These journal entries are from when she was 83 and living in a mobile home park in Santa Cruz, Calif, which she chose because it was near the popular surfing spot Pleasure Point, where she loved to walk to most days to watch the waves and surfers.
(More on her below.)
In April of 1999, grandma was still struggling to get the hang of checking email at the library, was practicing packing for another trip to London and Paris, and saw her sixth showing of “Shakespeare in Love” in the theater. She also made a list that month of all the dates she had seen the movie: 1) 12/29/98; 2) 2/19/1999; 3) 3/11/99; 4) 3/18/99; 5) 3/25/99; 6) 4/8/99.
Thursday, April 1, 1999
Up 6:30. Tea, toast.
To shuttle parking lot. Not 8:50, 8:15! had to wait until 10:45 a.m.
To SFO, got 200 French francs, yogurt.
Back to Cal Train 2:54 p.m. to 4 p.m. In Santa Cruz 5:15 p.m.
Very heavy traffic. Home 5:45 p.m.
Justine left message on machine, new phone number in Benicia.
Later Myra’s son-in-law called. Myra arrived 3:30, unloaded 6:30.
Happy with apartment, lost my email name.
TV: Law & Order, Morse.
Friday, April 2, 1999
Up 8, used melatonin.
To Trader Joe’s, Kmart, Longs.
To bank, checked balance. Got $200.
Warm day.
Home 11:30, mail. Enrolled in elder hostel.
Some yard work, spreading bark.
Tried on clothes to find suitable outfit.
TV, papers, then bed.
Up two times. Cold!
Saturday, April 3, 1999
Awake 7, heat til 8.
Sorted old clothes and yard work. Clipped down around stepping stones.
To Burger King for sausage biscuit!
To Live Oak library, Internet free. Message from Carla, replied.
Home, ironed.
To show, “The Matrix.”
Home 7 p.m. Bed 8:30.
Sunday, April 4, 1999
Time change. Awake 7, old time.
Chores, tennis.
To market for tea, ginger. Trader Joe’s for vitamins, quick Irish oats.
Justine called, I called back. Lone wants to visit Ole at commune.
Packed vitamins for trip.
Wrote to Violet House, reserved room.
Packed slide rule for Carla, dictionary for Mina.
TV: Finished opera, X-Files repeat.
Monday, April 5, 1999
Cold, rain. Readied clothes for laundromat.
Few users, homeless man watching TV. I turned off.
Got sausage biscuit at Burger King. Older woman who talked sometimes.
To post office, mailed slide rule to Carla, Russian cards to Mina.
Paid Gottschalk’s.
Home. Lunch, shower/hair, TV.
Reviewed 4 letters from Mina. Read.
Rained in night. No melatonin, slept OK.
Tuesday, April 6, 1999
Breakfast usual. Cold.
To Drug Emporium, got TV Guide.
Called Puritan's Pride for vitamins. UPS delay.
Got donut/coffee, stopped to have glasses fixed.
Home, raining.
TV: Milosevic wants cease fire for Easter.
Ran Monica tape.
Bed early, read some.
1:30 pain, no more sleep.
Wednesday, April 7, 1999
Dentist called, root canal needed. Called for appt.
Stopped by Kmart, no lights. Orchard had, didn't fit.
Home, finished letter to Mina.
TV: News, Morse repeat. L&O repeat.
Bed 8:15, took sleep pill.
Crossword puzzle. Slept 7 hours.
Thursday, April 8, 1999
Up 8, usual breakfast.
To post office, library. Had email, but could not connect.
Home, ate here.
To Scotts Valley, raining hard.
To show, “Shakespeare in Love.” [6th!]
To library, got email from Carla. Power outage there Sunday.
Home, ate here.
TV: Morse repeat, L&O.
To bed, two crosswords. 10:30 took pill.
Slept fair.
Friday, April 9, 1999
To Ocean Street donut.
To Thrift shop, left donation.
Checked Greyhound bus, changed hours. Can’t leave suitcase there.
To Dentist, Carole's gone. House painter. Doctor's mother came out door and said, “He's so cute.”
Saturday, April 10, 1999
Ate McDonald’s. No good, stomachache.
To Albertsons, home. Chores.
Wrote Yvonne, called airline for carry-on size: 23 x 15 x 7.5
Trial packing: Seems OK, but will weigh 20+ pounds.
Tennis: Seles won.
Golf: Norma's strong finish.
Shower, hair. Some TV, Poirot.
Bed, read some.
Sunday, April 11, 1999
Up 7, cold. Oatmeal, regular.
To Kmart, got batteries, candy. Easter, on sale.
To OSH, have two colors: green, brown, got green.
To Shell, checked tires.
Home, looked for French tapes.
Tennis: Monica won 6/2 6/3.
Golf: Norman 3rd.
TV: Ebert, 60 Mins and X-Files.
Some French.
Thought radio through, but works.
Pain in rib cage, left side.
Monday, April 12, 1999
Up 7, usual breakfast. 8:30, Freda called. Mary Cooper died yesterday morning.
To post office, mailed letter to Mina, Yvonne.
Home for lunch.
Ran French tape, put breakables away.
TV: Jim Lehrer.
Called dentist re root canal.
Tuesday, April 13, 1999
Up 8. More packing.
Called garbage to stop pickup. Some chores.
Walked on East Cliff.
To optician's, screw came out of nose piece. Fake fish in pond?
To Kmart for lunch.
Home. Packed, rearranged some.
To library, checked email. Nothing!
Stopped by Carole's, talked about 2 hours. Re: Religion.
Bed early.
Wednesday, April 14, 1999
Up 7, usual breakfast. Chores, walked on cliff.
To Longs, BP does not work.
Got 2 videos: "Return to Paradise," "English Patient."
To library, looked for Charles Wright, has no Wilbur or Orville info.
Ran "Return to Paradise." Very good.
Delayed vitamins arrived.
Not good sleep. Too warm.
Thursday, April 15, 1999
Dr. B, 11:15. Eye. Stop mail?
Up 7. Usual breakfast. To Mail Box, gave them recyclable peanuts.
Mailed letter to Prudy.
To doctor's, new prescription. To Kmart for medicine.
To Longs, returned videos.
Hot.
TV: Morse, Law & Order.
Slept without pills 2-4-7.
Typed envelopes.
Friday, April 16, 1999
Post office, stop mail.
Put artificial flowers inside. Maria will water 2 pots.
Put blank check in mail for May.
Mailed two books to Mina, checked Greyhound, got new times.
To Kmart to question expiration date.
Home, hot.
Mina called, she not happy.
Some TV, ran French tape.
Slept good, felt strong in morning.
Saturday, April 17, 1999
Up 7, usual breakfast.
Cut grass around step stones. Swept patio.
To Drug Emporium, BP high. Got diet cookies.
To Kmart for lunch. Cheese sandwich! Pie!
Hot today.Got white t-shirt, L size, but small.
Typed letters to Mina, Stimson, took to post office.
Stopped at GNC for digestive enzymes. Fell on curb.
Mail: Fone bill, elder hostel.
Packing, no TV.
Shower, washed hair.
Crossword, read paper, 10 news.
Sunday, April 18, 1999
Greyhound does not open til 8:30.
Up 7, watered outside.
Packed cosmetics, toiletries.
Sunny.
To show, "Cookie's Fortune."
To Santa Cruz Book Co, coffee.
Bed early.
Monday, April 19, 1999
To London 1:20 p.m., Flight 46
Amtrak bus 8:15 a.m., arrive 9:10 a.m. Train arrives in Millbrae 11, shuttle arrives SFO 11:11.
Got bus, train as above.
Flight to Chicago 7:33 p.m., 3 hours, 35 mins. 3:50 in all.
Talked to lady on plane, going to Brussels. Was visiting daughter in Mendocino, took Santa Rosa Airporter.
Tuesday, April 20, 1999
Arrived London 3:10 p.m., or 11:10 London time.
To bus to King's Cross, arrived 1:30 p.m.
Daughter of Jones here, gave me tea.
Almost rain, turbulence before landing. Bad.
To Wendy's for baked potato, chocolate.
Bed 6, slept 7-12. Took pill.
Lost toothbrush?
Some dozing, up 7:30 a.m.
Wednesday, April 21, 1999
Breakfast here, out at 9.
Boots, no travel brushes.
Walked to Holiday Inn, then to Russell Square. Long!
To National Gallery. Had lunch, talked to man at table. Second man joined, but no comment.
To Oxford Circus. Boots, got $5 toothbrush.
Took 73 back. 4 p.m.
Papers, muffin.
Thursday, April 22, 1999 - London
Up 5:30. News: 12 students & 1 teacher, 11 still critical in hospital. [She is referring to the Columbine Massacre]
Out 7. To Russell Square pick-up, then to Victoria Coach.
Four B's: Burford, Bourton, Broadway, Bleinheim Gardens. Bought three books.
Mark, guide. Speaks Japanese. Scott, driver. Mark talked to me a lot.
To hotel 7. Called Sandra, she out.
Forgot eye drops?
Not good sleep.
Friday, April 23, 1999 - London
To Lester Square, see what theatre has discount.
Two men helped me to exchange on Haymarket. Macbeth is on discount.
Searched used books, bought Mrs. Dalloway. No "Amature Emigrant."
Walked to National Gallery, raining. Cafe crowded.
To Charing Cross. Bought yogurt.
Home, talked to Mrs. Jones.
Slept good. Took pill.
Saturday, April 24, 1999 - London
Washed brown t-shirt.
To library, gave me two referrals, helpful.
To Lester Square, lines two blocks long.
Walked to Queens, got senior ticket: 12.50, 3rd row.
To Picadilly Circus, ate Wendy's. Clean, food fine.
To Macbeth, great performance. Gave money to Kosovo.
Hotel, talked to South African man. He bought plate. Talks against country.
Sunday, April 25, 1999 - London
South African man not at breakfast.
Ready at 10. hang up at Hyde Park Corner.
Bought ticket on train.
Forgot number of house, called on fone from neighbors. Walked!
Had quiche. Picked up Peter.
To Saturday Club, tea with Audrey. She funny.
Got 7:14 back. Peter 16, heavy.
Shower, hair. Forgot to change hair dryer to 220.
Gave Sandra Saphora diamond ring. Fits her. She likes it.
Tuesday, April 27, 1999 - London
Up 8, breakfast. British Museum after post office.
Got fruit and tea, postcards.
To library, read, took Xerox copies.
To University of London. Met woman, lovely. Administrator.
To Science library, met woman again.
Waited for Mr. Stanley. Rude man.
Ate Wendy's again.
Victoria Station, taxi almost hit me.
To hotel, talked Mrs. J and daughter. Bed.
Wednesday, April 28, 1999 - London to Paris
To bus station 9:45, 2 passengers.
Man, no luggage, off at Fenchurch.
Bought sandwich, etc.
Boat, very nice, 8 decks. Paris, 10:30 French time.
Nine hours. Very tired.
Hotel 11:45. Bed 12:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 29, 1999
Awake 7, then 8.
Breakfast, got papers. Read.
Paid 2 nites.
Foned Sy, then Mimi. She has email.
Got emery boards, bananas and cookies.
Got 2,000 french francs, could not read. Young man helped out.
Girl at hotel would not take money.
While in lobby Philippe came in, paid him 1,500 for 6 days.
Slept 8 -12. 12 a.m. neighbors home.
Read, slept til 8.
Friday, April 30, 1999
Called Mimi. Yvonne in hospital, broke arm. Need therapy.
Bought food. Sat on steps of opera.
Took Metro to Beaubourg, 23 vols of Stevenson's works, letter, etc. Read another bio.
Home 8 p.m.
Shower. Seem to have lost 97F?
More on these entries: I found a bag full of small Mead notebooks after my grandmother died, only learning then that for decades my grandmother wrote down every day when she woke, what she ate, what movie she went to see, any mail and calls she received, then what she read and watched on TV before bed. I find the details of her days fascinating, fun and very soothing to read.
More on my grandmother: Though she never lived with another person or even a pet when I knew her, I also never knew her to be lonely. She was an extremely independent woman who did not marry my grandfather when she became pregnant in 1943, and instead raised my mother on her own in 1950s Los Angeles. (I wrote more about her life in this post)
