December 6

What are my fears? Weakness, Illness. Poverty. Senility. Loss.

1964

This morning (1:30 to be exact) I shoveled the driveway and made a lopsided snowman. We got about 10 inches altogether. Tonight at YPF we had a spaghetti supper. We sold 38 tickets and about 20 people showed up. We got about $50 towards our New York trip.

I have been studying my part (Cassius) and made my sword, but I can’t figure out how that toga works. I’d better take some pins along tomorrow. That doll of a student teacher and Mrs. P are coming to the dress rehearsal.

Comment 2022

Let’s hear it for New Englanders! 10 inches of snow and the Young People’s Fellowship spaghetti dinner goes on as planned. New Milford, with a population of just over 20,000, was the largest town in area in the state. (Or so they told us.) The roads were narrow and winding. Yet twenty hardy souls still came out to support our annual trip to the Big Apple.

Also: it’s hard to believe I was in graduate school ten years later, explaining to undergrads how to wrap a toga.

1982

Last week a funny thing happened. I went to a reception at 4 pm, after dropping Kiddo off at the sitter’s house. Jim came home to find a slightly blood-stained washcloth (from Kiddo teething), a red spot on the sofa (red ink; I was grading), and my nursing bra on the sofa as well (I was folding laundry). He put two and two together and decided that Kiddo had bitten my nipple off, and I’d rushed to the ER.

Kiddo pulled herself to a standing position in her crib today. She’s been fussy and demanding lately, a combination of teething and a strong desire to be on her hind legs 80% of her waking hours.

Comment 2023

It being before cell phones, he had to wait until we got home to get peeled off the ceiling.

2013

What are my fears? Weakness, Illness. Poverty. Senility. Loss.

Comment 2023

Curious. The same specters that haunted my mother.

Comment 2024

Fear update: illness, loss (assorted)

2023

I am really enjoying my course on the simple life in America. It’s an awful lot of work - I devote 3 or 4 hours a day to reading, planning, putting my presentation together. But the subject is interesting and I look forward to the discussions. There’s something wonderful about students who bring life experience and perspective to the class, and are there voluntarily. And not having to grade or evaluate them is heaven.The roof on our building is being replaced, and the work crew should be hammering above me today. A small price to pay for the view from the top floor.