My Grandmother's Journals: May, 2000. "Read paper, ate corn, did crossword."

Grandma, left, and her lifelong friend Mina in their 20s, circa 1939.

Grandma at the laundromat: “No TV!! Dryer took quarter!”

Welcome to the days of my grandmother, who wrote down each morning when she woke up, recorded everything she ate, noted any phone calls or mail she received, then reviewed any movie she went to see before settling down with the television and a crossword puzzle in bed.

That was cool. 

Because her journals are just about my favorite things to read these days, and have become one of the best forms of free mental health medication I can find these days.

The entries below are from May of 2000, when she was 84 and living alone in a trailer park. But don’t feel sorry for her, because she was the most fiercely independent person I have ever known, living in one of the most beautiful places I have ever known: Santa Cruz, California.

 

See some of her journals and learn more about her long and full life in this video:

April entries.

Monday, May 1, 2000

Breakfast cold cereal + fruit. 

Sorted out T-Bills & money. Vacuumed all.

Lunch 12:30. Law & Order.

To bank, deposited check from Joan. $41.36

Mail: Letter from Myra, Schwab (2).

To Carl’s for shake.

Home, Ellie stopped me. Needs cataract. Said Harry A dead and Gordon died heart.

Said I would pick her up after eye operation.

Called Myra. Some TV: JAG old, no second part of Friday’s.

Bed. Crossword, etc. Not good sleep.

Tuesday. May 2, 2000

Up 7, cold. Breakfast oatmeal.

Ready by 9:30. Put oil in car.

Very warm. To McDonald’s, English muffin.

To library. Man named Ray let me ahead of him. Checked E Mail. Message from Carla.

Lunch here. Read “Billy the Kid,” finished papers, etc. Crossword.

TV: JAG (seen), L & Order (seen), 2nd JAG new.

Bed, some TV. News til 11:30. Slept good 4 hours, rested.

Wednesday, May 3, 2000

Cold, heat. Breakfast oatmeal.

Swept, mopped bath, kitchen.

Out 11 a.m. Longs, BP OK. Got 3 items.

To library. “Ray” there. Got govt info for auction of 5-year Monday, 10-year Tuesday.

Called Schwab, money not ready. 5 days! Call Friday.

Wrote Carla, walked to corner PO Box.

Shower/hair. Called Mina, she got Notting Hill.

TV: JAG, West Wing.

E Mail hit by “I Love You” virus??

Slept late.

Thursday, May 4, 2000

Awake 4:30, then slept til 8:30! No melatonin.

News about new virus affecting E-Mail.

Out 12:25. To Kmart, bought TV Guide & small tissue box. Ate lunch there.

Very warm.

To Hollywood Video, got “Mumford.” (Recommended by Ebert.) Enjoyable.

Called Justine. She got package OK, enjoyed small ring. Sounded tired, bored.

TV: JAG old, Frasier (2).

Friday, May 5, 2000

Call Schwab for money.

Up 8 a.m. Called for checks. Said mail tonite?

Wrote notes to Carla, Justine. Wrapped book, video.

To post office, $1.13 each.

To Hollywood Video, returned Mumford.

Ate at Burger King.

Called Schwab, talked to woman. She checked, will mail.

Wrote Mina.

TV: News, Lehrer, JAG, etc.

Saturday, May 6, 2000

Awake 6:44. Breakfast poached egg.

Changed coolant in car. Power out 10:30.

Returned video, checked BP. Got new “Cover Girl.”

Home. Read paper, ate corn, did crossword.

To mall for panties, found at JC Penney. “Jockey” sports, $10, 25% off.

Electricity back 7 p.m., off 91/2 hours. 

Bed 10 p.m. after some news.

Sunday, May 7, 2000

Up 7, breakfast oatmeal. Ready 9.

Laundromat, washed rugs.

To Penney’s, got new rug for bathroom.

Home, lunch, TV. Bullitt again! 1968, Peter Yates director. 

TV: Forgot Ebert! L&O, old; X-files, dumb.

Read Murdoch, slept fair. 10:30-11:30-1-3-6:30.

Monday, May 8, 2000

Breakfast 7, oatmeal. Packed vitamins.

5-year auction from Internet.

Used heat pad.

Worked a bit on thrift shop donations.

To Drug Emporium for 3 Cover girls. To Trader Joe’s for groceries.

Home, lunch. Worked in yard, pulled weeds. 

Mail: Mobile home newsletter.

Tuesday, May 9, 2000

10-year auction. 10 a.m. oil change.

7 a.m. breakfast, car to Good Year.

Home, used weed killer, wrote Prudy.

Got car. To credit union, paid bill.

To KFC, got pot pie.

To library, checked auction. 10-year not there.

E-mail from Justine, answered.

Home, rested til 2 p.m. Read papers.

Louis Prima Documentary on, taped 3 hours. 

Bed, not good sleep.

Wednesday, May 10, 2000

Up 7, cold. Heat lamp til 8.

Breakfast TJ’s Oat Bran, easy on stomach.

Got Thrift package together.

Ready 11, to Goodwill van.

Then library, got online, E-mailed Justine.

Checked 10-year bonds, 61/2. But cost 1001.53.

To Albertsons, got stamps. To Kmart, mailed $15 to World Savings.

To BofA, deposited 22,184.44

Home, checked with bank, balanced.

Justine called. Sort of agreed to meet at tent.

Thursday, May 11, 2000

Get money from World, afternoon.

Up 7, breakfast. Warm.

Worked on pant legs.

To Aptos library for Muni fone, Exploratorium. Also ads.

To Wendy’s, then show: “Dreamed of Africa.”

Home, tired.

TV: News, JAG (old).

Bed 8, slept til 5. Legs hurt. Is it nodes?

Spent time calling library and Wendy’s for plastic purse, was in purse!

Friday, May 12, 2000

Up 5 a.m., Radio, heat. Cold.

Breakfast, finished pants.

Bank balanced ($1 missing??) No. Wendy’s 4:55.

Walked on cliff. Wind, cold. 

To fruit stand, donut/coffee.

To library, sent email to Justine

To Kmart for gas, 14.43.

Mail: Check from Schwab, letters from Andra, Carla

To bank, deposited check.

Home: News, papers, JAGs. 

Bed 8:30. Slept. 

Saturday, May 13, 2000

Up 6, cold. Heat.

Breakfast same, washed some.

First to Longs, got paper, looked for elastic. None.

To Carl’s for coffee.

Then Gottschalk's, got Jockey pants, purse. To Hart’s for elastic.

To library, message from Justine. OK, stay home. Will go with another.

Legs hurt.

Talked to Lois, Oscar in home.

Home, news. Bed 8:30.

Sunday, May 14, 2000

Up 7, usual breakfast.

Massaged left leg, seemed to help.

Did crossword, etc.

Walked cliff. Windy, cloudy.

To Santa Cruz Bookshop, got two books: American Slang, and Collins World Atlas. 

To show, “East/West.” w/ Catherine Deneuve, Sandrine Bonnaire. Thought good.

Home 4:15.

TV: News, etc. Slept 7-9, watched X-Files.

Read papers, slept 11-12-3-5-9

Monday, May 15, 2000

Up 9, breakfast usual. Legs better.

Spent time looking at Slang/Slagerman’s report on nodes?

Paid Blackwell’s, to Longs for pix (2).

Checked balance at bank.

Home, mail.

TV: Lehrer, news, JAG (saw).

Bed 8. ?

Tuesday, May 16, 2000

Awake 7. Cold. Heat on, back to bed til 8:30.

Breakfast oatmeal.

Wrote checks, notes to girls. $107.47 each. Noted how much total they received: $1,416.57

To Trader Joe’s for groceries, checked bank balance.

Took aspirin and legs were good!

Mail: Only ads.

TV: Usual, 2x JAG.

Bed 9:30. Heat lamp first.

Slept 3 hours heavy. 

Wednesday, May 17, 2000

Awake early. Cold. Rested 5-8.

Usual breakfast. 

To post office after writing letter to Andra, sending book of slang.

To Drug Emporium, got TV Guide & BP.

To show, “Center Stage.” Excellent.

TV: News, etc. JAG (saw), West Wing: ends with assassination attempt, who is killed?

Mail: Postcard from Mina

Thursday, May 18, 2000

Up 7:30. Breakfast oatmeal.

Shower, hair. Cut it close.

To fruit stand, library. No messages.

No mail.

Hot today.

Ate tamale (TJ’s), changed sheets.

TV: News, JAG, Mystery 8 - 10.

Bed 10:30.

Friday, May 19, 2000

Up 7:30, cold. Heat, rested until 8:30.

To Drug Emporium, BP. 

Got coolant, took metal to Dump.

Ellie said her grandson “met a girl,” moving to Vermont. Suggested she have a hearing test.

Back to Senate Mattress, ordered “non-turn,” Simmons, $216

Lunch Kmart, home 3 p.m.

TV: News, Lehrer, JAG, Law & Order Special Victims Unit. Not great, 2 people to leave.

Sleep not great: 1-3-5-7

Saturday, May 20, 2000

Up 7. Warm. Breakfast orange, oatmeal.

Called Mina. She has no doctor’s appt til June 1.

To get paper, mall for coffee. Man with survey.

Home, watched tennis, some TV.

Rested, feet up.

3 p.m. to art supplies, got refill for pen.

To library, read medical book. Veins?

Home, papers, watched old movie, Margaret Rutherford.

Crossword, bed 9:30.

Sunday, May 21, 2000

Up 7, usual breakfast. To be warm.

To show, “Small Time Crooks.” Woody Allen.

Art fair on Pacific. Did not stop.

Home, read “Green Knight.”

Justine called, may come down next Sunday.

Watched Ebert, he liked “Crooks.”

No TV til 9, X-Files.

Not good sleep. Took melatonin, aspirin. 10:30-12:30-2-4-7

Wednesday, May 22, 2000

Awake 7, breakfast usual.

Hot again, 84 degrees at 10:30.

Out 8:30 to laundromat, no TV!! 5 minutes for 25 cents. Owner gave me .25, then dryer took quarter!

To gas, 4 gallons for $7.05

To bank, got $200. To Trader Joe’s, no papaya.

Home. Rested, TV: Quantum Leap, Law & Order.

Mail: Fone, letter from Myra, Visa bill.

Packed vitamins and some for tomorrow.

Lunch at 4, Lehrer at 3. 

Crossword.

Thursday, May 23, 2000

To Mina’s Take grapefruit!

Left 9 a.m., stopped at Gonzales rest area. Gas in Santa Maria.

Ate at Andersen’s Pea Soup in Buellton. 

Hit 405 at 5 p.m., 91 about 5:45. 91 very crowded, slow.

To Mina’s 7 p.m., bed 9.

Read papers, etc. 

Legs good. No nap for Mina. 

Friday, May 24, 2000

Slept pretty good. Up 7.

To cat clinic, cat ill.

Breakfast at “Spire.” Loud talker next, then child.

Home, more talk.

To chicken place. Milk.

Watched video of “Being John Malkovich.”

To Kathy, daughter, left 9.

Talked til 9:30, bed.

Saturday, May 25, 2000

Up 7, breakfast. 

Out for gas, mailed letter. 

Back, read. Mina slept til 1:30 p.m.

Vet called, need more medicine. Took cat to clinic.

To Radio Shack, got info.

To Plantation for lunch/dinner.

Back. Lehrer, Red Shoes.

Bed 9:30. 10:30-11:30-4-7.

 

Sunday, May 26, 2000

Up 7. Breakfast.

Talked til 11:30.

Lunch at Polly’s, 5.70 + 1. 

Got papaya enzymes.

Back, watched Dorsey Bros video Mina had. Tape broken.

TV: JAG.

Bed 10, slept OK.

Got some things ready.

Monday, May 27, 2000

Up 6:30, washed. Left 7:30.

Hit curb, light bad.

Got on 60 to Pomona, then 71 to 210. Had to slow before 138. Highway work last about 1 1/2 hours.

Took Market Street from Salinas. 

To Albertsons 4:30, got paper. Roads not great.

Justine called, called back. She not coming. To Phoenix next week.

Unpacked, etc. Sleep 10 p.m. 

Tuesday, May 28, 2000

Awake 6:30. Cold. Put heat on.

Breakfast, more arranging things.

Called Myra at G’s 8:50 a.m. She called Tues, drove here, saw car in Harry’s.

Turned mattress, washed few clothes, took recyclables to garbage.

Walked to Albertsons for milk, TV Guide and bananas.

Home 12:10 p.m.

Jerry Giesler died at 75.

TV: Ebert rerun, interview with Clinton, Murder She Wrote old.

Bed 8:45.

Wednesday, May 29, 2000

Up 7, breakfast same. 

Wrote Mina, sent copy of AT&T divestiture. Also pix of C to Justine to show H.

Watched tennis, ate lunch.

Brought in garbage can, Myra drove in.

To post office after Longs for copy, got paper, mailed letters.

Read papers, crossword, walked to corner of Portola.

Home, ate, X-Files. Bed.

1 a.m. took aspirin, slept til 3. Good. 

Thursday, May 30, 2000

Up 7, Cold, used pad. 

Forgot tennis! Rained out.

Showered/hair.

Washed black pants, called Goodwill, Thrift Shop.

GW wants mattress and box springs, Thrift Shop will take Tuesday.

Lunch at Kmart.

Home, TV, read papers, crossword, etc.

Bed after 11 p.m. news. Not good sleep.

Friday, May 31, 2000

Rent paid. 

Up 7, French Open. Agassi won, first set very good.

Myra and G. visited Larry.

Balloon in tire, left car at Good Year. 

Walked to Drug Emporium, BP. Got candy & TV Guide, pills: Tylenol arthritis.

Lunch McDonald’s

Call from Good Year, new tire on, can take car. 

Walked up, hot. Paid, still need work: $447.79!!!

My Grandmother's Journals: April, 2000. "Washed sox. Part of nightgown."

Grandma in Paris in 1995.

Grandma in Paris: “Tried two stockings today for warmth. Found heater in bedroom. Was off! No wonder cold.”

Welcome to the days of my grandmother, who wrote down each morning when she woke up, recorded everything she ate, noted any phone calls or mail she received, and reviewed any movie she went to see before settling down with the television and a crossword puzzle in bed.

The entries below are from April of 2000, when she was 84 and living alone in a trailer park. But don’t feel sorry for her, because she was the most fiercely independent person I have ever known, living in one of the most beautiful places I have ever known: Santa Cruz, California.

 

Another reason not to feel sorry for my grandmother is that she was in Paris that month — yes, still traveling overseas by herself well into her 80s! Paris was a city she loved so much she tried to go back every year, and this trip she got to save lots of money by staying in a friend's apartment. As a very frugal woman, this made my grandmother very happy.

On another trip she invited me along, when she was 80 and I was 25, and you can read both of our journal entries during that trip here.

See some of her journals and learn more about her long and full life in this video:

March 2000 entries.

Saturday, April 1, 2000

Call Y.

Bed 8, awake 3. Wrote letter to Andra, tried crossword. No luck.

Got Phillipe's fone #.

Called Phillipe, fone out.

Also foned Y, meet at 15:00. Late. Talked 3 hours.

To “Chinatown.” Walked hours. No ring.

Finally home at 9! Very tired.

Slept 11-2-3-7!

Sunday, April 2, 2000

Awoke tired. Ate bread, tea, orange, banana.

Read some, dressed, balanced money. 

Changed purse. Out 11.

Visited Val de Grâce.

Took 27 to opera, took 7 back to Place d’Itale. Ate McDonald’s.

To Chinese market. Got 3 boxes of tea.

Home. Cold, windy.

Fixed zucchini and chicken.

Read, some TV: Iris Murdoch, The Unicorn. Jag, w/German captain.

To sleep at 10. woke at 1. Lights out.

Monday, April 3, 2000

Slept til 8:20! Used the Irish Meal. Orange. Tea.

Washed top, found heater in bedroom. Was off! No wonder cold. Turned on OK.

Today tried two stockings for warmth.

To post office, then Bon Marche. Got oatmeal.

Back to apt, told about lights off. Loaned me tea ball.

Read Unicorn 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.! Slept til 8.

Tuesday, April 4, 2000

Mardi. Check store near Mouefftard for ring! No rings w/o stones.

Got paper, Bic, lunch, 2 rings up Mouefftard.

Stopped in church but close to 12, had to leave.

Out 10:30 to 1 p.m.

Ate lunch, read 1 chapeter.

Wrapped package, wrote postcard to Justine, letter to McCoys.

To post office, 79FF. Postcard to Justine had pix of Mouffetard Street.

Finished The Unicorn. Very good.

Bed 8, too warm. No sleep. 2 crosswords.

Wednesday, April 5, 2000

Mercredi. Cloudy. Cold with some showers.

Got paper. To Vietnamese market, 2 packages tea. 38FF. $2.90 a piece.

Bought tea holder, shape of spoon.

Got food at Marks & Spencer.

Got 21 Bus, ate sandwich on bus. Good.

To Quick for fruit and tea.

Home 2:30. 

Shower/hair. Paper, no TV. Crossword.

Slept 8 - 2 a.m. Awake 4, wrote letter to Mina.

Thursday, April 6, 2000

Jeudi. Up 6. Ate almond cake, tea. Then cereal, milk. 1/2 banana with vitamins.

Cloudy, cold. Ready at 10:30.

Got paper. Money, changed $100, 673FF.

Ate sandwich and chips from “Home.”

Bought 2 Iris Murdoch books.

To show, “Sweet & Lowdown.”

Groceries: Fish, water and cookies.

Fixed dinner myself, balanced accounts.

Back hurts. Think gas, maybe. 

Read paper. Called Mimi. Slept 9.

Friday, April 7, 2000

Vendredi. Awake 5, 6 ate breakfast.

Cleaned some, washed sox. Part of nightgown. Put milk in glass bottle.

Dressed. Called Yvonne, meet 1 p.m.

Walked to BHV, ate lunch. Salad, raspberries.

Got 47 bus, but lost again. Arrived 1:30.

Got more tea, cookies.

Hot, sunny late.

To sleep 9:30. Awake 11-1-3-7.

Saturday, April 8, 2000

Cinderella Ballet, opera. 50F Be there 2 p.m.

Up 7. Bread moldy. Destroyed some.
Weigh 65 kg. 1 kg = 2.2 lbs. 143!

Ate McDonald’s. Walked in Luxemborg.

Took 84 to Concorde. Large Ferris Wheel.

93 back to Carrousel de Louvre. Extraordinary mineral exhibit. Got sandwich.

To matinee, Cinderella. Two Americans there, live in Shasta. Left after second act.

To groceries, apartment. Balanced accounts.

Not hungry. Ate sandwich, apple.

Read “3rd Man.”

Sunday, April 9, 2000

Dimanche. Up 8 a.m. Finished “3rd Man.”

Rather cloudy. Ready by 11.

Bus to Censier-Daubenton. Got ticket, 82FF.

Descended Pont Marie, walked. Got lost again!

Walked back to Mineral Shop, said was Aventurine, Brazil: A translucent quartz.

To apt. Cold, miserable.

Monday, April 10, 2000

Lundi. Pack tonite. Up about 9.

Took bus to Le Gobelins, connection to 47 OK.

Stayed in, cold. Read, etc.

Packed, many letters.

3 fone calls in all.

Wrote to Andra.

Took Melatonin, slept 9-2.

Tuesday, April 11, 2000

Andra returns, back to hotel.

Ready by 11. Fone call for Andra from lawyer.

1st suitcase 10:00 - 10:25. Paid Phillippe.

Had creme coffee, ate bread, cheese at apt.

2 bags & carry-on.

Cold winds, pyramids. Walked, wrong place. 

Bus 75 to Centre P, ate Melodine. Tried two places for Airborne, no.

Hotel 5 p.m. Cold!

Couldn't sleep, took 2 melatonins. Finally, 10-12-2-6-8

Wednesday, April 12, 2000

Andra leaves for Britain with students.

Breakfast 9, ready 10.

Metro, 52 bus. Back Metro. 

Bon Marche! Ate lunch, veggies & macaroon creme!

To show, “Magnolia.” Tom Cruise, WM Macy, Juliane Moore. 

Bought Pain Raisin. 5.7 

To hotel, tired. Tea, chocolate.

Outside noisy, no sleep.

Took 2 melatonin, slept too deep. Scary.

Awake 3-7. Ate banana.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

Up 8, ready 9.

Andra called from London, to say liked Bijore. Questioned why Justine did not want it. 

To Gare Austerlitz, 61 bus to Gambetta, 60 to Canal Ourcq, Le Gardien tres gentile.

Sy moved, dies 12/22, cremated. Philippe took ashes. Where she did not know.

Took 61 to Porte de Montmarte, 95 to Gare Lazare.

Got Django Reinhardt. Ate Quick. 

To Muni, post office. Ate Chinese.

Home 8 p.m. Washed hair.

Friday, April 14, 2000

Up 7 a.m. Slept good with no melatonin. 10-3-7

Breakfast 9:45. 2 American women talked, but left coffee and bread.

Checked Aventurine necklace, 400FF

To Melodine, got chicken. Many teenagers there.

To St. G de Pres to see Signs of Sarte. To book store, but no purchase.

Hotel, re-packed. Ate cereal & cookies.

Slept fair. 10-12-3-5

Time to go, time adjusted!

Saturday, April 15, 2000

Awake 5, call at 6. Readied, etc.

Cab to opera. Cab had dog. Titu?

3 cabinets for women. Late leaving, French family 2 children.

In JFK, got ice cream. Sat with woman knitting & CD portable.

Bus to Millbrae, Caltrain late.

Called to Amtrak, bus waited. 6/7 people. Engineer with red lantern.

Taxi home.

Sunday, April 16, 2000

Slept OK. 2-4-6.

Foned Mina, she out to breakfast with Kathy. Tennis talk.

Breakfast oatmeal, peaches.

Tennis: Andrew Ilie, Australian. Tears his shirt. Monica Seles won 6/2, 6/3.

Called Mina, talked long: Cat, her health, trip.

Justine called, about 7. Talked too much again.

Bed 8 p.m. Slept good 12-2-4. Up, unpacked suitcase.

Monday, April 17, 2000

Up 4 a.m. Breakfast. Cold seems better.

9 a.m. Tea again w/toast.

Unpacked and put most away. Washed a few items.

To post office for mail. Car started OK, idle bad.

To Kmart, got TV Guide, food, sourdough crackers. BP down.

Ate again, 2 eggs. 

Home, sorted mail. Balanced checkbook.

Mail: Got T-Bill payment.

Sun out, got warm.

TV: JAG, bed 8 p.m. Good sleep til 4 a.m.

Tuesday, April 18, 2000

Up 7. Breakfast. No milk yet.

Produce not open on Bay. 

To Albertsons for food, Longs for Xerox.

To Radio Shack for CD player and holder. Got Notting Hill video.

Home, sunny. Sister Grace in carport.

Tired, twisted back picking up heavy box.

Rested, heat on back. Cold not better. 

Some TV, papers. JAG (2)

Bed 9, slept OK.

Wednesday, April 19, 2000

Awake 4:45 Put heat on back again.

Breakfast with milk. CHarted stocks for April.

To stores: Longs, BP 134-80. Got envelopes, soup.

Coffee at McDonald’s. Pads at Drug Emporium.

Home 10:15. Some TV?

Papers, to bed at 5 p.m. Slept til 12-3-5.

Mail: Cards from Mina, Myra. Ran “Tea w/Mussolini” video.

Thursday, April 20, 2000

Breakfast oatmeal. 

Ran Notting Hill again, but watched Jane Russell movie “His Kind of Woman” in between.

Hip hurts, right. Get more calcium? BioFlex directions say 6/day.

To post office, Nob Hill: Got pads, paper.

To library, looked up stocks.

To Kmart, gasoline $1.80 a gallon. Ate lunch, chicken fried steak!! BP: 131/75

Mail: Letter from McCoys.

Ran Notting Hill again, to see scenes cut: Spike, pizza.

Warm, uncomfortable. Bed 8. 

Friday, April 21, 2000

Sleep bad. Started on 6 BioFlex yesterday, hip better today.

Up 7, breakfast, chores. CNN at 9. Out 10:30

Home, some TV. Lunch 2 p.m.

Washed cashmere sweater, papers.

Wrote Justine letter. Why do I bother? [Justine here: Yikes! I guess I didn't send her letters. But I did call often and send her lots of emails!]

Bed 8 p.m. Read some. Warm day. 

Saturday, April 22, 2000 

Foggy, drizzle. 

6 a.m. news: Elian Gonzalez taken from Miami to AFB in Maryland.

Got package ready to mail. To post office, McDonald’s for coffee.

Took Xerox of Louis 17, 2 copies, then to fruit stand.

Home 11. Wrote letter to Mina.

Lunch: Quiche, zucchini, pear, tea.

Rested, read papers. 

Tennis: Seles defeated by Mary Pierce. Did crossword.

Warm after cold morning. Bed 7:30 p.m.

Took melatonin, first in long time.

Sunday, April 23, 2000

Fair sleep. Sunny. Breakfast same.

Charted stocks. $118 loss plus fees.

Swept carpets, some ceilings.

Another person stayed with Larry overnight. Maria back, Larry with stocking cap.

Walked on cliff. Windy, sunny.

To Burger King, got lunch to go.

Home. TV: Tennis, “Morning After.” Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges.

Worked on recap, but used wrong average!

Bed 9 p.m. Slept OK, no melatonin.

Monday, April 24, 2000

Up 6:30. Breakfast oatmeal, etc.

Laundromat 8-9, then Burger King 9-9:30.

Home, redid trip report. 

CNN noted 9 days ago the permit to keep Elian was rescinded.

To mailbox with letter to Mina, walked 3 to 15 minutes.

TV: Law & Order, news. Peter Jennings covered Elian. Why all dressed at 5:15 a.m.?

Watched JAG, Morse, did toe nails.

Bad reception. 11:35 p.m. Nightline. Nada.

Tuesday, April 25, 2000

Ted Koppel's mother had Parkinson's. Interview was a bust.

Up 6:30, heat til 7. Breakfast, vitamins - 13.

To Drug Emporium, BP 136/71. 

McDonald's, coffee and 1/2 miffun.

To library, computer free. No E-mails, space bar not working!

To KFC, got Zinger.

Home, war, sunny. (Washed car in a.m., left early so Sister Grace could park here).

TV: 2 JAGs, 7&8, then bed. Slept fair.

Wednesday, April 26, 2000

Dr. Blackwell 1:30, eyes.

Up 6:30. Breakfast, shower/hair.

To Rite Aid, got kitchen sponge.

To Kmart, got breakfast again, loofah buff.

Home 11:45, lunch.

Eye check, R-20, L-19. Told B about no sleep for 30 hours.

Home, some chores, read papers.

TV: JAG 7-8, West Wing 9-10.

Slept OK.

Thursday, April 27, 2000

Up 6:30, breakfast oatmeal.

To bank, produce stand, Nob Hill, home.

Rent bill in box.

News shows Miami family back in their home, court action against them.

To Scotts Valley, to show, "High Fidelity." John Cusack, 3 stars.

Home, sandwich from KFC.

Mail: Letter from Mina, BA bank statement.

Slept OK.

Friday, April 28, 2000

Up 7 a.m. Breakfast oatmeal. 

Voted both Bell & AT&T. Sold NCE. Called Merc News.

To Longs, Xerox of NCE. To post office, mailed certified letter. $1.40

To donut shop, $1.50

Another basket of strawberries, $1.29

Walked on cliff. Large lot getting dirt, etc. Some "developer" home.

Ate lunch here, strawberries.

Write Yvonne, Mimi. Some TV.: JAG, bio of Nelson Rockefeller.

Bed 9, slept good. 9:30-11:30-3-7:30

Saturday, April 29, 2000

Up 8, breakfast oatmeal. Crossword.

Ready by 10:30. 

To post office, mailed letters to Mimi & Yvonne, put rent check in office.

To beauty salon near Safeway.

Got comb & coin purse at 99-cent store, and paper.

To show, "Frequency." Works in two times, 1969 & 1999.

Walked on cliff, beautiful day. BBQ at O'Neil's?

Home. Paper, some TV, bed.

"Warm." Good sleep from 1:30 to 7:30. 

Sunday, April 30, 2000

Up 7:30. Same breakfast. Ready 10:30.

To Ocean Street I.D. Got tea ball & feather duster. 

Basement Discount: Got burgundy sweater & black, long skirt. $36

To show, "Titus Andronicus." Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange. Excellent. Production half modern, 1/2 ancient.

To KFC, home 5 p.m.

TV: CNN, some 60 Minutes.

Bed, slept til 2. Had soup.

Talked to Mina, not received Notting Hill. $1 gold in it.

My Grandmother's Journals: March, 2000: "Called Justine. Talked too much."

My Grandmother's 2000 Journal.

Spend a few days with my grandmother, who wrote down each morning what time she woke up, recorded everything she ate, noted any phone calls or mail she received, and reviewed any movie she went to see before settling down with the television and a crossword puzzle in bed.

That was cool.  

 

Because I love reading all these details of her days. Not just because she was my grandmother, but because I love immersing myself in all the mundanity and predicability of this frugal and persnickety woman’s schedule, especially while I am living in very unpredictable times. And maybe you will enjoy a bit of calm, too?

The entries below are from March of 2000, when she was an 84-year-old woman living alone in a trailer park— but don’t feel sorry for her, because she wasn’t sad, and neither was her home. 

No, my grandmother was the most fiercely independent person I have known, living in one of the most beautiful places I have known: Santa Cruz, California.

 

The photo at left was taken by my grandmother of just one of the beautiful beach coves near the very popular surfing area called Pleasure Point, which was an easy walk from her home. And nearly every day she strolled the paths along East Cliff Drive to watch the Pacific Ocean, especially enjoying watching any surfers braving the water. So when she died at age 98 in 2013, I scattered her ashes in the sand at the bottom of those stairs shown. 

(I wrote more about her long and full life in this post)

Another reason not to feel sorry for my grandmother is that she flew to Europe in March of 2000 (Yes, she was still traveling overseas by herself well into her 80s!) to stay again in Paris, a city she loved so much she visited it nearly every year. We even went to Paris together when she was 80 and I was 25, and you can read both of our journal entries during that trip here.

See her journals and hear her life story in this video:

February entries.

Wednesday, March 1, 2000

Paid rent, also car insurance & Mastercard.

To Kmart, ate.

To town, library closed for getting asbestos out of ceiling.

To show, “Wonder Days.” Good. Robert Downey Jr. is great. 

To Albertsons, more food.

Home: News, Lehrer, JAG, more 10th Kingdom, taped.

Read papers.

Sleep 1:30 to 7:15

Thursday, March 2, 2000

Cold, heat til 8:15.

Dog thrown into traffic in San Jose. (Road rage).

Rain in a.m., not too cold.

4/5 cars in Freda’s spot, workers. Yesterday Ellie said owner would pay $30k for her place.

To Trader Joe's. Home, sinus pain! Should have stayed home yesterday. Tired.

Ran tape of 10th Kingdom. Stupid. Why watch it?

TV: News, usual.

Bed 11:30. Up 1:30-5-7. Good sleep.

Friday, March 3, 2000

Warm today. Oatmeal.

To McDonald's, then Gottschalk’s. Got slip (black) for Justine and hose for me.

Home 11, called Justine. Talked too much.  [Me or her?!]

Ate, watched Murder She Wrote, wrote Prudy.

To library, got on Internet. Message from Carla, deed problems. Asked for list of books.

Home. News, Lehrer, JAG, L/O.

Sleep, good.

Hail in Pasadena, quarter size.

Saturday, March 4, 2000

Up 7:15. Cold. Usual breakfast.

Washed some clothes, chores. Might rain.

Found earring in telephone stand.

Out for paper, then to Aptos for “Whole Nine Yards.” Stupid. Not worth the money.

Ate KFC before.

Home before rain, nothing much on TV.

Bed 8:30, slept til 11:30. Finished crossword, read.

Back to sleep 2:47 til 7:30.

Rain in night.

Sunday, March 5, 2000

Breakfast usual. Shower/hair.

Home all day. Cold, rain in a.m.

Worked on typewriter, finished letter to Mina, sent newspaper re Bichon Frise and 10th Kingdom.

Bed. 11 news, good sleep til 5.

Myra called Friday, coming up today.

Monday, March 6, 2000

Up 8, usual breakfast.

To OSH, need more info.

To Bank, got signature certified. Checked on ATM not in.

To Longs. Xerox, Quaker Oats, soup.

Worked on weeds in the yard.

Murder She Wrote, papers, Lehrer, L/O, 10th Kingdom.

Mail: Advance notice of census form (about a week).

Tuesday, March 7, 2000

Up 7:30, no breakfast.

To laundromat, ate at Burger King.

Sent Justine a column regarding changes in Santa Cruz.

Mail: New Mastercard, ads.

Some rain.

TV: News, JAG (2).

Wrote 2 checks: Visa and cable.

Rain started about 6-7. Bed 9.

Wednesday, March 8, 2000

Up 7:40, heat til 8.

Breakfast usual, chores.

To fruit/veg stand, coffee/donut.

Rain starts again, home 12:30 p.m.

Rain off/on. Watched Murder She Wrote.

Some washing, ate here.

Mail: Short note from Mina, much info on Election. 

Usual TV: JAG, L/O, West Wing (good).

Not good sleep. 2-5?

Dr. Dean Edell in Covelo in 2014.

Thursday, March 9, 2000

Up 7, cold. 8 to Santa Cruz.

Paid Visa bill, looked at department store.

To Scotts Valley, ate at Wendy’s. Crowded with students.

Listened to radio, Ronn 1 hour with Dean Edell.

To Drug Emporium for TV Guide, lozenges.

Home 2 p.m., Read papers, watched Lehrer news.

Bought “Tea w/Mussolini.” Watched, audio bad.

Bed, news. Sleep 10:30, slept good.

Friday, March 10, 2000

Slept 12:30 to 7:30. Slept better.

Breakfast usual, crossword.

Foned bank, no ATM. Stopped for balance. OK.

To town, checked Amtrak.

Library for email. Justine liked slip.

Stopped by Carole, talked 1 hour. She was 3 weeks at “retreat.”

Home, ate eggs, potatoes.

TV: News, JAG, L/O. Papers.

Bed, no sleep. 2 a.m. took “pain pill.” No REM sleep.

Saturday, March 11, 2000

Up 7:20. Warm today, but chilly in a.m.

Breakfast usual.

To Albertsons, then home for lunch.

To show, “Ninth Gate.” 2 hours + but put together good. Ending not satisfying.

Got some ice cream.

Mail: Card from Liz Claiborne and rent increase advice.

Sunday, March 12, 2000

Justine called 11:30, coming down with Chris.

Cleaned up a bit, but they in Aptos.

Finally 6:30 to eat. Walked to 41st for show, ice cream after.

Monday, March 13, 2000

Shower/hair. Myra called 10:30. To Corralitos, came up a week ago.

To Greyhound, checked times. [Preparations for her Paris trip!]

Home, at here.

Mail: Bank, Prudy, Census. Filled it out, not mailed.

TV: M.S. Wrote, news, JAG, Lehrer.

Bed early, 9:15. Slept 12-4.

Tuesday, March 14, 2000

Up 4:30. Tea, toast. Tried sleep, couldn’t. 

Ate oatmeal, ready by 9:30.

Myra over to Larry’s, meet another day.

Got paper, coffee at McDonald’s, walked.

To Nob Hill for groceries, home. Sunny, warm.

Mail: Adverts.

TV: MSW, Lehrer, JAG (2). 

Working on collecting maps, money to need.

Bed 10, no sleep til 3. Took melatonin.

Wednesday, March 15, 2000

Usual breakfast.

Myra called, free today. Met her at 11 a.m.

To lunch at Fresh Choice, good meal.

Walked East Cliff. To veg market, got artichoke + Italian squash.

Home 5:30, dinner.

Usual TV: JAG (2), West Wing, L/O.

Sleep 11 p.m., not special.

Thursday, March 16, 2000

Sleep: 12-4-8

Breakfast usual, chores.

To Longs for tissues, soup. Kmart for gasoline.

To County Building for tax info.

To library, got email from Justine. She has repeat interview with Chronicle, one with magazine in Berkeley.

[More on my "doomed" interview at the Chron.]

Home 1:30. Tennis, M.S. Wrote, Lehrer, JAG, etc.

TV: Biography of Wallis & Duke. Royal “biographer” interviewed, said she demeaned him, even in public. He called her mommy, seemed to enjoy being scolded. Her last years kept away from friends by lawyer; stroke, could not talk.

Friday, March 17, 2000

Awake 6:30, heat til 7. Breakfast usual.

To laundromat, then Kinko’s.

To bank for balance, Carl’s Jr. for breakfast.

Home 11, news. Worked on book lists for Carla, making separate one for authors.

Mail: T-Bill statements.

Wrote Mina, watched tennis.

To post office, mailed video, got stamps.

TV: JAG, L/O. 

Bed.

Saturday, March 18, 2000

Up 7, breakfast usual. Tired.

Drug Emporium, BP: 151-76. Got papaya & diuretics.

To Santa Cruz, took 10:55 bus, to Caltrain noon. Late to Milbrae. To bank, got Francs.

Back home on Caltrain: 3:24, SJ 4:30 Amtrak 4:40, Santa Cruz 5:30.

To KFC, got pies.

Home 6 p.m.

TV: “Frost” 6-8.

Bed, slept 8:30-12-5-7

Sunday, March 19, 2000

Up 7, breakfast usual. Chores, ironed some.

Drug Emporium. BP 154-83!

Ocean Street for coffee/donut. Early for show, walked some.

To show, “Not One Less.” Chinese, very good. Story of very poor village.

Got groceries at TJ’s, home. Lunch/dinner.

Sports programs full of basketball. No report on tennis.

Read papers, news.

TV: Ebert, 60 Mins on Pope XII. Catholic Church moving to make him a saint.

Bed 8, crossword. No sleep til 12-2-3-4-7

Monday, March 20, 2000

Cold. Breakfast usual.

To McDonald’s for coffee, Kmart BP. Better, 145. Almost bought skirt, no!

Home 12:30. Shower/hair. Cut short.

Packed vitamins, home most day after trip to library.

Got Friday Merc News, did crossword.

TV: Most basketball, Murder, Lehrer. Read papers.

Mail: Mastercard, new ads. Card for census!

Bed early, 9:30.

12-3-5-8

Tuesday, March 21, 2000

Up 8. Warm, sunny. 

Wrote Myra, Sally/Joan, check for Liz Claiborne.

Sister Grace in my carport. Walked to Kings Village.

Got Xerox copy for Myra.

To library, 3 messages. Charmaine has new email.

TV: JAG(2), new show Beat Cops. Bed 9:30.

Wednesday, March 22, 2000

Cleaning 11 a.m.

Up 6, heat til 7. Usual breakfast. Some chores.

To Longs for kitchen matches. Charged 89 cents instead of 79.

To Gottschalk’s. Walked to Ross and back, plus stairs.

To dentist. Talked to woman, husband truck driver. She “Brenda.” Girl who cleans teeth is pregnant. Goes to Kauai in September. $66 (73)

Home, ate here.

Usual TV: JAG, L/O, West Wing.

Bed 10, news. Sleep 11:30-12:30-3-7.

Thursday, March 23, 2000

Up 7. Heat. Cloudy. Usual breakfast. 

Packed clothes in suitcase. 2 shirts, dress, tops, shoes, yellow cap.

To bank for balance. OK.

Got beige hat at Gottschalk’s. Paid them.

TO KFC, got sandwich.

To Logo’s, left six books. 2 returned, received 8.19 for rest.

To show, “Erin Brockovich.”

To Kmart, cake and ice cream.

Home, no mail.

Message from Justine. Called 11:30.

TV: News, Lehrer, usual.

Bed 10:30 after news.

Friday, March 24, 2000

Up 7 a.m. Worked on packing til 11.

Rene called in a.m., talked too long!

Called Justine, she received offer from magazine, Berkeley. Said w/benefits. She to call Tuesday, but wants to start Wednesday.

To Longs for Xerox.

To Ross, hat for $7. Must return other to Gott’s.

To Scott’s Valley Burger King, got fish, ice cream.

To show, “Mission to Mars.”

Home, mail from Treasury. Wrote checks.

BP at Longs, Kmart. Ate here.

Saturday, March 25, 2000

Up 6:45, heat til 7. Usual breakfast, oatmeal.

Myra called re “Living Trust.”

To Drug Emporium for BP.

To Gott’s, gave back hat. $14.

To Kmart for lunch, washed car first. 

Walked a bit. No mail.

Home 4 p.m.. Papers, some genealogy.

TV: D.O.A. with Edmond O’Brien, also He walked by Night. Channel 9.

News, bed, read a bit.

Sunday, March 26, 2000

Up 8. Breakfast. Shower/hair. Ready by 10:30.

To show, “Holy Smoke.” Kate Winslet, Harvey Keitel. Therapy gets to him.

Paid new bill at AT&T.

Albertsons: Grapes, oranges, candy.

Home 3:30, ate. Golf, rain delayed.

TV: Ebert, some Oscars.

Bed 10:30. 12-3-7

Monday, March 27, 2000

Stop mail. Check bus schedules/train.

To Drug Emporium for BP, McWhorters for Xerox.

To Post Office for stamps.

To KFC, home.

Got $200, also new Sacagawea.

Packed more, TV. Changed schedule: L/O at 1 p.m., Murder at 4 p.m.

Channel 9, With Byrd at the South Pole.

Bed 10:31.

Called Mina, talked long. 6-6:40. Joan not call.

Tuesday, March 28, 2000

Awake at 3 a.m. Where is the strap to pull suitcase? Up to check, could not find.

Use strap from carry-on, works fine.

Ready earlier, got 8:40 to Metro, ate grapes.

9:55 Amtrak. Freeway clear, arrived 10:30 instead of 10:50. Paid 2:25 senior to Millbrae. 

Travelodge 12:30. Rested a bit, ate Wendy's. 

Found strap in luggage, redid purse and carry-on. Fanny pack in suitcase.

TV: Lehrer, M.S. Wrote, Bio of Audrey Hepburn.

Shower, bio of Cary Grant. 

Sleep 10:30-12-2-5

Wednesday, March 29, 2000

* Breakfast plane. Up 5. Coffee, small roll.

6:30 bus from Travelodge to airport, arrived 6:50. Long lines.

7:30 got coffee, muffin.

Take-off late 1/2 hour, but made up. Arrived JFK 5:30, to Paris 6:35.

Seatmate girl named Gia. From Armenian father who was raised in Egypt. She works for a financial organization, handles/invests money.

All nite on plane.

Thursday, March 30, 2000

Arrived CDG 9:15 a.m. Hard time finding bus.

Paid 49 FF, no added fee!

Andra called.

Paid 255 for 1 nite, got fruit next door.

Andra 3-5, slept 5-8. (Ambulance woke me up).

Worked on money 10 p.m. Slept 2 til a.m.

Friday, March 31, 2000

Meet Andra. Code. Key, etc. Laundromat?

Up 2 a.m. Woke. Found Biore thought lost! In carry-on.

Made tea, ate banana. Good banana. Took vitamins, etc.

Trouble with door. Did not know 2 keys.

Foned Y 10:30 a.m., called Sy.

To bistro, ate salad, quiche Lorraine, coffee.

Metro, opera ticket, matinee.

April 2000 entries.