Monthly Archives: October 1998

Diary Entry for 10/1/1998

Raining in morning. Much colder later. Sunny. I made appointment for Merrill with Dr. Mike. Also called for transportation to Carthage to Dr. Merza on the 8th. We brought in plants from porches. I added more dirt to some of them. Merrill got it out of the garden for me. Bonnie M called. Day care opens Monday. She notified transportation.

Diary Entry for 10/2/1998

Cold day. Partly sunny. Merrill didn’t want to get up. He went back to bed after breakfast. I grimed his hair for him. Vivian stopped in to ask if our phone was working. It wasn’t. Phone Company working on corner. Sandy called in evening. The phone so noisy I could barely hear her. They are coming tomorrow. Gene Autry, 91 died today of cancer.

Diary Entry for 10/3/1998

A nice day. Cold wind. Bell Atlantic finally got our phones fixed. Gloria, Sandy and Roger here. They took us out to lunch to Philadelphia Restaurant. Then Sandy, Gloria and I went to store. We all enjoyed the day very much. They brought us bag of fruit. Bananas, apples, and pears. Jolie called in evening. They are coming out tomorrow. There was a wonderful program on WWNY TV about drugs in the North Country. All local people. It was hosted by Cindy Hubbard. An excellent program. It will be repeated on Sunday night.

Diary Entry for 10/4/1998

A real nice, sunny day. We went to church. 49 out. Communion. First in ages. Some went to crop walk after church. I gave Boschock girls $4.00 for it. Jolie called in PM. Zack has to go back to work so they can’t come out. Jolie is sick. She has passed out twice so can’t drive or work. Maybe from her migraines. Merrill excited about going back to day care tomorrow.

Diary Entry for 10/5/1998

Real cold with white frost in morning. Merrill went to day care after over a week at home because of the Genesis strike. I washed Merrill’s clothes. I called Lyla to ask her to take us to doctor’s tomorrow. She Cheryl, Kathy and Marian went to Gilson’s in Canada for dinner Saturday. They had great visit. Loren 73 there also. I got call from Charlotte. Elmer in Salina, Kansas is in hospital with cancer. In his stomach and liver. He’s very anemic. I called Jolie. Also Jim. Jolie, Zack, and Shawn Michael were here for supper. Jim out collecting rent so couldn’t come. Jim has a new $16.000 Harley bike. Also has his old one.

Diary Entry for 10/6/1998

A great fall day. Merrill and I got our flu shots. Dr. Mike 10 AM for 3 month check up. All okay. He gave Merrill prescription for 1 pair of Jobst hose. Lyla took us to Mikes and then out to city for pills. Etc. I changed Merrill’s shirt at KMarts. I saw Linda B there. She said she thought Gloria Collins left the apples on our door last night. She got a bag also. Amy here to clean. Feels so good to have a clean house. She cleaned my refrigerator. Charlotte called in evening. Elmer has been moved to cancer center in hospital. He has quick moving one cell cancer. It is treatable with chemo. We called Elmer in evening. Also talked with Leon.

Diary Entry for 10/7/1998

Cloudy. Some sun. Merrill went to day care. June called in morning to say Vernon had a heart attack last night and is in ICU at Oswego Hospital. He was at the hospital when he had it. Jim and I went to Oswego. Vern doing fine. May go to Syracuse St. Joes Hospital for a catheterization and possibly an angioplasty. We went over to June’s for lunch. Their back yard is so nice. They bought 3rd building lot. Jolie, Shawn Michael and Alexis came out to be here when Merrill got home. Merrill very upset because I wasn’t here. I called Ken’s in evening. Ken has to have a cataract operation.

Diary Entry for 10/8/1998

Raining all day. Dr. Mirza 10 AM for Merrill. Good report. Goes back 1/11/99 at 10:15 AM. Janet from Oxbow drove us. Her 6½ month old daughter Kelsey along. Also Jeff from Philadelphia Courts. Jim called at 4 PM. No news from June yet. I talked with Lyla. Jim called in evening. Vern in Syracuse. Had tests. They found 5 blockages to his heart. He will have bypass operation by same doctor Bea Gehm had for hers. Vern in St. Joseph’s. They can’t operate until Monday. He had mild to medium heart attack. Shawn Michael and Jolie called in evening. Had just ordered pizza.

Diary Entry for 10/9/1998

A great sunny day. Merrill went to day care. I wrote a letter to Barker girls. I sent it to Evelyn to pass on to Dot and Annie. I cleaned stove. The leaves are starting to fall on our lawn. June called at 9 AM. Vern got moved to St. Joseph’s. He is in good spirits. Dan and Robin and Lydia got here last night. They are with June. I called Jim. He was fixing his clothes dryer.

Diary Entry for 10/10/1998

Cloudy. Rained at supper time. Amy and the twins took my trash to dump. Vern called from hospital. He’s in good spirits and sounded great. Esther called in morning. Linda came over after my folding chairs. She is having birthday party for her father’s 80th birthday. Victor Delles. I called Sandy Hagan. They had been to Rodman Cemetery to get flower urn. She puts it on mother and dad’s grave each year. Her great grandparents. Jim called from Adams in PM.

Diary Entry for 10/11/1998

A nice warm day. We went to church. 45 out. A great service on prayer. Party for Lyla at Manor 12:30-2:30 PM. It is her 71st birthday today. We stopped after church. Kathy brought us home with Cheryl’s car. Real nice party. We called Vernon at the hospital. June, Steve, Kathy and girls were with him. He is all set for tomorrow.

Diary Entry for 10/12/1998

A good fall day. 63°. Vern’s open heart operation about noon. A quadruple bypass. Took about 4 ½ hours. June called from home at 6:20 PM. She and Dan had just got home. Steve and Vern’s pastor with her and Dan all day. I called Jim. He, Jolie, and Shawn Michael were having something to eat. Zackary in Washington DC with funeral detail until Thursday. A long day for me. I was so jittery. Merrill went to day care. No mail but Times came. No school. Pauline called from Marges. Donna having health problems. I wrote letter to Elmer.

Diary Entry for 10/13/1998

Another great fall day. Tina here. All okay with Merrill. I sent letter to Elmer. Amy here to clean. She went to the store for me. Also cleaned stove oven. Amy called in PM. We had a long visit. I talked with Lyla in evening. I called June. Vern doing great. Still in ICU. They had him sitting in chair awhile. Dan, Robin, and Lydia still in Oswego. President of Rebekah’s visit at Philadelphia Legion. 43 present. I didn’t go.

Diary Entry for 10/14/1998

Rained during night and in morning. Merrill went to day care. Vi called. Martha and Jack Meeks spent weekend with Julie and family in Kansas. Got to meet new granddaughter. 3 months old. I washed clothes. Ginny called to say we weren’t having Rebekah’s. Too many ill. Chad Dudley here in PM.

Diary Entry for 10/15/1998

Raining. Juanita called at breakfast time to ask about Vern. Kay on oxygen all the time now. Vivian called. She and Clark went through the 2nd largest plane in the world at Fort Drum. The largest plane in the world (Russian) has been landing at Fort Drum this week. They flew over in night last night. I called Jolie. They are getting Shawn Michael new bike. Alice Flaherty called in PM. I called June in evening. Vern coming home tomorrow. I called Jim to tell him but got his answering machine. Ken Rudes Senior age 86 died tonight.

Diary Entry for 10/16/1998

Foggy in AM. Merrill went to day care. I made a cake. It is in Times tonight that Jim is one of 15 elected to Committee for Neighborhood Watch in Watertown. They announced cost of living increase will be 1.3%. Lowest in 12 years. Vern called in evening. He sounded good. He got home from hospital at 3:30. Four days after his quadruple bypass Jolie called in evening from mall. Jim there with a girl friend. I talked with him also. Merrill seems to have a cold tonight. Roast beef supper at church. They cleared $900.

Diary Entry for 10/17/1998

Merrill didn’t get up until 10 AM. He raked leaves in PM. Jolie, Zack, and Shawn Michael here in evening. Shawn brought his new bike and helmet with him. Pauline Rogie called in evening to ask about Vern. We had a nice visit

Diary Entry for 10/18/1998

A great summer day 80°. Rain in evening. Merrill has a cold. We didn’t go to church. I had a nice visit with Nancy when I called them not to puck us up. Merrill had a real bad night. I discovered he didn’t take his medication last night. I called Jim this morning. He was up on river. I also called Vern and June. Vern is doing fine. Dan, Robin and Lydia left for West Virginia today. Ken Rudes memorial service today at Theresa funeral home. 4 PM. Jim here on his bike in PM. He went to Ken Rudes funeral.

Diary Entry for 10/20/1998

Cold windy. Merrill has slept a lot today. Jim called. He can go to Vern and June’s tomorrow. I called Merrill’s transportation and Bonnie at day care. I ordered a fruit basket for Vern at Big M. Amy here to clean. She went to store for me. I talked with Lyla . I asked her if she would like to go to Oswego with us but she couldn’t go this time.

Diary Entry for 10/21/1998

Very cold in morning. Cold wind all day. Cloudy and sunny by spells. Merrill didn’t go to day care. Jim took us to see Vern and June. We had nice lunch with them. Jim took us to bank and the store. We got fruit basket for Vern. Merrill got his hair cut for first time at Fort Drum at Gate Barber Shop.

Diary Entry for 10/23/1998

Cold sunny. Merrill went to day care. I sent Steve birthday card, letter, and $10. Lyla called. Tina called to ask if we had had flu shots. We have. I called Betty Fredericks. She wants to see me Monday. Lyla will take me to Theresa. I made chocolate chip cookies. First in ages. Our mail didn’t go until 6 PM tonight.

Diary Entry for 10/24/1998

Nice. Sunny. Deer and bear hunting season opened today. I set clocks back 1 hour in afternoon. Daylight time ends at 2 AM. Sun is Eastern Standard time. Day light saving time started during World War 1 to save fuel. Merrill very mixed up all day. He was inside just about all day. Not like him.

Diary Entry for 10/25/1998

A nice day. Party after church by Evans Mills and Philadelphia folks for Rev. Jane Wagner. We didn’t get to go. Merrill didn’t want to get up. I called Nancy H. Merrill raked leaves in PM. Patty called after supper. Steve’s 34th birthday. I talked with him on phone. Vern called in PM. He’s feeling great. They went to church. I also talked with June. Jim told her about his new friend Nancy Penrose.

Diary Entry for 10/26/1998

Sunny. Nice day. Merrill went to day care. Lyla took me to Theresa to Frederick’s funeral home to make funeral arrangements for our future need. A lot of paper work to be done. Cost $1085 for cremation. It’s good to have it out of the way. I wish Merrill could have gone with me, but he wouldn’t understand things as he is now. Cremation cost $950. Other expenses $135. Betty said Joe Healy, 71 was dead. He used to repair our cars. Merrill in good mood tonight.

Diary Entry for 10/27/1998

Another great sunny day. Carol here to check Merrill. She cut his toenails. She was filling for Tina. Amy here to clean. Alice Flaherty called. Also Vi. Martha not as good. She is to have another pain blockage. I called Donna in evening.

Diary Entry for 10/28/1998

Raining and cold. Jim moved from Sackets to Adams. Merrill went to day care. I had hard time getting him up and ready. Mrs. Rudes on his bus. I called Jolie. Chad here in PM. He is going to find someone who has a family member with Alzheimer’s so we can talk on the phone. It helps depression I’m sure. I went to Rebekah’s. Only Ginny, Mary, Diane and I. Donna called to say she’d come here to do my hair November 12, Veteran’s day at 9 AM. I called Vern and June in evening. Vern’s doctors test are fine. I called Doug H to say we would be at the wedding but won’t try to stay for the reception at fire hall.

Diary Entry for 10/29/1998

Sunny. They black topped our road. Jim finished moving to Adams today. Darcie called to say Jolie would be out later with my pills. I watched space shot with John Glenn, 77. Jolie, Zack, and Shawn Michael here in evening. Brought my pills. Shawn Michael got in trouble at school today. Jim called but talked to Jolie. Was on his way to see Nancy in Clayton.

Diary Entry for 10/30/1998

Nice day but cold all day. Merrill went to day care. Lyla came over. She took me to store. I gave her $50 to get her eyes examined. I don’t know what I’d do without her. She didn’t want to take it. Jim called in evening. He was on his way to his new home in Adams. He has most of his stuff moved.

Diary Entry for 10/31/1998

Cold, sunny day. I called Charlotte and Elmer. He is doing fine. Three more chemo treatments to go. I called Nancy to tell her we would go to church with Lyla. Pauline called in evening. She was at Marge’s. The twins (Ashley) the only trick or treaters we had. They were Campbell soup cans. So cute. Lyla lost her purse while out with them but got it back. I sent order to Health house for shoes and robe for Merrill and sunglasses for me.