Cold, sunny I called Lyla at Cheryl’s. She’s doing okay. May go home to Philadelphia today or tomorrow. Charlotte Tryon McGregor called this AM. I sent McGowan’s Christmas card, letter and Christmas check.

Sunny and cold. I called Jim and Vern’s. We decided to bring Merrill home for Christmas day. Hope Vern and June can come as Vern has his hand operated on December 21st. I sent Lydia birthday card, letter, and $10. Jim here in PM on way to Nancy’s. Brought my eye drops. Got back bank statement fro office of the aging. Esther called in PM. She is having a surprise birthday party for Ken January 6th at Ponderosa in Pulaski at 6 PM. Very cold I evening. Jolie called in evening. I talked with Shawn Michael.

5° this morning. Cold all day but very sunny. I went to Sunday School and church with Wayne. I came home with Margaret. We had 11 in Sunday School. A good class. Tonight is their Sunday School program at 7 PM. Nancy and Wayne gave me cute pair of candles. I have an itchy rash on my upper back and neck. I had to take off Jolie’s friendship necklace for the first time since she put it on me last July. I can’t wear my life line either. I think I’m allergic to my new medicine.

Cloudy raining windy. Shawn Michael’s 8th birthday. I stopped Vioxn and went back to Relafen. Also stopped new BP medicine. I’m still taking Atenolol and ½ water pill. I called Jim at work. He had his CAT scan this AM. I washed my bedding to get rid of the _________ (no word there). Family Christmas supper at Genesis cafeteria at 6 PM. I ordered a $15 fruit basket for Wayne and Nancy for Thursday. I called Genesis. Nancy answered. She said to call back tomorrow before 3 PM about Merrill coming home for Christmas. Jim called in PM.

Cloudy most of the day. I called Madonna Home. Merrill doing okay. I didn’t get to see him last week. I hope he still knows me. Community Christmas at Baptist Church. Wayne called to ask if I needed a rid but I didn’t want to go to it. Vern’s carpel tunnel operation. I called them in evening. All went well. A simple operation. They will pick Merrill up at the nursing home Saturday about 11-11:30. I got letter from Clark and Vivian. They are at Park St. Lucia, Florida. I received so many Christmas cards this year. I got one from Ester Lawler.

We are finally getting some snow. Eugene said about 140 folks attended Baptist Community church last night. Six car pile up on 81 this AM because of bad weather. Debby called form Gouverneur. She got home Sunday. She has a friend, Laclaire, with her. Debby hasn’t been home for two years. They came from California.

Some snow in morning. A lot south of here. Sun out in PM. Amy here to clean. She went to store for me. I made a cake for Saturday. I sent Sue L and Esther Lawler Christmas card with note. Jolie called in PM. Talked with Shawn Michael and Zack. Shawn Michael never got his birthday card and check. Joe Durgin delivered a real nice gift basket to Merrill and I from the youth group. Vi called in evening. We had a nice visit. I also talked with Vivian Myers about our Vioxn pills.

Sunny day. 50°. Very cold over night. The ground is still white. Great for Christmas. I baked a ham, made salad, set table, and got other stuff ready for Saturday. I can’t work very fast anymore. My hip sore today. Jim has called twice today. He called Vern. The boys are picking Merrill up at 11 PM. Joel and Camille got here about 3 PM. Took them over 17 hours because of the weather. Lake affect snow. Dan’s and Steve’s are at Vern and June’s tonight for Church and Christmas together. Wayne called and asked me to go to Christmas Eve service but I didn’t think it best to get out in the cold I opened my gift from June R. A #2 box of candy and a pair of blue bedroom slippers.

Cold, only a few flurries here. The boys brought this dad home for the day. First he’s been home since he entered Genesis June 14th. So great to have him home again and fill the house with his presence. It was beginning to feel like it is only my house not ours. Jim and Darryl came first and helped me get last minute things done. They couldn’t stay as they were going to his mother’s. Jim, Joel and Camille met Vern and June at Madonna and helped get Merrill into Vern’s car. It wasn’t easy. June has 8 loose leaf books of my diary printed in large print. Just so great. She also gave me one of her beautiful cross stitch picture. Got several other nice gifts. So good to al be together. Sue Lucida called. Jolie called twice. Good to talk with them all. Lyla called also. They left about 4:30 PM. They got Merrill back okay. Jim called later.

Cold. Windy. Snowing lightly off and on. I went to Sunday School and Church with Wayne, Nancy and Alice. Kids didn’t show up for Sunday School. 49 at church. They had 186 out for Christmas eve service. Baptist community service had about 140. I’m tired today. I got stuff put away and house straightened up. I’ve enjoyed reading my new diary books. Brings back so many wonderful memories.

Sunny day. I feel tired today. Washed some clothes and froze some of left over food. I called Jim. He’s taking week off while Joel is home. He is taking me to planning meeting Wednesday. I called Genesis and office for the aging for ride to eye doctors on Thursday. Got pretty Christmas card from Jolie’s. It is in Time tonight that Ida Mae Horton 85 (Carl’s mother) died yesterday.

Very cold. – 28° over night. Very cold all day. Jim called in morning about tomorrow. I called drug store I hung my lovely cross stitch picture on wall It’s so nice. June made it. John from Carthage called to say he would be taking me to eye doctor Thursday. Eye center called to remind me of my appointment. Debby called in early PM. She, her friend Louise Laclaire from California and Jericho came for supper and evening. He has clanged a lot. He’s 4 now. Jolie called when they got back to Gouverneur and want to take me to Ken’s party January 6th.

Sunny. Much warmer. A few flurries over night. Jim and I went to meeting. 4 others there. Genesis planning meeting for Merrill. Jim came after me. Nancy was with him but I forgot to tell her happy Birthday. Linda Scanlon called as we were getting ready to leave and said Merrill had just had some kind of a seizure. We went right to nursing home and found him wrapped in blankets and on oxygen. They gave him EKG blood and urine tests. I stayed with him until after 6 PM. Fed him some soup, milk, juice and coffee. He isn’t talking much. Slept a lot. I called Vern’s and Debby in evening.

Cloudy early. Sunny rest of day. I rode to Genesis with Debby and Louise. My eye appointment at 2 PM for pressure check and field test s. Vern and June came and took me and then brought me home Merrill not alert. Nothing seemed to reach him. Lyla called in evening. Jim called in evening and said he would come and take me to see Merrill in morning. He was staying at Nancy’s so Joel could use his bed.

A nice sunny day. Jim and Nancy came after me. I spent the day with Merrill. Jim and Nancy brought me home. Jim was working in evening for the city’s “first night”. Merrill was responding some but he wouldn’t eat. He swallowed a little liquid. Debby and LaClaire stopped in to see Merrill. They planned to go to Canada. Lyla called. Also Jolie. Jolie and I saw the New Year 2000 in together on the phone and our TV’s.