My Diary

 WHAT IS THIS?
This is only an outline of my life’s events. I’ve included very few feelings, impressions, or details because, although I began keeping a diary in my twenty-third year, the entries were brief and infrequent. Sometimes there would be years with only one or two entries. The early years were reconstructed from only my poor memory and a few snapshots. Although there have been many women in my life from my late twenties on, discretion dictates they be excluded.
These are not forgotten.
Many of the people and interests that have meant the most to me could easily be missed in such a bare-bones time-line. I shall never forget these people who had a part in making me who I am: Tom Vernon, Eston Haymond, Ruth Haymond, Donald Carroll, George Powner, Howard Swyers, Ed Palmer, Dr. Dale Hagler, Frank Glenister, Roy Hallman, Ray Thayer, Myron Goff, and Alan Gibson. I was fortunate to have such good parents. Important institutions and groups were: First Methodist Church, Palm Beach High School Band, U.S. Army, Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club, Palmer Singers, Florida Trail Assn., Boy Scouts.
THE "PRE-ME" YEARS
My father, Frank Bishop Holden was born January 29, 1896 in Missouri and reared in eastern Washington State.
His mother was a schoolteacher and his father, a preacher/farmer. He went to the university but before graduating became a second lieutenant in the US Army artillery. Among his many vocations were newspaper editor, farmer, automobile salesman, gravel pit operator, life insurance salesman, gas station operator, carpenter, cabinet maker, building contractor, and jack-of-most-trades.
My mother, Syble Louane Rinker was born February 9, 1896 in Indiana. She graduated from Cowan High School in 1914, attended Muncie Normal Institute and Ball State Teachers Collage. My sister Evelyn Louane and my brothers Harold Hoyt, and Norman Roger were ages 10, 13, and 16 when I was born.
THE EARLY YEARS
Feb. 10, 1937 The day after my mother’s 41st birthday, with Dr. Baldwin attending, I am born at home at 610 El Prado in West Palm Beach. We soon move next door to 614 El Prado where I will live for sixteen years.
Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. I am only 4 years old when the U.S. enters the war.
1942 or 1943 When I am in kindergarten, my father falls from the roof of a Rinker Materials building where he is working and breaks both his ankles. He suffers from this for the rest of his life.
Sept. 1943 At the age of six I enroll in first grade at Belvedere Elementary School.
April 12, 1945 President Roosevelt dies.
Aug. 14, 1945 Japan Surrenders. World War II is over.
Sept. 1946 I begin my second year in third grade because the previous year I had missed so many days due to frequent boils.
After very much terrible suffering, a series of injections prescribed by Dr. Stephens and administered by my sister, Louane, the boils are stopped.
July 1950 I vacation in Indiana and Virginia. In these early years I make, at least, one other visit to Virginia and one or two more visits to Indiana.
Sept. 1950 At age thirteen I enter seventh grade at Conniston Junior High School.
Sep. 15, 1950 Sister Louane marries Sidney Lanier Grovenstein at First Methodist Church in West Palm Beach.
July 1951 For one week I attend Lake Osborne Boy Scout Camp.
June 1952 I visit Louane and Sidney in Tallahassee.
Sept. 1952 I begin my second year in the eighth grade after failing nearly every subject last year. I am discouraged, embarrassed, and despondent.
July 1953 I attend the Third National Boy Scout Jamboree at Irvine Ranch California.
Fall 1953 Our family moves to new home at 2801 Oak Drive. We live in a converted four-car garage for two or three years until our new house is completed.
Spring 1954 I acquire my drivers license at age seventeen.
Summer 1954 I work a week or two for Mr. J.P. McBean, applying mastic to acoustical tile.
Sept. 1954 I enter Palm Beach High School at age seventeen.
April 3, 1955 I am baptized and join First Methodist Church where I have been attending for several years.
Spring 1955 I go with Palm Beach High School Band on a concert tour to Washington.
Summer 1955 We begin construction of our new home at 2801 Oak Drive.
Spring 1956 I go to New York on a concert tour with P.B.H.S. Band.
Summer 1956 I work as a chauffeur for Mr. Rogers for about two weeks.
Dec. 1956 I work at the Post Office at Christmas.
June 7, 1957 At age 20 I graduate from Palm Beach High School.
THE MIDDLE YEARS
Summer 1957 I work about three months for Northwood TV.
Summer 1957 I buy my first car – an old Plymouth. (Harold helped me select it.)
Oct. 1957 I buy a new 1957 Chevrolet Bel Aire.
Oct. 1957 I begin my 25-year career with The National Cash Register Company. (Later changed to NCR Corp.)
Spring 1958 Ronnie Kaufman and I drive the PBHS Band truck on concert tour to Washington DC.
1958 or 1959 I have tonsillectomy at Good Samaritan Hospital (Dr. Teasdale).
Summer 1959 I drive my parents to Washington DC and Virginia.
April 5,1960 At age 23 I am drafted into the army and go to Ft. Jackson, SC.
April 15,1960 I arrive at Fort Sam Houston, Texas for 8 weeks of modified medical basic training.
June 25, 1960 I go home for vacation.
July 1960 After two weeks of basic medical training I am transferred to an eight week dental assistant class.
Sept. 9, 1960 I graduate from dental assistant school and am offered a position of instructor in the school. I attend instructor-training school but have major problems with public speaking and lesson preparation so I quit.
Nov. 15, 1960 I arrive in Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas.
Dec. 1960 I go home for Christmas vacation.
March 1961 I am now taking flying lessons.
May 1961 My parents visit me in Texas.
Nov. 1961 I am assigned to temporary duty for about six weeks at Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas.
Dec. 1961 I go home for Christmas vacation.
Mar. 19, 1962 I am promoted to specialist 5. My experience in the army as a dental assistant has been enjoyable.
May 1, 1962 After being extended because of the Berlin crisis, I am separated from active duty and begin a trip with three friends to Grand Canyon.
May 21, 1962 I begin working again for NCR.
Sept. 26,1962 I pass my FAA test for a private pilots license.
Dec. 1962 I begin singing with Palmer Singers. This is to continue, off and on, for more than 40 years.
April 6, 1963 I buy a new car (1964 Triumph TR4).
May 1963 While my parents are in Virginia building Norman’s house, I become very sick with chicken pox.
July 27,1963 I arrive in Hartford, Connecticut for 35 weeks at NCR school.
Aug. 17,1963 As I begin a weekend trip to New York City, I wreck my new Triumph.
Nov. 22,1963 President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas.
Dec. 1963 I drive home for a Christmas visit.
March 1964 On my way back home I stop to visit Norman and Virginia in Roanoke.
Aug. 1964 I move into a rental house at 815 Winters Street with Myron Goff and his brother, Gary.
Oct. 1964 I vacation in Puerto Rico, visiting Eston and Betty Haymond. I arrive very late causing disruption to Betty’s surprise birthday party. (Plane was made late by Castro’s sister.)
Nov.1964 I am elected president of Young Adult Fellowship.
Spring 1965 I begin playing with Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches.
Aug. 1965 I move to a small apartment at 623 ½ Selkirk Street.
Nov. 1965 I vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. (My first of many visits)
May 1966 I begin construction of my new house at 2749 Oak Drive.
June 18,1966 I begin vacation in Montana where Louane and Sid take me to Yellowstone National Park.
Jan. 8,1967 I move into new home.
Apr.4,1967 I buy a new 1967 Pontiac Catalina.
June 17,1967 Tonight is my ten-year high school reunion at George Washington Hotel. I take Tina Wren.
Feb. 1968 I am becoming increasingly disturbed and frustrated by the war in Viet Nam.
Apr. 4,1968 Dr. Martin Luther King is murdered.
Apr. 8, 1968 I have bilateral inguinal hernia repair at Good Samaritan Hospital. ( Dr. Proctor)
Aug. 1968 I vacation in Gatlinburg.
Nov. 10, 1968 I begin class at NCR school in Dayton.
Feb. 1969 At age thirty-two I have my first drink of liquor.
July, 1969 Two men walk on the moon.
Sept. 1969 I am at NCR school in Denver.
Dec. 10 ,1969 Arrived home from Denver. I have a nice visit with Myron and Carolyn Goff in Tallahassee on my return.
Mar. 1970 I have a one-week vacation in Hartford and buy a guitar.
June 7, 1970 With three friends, I sail to Bimini on small sailboat and have a very frightening experience.
July 1970 I have a camping vacation in the Smoky Mountains.
April 1971 Ken Roy, my old army buddy, visits for one week.
1971 Around this year I buy a 17 foot aluminum Sears canoe.
May 1971 I’m now playing in a recorder group.
July 1971 I vacation in the Smoky Mountains.
April 16,1972 Bees arrive today to begin my new hobby of beekeeping.
Sept. 1972 I vacation in the Northeast.
June 1973 I vacation in Europe my first time with Terry Heath and his friend, Joe, driving around Germany, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.
Dec. 1973 The fuel shortage is becoming evident.
Aug. 1974 President Nixon resigns.
Sept. 1974 I vacation in Colorado.
April 1975 The Viet Nam war is over.
June, July ’75 I vacation in Europe the second time. Harold Jones, Eva Drake, Helen Zywicki, and I drive around Germany, Austria, France, Denmark,and Netherlands.
Jan. 1976 I go to with ski club to Aspen, Colorado.
Apr. 6, 1976 I have splenectomy and cholecystectomy. (Dr. Harris)
Aug. 1976 I vacation in Montana and Canada.
Sep. 19, 1976 I arrive in Dayton for three weeks of NCR School.
Thanksgiving ’76 I host twenty-three relatives for dinner.
Oct 2, 1977 I begin a two week vacation in North Carolina.
Jan. 17, 1978 I buy a new car (’78 Chevy Malibu SW).
Mar. 1978 Mother has been sick a long time.
May 1978 Six years after beginning the hobby, I sell my bees and equipment.
June 23, ’78 I leave for school in Dayton and begin cultivating my beard that I will keep for nine years.
Jul. 15, ’78 I go to Beech Mountain, North Carolina for the family reunion I organized.
Oct. 23, ’78 Parents sell their home. Mother is very sick.
Nov.2, ’78 Louane took Mother to Montana. Daddy left two weeks later.
Nov.6, ’78 I begin construction of apartment on back of my house.
April 1979 At the age of 42 I begin wearing reading glasses.
Oct. 1979 I have a one-week vacation in North Carolina.
Jan. 1980 Parents visit for two weeks.
May 3, 1980 I buy a motorcycle.
July 20, 1980 I attend PBHS Band reunion.
Aug. 1980 I have a one-week vacation whitewater rafting in N. Carolina and Tennessee with friends in Palm Beach Pack and . Paddle Club
Nov. 1980 I take three weeks vacation at home to work on the apartment I’m building on the back of my house.
Nov. 1980 I buy a new car (1981 Chevrolet Citation).
July 1, 1981 I make my last mortgage payment of $126.58.
Oct. 1981 I take four weeks vacation, go to North Carolina then work on the apartment.
Jan. 26, 1982 Parents arrive for a four-week visit.
Feb 1, 1982 I begin renting my apartment.
Feb. 28, 1982 I begin my part-time career as a stagehand. The first job was at Royal Poinciana Playhouse, taking out Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.
July, 1982 I vacation in New Hampshire as part of a P. B. Pack and Paddle Club trip and on the way stop in Nags Head, North Carolina for hang gliding school.
"THE CHANGE OF LIFE"
Retirement - Marriage - Moving
Sept. 10, 1982 At the age of 45 I terminate my employment with NCR and enjoy a big retirement party.
Sept. 10, 1982 I begin a big trip west on the bus to Montana to drive my parents' car to Arizona.
Jan. 1, 1983 My lucky day. At supper at Maureen McSwiggin’s home I meet Jane Richcreek, my future wife
Jan. 1983 I go on a PBP&P Club trip for skiing in West Virginia.
Jan. 1983 I buy a kayak.
March 20, 1983 Jane arrived today for a one-month visit.
March 21, 1983 Jane and I go to Epcot on a bus tour for two nights and when we return late the third night, we are surprised to find my father (age 87) here. He had flown here from Arizona to find a job and stayed about a week.
Apr. 18, 1983 Jane left today after a four-week visit.
June 9, 1983 I fly to Ohio for a two-week visit with Jane.
Aug. 1983 I take a five-week vacation with Jane in Nova Scotia.
Nov. 27, 1983 Jane arrives in Florida for a six-month visit.
Dec. 18, 1983 I graduate from clogging class.
Jan. 14, 1984 I experience my first kidney-stone attack. It was at the W.P.B. Auditorium during Winnipeg Ballet.
Mar. 20, 1984 I begin an eight-day visit to Louane and Sidney’s in Montana for skiing. Jane stayed in Florida.
July 20, 1984 I begin a seven-week, 12,000-mile western trip ending with Jane moving all her possessions to Florida in an old van.
Oct. 9, 1984 We begin a ten-day trip to Ohio to bring back Jane’s car and other goods. On return we visit Disney World (my 10th visit).
Jan.21, 1985 A hard freeze bursts pipes and floods apartment very badly.
Aug. 3, 1985 I sell my motorcycle.
Aug. 10, 1985 We begin a five-week vacation in the British Isles and France.
Nov. 12,1985 My car is stolen then recovered one week later.
Jan. 1, 1986 Jane and I are married at 9 AM at First United Methodist Church.
Mar. 12, 1986 I sign an agreement to sell my house.
Apr. 15, 1986 My house is sold and we purchase a condo the next day.
June 22, 1986 I experience my second kidney stone attack. (4:30 AM)
Oct. 1986 We vacation and shop for furniture in High Point North Carolina.
Nov. 1986 Louane and Sidney bring my parents to visit. (their last visit to Fla.)
Nov. 1986 We have an eight-day vacation in Mexico as part of P.B. Pack and Paddle trip.
Dec.23, 1986 I buy a new car (1987 Ford Taurus station wagon).
Mar. 21, 1987 Jane leaves today with Pat Barnes flying to Los Angeles to begin their cruise on the Vistafjord. I will pick them up April 4 in Ft. Lauderdale.
Apr. 16,1987 We leave on a 8,500 mile, 39 day car-camping trip to the southwest. My third kidney stone attack occurred in Hovenweep, Utah.
Apr. ' 87 We attend the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs.
July 7, 1987 We begin a three-month vacation in Ashtabula, Ohio.
Oct. 31,1987 I shave off my beard of nine years.
Dec. 31, 1987 We go to a New Year’s Eve party at Paul and Sherry Cummings’.
May 30,1988 We returned today from the Florida Folk Festival, my sixth consecutive year for it. Jane leaves tomorrow for a week’s visit in Ohio.
July 15-17 ’88 We enjoy the second P.B.H.S. Band reunion.
July 21, 1988 We leave on our 12,727 mile vacation trip to Montana and California and are gone until October 12.
Dec. 1988 I suffer for three months with severe pain in my right arm and shoulder.
Dec. 31, 1988 We go to a New Year’s Eve party at Jack and Terry Greenawalt’s.
Mar. 1989 I have unsightly and painful treatment for skin pre-cancer on my face.
May 9-19, ’89 We drive to Kelly’s graduation in Dallas.
May 26, 1989 We attend the 37th annual Florida Folk Festival at White Springs.
Jul. 6 to Oct. 22, ’89 We drive to Montana, take a bus to Seattle, then the ferry to Alaska where we explore in mynephews’ trucks then return the same way.
Dec. 31, 1989 We go to a New Year’s Eve party at Paul and Sherry Cummings’.
Feb.-Mar. 1990 Louane and Sidney visit from Montana.
Mar.19, 1990 I begin working for the U.S. Census Bureau. The work is intermittent at first but becomes forty hours plus per week when I resign on May 18.
May 24, 1990 Jane and I attend the thirty-eighth annual Florida Folk Festival (my eighth consecutive year). This is our first year as volunteers.
June 8, 1990 Jane and I drive to Orlando to attend the AARP convention and visit the attractions. We return June 14.
July 10, 1990 We leave today on a three-month 10,446-mile driving vacation that includes visits to Ashtabula, Red Lodge, Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, Washington, Maggie Valley, Maryville, and Lake Toxaway.
Dec. 31, 1990 We go on Tri-Rail with Pat Barnes to King Orange Jamboree Parade in Miami.
Jan. 1991 Evidence is unmistakable that my nose is growing noticeably larger and is becoming bulbous.
Jan. 10, 1991 Jane’s father dies at age 81.
Jan. 21, 1991 My mother dies in Miles City, Montana 19 days before her 95th birthday.
May 23, 1991 Jane and I attend the 39th annual Florida Folk Festival in White Springs again as volunteers.
June 18, 1991 I have a hernia operation at Kennedy Hospital by Dr. John Corbitt.
July 15, 1991 We leave today on a three-month, 8,650-mile driving vacation to see all of New England.
May 20, 1992 We leave today on our summer odyssey which includes The Florida Folk Festival on our way.
Sep. 9, 1992 Today we return from a 11,900 mile trip with the highlights being attendance at the AARP convention in San Antonio, visiting Kelly in Dallas, balloon rally in Miles City, touring Montana, visiting the just-opened Mall of America near Minneapolis, and visiting Ashtabula and Tennessee.
Sep.19, 1992 The Kravis Center opens and Jane and I begin weekly volunteer ushering.
May 27, 1992 We attend the 41st annual Florida Folk Festival, my eleventh consecutive year and our third year as volunteers.
Dec. 31, 1992 We go on Tri-Rail to the King Orange Jamboree parade in Miami.
July 22, 1993 We leave for a nearly three-month vacation in Highlands, N. Carolina where we rent an apartment.
Dec. 4, 1993 I begin my part-time job as Patron Services Representative at the Kravis Center.
Dec. 31, 1994 We go to a New Year’s Eve party at Janet Murphy’s home.
May 14, 1994 We leave for a twenty-six day visit to North Carolina, and on the way stop by Bent Tree to visit Alan Gibson. We dog-sit for John Rinker in Lake Toxaway. Jane falls and breaks her wrist on June 22nd. I have root canal therapy. We return home June 8th.
June 1994 I am feeling more self-conscious about my nose that is continuing to grow, discolor, and get bumpy.
June 17,1994 Palm Beach High School band reunion is this weekend.
July 11,1994 We leave this evening for a three-week vacation in Hawaii visiting 4 islands and camping on 2 of them.
Nov. 22, 1994 We drive to John and Sheila’s home in North Carolina for Thanksgiving and return home late on the 27th.
Jan. 25, 1995 We buy a new 1995 Dodge Caravan (mini-van).
Mar. 3, 1995 We visit Treasures of the Czars exhibit in St.Petersburg on our way to the Florida Trail Assn. annual conference in Ocala National Forest.
May 25, 1995 We go to the Florida Folk Festival, leaving home Thursday morning and returning Tuesday night after a day at Universal Studios.
June 5, 1995 We go to Universal Studios again and return home the next day.
June 15, 1995 Jane has her cholecystectomy (gall bladder) laproscopic surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital.
July 5, 1995 We leave on a 13,000 mile driving trip to Arizona, California, Montana, Michigan, Washington, DC and back down the Outer Banks. In Flagstaff we attend our first Elderhostle. Experienced vandalism in FL.
Oct.24,1995 Someone smashes into the passenger door of our new minivan while it was parked at home.
Dec. 31, 1995 During this past year I have become very dependent upon eyeglasses. In June I acquired a partial denture (lower) and began having trouble with my temporo-mandibular joint.
Jan. 20, 1996 My daddy dies today in Red Lodge only 9 nine days before his 100th birthday.
Jan. 24, 1996 Jane begins her new job at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.
May 23, 1996 We leave today for the Florida Folk Festival and return May 27.
June 15,1996 We have a new carpet installed today (110 yards, padding 90 yards). The total cost is $1,776.90 (including $312.50 for installation).
June 21, 1996 Jane flies to the Dominican Republic for a short vacation and visit with Kelly, returning on the 24th.
Sep. 14, 1996 Jane and I return from a two-week trip to Ashtabula. On our return we stop at Williamsburg,VA. Our trip was delayed six weeks by Jane’s illness causing her to miss her high school reunion.
Nov. 3, 1996 We tender a letter requesting the removal of our membership in United Methodist Church and attend for the last time. For a couple of years we had frequently been attending services at First Unitarian Church.
Dec. 31, 1996 As guests of Darlene Franche, we attend a wonderful New Year’s Eve show and dinner at the Kravis.
Mar. 20, 1997 I enter J.F. Kennedy hospital today and stay two nights for tests. I had been sick for six weeks or so with an undiagnosed illness.
April 11,1997 Jane has hysterectomy today in Good Samaritan hospital. She had been diagnosed with probable ovarian cancer. We had a whirlwind week of getting her surgery arranged under a pall of very great dread. Jane is no longer working at the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden.
May 30, 1997 After nearly three and a half years, this is my last day of working for the Kravis Center.
July 13, 1997 We leave today on an eight thousand-mile trip that is interrupted by a brief return home in early August after Jane injures her left knee when she falls into a hole in North Carolina and is also found to have high blood pressure. This trip incorporates our first uses of Evergreen Bed and Breakfast Club which we find very rewarding. One high point of the trip is our Elderhostle in Chautaqua, NY. We also visit Myron & Carolyn Goff and Kathleen Pacetti. We return October 10. While in Ashtabula I go to emergency room with chest pain.
Dec. 21, 1997 We leave home today for a visit with Kathleen Pacetti in Asheville and return on the twenty-ninth after an overnight visit with Alan Gibson in Bent Tree, Jasper GA.
Dec. 31, 1997 We go to a New Year’s Eve party at Helen North’s apartment in Palm Beach.
May 12, 1998 We go to Disney World for two nights then to visit my brother Norman where I get sick.
May 15,1998 I am admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital with intense abdominal pain.
July 11, 1998 We leave on our summer trip of 9,000 miles to Ohio by way of Dallas, Hot Springs AR, Memphis, ashville, and return via Canada, New England, etc.
Dec. 31, 1998 After a ballet at the Kravis we go to Helen North’s apartment for a New Year’s Eve party.
Jan. 4, 1999 I began working for the US Census Bureau. Jane starts on January 8th.
Mar. 3, 1999 Jane begins working part-time for Mary Ann Ricksen.
Mar. 15, 1999 Our computer was delivered today. During the next few days I get it installed and begin an unending learning process that greatly changes my life, very possibly for the worse.
May 5,1999 This is the last day I work as a stagehand. I am now fully retired (but without income). I have learned
frugality so this is no problem. Luckily, Jane has always been at least as frugal as me.
May 27, 1999 We begin our four thousand-mile trip with our first stop being the forty-seventh annual Florida Folk Festival. From there, among many other places, our trip includes an extremely delightful three-night stay at Snowbird Mountain Lodge in North Carolina, Kathleen Pacetti in Asheville, Myron and Carolyn Goff in New Jersey, New York City, Long Island as far out as Shelter Island, and Tom and Pat Vernon in Philadelphia, returning home on June 25.
Aug. 3, 1999 We leave on a 3,730-mile trip to Ohio where we stayed in Jane’s mother’s home. On our return we visited Washington DC. We returned home very late on August 28.
Sept. 24, 1999 I have laproscopic hernia repair as outpatient at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Nov.18,1999 For dinner today we entertain David & Leighan Rinker and Sandra & Pete Holmes.
Dec. 14, 1999 Jane flies to California to visit her daughter, Kelly and doesn’t return until midnight December 30.
Dec. 31, 1999 We host a new millenium party.
Mar. 13, 2000 We go to Key West then ferry the next day to Dry Tortugas for overnight camping then home late on 15th.
Mar. 17, 2000 This is Jane's last day of her shopping job for Mrs. Ricksen.
May 4, 2000 For many weeks I have been suffering from vertigo.
May 15, 2000 We go to the AARP Convention in Orlando then to Disney World and return May 19th.
May 25, 2000 Jane and I go to the forty-eighth annual Florida Folk Festival and return May 29th.
June 7, 2000 We go to Miami to see and board the tall ships.
June 10, 2000 We go with Jim & Betty Hulbert to South Beach (Miami) to see the tall ships sail out of Government Cut.
July 21, 2000 We leave on our nearly three-month, 13,757 mile trip to the northwest by way of Ashtabula. Our summer odyssey of nearly three months and 13,757 miles took us to Canada and California. We tented 29 nights, stayed 23 nights with relatives, 13 with friends, 19 at Evergreen Bed & Breakfasts, and 3 nights at our favorite place, Snowbird Mountain Lodge in North Carolina when the fall colors were peaking. With our visits to the state capitols of Washington and Oregon, we completed the final two of our fifty capitol visits. The high points included Glacier, Olympic, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone National Parks, Lake Tahoe, the redwoods, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, BC for the "Symphony of Fire" (fireworks). Less known but quite memorable were Promontory Point and Bear Lake in Utah, Red Lodge, MT, Lewis & Clark's Forts Clatsop and Mandan, the Seattle REI store, the Jelly Belly Factory in California, Tillamook cheese and ice cream factory in Oregon, Ghiradelli Square and all the other ice cream shops in between. Easily, the best part of our trip was meeting so many new friends.
Dec. 15, 2000 We take Freda and Murray Kratka to Willie Gary’s party in Stuart.
Dec. 31, 2000 We are invited to a New Year’s Eve party at Freda and Murray Kratka’s home.
THE GOLDEN YEARS
Feb.10, 2001 This is my sixty-fourth birthday. I am becoming more aware of my physical and mental decline. I am increasingly frustrated by my declining visual acuity to the extent that I am depressed and angry. My mental functioning is slowing. The rate of my hair loss is increasing so fast that by my next birthday I surely will be bald. My strength and endurance are clearly in decline. My main exercise is a daily early morning brisk walk of three miles. It is still a good life and I’d like to keep it for another thirty years.
Apr. 10, 2001 Jane’s birthday. I buy a "killer cake" for Jane. We go to a party at the Horticulture Society then take Pat. Barnes to Jim and Betty’s for dessert and we play Mexican Train. Betty baked Jane a birthday cake.
Apr. 11, 2001 Judy calls at 7:00 a.m. and tells Jane that their mother died yesterday around 6:00 P.M. We drive to Ft. Pierce, pick up Harold and go to visit Norman in a nursing home in West Melbourne. Norman has declined so much that he doesn’t recognize us.
May 6, 2001 We get up at 2:45 a.m. and drive to Riverwalk where our sixteen-day tour of China begins. Halfway through our thirteen-hour flight from Detroit to Beijing, I questioned whether it was worth it. Over Siberia, seeing only a frozen, desolate landscape, packed tightly in our tiny seats and seemingly with hours to go, we experienced our least favorite part of the trip. It literally was the longest day of my life --- over thirty hours from waking to retiring. Now, thankfully, a fading memory, that first day was our only downer. After that first day and our gradual adjustment to the twelve hour time difference (We never had to reset our
watches.), we began to realize that, not only was it worth it, but for us, it was the trip of a lifetime. My skepticism about the meals and accommodations proved completely unfounded. The hotels were consistently excellent and the meals?....well.... abundant. Breakfast, easily our favorite meal, was always an extensive buffet with more than one could wish for. Lunch and supper, always served family style on a round table with a lazy susan, became boring because, although it was abundant with many choices, those choices were almost always exactly the same day after day, no matter in what restaurant or city. We kept hoping in vain for the extravagant rich deserts which apparently are unknown there. But, alas, the final course was always....watermelon. Beijing airport is where we had our first contact with China. It began the most exciting, fascinating, and memorable part of our sixteen days. We wanted to see everything about this most mysterious, exotic land. To my surprise, the airport terminal was about as modern and spacious and busy as any new western terminal --- nothing foreign here.
As we bussed into the modern city of Beijing the most striking surprise was the traffic --- bicycles by the thousands crowding all the streets and avenues everywhere we looked. We were told there were 8 million bicycles in the city of Beijing. Among all these bicycles, motorcycles, motor scooters, trucks, busses, scads of taxis, and tricycles, both pedaled and motorized, laden with cargo of every description from building supplies to groceries. For pedestrians, crossing a busy street is challenging. The crosswalks with walklights are of little help since no one seems to observe the lights. In the busiest places, when crossing the street, we would try to walk
beside a native. It soon became clear that motor vehicles can't be operated without horns; they are used continually. Aggressive intimidation, size, and louder horns seem to rule. Traffic laws, if there are any, seem to regarded merely as suggestions. Riding in the front seat of the bus is an excitement not to be missed except for the fainthearted. This traffic disorder exists to some degree among all the large cities we visited. Many times as we were traveling through the rural countryside I could imagine myself in various parts of the U.S. such as farmlands of the Midwest or grassy high plains in Wyoming or the flat farmlands and wetlands of south Florida. I didn't feel so far from home until, from time to time, when seeing signs with Chinese characters, I would be jolted back to the reality that we were in a very foreign place on the opposite side of the globe.
The 50 members of our tour group divided comfortably into two busses for touring. Our hotel stays were in Beijing, Xian, Jinan, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. We had two domestic flights, two train trips (one overnight), three boat rides (one on the Grand Canal in Suzhau). We visited Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, The Great wall, The Terra-cotta Warriors, jade, pearl, silk, carpet, and cloisonne factories, a tea plantation, the Yellow River, two great shows, and more temples and palaces than I can remember. The best part of our trip was seeing the people. Regrettably, there was little communication because so few Chinese speak English. The younger people know some English because it is required in school. I think if one were to find himself away from the tourist hotels and airports, especially in smaller towns, he would be quite helpless. In most western non-English speaking countries we can decipher informational and
advertising signs at least a little but the signs in China are meaningless to us. French, German, and Italian are almost like our mother tongues compared to Chinese. In the hotels, grocery and department stores, other larger businesses we found that, invariably, the employees wear smart looking uniforms which identify them with that store or position. The workers always seemed conscientious and eager to do their best. I wish we could import that work ethic. In the larger stores, clerks, cashiers, and manager types were everywhere trying to help even more than we wished. Sears and Target: Take notice.
I was astonished by the extent of major construction. There were 20 and 30 story buildings going up everywhere as well as extensive new superhighway construction. Our only regret is that we couldn't visit the Yangtze River where the largest construction project in the world is underway. Although we did have a few days of clear fresh air, there was usually a pervasive unidentifiable unpleasant smell in the air and most often a disturbingly persistent dense smog. I think one of China's most difficult problems will be cleaning up the air and water.
I was surprised to find the Chinese people dressing in a way that is little different from what you would find here. I had imagined there would be a drab uniformity but not so. There is a very modern air to some of the big cities with very many "dot.com" signs (always in English, of course), cellular telephones everywhere, and a lot of industrious bustle going on. One can sense an eagerness to improve the standard of living. They know they're behind but carry on with energy and optimism. We attracted attention, not so much in the exclusively tourist areas, but in the market places and public gathering areas. People took our pictures and wanted their pictures with us. I think we "big nose foreign devils" prominently stood out because so many of our number were heavy. Our average weight was probably more than twice that of the average Chinese. We never saw a heavy Chinese person. Our guides were usually fascinating and seemed to genuinely enjoy talking to us. They had no reservations about discussing politics, history, or their personal lives and hopes. Neither did they have any reluctance to criticize their government or leaders. The news media in China is controlled by the government, so naturally,
opinions based on that news tend to have a slant different from ours. I could go on and on but who would read it? If you have any questions or comments, let me have 'em.
One last observation: In China we were in about five airports. Every terminal had an abundance of free luggage carts which you could take and leave wherever. How nice. When we returned to Miami the same carts cost two dollars.
Sept. 11, 2001 An evil campaign of terror begins with the hijacking of four airliners. Many feel that our way of life will be forever changed. The economic and political effects will be with us the rest of my life. Also today Jane and I pick up Harold and go to visit Norman in the nursing home. It is not a very good visit.
July 6, 2001 We begin our trip to Ashtabula. We return August 3rd.
Oct. 7, 2001 Gordon drives us to Ft. Lauderdale to begin our seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise aboard the Massdam.
Nov. 2, 2001 Louane and Sidney arrive for a visit. We take them to lunch and serve supper during their visit.
Dec. 31,2001 This New Years celebration is at the home of Stephanie Saunders.
Jan. 9, 2002 We drive to Disney World and stay for two nights. On returning the third day our car breaks down in Kissimmee where we spend the night then rent a car to continue home.
Jan. 18, 2002 Our new mattress is delivered today. ($481.24)
Feb. 9, 2002 Jane surprises me with a birthday party a day early. Several friends came. I wasn’t really surprised.
Feb. 10, 2002 We drive over to the west coast near Venice for the annual Ashtabula reunion.
Apr. 15, 2002 For Actinic keratosis I begin Fluroplex treatment on my arms and hands which is like a chemical burn. It is quite painful and unsightly. The treatment and healing takes many weeks.
April 27, 2002 We lead a combined Florida Trail & P.B. Pack and Paddle Club excursion to Miami South Beach.
May 8, 2002 We go to Disney World for three days.
May 23, 2002 We drive to White Springs to attend the fiftieth annual Florida Folk Festival, camping four nights at Suwannee Valley Campground. Pat Barnes & Phyllis Markuson rode back home with us.
June 27, 2002 Jane begins a twenty-two day job as a live-in companion for Chee Mathews in Palm Beach.
July 20, 2002 During recent months and especially this past week the stock market has declined alarmingly. Our portfolio value has declined to about half what it was a little over two and a half years ago.
Lucky for us, we have always lived below our means so nothing changes but our dreams.
July 25, 2002 It is unusual for us to be in home in late July. We expected to be on a six to eight week driving trip to Maine and Quebec. Jane and I both are having unexpected dental problems. I’m waiting for a new partial denture and Jane preparing for root canal therapy. We hope to leave in about two weeks.
Oct. 6, 2002 We leave on our tour of Italy.
Oct.19, 2002 We return from our very enjoyable tour of Italy – both north and south – with an extremely knowledgeable and articulate tour director. It was a bit tiring because we covered so much.
Nov 3, 2002 We return from a seven night cruise of the Western Caribbean aboard the M.S. Maasdam, the same ship we were - on last October. It was pleasant and fairly restful, compared with the Italy trip.
Nov. 18, 2002 We traded our 1995 Dodge minivan with 133,000 miles on it for a 2000 Dodge minivan with 38,000 miles on it. Our cost including tax & tag was $13,400 plus the trade. It seems like new.
Dec. 20, 2002 This evening we returned from three days at Disney World. We stayed three nights in Orlando with Evergreeners, Morris and Sylvia Perry.
Dec. 31, 2003 On New Year’s Eve we work the Kravis show –"Three Mo Tenors."
Feb. 21, 2003 We leave to day for a camping weekend at Caloosahatchee River near La Belle. We attended the Swamp Cabbage Festival.
Mar. 14, 2003 We leave for the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge Centennial Celebration at Sebastian
and stay Friday night with an Evergreener in Palm Bay.
March 16. 2003 Since around the first of the year I have "suffered" with pain in my right index finger and to a lesser extent in the adjacent thumb and middle finger. The circulation is restricted so it is quite cold. I’ve had many tests but no cause has yet been found.
May 12, 2003 I’m expecting Jane to return today from her week-long live-in care-taking job with Chee Mathews. We’re getting ready for our two weeks of hiking in England.
May 17, 2003 We leave today for our two weeks of hiking in England with ten friends who are members of Florida Trail Assn.
Jun 2, 2003 We return from England, delayed a day by aircraft computer problem. The experience of the two weeks was positive and memorable.
Jun 4, 2003 We leave for a more than three months vacation with the primary destination: Duluth MN.
Aug. 2003 Niece, Cyd Diana drove Louane and Sid to visit us in Duluth and Jane’s sister came on the bus from Ohio.
Sept. 8,2003 We return from our summer odyssey tired after having driven 8,000 miles but filled with good memories of adventures and new friends. We were very pleased with the University of Minnesota Duluth housing and are seriously considering going back next year. We spent extra time camping in Upper Michigan while waiting for Labor Day to walk the Mackinac Bridge. We visited Kathy Hill in Virginia and my old buddy, George Powner in Georgia. I had lost touch with him for more than forty years.
Sept. 16, 2003 After several years without singing, Today I begin singing again with Palmer Singers.
Oct. 1, 2003 I begin a painful and unsightly treatment for skin pre-cancers (actinic keratosis) on my face similar to the treatments of March 1989 and on my arms in April last year.
Oct. 18, 2003 This morning Jane flew out to California for a twelve-day visit with Kelly.
Oct. 17, 2003 Brother Norman died at age 83. He was a very good brother.
Nov. 9, 2003 We returned this evening from two nights at Cayo Costa State Park on an island west of Fort Myers. We were with a Pack & Paddle group of about seventeen. There was a lunar eclipse Saturday night.
Nov. 20, 2003 Today we joined with labor unions and a very large group protesting at the Free Trade Area of Americas summit in Miami. It was exciting and scary with the pepper spray, tear gas, and violent head knocking going on all around us. The police presence was awesome.
Nov. 27, 2003 Today we enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with friends at Serena Rinker’s new home.
Nov. 28,2003 I purchase a laptop computer.
Dec. 26, 2003 This evening we hosted a group of 12 friends and had a most delightful time.
Dec. 31, 2003 This afternoon, as guests of the Kravis, we attend a performance at of Tangokensis. Then, this evening we volunteered to help with a big Red Cross New Year’s Eve party—the first major event at the new Palm Beach County Convention Center. It will be long remembered for its excesses and the decadence of the "beautiful people." The Electric Circus was extravagant and extremely loud. The tickets were $300 and $500 per person. We were pleasantly impressed with the Convention Center.
Jan. 1, 2004 Our 18th wedding anniversary is today. It is quiet as we choose to celebrate later.
Jan.8, 2004 Jane begins a one-week job as a live-in caretaker for Chee Mathews in Palm Beach.
Feb. 8, 2004 We drive to Englewood FL for Jane’s Ashtabula reunion. Also I purchase a digital camera..
Ap. 10, 2004 With a party for fifteen guests we celebrate Jane's birthday. A good time was had by all.
May 27, 2004 We leave home for the summer...headed for Duluth again with a stop in White Springs for the 52nd annual Florida Folk Festival.
June 6, 2004 We stop in Eagan, MN for a brief visit with Frank and Randi and family.
June 8, 2004 We arrive around noon at our apartment in Duluth. It was a fairly unhurried trip. We wrere hosted by evergreeners in Live Oak for four nights so we could attend all three days of the folk festival. I thought it was an - especially good festival. We stayed wth six other evergreeners and with the one in Minnesota we stayed three nights.
June 12, 2004 We drive to Virginia, MN to attend the celebration of Clarence and Eila Ivonen's fiftieth wedding anniversary. June-Aug. Through the months June, July, and August we enjoy the many activities and events associated with the university and the northern Minnesota region. We especially enjoyed the hiking with new friends.
Aug. 10, 2004 We drive to White Bear Lake near St. Paul for an overnight visit with Jeannie Goodale and Ron Bunton.
Aug. 18, 2004 We begin our trip home, going by way of Canada. We have eighteen over-night stops with visits to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, the Gaspe peninsula, NYC, and Washington, DC.
Sept. 15, 2004 After dark we arrive home from our from long summer in the northwoods. On our entire trip we drove 9,437 miles. We find the landscape greatly changed following hurricane Florence which we missed by about a week. Our damage was minimal -- just a little water intrusion. The long power outage prompted us to give our refrigerator a good cleaning.
Sept. 25, 2004 Hurricane Jeanne arrives tonight, trashes our landscape, does widespread damage to structures, and knocks out our electric power for days.
Oct. 31, 04 This weekend we camped at Long Key State Park with Freda and Murray Kratka and went to the Fantasy Fest - parade in Key West.
Nov. 3, 04 Dispirited, disconsolate, depressed, crushed, bewildered, and angry are among the feelings we share with many at the outcome of yesterday's presidential election.
Oct. 2021   After about 36 years in Whitehall condominium we moved to Brookdale Independent Livlng.
Temporary End