My Grandmother's Journals: April, 1998

In 1969 with her first grandchild, far left.

In tiny notebooks, my grandmother wrote each day when she woke, where she ate breakfast, any movie she went to see, any mail and calls she received, then what she read and watched on TV before bed.

 

In 1998, she was 82 and living alone in a mobile home park in Santa Cruz, Calif., but I wouldn't describe her as lonely. She was an extremely independent, frugal and persnickety woman whom I never knew to live with another person or even a pet after she raised my mother as a single mother in the 1940s and 50s. (I wrote more about her life in this post.) 

 

 

 

She lived close to the famous surfing spot Pleasure Point, and nearly every day she walked to those cliffs to watch the ocean and anyone surfing it. 

When she died in her late 90s, I took her ashes to those waves with one of her friends, and we each dropped some ashes at the sand. A moment after I dropped mine, a surfer emerged from the water where I stood. That was cool. 

 

 

 In April of 1998, she watched a lot of ice skating and pulled a lot of weeds in her yard while keeping up with all her pen pals, one of whom in London she made sure to buy Levi's jeans and Nike shoes for when they went on sale!

 

March entries

Wednesday, April 1, 1998

Up 8:45. Usual tea, chores.

Some work on cuttings.

Drug Emporium, paper.

McDonald’s, coffee.

Kmart, exchanged TV Guide.

Mail: Letter from Stimson with pics of his cat.

TV: Some Geraldo, Frasier, Yo-Yo Ma.

Bought Lotto.

 

Thursday, April 2, 1998

Awake 7:30. Tea. etc. Ready 10.

Walked cliff, cold.

Drug Emporium, got make-up.

TV: Mystery, Morse. First name is ”Endeavour.” Takes woman to all-nite hotel.

Got saw from Larry. 

Saturday, April 4, 1998

Awake 6:30, up 8.

Tea, etc. To Drug Emporium.

Post office, letter to Prudy with clippings.

To show, “Mercury Rising.” Bruce Willis, autistic boy.

To Burger King, fish.

Groceries at Albertsons, Xerox at Longs.

Home, cut wood with hacksaw.

TV: Ice skating, Kwan barely won. Fell on axel.

Sunday, April 5, 1998

Not good sleep, felt half awake.

Breakfast at Kmart.

Looked at Sears, Gottschalk’s for pants, decided to use what I have, just lose weight.

TV: Part of 60 Minutes, Siskel and Ebert: Spanish Prison, good; Mercury Rising, not good.

Bed, tried to listen to French. Wrote Mimi.

 

Monday, April 6, 1998

Slept late!

Drug Emporium, got toenail clippers.

Library, read some of The New Yorker.

To show, “Men with Guns.” Good.

Home, food. Read papers.

Bed, got two Pollifax books at library. 

Tuesday, April 7, 1998

Up 7 a.m. Tea, etc.

Laundromat. Man gave me Wisk soap. Ladies from Chicago gave me fabric softener.

Donut/coffee, home.

Chores, talked to Lois/Oscar.

To Kmart: Cheese sandwich, carrot cake, ice cream!

Home, finished Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist.

Pulled weeds.

TV: Frasier, old X-Files, Law & Order.

 

Wednesday, April 8, 1998

Some chores, washed brown sweater.

Walked cliff.

Drug Emporium, got TV Guide.

To mall: Coffee, Sears for bra.

Wrote Stimson, to post office. Got three 60-cent stamps.

Not much sleep. Fone calls, I presumed.

TV: Frasier, news.

Worked on letter to London.

Up 3 a.m., soup.

Slept maybe 4 hours.

Thursday, April 9, 1998

Up 8 a.m. Cold. Chores.

Wrote letter to Geneaology Society.

Mailed it in Scotts Valley,  ate chicken at BK.

To show, “Primary Colors.” Enjoyed. Only 5 there.

Home via Lucky.

Mail: Charles Schwab, check from NY Bank.

TV: Mystery

Bed, slept good.

Friday, April 10, 1998

Up 8. Tea, etc.

Worked in yard, pulled weeds.

Fixed tuna, ate here.

To Drug Emporium, Kinko’s, post office.

Letter to Pearl re: Tortoise, to Rudy re Glendale therapist.

To Kmart, got carrot cake with ice cream!!

Home 4 p.m. news, chores.

Walked on cliff. 

TV: Frasier, X-Files. Part of Albert Finney, “A Man of No Importance.”

 

Saturday, April 11, 1998

Rained in nite. Slept good. 1-2, 5-9.

Read “Mrs Pollifax Pursued,” third time.

To town 4:25 p.m. Library closes at 5 p.m. Returned Pursued, got fone of Greyhound in SF.

Walked a bit, nice day.

To post office, mailed IRS payment.

Home after stop at Trader Joe's.

TV: Travel, Oslo, Bergen.

Sunday, April 12, 1998

Awake 6, cold. Slept til 10.

Changed dust bag on vacuum.

Tennis 11 a.m. Pierce vs. Martinez. First set to tie break. Mary at net, good plays.

Golf: Mark O’Mera won Masters. Couples led most of time.

Vacuumed.

Finished Mrs. Pollifax Lion Killer.

Called Mina, not home, left message. She called back. Had good Easter with family.

 

Monday, April 13, 1998

Slept good. Awake 8:30, Tea, etc.

To Longs for paper, Xerox. BP high?

To post office, mailed two books to Mina.

To donut shop on Ocean Avenue.

To library. Returned book, got Greyhound times.

Mail: Letter from Mina with pix of cats.

To bank, got $200.

Home, some French tapes.

TV: News, Frasier. 

More French.

Tuesday, April 14, 1998

Mailed letter to London.

Cold in night.

Awake 6, up 7 for tea, etc. Back to bed, too cold!

Ready 10 a.m. Drug Emporium TV Guide and BP.

To bank, out wrong way. Police in same exit! No ticket.

To BK, chicken sandwich.

Home, rested. Lawn mower! Swept.

Ran tape of Charles Bubbles.

Wednesday, April 15, 1998

Awake 5, up 8.

Swept Larry’s carport.

To Kmart for breakfast. Got two sweatshirts; 1 grey, 1 black. Also bag of redwood.

Home, tried on shirts. OK, men’s.

Library, looked for Aimee Semple McPherson, mutual funds, car racing.

Home, ate. Usual TV.

Bed early.

 

Thursday, April 16, 1998

Awake 6:45. Cold.

Heat, tea, etc.

Dug up roots of jasmine, but one big one.

10:30. Tea, toast.

Drug Emporium, BP. 115/88.

TJ’s, no chocolate.

To show, “City of Angels.” N. Cage, Meg Ryan.

Home, ate corn. Not real good.

Wrote Mimi. Sent newspaper clipping of out-of-wedlock daughter of Pres. Mitterrand.

TV: News, Frasier, Israel Philharmonic, Mystery.

Friday, April 17, 1998

Up 8, tea. Cold in a.m.

Worked in yard. Got root out. Planted periwinkle.

Ate here.

Bank, put money in Justine’s account.

To Kmart, ate carrot cake! & ice cream.

Got another bag of redwood mini chips.

Mail: Medicare, Fone co.

Called doctors in Scotts Valley, had argument.

TV: News, Frasier. Nothing unusual.

Saturday, April 18, 1998

Awake 7. Tea, etc.

To San Jose via Soquel, Summit Road.

Came back same way. Traffic light.

Lunch at Wendy’s.

To show, “Mrs. Dalloway.” Good actors. Hardy. Vanessa Redgrave.

Mail: Letter from Prudy. 

Some French, papers.

 

Sunday, April 19, 1998

Up 7:30. Tea.

Worked in yard. Put out redwood chips.

Talked to Mina re Mitterrand.

Ate KFC. Longs, BP.

Drug Emporium, got vitamins.

Called Justine.

TV: Ice skating, news, Siskel & Ebert, part of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, w/ Sean Connery.

Ate soup, packed vitamins.

 

Monday, April 20, 1998

Awake 7:30, Tea, etc. Cold, heater.

Yard work again, used all redwood chips. 

Lady here weeding, spoke to her about the bush at No. 27.

Wrote Mina. To post office, mailed letter to Paris.

Kmart, lunch.

Thrifty, got batteries for little magnifying glass.

Nothing good on TV.

Tuesday, April 21, 1998

Awake 3, up 7. Usual.

Drug Emporium, BP.

Goodwill, looked for pants, warm sweater.

Donut/coffee.

To Ross, Gottschalk’s, Penney’s, Mervyn’s, nothing.

No mail.

Hot today.

Man shot on Highway 17. Hit and run, then threatened cops.

TV: Frasier, Law & Order.

Tried on clothes. Bed after news.

Hot.

Wednesday, April 22, 1998

Awake 6:45. Usual.

To Kmart, got another (3rd) sack of redwood chips.

Sears, paid bill. $53.66 Then bought pair of brown pants.

Coffee, talked to friends of Lily. They saw her Sunday.

Lost part of paper. To library, no luck.

 

Thursday, April 23, 1998

Up 7:30. Cold. No heat.

Wrote Mina.

Called contractor, $25 to fix. He can do it when I’m not here.

Raining.

To post office, then library. Read yesterday’s paper re shooting on 17.

Home, read more.

TV: Mystery, “Unsuitable Job for a Woman.”

Friday, April 24, 1998

Up 8. Usual tea.

No heat, some warm water. Most places in mall no gas.

Got coffee, read paper.

Home, sewed fur collar.

PG&E came about 3:30, turned pilot off.

Ate here, tired.

TV: Frasier, news.

Bed, some papers. Slept good.

Saturday, April 25, 1998

Awake 5, up 8. Tea, etc.

Worked in yard 9:30 to 10:30.

Chores.

Kmart, BP. Got snail bait, TV Guide.

To show, “The Locket.” Old, 1946. Robert Mitchum.

Mail: Notice from Treasury. Called to renew.

Mina called. Talked long, Beanie babies.

Some TV. Crossword.

 

Sunday, April 26, 1998

Awake 5, up 6:30. Tea.

Worked in yard 8-9.

Kmart, gas. To 41st donut shop.

To show, “Spanish Prisoner.” Good.

Library, found info for Mina.

Lunch BK.

Home, foned Mina, left word.

TV: “Merlin.” Magic.

Read Mrs. Pollifax until 2 a.m.

Electric blanket doesn’t work.

(Mina called Sunday 5/3. Had not received letter.)

Monday, April 27, 1998

Up 7:30. Usual. 

Washed beige sweater.

Tried to find problem with electric blanket.

Drug Emporium, got isopropyl alcohol, tuna.

Mall, got clips for hangers.

To Kmart for lunch, checked for electric blanket. Have a 5-year warranty.

Worked in yard, Grass cut, I did some edging.

Some French after Frasier.

Tuesday, April 28, 1998

Get travelers checks. 

Get bday card for Yvonne.

Up 7:30. Watered lawns. Ready 9:15.

Mailed Mina's books, 2 Pollifax.

Longs, BP, tuna.

Mervyn’s, got credit for blanket. Bought new one, not electric.

Home. News, ironed.

Kmart. No TV Guides.

TV: “The Painted Lady” w/Helen Mirren. 

Wednesday, April 29, 1998

Get maps out.

Awake 6 a.m., yard work til 9:30.

Contractor (Scandinavian) worked on plug. Finished 11 a.m.

Got donut/coffee.

Mervyn’s saw sale on Levi’s. Called Sandra 1 p.m. Not there.

2:30, Sandra again. She said get Nike 10.5, pants 34 by 34. 

To dinner, English woman sat by me.

Back to Mervyn’s. Home 5:40 p.m.

TV: News, Geraldo, Frasier.

Bed early. Slept good.

Thursday, April 30, 1998

Rent.

Up, ready, to Laundromat.

Home. Shower/hair. Wrote Sandra.

Noticed UK shoe sizes smaller, back to Mervyn’s. Got bigger size, 11.5.

Paid rent, to post office.

TV: Frasier, Mystery.

Windy, cloudy. Rain late in a.m.

Tired.

 

May entries.

My Grandmother's Journals: February, 1998

With her grandfather on Treasure Island in 1939.

I’m a bit obsessed with the dairies my grandmother kept: When she woke, what she ate, the 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, not only because I’m curious about the minutia of most people’s lives, but because the journals I only discovered after her death finally let me feel close to a woman I could not connect with when she was alive.

For most of the years she kept her journals, she lived alone in a mobile home park in Santa Cruz, Calif., but I wouldn't describe her as lonely. She was an extremely independent, frugal and persnickety woman whom I never knew to live with another person or even a pet. (I wrote more about her life in an earlier post.) 

 

Close to her mobile home was the famous surfing spot called Pleasure Point, and nearly every day she walked to the cliffs above the ocean to watch the waves and surfers. So when she died, I took her ashes to those waves with one of her friends, and we each dropped some ashes at the sand. A moment after I dropped mine, a surfer emerged from the water where I stood.  

That was cool.

 

 

In February of 1998, my grandmother was not traveling, just dutifully typing letters to all her pen pals, many of whom she met abroad, staying current with the news and sports, and dutifully heading to Trader Joe's to buy me gingko biloba!

January entries.

 

Sunday, February 1, 1998

Awake 7, Tea, etc. Crossword.

Raining hard.

Called Justine. Raining hard there, no driving.

Talked of her father and of meeting in San Jose, museum.

To Aptos for show, “Wag the Dog.” Late, will rent it. 

To Safeway, electricity out. 

To Albertsons, they said not to club (cashier).

Home, paid rent. 

TV: Last of Reckless, taped Jazz program.

Couldn’t sleep til 3 a.m.

 

Monday, Feb. 2, 1998

Awake 9:30, Tea, etc.

Dressed and to Drug Emporium for paper, BP. Got TV Guide.

Raining hard.

Mail: Credit Union, bill for waste allowance.

Rained almost all night, plastic wind shield blown off. Rivers rising.

Called Justine. She looks at Napa River, from 2' across to 10' across. 

 

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 1998

Awake 7:45 a.m. Tea, etc. 

Many roads closed, power outages. Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Jose considered emergency areas. Hwy 101 closed south of Salinas.

Carport at No. 1, Bebe's, blown down (part way), worker finished it. 

Her roof blew away (part way) last year.

Paid Gottschalk's, to Post Office for stamps.

To Kmart, got shirt for Lutz. Got shirt for me at Gottschalk’s.

TV: “Silent Witness.”

 

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1998

Awake 5 a.m., back to sleep until 9:30. Chores.

Drug Emporium, BP, got “Relaxing tea.”

Post office, mailed package to Lutz.

Walked cliff. 

Got coffee/donut. Showed pictures of Bali.

Mail: Check from State Farm, insurance card.

To bank to deposit check.

Mr. Sanchez came over, cut bush.

Took Larry to doctor. 

Some TV. To bed, tired.

Up 1 a.m, washed some items.

Thursday, Feb. 5, 1998

Slept 4-9, good! Ready 10:30.

Trip to Capitola Beach. Wind bad!

To library, looked for table. Nothing. Finished “The God Hustlers.”

Ate at Burger King.

Mid-County does not want stockings.

Home, readied tapes for Mina; Science Odysessy.

WIND UP.

Some TV. Frasier, two segments. 

Caught up with papers. Bed late.

 

Friday, Feb. 6, 1998

Up Late. Radio: Ronn on Clinton again. Bad joke day.

Wrote to Andra/Lutz, wrapped videos for Mina.

Wrote Mina, note to Justine

Donut/coffee at 41st. To Longs, copied letters.

To Post Office. Home 3:30.

TV: News, Frasier, Law & Order, Ted Koppel: Blair/Clinton.

 

Saturday, Feb. 7, 1998

Awake 7:56. News, tea, etc.

To post office 9:45. Mailed letters to Mina, Justine.

Looked at Capitola Beach. Disaster. Police tape at edge of sidewalk.

Home, read papers. Wind wild.

Fire engines 1:30. Trees?

TV: Placido Domingo, Met production, 1984.

Taped: Woody Allen’s “Husbands and Wives.”

Watched: Ghost, Strangers in Good Company. (Good).

Ran “Husbands,” sewed.

 

Sunday, Feb. 8, 1998

Tea, raining hard.

Ran tape of In Good Company, 1/2 hour.

To cliff, to sea. Watched a bit. New construction looks good.

Instead of a show, home. Raining.

Put out garbage, had mail. Letter from Masonic home.

Read some letters. Pauline died, family asking for pix.

Olympics: Watched skating, snowboarding. 

 

Monday, Feb. 9, 1998

Awake finally 9 a.m.

Chores. Tea,  etc.

Drug Emporium: BP OK. Got TV Guide, cookies.

To show, “Replacement Killers.” Lots of digital TV scenes.

Mail from Mina, Northern Trust.

Worked on pix, Pauline.

TV: X-Files, news. Still houses full of mud.

 

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 1998

No sleep til 4 a.m. Awake 9:45. Usual.

Longs: BP, pix, cans of food, paper towels.

Gas at Beacons, 1.289/gallon.

Ross, got black ? JC Penney, got silver mylar table cover.

Home 3:15 p.m. News, mended pants, buttonhole.

Worked on gathering info for Pauline’s relatives.

Shower/hair.

Ran part of Jazz tape, watched “Bad Boys,” Will Smith, Martin Lawrence as plain clothes detectives; some funny, some dumb.

Bed. Melatonin, slept good.

 

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1998

Up 9. Tea, etc.

Donut and coffee at 41st.

Stationery store, got paper clips, round fasteners.

Walked on cliff. Beautiful weather.

Mail: Long letter from Mina.

TV: Soul Man, Frasier, some Olympics. Skiing. Picabo Street got gold. Also man from Tiburon.

 

Thursday, Feb. 12, 1998

Up 7:30. Tea, etc.

Packed vitamins, 10 bags. 

Some chores.

McDonald’s for coffee.

To Longs for pix.

Library, 250 cars crash in Italy.

To Wendy’s for lunch. Got salad.

Mail: Letter from Carla.

TV: Jim Lehrer hour. Olympics.

 

Friday, Feb. 13, 1998

Couldn't sleep. 8:30, Larry out hammering.

Sunny today. Out 10:30.

Donut, coffee, paper, BP.

Bank, deposited in Justine’s account.

Home, wrote to both girls.

To show, “Afterglow.” Julie Christie, Nick Nolte. Good.

TV: Olympics, some reruns, Frasier.

Saturday, Feb. 14, 1998

Awake 8:30. Tea, etc. Out 10:30.

Drug Emporium, BP OK.

Read paper in car. Raining hard.

Burger King, home.

Tennis: Sampras won, replayed Agassi. Good tennis.

Papers, news. Worked on federal taxes. Must do cap gains.

Olympics: Men's skating. Todd fell.

Sunday, Feb. 15, 1998

Up 7:30. Tea, etc.

To show, “The Apostle.” Well done. 2 hours, 10 mins.

Home 2 p.m. Tennis match.

Dinner here, called Mina. She called back, talked long.

TV: News, ran end of “A Little Romance.”

Joan McCoy called to see if I’m OK.

 

Monday, Feb. 16, 1998

Awake 7:30. Not much sleep. Listened to “Leaves of Grass” cassette.

Rain let up a bit.

To Longs, Xerox broken. Got muffins.

To Kmart for lunch. Raining hard.

Home, read paper, wrote letter to Prudy.

Called Justine 3:30 p.m.

TV: Olympics, ice dancing. Russia 1-2, France 3. Ist coach had gorgeous sable coat. Where does money come from?

 

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 1998

Awake 6:30, up 7:30. To laundromat 9:15.

Coffee and donut at 41st. 

No rain, then real rain. Caught in rain, got pants and sox wet! Hope no cold!

Finished and mailed letter to Mimi.

Olympics, women's hockey won gold. Nikki Stone, gold in aerials.

Radio: Strong Clinton speech at Pentagon, Ronn agrees.

 

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1998

Awake 6:30. Tea, etc. Sun out.

To Trader Joe's, Drug Emporium, BP; Longs, Albertsons.

Walked on cliff, lovely day.

Home, Oscar and Lois walked by with Lois' sister. Lois in therapy.

Mail from Justine, she needs gingko.

To TJ's, got two gingko & echinacea. 

TV: Olympics.

Foned Dillon.

 

Thursday, Feb. 19, 1998

Awake 6:30, some news. Dillon called.

Dressed 9 a.m. To post office, mailed GB & E to Justine.

Breakfast Kmart.

To library, returned Leaves of Grass. 

Home, news. FBI arrested two men in Law Vegas with white substance. "Media" reports allege anthrax.

Wrote Sy and Stimson. 

Left message on Justine's machine.

TV: Frasier, X-Files.

Read French.

 

Friday, Feb. 20, 1998

Up 7. Tea, etc. Expected Dillon, no. Waited til 10.

Walked on cliff. Mary there.

Got donut and coffee.

Talked to Ellie, was ill. Goes to VA Wed for tests.

Home. News, ate some veggies.

To show, “Zero Effect.” Crowded! Funny, clever.

Home 5 p.m. News, ate tuna steak, Betty Crocker potatoes.

Mina called. Chatted a bit re Kwan/Lipinski.

Bed after Olympics.

Saturday, Feb. 21, 1998

Awake 8:30. Chores.

Drug Emporium for paper.

41st for donut/coffee. Thorton died.

Home. Finished fed taxes, read paper.

Justine called. Received vitamins.

TV: Taped some skating, watched “Clear and Present Danger.”

Bed 12:30, no sleep til 2 a.m. 

Sunday, Feb. 22, 1998

Tea, etc. Chores, shower/hair.

Announced on CNN that Saddam agreed to inspection.

Mall: Paid JC. Penney, bought book.

Ate at Burger King. Got two videos at Wherehouse.

Home 3 p.m. Ran “Jade,” part of others.

Part One of Oprah Winfrey presents, “The Wedding.”

Monday, Feb. 23, 1998

Up 8:30. Tea, etc. Some slack in rain.

Returned videos, mailed state tax forms, got paper.

To Lucky, then library. 

To Longs for Xerox, paper jammed.

Home, Frasier. Some “sleeping.”

Tuesday. Feb. 24, 1998

Dinner Live Oak, Bingo.

up 7:30. Tea, etc. Drug Emporium.

Walked on cliff.

Coffee at 41st.

Home, wrote to Mina. Some work in garden.

Read some.

 

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1998

Up 7:30. Tea, etc.

Drug Emporium, got some vitamins.

Gasoline, Trader Joe's. Coffee at mall.

Mail: Received card from Andra. Lutz got shirts.

Talked to Ellie, told Myra.

Wrote Justine about Dr. Edell.

To post office. Cold.

Some TV. Frasier, Dharma & Gregg. Ronn (Owens) said was his favorite. I thought no. Tries too hard?

Finished papers.

Bed to read Elliot R's book, got sidetracked to Leonardo Da Vinci.

That time I met Dr. Dean Edell in Mendocino County in 2014!

 Thursday, Feb. 26. 1998

Awake 7:30. Tea, etc. Ready by 9:15.

To Safeway. Bath tissue, bananas, potatoes.

Got paper at Kmart, also cough drops. 

Walked on cliff. Beautiful day.

Mail: Bank statement. Balanced OK.

TV: Frasier, PBS Mystery "The Ice House." Good.

Bed, finished book. Good sleep.

 

Friday, Feb. 27, 1998

Awake 6:30. Ready 9:15.

Longs: BP, paper, pears.

Coffee at mall. 

Home 11:15. Papers, rested.

Kmart for lunch.

Albertsons: Cereal, soy milk up 10 cents.

Mail: Letter from Joan. 

Crossword, papers.

TV: “Stargate.”

Slept deep, funny dreams. 

 

Saturday, Feb. 28, 1998

Awake 6:30. Usual tea, read a bit.

Longs, xeroxed Visa bill. 

Library, little work. Man there!

To show, "Dark City." Not great, but good special effects.

Home 3:30, dined.

Tennis, Sampras won.

My Grandmother's Journals: January, 1998

I have a bag of small notebooks my grandmother recorded details of her daily life in: When she woke, what she ate, any movie she went to see, any mail and calls she received, then what she read and watched on TV before bed.

 

In 1998, she was 82 and living alone in a mobile home park in Santa Cruz, Calif., but I wouldn't describe her as lonely. She was an extremely independent, frugal and persnickety woman whom I never knew to live with another person or even a pet. (I wrote more about her life in an earlier post.) 

 

 

The photo at left shows her in 1940, age 25, with her lifelong friend Mina, at right. The women met as orphans being raised in a Masonic Home in Covina, Calif.

 

Close to her home was the famous surfing spot called Pleasure Point. Nearly every day she walked to the cliffs above the ocean, checking out the waves and seeing if anyone was surfing. When she died, I took her ashes to those waves with one of her friends, and we each dropped some ashes at the sand. A moment after I dropped mine, a surfer emerged from the water where I stood.   

That was cool.  

 

 

In January of 1998, my grandmother was watching football and tennis, calling her friend Mina to talk about tennis and ice skating, carefully following the latest scandal involving President Bill Clinton, and working her way through Siskel & Ebert's list of the best films of 1997.

 

December 1997 entries. 

 

Thursday, Jan. 1, 1998

Awake 8, tea. 9:15, Burger King and paper.

Longs, got envelopes to mail article to Mina.

Straightened rooms.

To show, "Jackie Brown." Very good. 21/2 hours. non-stop. 

Cludy.

Made tuna salad, some TV.

Channel 54, ocean film. Diagnosis Murder.

 

Saturday, Jan. 3, 1998

Awake 7. Usual.

Called credit union for interest.

To longs, BP high.

Kmart, ate lunch. Bought hat.

To Gottschalk's, got 3 pair pants!

Home 4 p.m. Put lights in packages.

Rented video: Paris, Texas. Sad.

TV: Frasier, X-Files, news. 

Bed, read a bit.

Woke in night with gas.

Sunday, Jan. 4, 1998

Awake 5 a.m., then 8:30. Stomach not happy.

Football: Green Bay 21, Tampa 7. well-played.

Finally got the gas out. Was deep.

Dressed about 11 a.m. Ginger tea.

To Safeway, got favorite frozen dinner, milk.

Ate at Kmart. 

Home. Football, news, soup and toast.

Siskel & Ebert, 10 best films: 

Siskel: Ice Storm, LA Confidential, Wag the Dog, In The Company of Men, Eve's Bayou, Full Monty, Sweet Hereafter, Jackie Brown, As Good As It Gets. 

Ebert: Eve's Bayou, Sweet Hereafter, Boogie Nights, Jackie Brown, Fast, Cheap and Out of Control, LA Confidential, In The Company of Men, Titanic, Wag the Dog, Maborosi.

TV: Started X-Files, turned off. Read.

Monday, Jan. 5, 1998

Slept good.

Longs, BP out. Got TV Guide, fruit.

Library. To Ferrell's, donut and coffee.

Home. Tea, eye pads.

Mail: Letters from Mina and Andra.

Some TV. Tired.

Cleaned spot on carpet.

Sonny Bono killed skiing in Tahoe, hit a tree.

Michael Kennedy also killed last Wed. Same.

 

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998

Tea, etc. Read paper. Up 9:30.

Wrote to Dorothy. Sent back the $10.

Sent Xmas card to Gilroy.

To Burger King, fish san.

To Ross, got dress and hose for Andra.

Home, some TV. Silent Witness.

Lunar Prospector to arrive Sunday.

 

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998

Cold in a.m. Awake 6, radio til 8.

Tea, cereal. Washed sox.

Chores, left 11 a.m.

Drug Emporium. BP (127/77), got candy. 

Stopped by Erik's at 1:30. Busy, left.

Home, ate here.

Mail: Mina, Stanford arthritis program. Returned, asked to be taken off.

Read papers, news.

TV: Frasier, part of Dharma and Greg, Forensic Detective on Discovery.

Thursday, Jan. 8, 1998

Awake 6, up 8:30.

Drug Emporium for BP.

To laundromat, then Kmart for lunch. Got cookies!

Home 1:30.

Mail: Letters from Justine, Medicare, Schwab, Andra. Living at same place, trying to get cat.

Talked to Larry, ironed.

Watched skating, Mystery, second part of "I am Guilty."

Crossword, read papers.

 

Friday, Jan. 9, 1998

Up 9. Chores, wrapped package for Andra.

To post office, mailed package. (8.40) Registered, upped to 13.25.

Home, watched golf, ate, read papers.

Rain hard about 3 p.m.

Mail: All throwaways.

TV: Report that Ted Kaczynski tried to hang himself; watched some Geraldo, Frasier.

Figure skating: Women's short, men's long.

 

Saturday, Jan. 10, 1998

Awake 6. Shower/hair, ready to leave 11.

Cold, car won't start. Idles badly.

Harry at 395 Front. Man kept kicking seats. Gross.

Golf. Mickelson 14 after today, Tiger 8.

Ate BK, chicken sandwich.

Put contact on back door, marble. 

TV: News, skating. Ladies long.

Sunday, Jan. 11, 1998

Lunar Prospector arrives.

Football: Denver 23, Steelers 21; Green Bay 23, 49ers 10.

Chores, breakfast.

Got paper, donut/coffee, bank for balance.

Walked on cliff. Chilly. Small waves, but long rides.

Took Larry to Albertsons.

Called Prudy, she OK. 

Called Justine, left message.

Finished contact paper on door.

TV: News, Siskel & Ebert. Recommend Kline for "Ice Storm."

Taped PBS, Scientific Odyssey.

No sleep til 2:30 a.m.

 

Monday, Jan. 12, 1998

Wrote two letters, Andra and Justine. 

Worked on taxes.

To Drug Emporium for BP.

Longs, got TV Guide. Xerox out.

To Soquel PO for Xerox.

TV: News, Frasier.

Carole called. Magazine, daughter disappeared. 

Watched tape of Odyssey, finished taxes.

 

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1998

Not good sleep.

Up 9, chores. Breakfast, some wash.

To Longs, Lois there. Hip to be operated on 22nd. Ellie there also, coffee.

McDonald’s being redone.

Home, called travel agency.

Justine called, 6:30 p.m. Plan to meet 26th. She moves next Monday. 

 

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1998

Car tune-up, 10 a.m.

Tea, cereal. Got paper.

To Goodyear 9:50. Walked home.

Read papers, called Goodyear 12 p.m., car ready. $50.95.

To library. SF Chron, "Pink calendar."

Home, ran Odyessy tape.

Bed 11:30. Slept good.

 

Thursday, Jan. 15, 1998

Tea, etc. Read a bit, ready by 10:30. 

41st donut/coffee. To mall, looked for locket.

To show, "Good Will Hunting."

Home, dinner, mail.

Radio, interview of O.J.

TV: News, Frasier, Law & Order, X-Files, reruns.

Taped last of Odyssey. Had to use new tape for last 1/2 hour.

Friday, Jan. 16, 1998

Fair sleep. Up 8:30. Tea, etc. 

Larry needed ice pack. Also looked up number in fone book.

To post office, mailed letter to Justine.

To Longs. Got another box of mashed potatoes, candy.

Wherehouse, got "English Patient."

No mail.

Ran video, taped Vikings in America.

Saturday, Jan. 17. 1998

Awake 8:30. Out by 10.

Drug Emporium. BP, envelopes, paper towels.

Ate breakfast at Old Theatre Cafe. Good.

To library til 2 p.m.

Home, ran English Patient again. Took to Wherehouse.

Walked on cliff.

To mall, got McDonald's sundae.

Dinner: Liver.

TV: X-Files, List of Adrian Messenger, old movie. Kirk Douglas, George C. Scott, Tony Curtis, Frank Sinatra in cameo.

Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998

Up 8:30. Tea, etc. Shower/hair.

To show, "The Sweet hereafter." Good. Secrets, children caught in bus.

Home. Rain, wind, bad.

Changed clothes.

TV: A&E, good show about Egypt.

Called Mina, she OK.

TV: News, Golden Globes.

 

Monday, Jan. 19, 1998

Raining most of night, til 10:30 a.m.

Called bank, balanced OK.

To Kmart, lunch. To bank.

John Mark called. Al's wife moved in. Al woke one nite disoriented, went to hospital. Didn't want to go home.

TV: X-Files, Discovery re El Nino. Taped A Mid-Wife Tale.

 

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998

Tea. ESPN, tennis. Mary Pierce, neat costume.

To mall. "Ma Vie en Rose" starts 5:20, so no go.

Mail: Letter from Mina, letter from Justine with copies of Lone letter. [Lone is my father’s sister in Denmark].

Called Mina re costume of Mary Pierce, also Ole, etc.

TV: Frasier, taped two NOVAs.

 

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1998

Up 9:15. Tea, etc. 

Tennis, Sampras won.

Walked on cliff.

Gas station at Kmart, having new tanks?

Home, wrote Mimi. No mailing it. Keep until sorted clippings, etc. New allegations re Clinton.

TV: News, Frasier.

Read papers, ate cookies.

 

Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998

Radio full of  “new charges” against Clinton. The highest number of callers were for Clinton.

Finally slept 5 a.m. til 9:45.

Tennis, Agassi won, four sets. 6/5, 6/5, 2/6, 7/5.

Drug Emporium for BP.

Albertsons, bank, Trader Joe's.

To show, “Star Kid.” Fun. Si Fi.

TV: Most about Clinton. Finally the news is tracking this girl. She was “stalking” the president.

Had tea for sleep and did.

 

Friday, Jan. 23, 1998

To Drug Emporium. Got Osteo-Bio? Recommended for cartilege.

Penneys, got velvet pants, blue top. (Have 2 already!)

Ate chicken at Burger King.

Called Gottschalk’s. Refund going out now!

Called for a dentist. Want personal info!

Some chores.

TV: News, etc. Reruns only.

 

Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998

8 a.m. Lawn mowers woke me.

Drug Emporium. More herbs.

To Logo’s, got Japanese art book.

To show, “Ma Vie en Rose.” Nice colors, but fanciful. Some phrases I got.

To McDonald’s, chicken.

To library. Checked on CULTS, calendars. Got a book.

TV: Taped bio on Clinton, movie Rebecca. 

 

Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998

Slept 12:20 to 6:30. Tea, etc. Shower/hair.

Called Carla, talked long.

Walked on cliff. Nice day, waves small.

Reading “The God Hustlers” by Mary H. Webb.

Saw Myra put out Larry’s garbage??

“Super Bowl” 3 to 7 p.m. Denver won! Favre goofed at end. With 1:34 left he threw in crowd.

TV: Masterpiece.

 

Monday, Jan. 26, 1998

Slept 12 to 8:30! Good, neck hurt. Pillow.

Laundromat about 9:30. Very few there.

Home, called Greyhound.

Worked on closet for hose, underwear, gowns.

Called dentist, wrote check for Master Card.

Talked to Myra, Larry in hospital. Depression.

TV: Discovery (rerun), X-Files, Diagnosis Murder.

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998

11:15 dentist.

Up 7:30. Tea, etc.

Longs, BP.

To Gottschalk’s to check on ”bonus.” Can’t use on current charges. Mailed letter to them.

To dentist. 2 x-rays, $48 + exam.

To show, “Fallen.”

Clinton State of the Union, speech accepted well. Drama teacher on TV, affair 92-97.

 

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998

Took Valerian, good sleep.

Radio: Ronn analyzes Clinton speech.

Tennis, Hingis won.

Lunch at Kmart. Checked for gift for Lutz. ”Greg Norman.”

To hospital, no dice visiting Larry.

Home, tired, Effects of Valerian root?

Left message with Sanchez. He returned call. $25 to remove jasmine!

Usual TV: Frasier, 1st. Daphne just hired, first time seen by Niles.

Sleep tea, then melatonin.

 

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998

Radio: Ronn, one caller thanked him for "a break from Clinton."

Did some typing of cult info from library.

Walked on East Cliff. Waves strong, high tide. One surfer.

To town. Greyhound for times, library for Santa Rosa Transit.

Myra was visiting Larry. I gave him a small magnifying glass, the white one.

To See’s!

Mail: Letter from Stimson, Prudy, Mina, bank statements.

Friday, Jan. 30, 1998

Awake 7. Tea, etc. Ronn back on Clinton.

Foned Gott's re lost bonus.

Mail: State Farm auto, $150.28, check for "cash back," $4.50, Schwab report.

Bought shirt for Lutz, beige one for me.

Forgot tennis at 6:30.

Called county re drain.

Bed early.

Saturday, Jan. 31, 1998

Rained in nite.

Awake 7. Tea, etc. Chores. 

9 a.m. to Trader Joe's. Checked drain.

Home. Ellie said detective here yesterday, young man hid in closet of 85-year-old woman here. To be charged with sexual assault, masturbated.

Balanced checkbook, over by $300.

Wrote letter to Carla, more items to Mimi.

Lunch, read papers.

Sanchez came by, looked at bush. Will look at pipes.

Watched KLUTE.

Mail: Ad for tours.

February 1998 entries