Author: Trella Hemmerly Haldeman Romine

Tuesday, December 29, 1987
Olive and Johnny Gill arrived about 2:30- hadn’t visited with them for 25 years! Johnny retired 3 years ago from General Motors and lives in Boca Raton Florida. Has lost all interest in active participation in nature hobbies, but hasn’t forgotten the thing. So good to share memories of Ray. I can recite many of Ray’s poems even yet. He and Olive both encouraged me to publish some. Took them into shop to copy several and show off! They left about 6:30.
Kass called- wants to take Jan and Pat to the Atlanta Gift Mart by air next Saturday and Sunday. Cost to shop about $600- I said okay!!

Monday, December 28, 1987
Picked Bill Hutchman up at about 8:30 on a rainy dark morning to do the Killdeer area Christmas bird count.
Very slow at first but ended up with 19 species and 1,412 individuals. 800 Canada geese and five Redhead ducks were best sightings.

Stopped at shop and took $225 to John Cottrell on sales of After 40 Years. Total of about 750 books as result of my article about prisoners of war buying book.
Madge Guthery on answering machine asking me to take her Saturday program, The Way We Were. Ruth Mosher called asking where pics from after 40 years book were. Bob Harter called to chat.

Sunday, December 27, 1987
Made Belgian waffles for breakfast. All went into shop for Karen to see New Dimensions. They left about 12 for Eric’s and another Christmas.
I got some groceries. Came home and relaxed.

Sunday, December 27, 1987
[No entry]

Saturday, December 26, 1987
In at 11:00 to help Pat Winn service wedding at Epworth. She broke elbow and wrist in November and still in cast. Harry Alexander’s son also did reception flowers at LK Convention Center.

Mary came out about 12 to be here when Haldeman’s arrived, I got home at 2:00 before they came in from Cincinnati. Had our Christmas presents- David gave me James Michener biography and Isaac Asimov potpourri. Sarah a candle over in sand picture. Jed a soap butterfly and Josh a candle and ring. Had Swiss steak, mashed potatoes, Waldorf salad and dried corn. David copied County geological library on my hard disk.

Friday, December 25, 1987
Mary gave me the sheepskin coat I bought her 10 years ago and two books on America that were Kenny’s.
Mary out about 10:30 with gifts for me- a lint shaver for clothes, a blue sweatshirt, and a box of assorted nuts and bolts in packages. Kass gave me “Charlie” cologne. Had brunch Belgian waffles. Then opened gifts from Kathi- a white sweatshirt, a Glacier Park video and shirt and turtleneck set and box of fruit and nut bars.
Kathi called about 4:00. Bob got her a black mink jacket and hat! Talked to Kristi.
David called to see if it was snowing- no just rain and 37°

Thursday, December 24, 1987
To post office and picked up registered mail two sets of bicentennial Constitution coins- one gold $5 and one silver dollar. Got a Swiss steak for Christmas dinner at Reece’s and a 5 lb baby Swiss cheese. In to shop about 11:00- nothing much to deliver only got up about four more small routes. Poinsettias all sold. Called David and tried to call Kathi for okay on giving Kass five shares of Hemmerly stock. The share record and corporate books are a mess. Left about 3:00 with a delivery for Emmahiser Road, 4 miles northeast of Caledonia- Kile’s old house. Back in at 5:30 to Mary’s for pizza. To Family Church at Trinity and then to Gary Barnhart’s open house. Talked to Sue McCoy Huber- Kathy’s Waiting Wives friend.

Wednesday, December 23, 1987
In about 11:00 and routed. Then to mayor’s office at 1:30. Jerry Ballinger, Dave Williamson (law officer) and Bob Ferguson (safety director) and Dave Schoonover (service director). Dave Williamson says Council has to approve sales over $5,000 and since city is $400,000 in the red MCHS would have to have money ready to purchase and he didn’t seem to favor the city getting involved since it would be a pass-through deal. Jack Telfer also there. I pointed out that nonprofits can acquire at no cost if it is for the public good. Would have to prepare an intended use, preservation plan, Etc and submit. Back at shop prepared letters for all committee members, advising of meeting.

Tuesday, December 22, 1987
Mayor Jerry Ballinger called saying he had arranged with Charlie Wright at Floyd Browne to copy post office blueprints. Also meeting tomorrow at 1:30 with city law officer. He would drop off at Hemmerly’s a copy of GSA “Acquiring Surplus Government Property”. Did five loads of washing before going to shop at noon. Didn’t need me for routing but had sold 30 After 40 years and needed more. Picked up 56 at Center. Took money to John Cottrell and books to shop. Home during snow shower. Cleaned my clothes closet. Put away clothes I washed. Supper with Mary at Perkins at 4:30. Shopped Meijer’s for Howard’s cookies etc. bought cat food. 22 lb $8.75. Back to shop and routed for 3 hours. Home and study GSA- nonprofit can acquire.

Monday, December 21, 1987
Sent another box to Kathi- things I forgot including a newspaper ball made from packing I sent to Dave and he sent back.

Royce here to clean. Had her put new blue electric blanket on my bed- five year warranty and it senses changes in room temperature. In to shop about 1:00 to route. Delivery personnel resent my doing it, but when I looked at some of their route sheets I think they’re stretching their work. Got into the hang of entering them in WordStar. Went shopping for a couple of hours. Got a denim skirt or Sarah and crossword book for Howard. Had chili at Wendy’s and back to shop at 6:00 and got tomorrow’s deliveries routed. Irene Evanoski gets them into boxes early a.m.- sure glad- I never liked doing that part.