics – Mary has a cold.

Worked until 3 – but then came home.

Kathi called AM – & later I found vase of 2 sonia roses on my desk.

Got valentines from Kathi with copies of letters from DDD & Rita. David had 3 A’s & 4 B’s – up from 3 C’s 1 A 1 B

Friday, February 12, 1982
Got Sarah out to bus so she insisted in standing in cold 10 min. still mad at me. Took some of the candy hearts I brought to kids to school for her treat. Karen had intended to bake cookies.

Cleaned up – indexed – made the peanut candy. Josh helped me mix & roll in balls. On his own went to wash hands before he rolled – Made Jed wash too. Jed had trouble making his round.

Sarah home with her valentines. Karen called AM – much better spirits can see out of other eye but pain in eye operated on.

Dorothy taking kids for weekend so I left about 3 for Marion – Only took 3 hrs this time – Thru London & Plain City.

Shop operating smoothly. Acted like “What are you doing here” – Judy hardly spoke. Letter from Allen – The retarded boy was Gilmore Burkepile. Bed at 9 – Really tired.

Thursday, February 11, 1982
David got Sarah off to school & then went to hospital. Called me several times during day to report progress – Karen into operating room about 11:00 – out about 2 — in recovery room until 7:00. She called boys before going in.

Many Altrusa friends called to check on Karen.

Took kids to Krogers with me to get ingredients to make a peanut butter candy – uses prepared icing & crushed graham crackers. Streets & parking lots still snow covered.

David had stayed with Karen until 8:30. Still groggy from anesthetic & hadn’t opened either eye yet. Had kids in bed by time he got home. Sarah put on a summer nighty & was very upset & pouty when I ask her to out on something warmer.

Tuesday, February 9, 1982
Sarah’s bus not running so David had to take her to school & pick her up at 2:15. He worked at Terminal.
Karen very upset and nervous. David took her to hospital about 3:00 & stayed with her until 9. Kids very good. Played – I read to them – David showed the Christmas movies.

I got to sleep in Sarah’s bed & she slept with David. First time I ever slept in a bed at Davids. Always on the davenport.

Swept kitchen – picked up in Sarah’s room – made beds – feel more domestic that I have since 1954 when I went to work full time.

Wednesday, February 10, 1982
David had to leave for market by 6:30 so I got up to get Sarah on bus by 7:20 – Temp -10 below. Karen called to be sure she was ready. She had her clothes laid out for rest of week.

Boys played so nicely. The basement & their rooms are full of toys – they like building blocks – lego – books & coloriung. We all colored a fire engine scene. I worked on indexing the Hildreth Genealogy. David made me rubber stamps from his kit for the family names used over & over.

He went to hospital after market & stayed with karen until 8:30. She’s upset with room – burses – hospital & doctors! – Really just off balance I think & striking out against injustice of the happening to her. Hink called & talked 1/2 hr.

David & I had good talk about books, kids, shop. He’s a very satisfactory son – and so good to his family.