June 21

Various travels and travails

1966

My last work day! Finished Mom’s dress. Went out for a sun tan. Didn’t get one, as far as I can see. Aunt Rosie sent $10 and I took $40 out of the bank. Money, money, money. Some free trip!

Two more days. Bob says he’ll miss me. He’d better write! 

1979

I am timing how long it takes to thoroughly clean the dining room-kitchen area. Usually, I have cleaned the dining room with the living room, but I think this is a more equitable division. I started at 8:55 AM took a break at 9:40 AM. Break ended 10:25 (I read a magazine).

Later – – – it takes a long time to thoroughly clean the dining room/kitchen area, that's how long. Of course I even cleaned the window fan. So I did mostly cleaning, and two hours of sleeping. Why so much? This is discouraging, I sleep so much.

That apartment in Hyattsville is very tempting. All those windows! It's bound to be cool in the summer, of course the other tenants also said it is cold in the winter. The hot water situation could be a problem. The landlord is the biggest problem. Maybe too much of a problem.

1982

Measurements.

Actually, I look very trim, I think. I've been doing exercises and I'm easily back to my  prepregnancy weight, maybe even below. Time for a shower before Kiddo wakes up.

Later – – it's been a pleasant day. Kiddo slept through the night. In fact I had to wake her at six for a feeding. Then she conked out again until about 9:30. After the 10 AM feeding she played while I vacuumed; then we went into the department. C and I and kiddo went to lunch at the Greek place. Then it was home again for the 2 PM feeding and an hour of making faces on the floor and she and I were ready for a nap. Mostly I've been thinking about labor. The memory is not quite clear so I go over it a lot in my mind

Comment 2023

I actually devoted the next five days of entries to labor, delivery and such. Skipping it here. You’re welcome.

1985

Tomorrow morning we go to Philadelphia for my last meeting until fall. I hope! This one I am not terrifically prepared for. June has ended up being a crazy, crazy month. Barely enough time to exhale. What would I do less of, if I could? Teach. Thant sounds unlike the old me. But it’s true. Teaching is kind of fun, kind of enjoyable, kind of rewarding, but it takes so much time away from reading, collection work, etc. Actually I’d schmooze all day, if I could. Admit it. Oh, it’s the truth!

Comment 2023

Schmoozing with students was the best.

1993

A long but interesting day. We were up early, drove up into the Great Smokeys, ate breakfast in Maggie Valley then pushed on to Cherokee, inside the Cherokee reservation. We visited the Cherokee Museum and bought a few things at the gift shop, which carries locally made crafts. Very beautiful things. The mountains were foggy - we drove in the rain most of the time - then we hit Pigeon Forge, TN, which had the most amazing strip I’ve seen in a long, long time. Made Nag’s Head look tasteful. The rest of the ride was pleasant: rolling green hills, thickly covered with low trees.

2018

A funny thing happened on the way to Connecticut. My engine light went on. It just stayed on when I was going fast; when I slowed down, it went off. But my plan to see Marcia for dinner are already off.

Comment 2023

Sadly, I couldn’t get to New Milford before Marcia left to visit her sister in Texas. She was diagnosed with cancer that fall and died just over a month later. 

Stupid car.

2023

And as I was editing this post, I got the news that another of my oldest friends had died. She was 81; we met when I was in my late 30s and she in her mid-forties. Our daughters were best friends through school and Scouts, and Sandy and I became best buddies through parenthood and various adventures. We joked about someday drag racing each other down the hall in our nursing home, and playing stoned bingo. This is the reality of getting older; no matter how many wonderful new friends you make, losing the old ones is hard. Another friend put it well: bereft.

See you in the hereafter, Sandy. I love you.

2024

For everyone else, it’s the next to last day on Star Island. I am staying another week, so I am not even halfway through my retreat. Yesterday we carefully copied out some of our poems and laminated them before posting them all over the island for others to find. The instructor for the videography workshop scattered some food near one of mine and attracted a small flock of seagulls for a poetry reading.

Also finished a scarf yesterday, and there was a spectacular thunderstorm moving up the coast, seven miles west of us. This morning, there was fog, which is always special. I have written fourteen poems in four days.