Welcome to the daily life of a very persnickety and extremely independent woman — who took me to New York City when she was 83!
In October of 1998 when I was 28, my grandmother invited me to visit New York City with her. And though we annoyed each other so much that I ended up exploring the city by myself, I remember having a great time because I fell in love with both the city and traveling alone — getting to do whatever I wanted in the most exciting and interesting place I had ever been.
That was very cool.
Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998
Awake 7, rested til 8. Usual breakfast.
Walked on cliff. Got traveler’s checks.
To Burger King, ate chicken sandwich.
Home, rested, various chores.
News, Lehrer, hedge funds.
TV: Law & Order, Geraldo.
Bed 9:45. Pretty good sleep.
Friday, Oct. 2, 1998
Awake 5:30. Usual breakfast, ready by 8:30.
Bag to Greyhound, McDonald’s for coffee.
Gas at Shell, washed car.
To bank, got $100.
To show, “Ronin.” Good.
Home, foned Metro regarding stop on 38th, construction impeding traffic.
Read papers.
TV til 10.
Saturday, Oct. 3, 1998 - To NYC
Take Greyhound to SFO 10 a.m., put rubber band on mailbox.
Coffee at Zachary’s, eggs, toast.
Bus to SFO, arrived 12:30. Read, crossword, rested a bit.
Foned Justine, various things.
Checked in about 6, Justine arrived 8:45.
Plane took off at 10:15, no sleep!
Sunday, Oct. 4, 1998 - In NYC
Arrived 5:46 a.m. baggage 1/2 hour.
Got subway train 7 a.m., in hotel 8:30. Room not ready.
Ate next-door, friendly.
Took Gray Line tour, got off for coffee at Battery Park.
Got back on, talkers very rude.
Hotel “suite”: have microwave, frig, sink.
Unpacked, Justine sacked out 5 p.m. I counted money.
Too warm in night.
My recollections: I was very excited on the subway ride from the airport, as I love taking public transportation in all big cities, and was especially happy to finally be on the New York City subway. I also remember when I was lugging my suitcase up the stairs to the street, a young man offered to help me carry it. Because of pride and being wary of strangers, I politely declined, then instantly regretted it as I looked down the stairs to my grandmother struggling with her bag. What I should have done was accepted his kind offer, then gone to carry my grandmother’s bag!
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| Photo of my first NYC subway ride, with my saved MTA card next to it! |
Monday, Oct. 5, 1998 - In NYC
Up 7, showered. Ate.
To Times Square, looked for soundtrack for Passion Fish.
Got bus to Battery Park, Justine got hot dog.
I got salad at McDonald’s, Justine joined me, finished salad.
Got off at Rockefeller Center, saw Grand Central, etc.
Took subway back.
My recollections: I loved Battery Park, and the ferry ride to Staten Island. I also loved riding the tour buses through the city, especially sitting up top in open air. But I also remember my grandmother being a pill. On the bus when we passed a Trader Joe’s, the tour guide asked if we could tell what was unique about it. “It has a parking lot,” I said, which the tour guide exclaimed was right, and my grandmother chided me: “You knew that because they told us on the other bus,” though I honestly didn’t remember being told that.
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| Statue of Liberty from the ferry. *Gasp* Actual camera! |
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 1998 - In NYC
Not much sleep. Up 7:30.
Bought calcium + zinc.
Bus to park, walked. To museum, $6 entry.
Ate lunch, fruit and coffee. Wonderful. Got bag.
To Times Square to find Passion Fish, got Billie Holiday.
To library, Grand Central Station.
Mailed cards to Sy + Mimi, got bakery items.
Home, tired. Justine received call from friend of H’s.
My recollections: My sister had given me the name of a former co-worker who moved to New York, so I called her and we met for coffee. I really wanted to go to a nightclub, and she graciously invited me to join her friends later when they went out. But she didn’t call me until nearly 10 p.m., explaining that, “People go out late here,” and I decided to just stay in. For one I was tired, but mostly I was worried about having to get to the club and back late at night by myself, especially after drinking. I still wonder sometimes if made the right choice that night: If staying in kept me from something cool, or kept me from harm.
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998 - In NYCNo sleep again. Justine bathed night and day. Yesterday she used both wash rags, today both hand towels.
Bad vibes.
Out 9 a.m. To Times Square, got matinee ticket. “Perfect Crime.”
To Trinity Church, took pix. Ate McDonald’s.
Showered, bed.
My recollections: I don’t remember my grandmother complaining about my excessive use of the towels at the time, but I remember us having a spat and deciding to spend our days separately, and then very much enjoying my time alone! In the mornings I walked to the neighborhood Starbucks for coffee and breakfast, smiling as I read the New York Times in New York City. Then I mostly just walked, absorbing the exhausting-but-exhilarating onslaught of stimuli, each block its own universe of food and art and people. I especially loved stumbling upon a tiny gallery full of awesome black-and-white photographs, then trying a slice of “lasagna” pizza (topped with lasagna noodles, ground beef and ricotta) at one of the places claiming to be the “original” Ray’s pizza — a carb-lover’s dream, it remains one of the best slices of pizza I’ve ever eaten.
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| Visiting the site of the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. |
Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998 - In NYC
Up 7:30. Out, ate McDonald’s
First to St. John of the Divine, then to Wall Street, NYSE.
Walked over to Central Park.
To the Met, huge. Did Impressionists, afro-art, Islamic.
Sat with German man and wife. High-voiced for a man. Sat, no talking.
Back to hotel.
Friday, Oct. 9, 1998 - In NYC
Slept good 1-5, fone rang 6. Up 7:30.
Breakfast here. Justine left 9:15. I packed some.
To Soho. Closed, for new exhibit.
Ate in Cyber Space cafe. Chicken sandwich, good.
To Macy’s, Manhattan mall. Got blue leg warmers.
Rained slightly, tired.
Justine home, too.
More of our travels together: In 1995, we went to Paris and London together, both keeping our own journals. Read those entries here.
Saturday, Oct. 10, 1998 - Leaving NYC
Up 7:30, paid bill. Left Justine at hotel.
Took bus. At High Street man got in doorway, would not get out. Police came, someone pushed him out.
To airport 11:15 a.m. Woman moved my bag, lost my fone book!
Arrived late at airport.
Plane took off 1 hour late. Justine got bus.
My bag arrived on early planes.
Home 10. Good sleep.
Sunday, Oct. 11, 1998
Awake 4:30, then 7, then 10.
Unpacked, spilled water in hall, watered plants.
To Carole's, she doing female forms. Good.
To Kmart. Lunch, salad, potatoes.
Home, gave Larry the Sunday paper put at my door by mistake.
TV: News, Siskel & Ebert, 60 minutes.
Called Mina, talked 1 hour!
Taped King Lear.
Monday, Oct. 12, 1998
Holiday? Yes. Post office closed. No mail.
To Longs, got canned fruit.
Home, bank balanced OK.
Ate, rested, did washing.
To KFC, to show, “ANTZ.”
To library, returned Time magazine.
TV: Marcia Clark on Geraldo.
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1998
Usual breakfast.
Picked up mail, no adverts!
Drug Emporium for BP, McDonald’s for coffee.
Looked around Gottschalks, nil.
Home 11:30, sorted mail and news. Took care of necessary things.
Watched part of King Lear.
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998
Breakfast 7:30.
Longs for more apricots. Gone! Got corn flakes, panty liners, soup.
No BP, broken again.
Home, ate soup, typed up letters.
Trucker here to move #2 out.
To mall, ate lasagna, spinach.
To Rite Aid, got trail mix and candy.
Home 5 p.m., electricity out about 6:30 p.m.
TV: Jim Lehrer, watched yesterday’s tape of same.
Cold night.
Thursday, Oct. 15, 1998
Up 8 a.m. Usual breakfast,Chores.
To Kmart: BP, got Dinty Moore (3). Ate lunch 11 a.m.
To Aptos Village, walked a bit.
To show, “One True Thing.” Streep, Hurt.
TV: News, Geraldo.
Bed early.
Friday, Oct. 16, 1998
To Drug Emporium: BP, got crackers.
To Monterey Museum of Art. Thought in Carmel at first, then checked phone book.
Liked some Richard Bennetts.
Ate at Wendy’s in Seaside. Home 2:30 p.m.
Mail: Letter from Mina, catalogue from PBS, card from Sandra.
TV: News, watched A&E til 10 p.m.
Bed, tired! Must call Carole.
Saturday, Oct. 17, 1998
Awake 7, up 8.
Breakfast Kmart, got TV Guide, envelopes (two kinds). Myra there, with Larry.
To post office, mailed PBS catalogue to Mina.
Home, read papers. Ran King Lear, read book.
TV: Some of Yankees-San Diego game, part of X-Files.
Bed 10, no sleep. Read “Tar Baby.”
Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998
Awake 8, usual breakfast. Changed bed.
Swept bedroom, carport.
Shower, washed hair. (Cut it).
To mall, ate tostada. No meat.
Checked J.C. Penney, having sale! Mostly things not sold all year.
To show, “Touch of Evil.” Dennis Weaver, Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh. Not great. Made in 1957.
TV: News, Siskel & Ebert.
Monday, Oct. 19, 1998
Cold in a.m.
Myra called, may go to Nikomis for Thanksgiving, will I make sure Larry takes pills. Yes.
Took pix of drain by Brommer.
To Kmart for lunch, got 3 t-shirts.
TV: Football, Jets over New England; Lehrer, Geraldo.
Taped first segment of Africans in America.
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998
Up 6, laundromat 7.
To library, left “Tar Baby.” Tried to find box, none.
TV: News, “Romancing the Stone.”
Sorted files, trashed some.
Changed box in car with earthquake items.
TV: “Murder She Wrote” from 2 to 3.
Washed navy blue t-shirt, made bed again with pink (washed).
TV: Yankees vs. San Diego, Morris rerun.
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1998
Up 8, breakfast.
Called SF Muni, long-term parking. SFO shuttle out 11 a.m.
To Drug Emporium for BP, envelopes, TV Guide.
To KFC, ate too much!
To Palace for lined paper, 3-ring.
Home, news, worked on moving books, cleaned top shelf of bedroom case.
Taped Afro in America.
Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998
Many accidents, sand on road. Backed up to Scotts Valley. No use trying for SF.
Back to sleep.
Typed folder tags, overflow in metal case.
To Kmart for lunch.
Home, watered plants. Cut some.
TV: “Murder She Wrote” 2 to 3.
Called bank to balance account.
Taped afro. Last one.
Not good sleep.
Friday, Oct. 23, 1998
Awake 7:30. Hwy 17 OK, no accidents.
To San Jose 11:09, Cal Train arrived 11:50. Arrived SF 1:26.
Bus to Moscone, about five blocks to MOMA.
To Alexander Calder exhibit, beautiful. Talked to small woman who makes jewelry. Jay?
Walked back to Cal Train.
McDonald’s, got McFlurry and two apple pies.
4 p.m. bus back, arrived Scotts Valley 6:45. Home 7:30. TV til 10.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998
Sporadic sleep. Rain started in night.
Up 9, usual breakfast. Finished crossword.
Typed letter to Andra and Sandra, and table of Cal Train stops.
To Longs, got envelopes.
Albertsons, milk and fruit.
Home, cleaned ear, made dinner: potatoes, fish, broccoli.
Watched afro, crossword.
Heat on most of day.
Called Dottie re light out on her street.
Changed clothes. Ran “Last Starfighter.”
Sunday,Oct. 25, 1998
Awake 3 a.m., then 7:45. Good sleep.
Usual breakfast. Read Dick Francis.
Vacuumed filters, ironed t-shirts.
Football: 49ers 28 vs. Rams 10.
Myra called, cancelled Thanksgiving. Family coming here.
To show, “Pleasantville.”
To Kmart, cafe closed. Got three more Dinty Moores, candy.
TV: Siskel &Ebert, 60 Minutes.
Monday, Oct. 26, 1998
Cold. Water not full force. Ready by 9:30.
To McWhorter’s Xerox. .06+tax.
To Carole’s, S in jail. Gave her info.
To Trader Joe’s, new clerk. Overcharged for tuna, 1.29 not .99.
Message on machine from Carole.
Shower/hair.
TV: News, football, 10 mins of Geraldo.
Finished Dick Francis.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1998
Dr. Blackwell 10:15 a.m. OK for cataract removal. Medicare will pay 80%.
Eyes dilated, day shot.
Called Myra re cost of Larry.
Throat hurt a little from drops.
TV: Morris, Discovery, taped PBS.
No sleep til 1 a.m. Listened to Art Bell program.
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1998
Awake 8, usual breakfast.
Wrote letter to Mina, sent her Calder pamphlets.
To Longs, BP very high there.
Better at Kmart. Lunched.
Home 2 p.m. Called Carole, she liked "Smoke Signals."
Talked to Ellie a bit.
Bed early.
Awake 12, Art Bell. Sleep again 2.
Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998
Took bag to Goodwill.
Mailed letters, orders for Puritan's Pride and Jan Beautz.
To McDonald's for coffee, then Costco. many new items.
To show, “Practical Magic.” Not lucid. Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Aidan Quinn (Suddenly Seeking Susan.) Older, heavier.
Home 4:30. News, some Geraldo, Frost.
Bed 10:30. Some Art Bell, much interference.
Not great sleep: 1-3-5-7?
Friday, Oct. 30, 1998
Awake 7:30, usual breakfast.
To Drug Emporium, got hair spray, etc.
Home, lunch here.
Worked on long nightgown, straightened thread box.
TV: News, some Geraldo, X-Files. Read papers.
Jonathan Creek. Good.
Saturday, Oct. 31, 1998
Cold, ran heat.
Water out about 9:30, heard neighbors talking. He rang my bell, I did not answer.
Later talked, I advised, “Call water company.”
McDonald’s for coffee.
Library, got “History of Wall Street.”
Home, tennis. Sampras lost.
Got out linoleum.
TV: A&E, Bela Lugosi. Died 72. Alcoholic on drugs. (Back injury due to WWI).
News, shot of Halloween at Castro.
Fair sleep.
September entries.
In 1998, my grandmother turned 83 while living alone in a mobile home park in Santa Cruz, Calif, though she never seemed lonely. In fact, I never knew her to live with another person or even a pet after she raised my mother on her own in Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s. (I wrote more about her life in this post.)
