My Grandmother's Journals: August, 1995. “To Kmart, looked for lamp. To Mervyn’s, Sears, none.”

Camping in Baja, 1955. Think they're eating hot dogs?

Every day my grandmother wrote down what time she woke up, where she ate breakfast, what movie she went to see, what mail and phone calls she received, then what she read and watched on TV before going to sleep.

In 1995, she was 79 years old 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 and persnickety woman whom I never knew to live with another person or even a pet. She was still traveling alone, corresponding with people  she met on those trips, and always keeping up with current events. (I wrote more about her life in an earlier post.) 

Close to her home was the famous surfing spot called Pleasure Point, and she loved walking to the ocean and watching the surfers. When she died at 97 in 2013, I took her ashes to those waves with a friend of hers and we each dropped some at the sand. A moment after I dropped mine, a surfer emerged from the water where I stood.

That was cool. 

In August of 1995 she was watching the O.J. Simpson trial along with plenty of tennis, baseball and football. When she wasn't shuttling friends to doctor's appointments and the airport, she was checking luggage prices at the mall in preparation for her next trip to Europe in December.

See my grandmother’s journals and learn more about her long, full life in this video:

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 1995

Fone call early, wrong number.

Breakfast McDonald’s.

Laundromat, bank. Talked to Mary a few minutes, she unhappy.

Some O.J., cut jasmine bush back. Hard work.

Watched Star Trek, Geraldo. Marcia Clark stated she could prove gloves on O.J. identical to those found.

Couldn't sleep, read paper.

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 1995

Up 8:30, breakfast at Burger King.

Mailed card to Andra. Mailed “Nixon” letter to Justine, sent her article on Chile.

Home, cut limbs from bush.

To show in Aptos, “The Net.” Sandra Bullock.

Home, ironed and TV. Fixed pads on salmon t-shirt.

Tired, much “work.” Bed 9:30 p.m. Took aspirin.

Thursday, Aug. 3, 1995

Up 8:15. Breakfast at Golden West on Ocean. Busy, many vacationers!!

Library, finished Die After Dark, got Cat Abroad.

Home, showered/washed hair.

Figured maintenance, repairs for car: $3,545.52 in 11 years.

Mail, card from Andra and Lutz, letter from Freda.

Mary came by, man did not sell car.

Carol called at 12:30!! Didn’t answer.

Friday, Aug. 4, 1995

Up 6 a.m. Breakfast McDonald’s.

Yard work, to Orchard then Kmart, got metal rake for lawn.

To Longs, xeroxed letter and got paper towels.

To show, “Something to Talk About,” Julia Roberts, Dennis Quaid.

Justine called, got letter. No package yet.

Watched X-Files, some news, bed.

Saturday, Aug. 5, 1995

Up 8, raked east side. Breakfast Carl’s Jr.

Walked a bit, to library. Home after Trader Joe’s, lunch here.

Justine called, got book and tape OK. Will stop by on 14th.

Raiders vs. Cowboys, 24-14. Dodgers - Giants 8 p.m.

Watered lawn, raked a bit more.

News, bed, read a bit, “A Cat Abroad.”

Sunday, Aug. 6, 1995

Up 8:15, breakfast McDonald’s.

To Kmart, looked for lamp. To Mervyn’s, Sears, none.

To Wherehouse, got soundtrack for “Bridges.”

Home, football: Browns vs. Giants. Some baseball.

Watched “Survive the Savage Sea,” Robert Urich. True story of family sailing from Australia to Tahiti. Whale hits boat, it sinks, they 38 days on raft.

Monday, Aug. 7, 1995

Up 8:15. Breakfast at corner.

Took Mary to Drug Emporium, she gave me more zucchinis.

To Orchard, got scrapers. Star Trek, read.

6:10 p.m., Carol called collect, needs passport. To her house, daughter there.

73 miles to airport via 85, home via 92 and Hwy 1, stopped at McDonald’s for sundae.

Home 10 p.m., tired.

Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1995

Awake 5:30, up 9. Breakfast at Lyon’s. Home, hot, stayed in.

Watched “Mona Lisa,” still can't make out Bob Hoskins.

Got “Go tell it on the Mountain,” James Baldwin.

CNN has Congress hearings! Watched Star Trek, Geraldo.

Watered lawn, walked to Capitola.

Bed after NYPD Blue and news.

Thursday, Aug. 10, 1995

Breakfast Carl's Jr. Bank, fixed checks for girls, mailed H’s, deposited Justine's.

Tennis, Todd Martin and Pete Sampras, good. Sampras almost lost!

Tape of Johnstown flood again, took notes.

News, “Jane Roe” changed sides.

Bed, read a bit.

Friday, Aug. 11, 1995

Justine to Point Reyes.

Up 8:30. Got paper, waiting for Justine to call! Ironed, read. She called 10:33.

Mail: Letter from Stimson, bill from State Farm.

To Longs, xeroxed letter, got VCR tapes. Groceries at Albertsons.

Taped X-Files, Northern Exposure.

Read until 2 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 12, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast McDonald's. Home, wrote Mina with copy of Stimson’s letter!

Mail: Visa and Masters.

Home, read, TV: Raiders won over Rams. Watched Arena Football. No walking!

Sunday, Aug. 13, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast Burger King.

Walked 15 minutes, groceries at Trader Joe’s

Finished papers, read book.

Watched tennis, A.A. (Andre Agassi) won. Football, 49ers vs. Chargers, 17-6.

Taped “Lost Generations” re: Africa.

Read The Manson Curse.

Monday, Aug. 14, 1995

Up 8:30. Donut and coffee at corner.

Home, yard work. Read some.

Got gas. Longs, got TV Guide. Albertsons, got fruit.

Talked a bit with Mary C.

Watched tennis. Football, Bears vs. Browns. Baseball, Dodgers vs. Cubs.

Read some Picasso.

Tuesday, Aug. 15, 1995

Up 8. Shower/hair. Breakfast Jeffery’s.

To library, owed .50 fine. Got two books.

To show, “The Indian in the Cupboard.” Morals.

To Live Oak for blood pressure, nurse had two new tools: BP higher.

Dodgers, Nomo pitcher. 4-3.

Watched X-Files, Frasier.

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 1995

Slept til 9 a.m.! Breakfast McDonald’s.

Laundromat, talked to lady from Gardena. Here two years, unhappy.

Home 11:30, called Justine. She yawning.

To Wherehouse, got “Arizona Dream.” Last free cheeseburger, Carl’s Jr.

Home, Dodgers over Cubs, 6-1.

Mail, letter from Mina. Longs, got battery, watch (pink).

Taped Northern Exposure, ran tape of “Arizona Dream.”

Bed 12:30, later X-wrd puzzle.

Thursday, Aug. 17, 1995

Awake 9 a.m. Breakfast Carl’s Jr. at mall. J.C. Penney, looked again at suitcases.

To show, “Apollo 13.” Well-done.

Library checking blood pressure, got one book.

Watched Rockford Files, news, Geraldo.

John Mark called, talked 1/2 hr regarding reunion cruise. {John Mark grew up in the same Masonic Home near Los Angeles that she was raised in.}

Taped Northern Exposure, physics on Discovery.

Friday, Aug. 18, 1995

Awake 6:45, up 9. Breakfast McDonald’s.

Made appointment with new female doctor. To Longs for pix.

Drug Emporium, got brewer’s yeast and lecithin.

Watched Star Trek, news, Geraldo, Star Trek, Law and Order, Mindwalk.

Forgot to tape Northern Exposure.

Sunday, Aug. 20, 1995

Up 9ish.  Coffee and donut at corner. Some men there, wonder if it is their front room?

Home, raked west side, watered.

Wrote Mina, sending info on HMO. {Mina was also raised in the same Masonic Home.}

Tennis, Agassi vs. Krajicek. Good game. K discouraged by close calls for A. A.

To Antonelli's, got Yellow Tuberous Begonia.

Watched Star Trek Deep Space Nine. {She wrote S.T. DS9.}

Bed 8 p.m., need rest!

Monday, Aug. 21, 1995

Get Carol at airport SF, 7 p.m.

Up 8:30. Breakfast Burger King.

Post Office, mailed Secure Horizons mail to Mina.

Walked to Capitola. Home, shower/hair.

To Mary’s, talked a bit. Some TV, news.

Bed early after trip to SF to get Carol. Stopped at Half Moon Bay McDonald’s.

169.5 miles in all.

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 1995

Up 9. Breakfast McDonald’s.

To Ross, Carol bought her luggage there. Larger size, $6 less than Penneys.

To library, turned in one, got two. Mail, Gottschalk's bill.

To mall, paid Penneys, Sears, Emporium. Got cone.

Home, read. TV, funny Frasier. Maris (Niles’ wife) having affair.

Taped Northern Exposure.

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast at donut shop.

To Louden (Nelson Center) for blood pressure, surprise: 122/68! Will try again at Live Oak.

Library, returned one book, got another.

Justine called, yes to Europe. {She invited me to Paris and London.}

Walked to beach.

Up til 3 a.m., worst kind of night: Pain in center of chest!

Thursday, Aug. 24, 1995

Up 8:30. Ate here. To eye Dr. Fong at 11 a.m. No change, $73.

To Longs, got TV Guide, toilet tissue. Fong gave me Zinc! for eyes.

Home, read Pollifax, slept 4 to 6, watched Geraldo, finished P.

To cafe for dinner, turkey, 1/2 brought home.

Another bad night, couldn’t get to sleep.

Friday, Aug. 25, 1995

Up til 3 a.m., slept until 9. Breakfast at Lyon’s.

Foned doctor's offices. Yes, taking adults, yes to Medicare.

Showered/washed hair before library, read parts of two books.

Taped X-Files, Northern Exposure (good.)

Saturday, Aug. 26, 1995

Slept 2:30 to 8:30. Breakfast McDonald’s.

To mall for bras, Mervyn’s, got two 40Ds. Then to Penney’s, got black purse.

Finished Mrs. P and Whirling Dervish.

To show “Belle de Jour,” Catherine Deneuve.

Football, 49ers over Seattle, 17-7.

News, bed. Slept good.

Sunday, Aug. 27, 1995

Have cold. That was trouble with sleep?

Up 9:15. Breakfast Burger King.

Put heat on chest, cold coming on. Took Sudafed. In pain.

Dodgers vs. Phillies, lost three already. Won 9-1, Piazza hit grand slam. {It's like she heard me about using the term grand slam!}

Another bad night, couldn’t sleep. Read til 3 a.m.

Monday, Aug. 28, 1995

Pay car insurance. Pd.

Up 9:30. To donut shop for coffee. Tennis 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Becker won, Matsuoka cramp in leg.

Tried to sleep, no dice. Got cable statement, prices up.

Tennis 4:30 p.m. Monica Seles back, bit slow.

Taped Northern Exposure. Anastasia comes to Cicely!

Slept good!

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 1995

Tennis, Tracy Austin commentator.

Graf-Coetzer, C won first long set. C tired in 2nd, but almost came back. Good game.

To show in Aptos, “Desperado.” Almost comic book atmosphere.

To Albertsons, got gas. Watched some news.

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 1995

Slept good, 11:30 to 7:30. Cold started one week ago with pains in chest?

Breakfast McDonald’s.

Watched tennis. Chang won, Graf over Grande. (New Italian.)

To Mary's, talked a bit. To Kmart, had dinner.

Watered lawn, fertilized.

Washed hair. Taped Northern Exposure. (Starting from first year?)

Bed 11:30, couldn't sleep til 3 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 31. 1995

Rent pd. Up 8 a.m. Tennis.

To donut shop, coffee. Library, got two books, Pollifax.

Home, ironed, talked to Mary re: dryer and nightgown and blue sweater.

Tennis, Agassi won in five sets, last one couldn’t watch! 

Watched some Geraldo, taped Northern Exposure.

Slept pretty good.

July entries.

Scariest moment of my life: The barefoot man crouching at my door

Artwork by Dell Linney.

Soon after my husband left the house to walk the dog one evening, someone came to the door. When I opened it, I met a man who scared me more than any other human being has in five decades.

 

I can't explain now why I even opened the door, because everything about that doorbell ring was wrong: 

The dog wasn’t there to warn me that someone was near the house. 

I usually look through the window before opening the door, but I didn’t.

I usually put on a sweatshirt first, but I didn’t.

And while the man who rang the bell seemed to know exactly what was on the other side of the door, I sure didn’t.

So I opened my door, which luckily has a screen in front that is always locked, but then slammed it shut as soon as I saw the man’s eyes crawling down my shirt. 

 

I don’t want to think about what would have happened if I didn’t have that screen door. I  don’t want to think about why he was crouched off to the side right near the knob on the screen door... ready to pounce in case I opened that, too?

 

When I calmed down enough to look out the window, I saw the man walking barefoot across the street and climb into the creek next my house. In the past 12 years I’ve seen all kinds of people living there, so I don't scare easy anymore. But with that particular man so close I would never never feel safe again, so I called the police.

Within minutes an officer responded and I asked him to please tell that man to leave, not only because I was scared, but because I didn’t want my husband to confront him. When the officer found the man in the creek, he claimed to just want money. But I’ve had men come to my door who wanted money, and they didn’t behave like him. Nothing about our interaction told me he wanted money.

 

While the officer was still talking to the man my husband came home, and of course still marched across the street to confront him. The officer calmly kept my husband at a distance until he finished with the other man, then explained that while he certainly understood that the man had scared me, he had not committed a crime.

 

But I wasn’t expecting the man to be arrested. I just didn’t want him to be near my house anymore. And I haven’t seen him in the creek since the officer talked to him.

That was cool.

Graffiti that appeared near our patio afterward.

Because when you’d felt like prey for nearly 40 years, you appreciate any help you can get keeping the predators away.

Like when a friend coming to pick me up one evening caught a man peering through my blinds.

Or when I caught a man trying to follow me into the restroom at a highway rest stop in Oregon, and later learned my husband had been watching him, ready to intervene if needed.

And those are just two examples of why I am always on alert in public, constantly scanning the environment for threats. Most women understand why, but when I told a male co-worker once how I never stop watching the people walking toward me, judging how risky they look and whether I need to cross the street, he was aghast.

“I can’t imagine living like that,” he said.

“Yeah, well,” I thought. “You’re a man.”

And that co-worker would have been even more upset to know that I didn’t really trust him either, because I’m never completely comfortable being alone with most men. With family members I’m always counting drinks and avoiding dark corners to keep my ass from getting slapped again, and with acquaintances I’m always asking, “Am I really safe?”

If that all sounds exhausting, it is. So last month when I could call the police and have someone other than my husband shew the predators away, it was damn nice.

Especially since the first time I called the police when a man scared me, I did not feel safer afterward. In fact, I felt more alone. 

 

After moving to a new city for my first job out of college, I began getting crank calls every day for weeks. And when the man finally left a message on my answering machine, I called the police. But their version of help was just to tell me, “guys like this usually aren’t violent.”

 

I didn’t want to be told that the man probably wouldn’t hurt me, I wanted him to be told to leave me alone. So I changed my phone number. And when I found a Barbie doll stuffed in my mailbox, I moved.

I know there are many people who never feel safer after any interaction with a police officer; for them, officers are the predators, not the protectors. And for that I am truly sorry, because I can’t imagine not being able to call the police department for help when I found a man crouching outside my door. If an officer hadn’t responded I wouldn’t have felt safe since. And my husband would never be able to leave me alone in the house again.

 

Unfortunate Update: It’s nearly two years later and that man is back in the creek after serving time in prison for an unrelated felony. In the past week he has been cited twice for polluting state waterways by camping in the creek and violating his parole, but across the street he remains.

 

The last time he was arrested I heard him yell at the officer, “You can’t fucking tell me what to do, I’m God!”

 

And yes, that is most certainly NOT cool.

 

 

My Grandmother's Journals: July, 1995

Every day my grandmother wrote down what time she woke up, where she ate breakfast, what movie she went to see, what mail and phone calls she received, then what she read and watched on TV before going to sleep.

At Lake Tahoe in July of 1956, age 40.

In 1995, she was 79 years old 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 and persnickety woman whom I never knew to live with another person or even a pet.

In her late 70s she was still traveling alone, corresponding with people  she met on those trips, and always keeping up with current events. (I wrote more about her life in an earlier post.)  

Close to her home was the famous surfing spot called Pleasure Point, and she loved walking to the ocean and watching the surfers. When she died at 97 in 2013, I took her ashes to those waves with a friend of hers and we each dropped some at the sand. A moment after I dropped mine, a surfer emerged from the water where I stood.

That was cool.

In July of 1995, she was watching tennis and baseball, drove down to visit me at Cal Poly when I moved to a new apartment, and I drove up to stay with her when I walked in the Wharf to Wharf from Santa Cruz to Capitola, one of the most beautiful races anywhere.

Saturday, July 1, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast Baker's Square. Forgot tennis.

Home, checked bank and credit union.

To library, got three books. Seems I got another cold?

To Drug Emporium, home 3 p.m.

Rested, caught up with papers.

Some TV, Discovery, Amelia Earhart. Not great pilot, no navigation know-how.

Bed early.

Sunday, July 2, 1995

Up 7:45. Breakfast McDonald's. To Albertsons, got strawberries.

Tennis at 9 a.m. TV on most of the day. Mary came by.

Hemmed rose (?) blouse, washed blue slacks. Taped "Nuts," watched Masterpiece Theater.

Foned Toyota.

Monday, July 3, 1995

Up 7:20. Slept good. Breakfast McDonald's.

Muffler at 9 a.m.

Tennis, lunch at Live Oak, BBQ chicken.

Home 5 p.m., walked 41st Avenue to cliffs, looked at waves.

Two Asian girls with boards exited "Otter's Lair." Hawaiian?

Tuesday, July 4, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast McDonald's. Watched women's tennis.

Ironed two blue pants and top.

To Longs, Xerox broken, got vitamins.

Ran tape of "Nuts," watched Frasier/Larroquette/NYPD Blue.

Bed, up 12-2-4.

Wednesday, July 5, 1995

Up 7:40 a.m. Bran Muffin and Postum here.

Took Mary to doctor at 9 a.m. Missed Agassi, saw Sampras.

To corner for donut! Cloudy.

Hemmed "Santa Cruz" t-shirt, some O.J.

To bank, got $100, three checks not cashed.

Put weed/feed on lawn, watched Star Wars. Harrison Ford so young!

Bed, some baseball.

Thursday, July 6, 1995

Up 7:30 a.m. Breakfast McDonald's. Laundromat, home.

Mary called. Doctor wants blood, hers lost?

Tennis, Steffi Graf lost one set, first time in years.

To McDonald's, got chicken sandwich.

Watched Star Trek, took walk.

Friday, July 7, 1995

Up 7:30. Breakfast at Burger King.

Checked VCRs at Kmart, Radio Shack and Sears.  Sale $179, called Justine regarding VCR.

Her car in shop, water pump and gaskets.

Got VCR at Sears, demo model $175.25

To show, Pocahontas.

Saturday, July 8, 1995

Up 7:40. Cereal here. To McDonald's.

Graf (beat) Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Excellent match.

To Trader Joe's, Drug Emporium. Got iron pills and cookies.

Justine called twice.

Read, didn't sleep much. Packed car {she was coming down to see me}.

Put things down, earthquake preventative.

Sunday, July 9, 1995

Left home 7 a.m., stopped in Soledad and rest area.

Arrived Justine's at 11 a.m., hooked TV and VCR up.

Went shopping, to motel at 3 p.m.

Rested, then showered. Ate Fresh Choice.

To show, Farinelli. Back to motel at 9:30 p.m.

Read, "Fried Green Tomatoes" on. Didn't watch.

Monday, July 10, 1995

Up 7, met Justine for breakfast at Margie's Diner. Lots of potatoes.

10:30 back to her place, called her mechanic. Car needs two tubes, leaking into water pump.

Drove to Pismo Beach. Saw John M., he bought us yogurt, he had coffee.

Justine went to work at Montaña de Oro State Park, I back to hotel until 6 p.m.

Picked up Justine at work, ate at "Pete's." Hotel 10 p.m., read.

Tuesday, July 11, 1995

Awake 7, breakfast at Pappy's 8 a.m. Poached eggs and biscuits. $3.97. 

Biscuits not as fluffy as Margie's, but clients better dressed! Business, some tourists?

To Vons, got Maxwell Cappuccino Coffee for John, $2.49. Stopped at Justine's.

Rested at Roberts area and McDonald's, to Santa Cruz at 7 p.m.

168 miles there, same back. Drove 308 miles in area, 644 miles total.

Watched Frasier, John Larroquette.

Wednesday, July 12, 1995

Up 7, awake 6. Took Mary to doctor for blood test. Ate McDonald's, she paid.

Back out to Drop Inn Motel, Liquor Store, Longs and Albertsons.

{I have no idea why her errands included stops at a motel and liquor store!}

Talked to Larry about grass cutters, he had gas cutter last time.

Watered and dug up weeds, ankle hurt in night.

Thursday, July 13, 1995

Up 9. Breakfast McDonald's.

Laundromat, lunch home.

Took Mary Adams to appointment, home 4 p.m.

Rested, watched Star Trek, Q needs help! Never saw this? Corbin Bernsen Q2.

Bed early but read.

Friday, July 14, 1995

Awake 6:15, hot today, Breakfast 8:30. McDonald's.

Walked in mall, library. Got description for ranger.

Home 12:30, M.M. poster fell, took half hour to fix.

Mail, Master card bill. Hot: 90 in shade.

Got two cacti. Justine called at 6 p.m.

To Drug Emporium, bed.

Saturday, July 15, 1995

Plumber between 8 and 8:30. $50. Breakfast at donut shop.

Walked 3/4 hour. To Penney's, looked at luggage. $80, good.

Home 12 p.m., called Justine 2x.

Read, lunch at Burger King. (Milkshake).

Swept patio. Talked to Larry, tub faucet still leaks.

Watched "Double Edge," Robert Ulrich dies! A FBI agent.

Some papers, bed early. Finished, "Beware Young Lovers."

Watered lawn.

Sunday, July 16, 1995

Up 9:46! Breakfast Carl's Jr. 10:30 Lily stopped by.

To Penney's, got white (off) sweater on sale $14 not $19!

Lunch tuna, dinner cereal, peach, banana, cookies.

Typed letters for Justine.

Some TV, napped, read, bed.

Monday, July 17, 1995

Slept heavy, up 7:30. Breakfast McDonald's.

Evidence on car of rain? Home, then to Longs for stamps.

Got gas, car wash at Shell. Dryer turned off? Dried car here.

Then had "accident" from food yesterday?

Larry watered. Rained about 1/2 hour.

To Thrifty, got tissues; to Orchard Supply Hardware, got Lime-A-Way.

To Kmart, had pie a la mode, got candy and paper towels.

Tuesday, July 18, 1995

Up 9:30, breakfast Burger King. Longs, got TV Guide, cookies and sponges.

Changed coolant, called Hazardous Waste, no appointment necessary.

Some yard work, clipped edges and swept carport -- antifreeze in it.

Watched "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," read papers.

Justine called, will be up earlier Saturday.

Wednesday, July 19, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast McDonald's. Trader Joe's, bank, got $100.

Home, yard. Cut some jasmine, part of bush that hangs over fence.

To show, "Nine Months." Hugh Grant mugging too much, Tom Arnold hyper! Robin Williams, good. All in all, some good, some bad!

Took 1/2 gallon of anti-freeze to recycle, man said, "They come get it."

Walked, many sailboats. To McDonald's, got cone. Tired, bed.

Thursday, July 20, 1995

Awake 3:30, read til 4:30. Up 9 a.m. Breakfast Carl's Jr.

Mall, checked shoes. Got $10 pair at J.C. Penneys. Checked on luggage again.

To Paper Vision, got "Nixon envelopes" {for use with Nixon postage stamps}.

Home, lunch 1:30 to 2:20. To Mary Cooper, got her papers. Talked til 4 p.m.

Watched Star Trek Voyager, news and Ted Koppel, rehash of Geraldo Rivera regarding O.J.

Pot missing from front. Wonder if for yard sale?

Friday, July 21, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast McDonald's.

To Capitola Theater, Don Juan DeMarco and Muriel's Wedding.

Sorted more papers, gave to Grey Bears.

41st Avenue being paved, called Justine to advise.

Shower/hair after Lime-A-Way, tub slippery. Went to OSH for tub mat.

Met Mary at 3 p.m., to Boston Market, had salad.

Atlanta vs. San Diego, 6-3, Giants over Astros. Deion Sanders to Giants.

Saturday, July 22, 1995

Up 8, coffee at donut shop. Justine called at 10:30 a.m.

To Zachary's, coffee and fruit. {But I'm sure I had a Mike's Mess!}

Home, talked, rested. To Show, "Postman." Good, long, beautiful sea.

Dinner, Fresh Choice, long.

To cliffs 8 p.m., dark, sea calm mostly.

Home, looked at art books.

Sunday, July 23, 1995

Wharf to Wharf. To meet at 7:30! Up 6:30, muffins from Fresh Choice.

Watered lawn after Justine to race. Made beds, rested eyes.

To corner for donut and coffee. Rested, read, had chicken soup.

Town with Justine, she had pizza at "Heart."

Home, rested, to show: Don Juan DeMarco and Muriel's Wedding.

Monday, July 24, 1995

Up 7, Justine to dentist, me to McDonald's.

Cut some of jasmine, roses.

Justine back at 9:30, packed and left. Teeth cleaned, in good shape.

Hot, stayed in. Watched baseball, taped Star Trek Voyager.

Walked to beach, read.

Wednesday, July 26, 1995

Up 9, breakfast at Bakers Square. Library, looked up: Wasp, Diss, Rad, Def Jam, DINK, Rap, Hip-Hop, WYSIWYG, Bonk, Bonked out, "Too much sex beats Boris" {A headline about Boris Becker} - Yo -No, in your face.

To show, "Smoke." Nice.

Watched Star Trek, news, Atlanta - Dodgers. D, 1-0. Piazza.

Carol at market, goes to SFO Aug. 7. I said I'd drive her up.

Watched last Northern Exposure.

Thursday, July 27, 1995

Up 8:30. To San Jose, gas at Arco. Hot!

Donut at Winchell's, paid bill at Nordstrom's.

To Emporium, got pants, white: Alfred Dunhill, $16. (Were $40.)

Duane Garrett fell or jumped from Golden Gate Bridge! Called suicide.

Home 2:30 p.m., ate chicken at Wendy's.

Friday, July 28, 1995

Up 8:15. Breakfast McDonald's. Walked Capitola.

Checked with Mary, manager there, got used car! Talked about lawn, needs fertilizing.

To show, "Operation Dumbo Drop." Good, many kids there but not noisy.

Saturday, July 29, 1995

Up 9ish. ProCuts. Richard does yoga, Tai Chi.

Home 11 a.m., called Mina and Sy. (He curt. What's wrong?)

To "Water World." Long. Crowded, women next to me laughing at violence!

Costner had gills, webbed feet, rambling.

Nob Hill, got Mocha Mix and bananas.

Tennis, Seles won. Monica has "spare tire." Put on 10 lbs?

Finished Cat Backwards, watched Star Trek.

Sunday, July 30, 1995

Up 8. (Fell in night, hit head.)

Breakfast Kmart, shopped; bought 2 pots and fertilizer.

Walked 10 minutes, home, tennis. Agassi and Sampras, Canadian Open.

To mall, got Blizzard. To Gottschalk's, got two blouses, long-sleeved.

Watered lawn, fertilized it. Taped Michael Rockefeller.

Monday, July 31, 1995

Up 8 a.m., breakfast Carl's Jr. First fertilized roses with iron and fish.

Hot today, called Justine regarding driving up north. She going camping at Point Reyes. I mentioned putting batteries in fridge.

To Twilight Manor for Marye birthday, born in 1898. Talked to cook "Maria," had coffee cake.

To Post Office, mailed package to Justine, book and tape. 

Watched Voyager, Rockefeller, some O.J.

June entries

I found a time machine on the Mendocino County line: The Gualala River

Last summer I went camping with family and stepped back in time.

With no Internet or cell service at our campground, we had no screens to look at. So when I walked to the river, the youngest camper in our group, a nine-year-old girl, followed me down to the water. I watched the birds, she dipped in her toes, and as we stood there quietly, not doing much of anything but enjoying being outside, I floated back to 1979.

That was cool.

The Gualala River, July of 2019

In 1979 I would have been that nine-year-old girl, and that summer I would have gone to Yosemite with my mother and sister for our annual camping trip. Most days camping my mother took off birding, leaving my sister to take me fishing at the creek. Bored by sitting, I would walk through the water, loving to watch the tiny fish swim past my feet.

The Internet and cell phones hadn't been invented when I was a kid, and I'm so grateful. I'm even grateful that I grew up without a television, though I hated it at the time. 

But now I can appreciate being forced to become bored and learn how to entertain myself with my surroundings. Lie in the grass and watch the bugs on the ground, the birds and clouds in the sky. Hold races with the leaves floating down the rain gutter.

And I loved how 40 years later I could have that again with another kid: Spend an afternoon just walking through the water and watching whatever nature sent floating by.

 

My Grandmother's Journals: June, 1995

Every day my grandmother wrote down what time she woke up, where she ate breakfast, what movie she went to see, what mail and phone calls she received, then what she read and watched on TV before going to sleep.

My grandmother and grandfather in June of 1962, in Los Angeles. Taken by my mother, it is the only photo I found of them together.

In 1995, she was 79 years old 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 and persnickety woman whom I never knew to live with another person or even a pet.

In her late 70s she was still traveling alone, corresponding with people across the globe she befriended on her trips, and always keeping up with current events. (I wrote more about her life in an earlier post.)  

Close to her home was the famous surfing spot called Pleasure Point, and she loved walking to the ocean and watching the surfers. When she died at 97 in 2013, I took her ashes to those waves with a friend of hers and we each dropped some at the sand. A moment after I dropped mine, a surfer emerged from the water where I stood.

That was cool.

In June of 1995, she was still watching the O.J. Simpson trial and shows like Star Trek:The Next Generation. She liked Patrick Stewart, who played Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, so much that bought a commemorative plate that she put on the wall near her refrigerator. On the refrigerator she put a photo of Gillian Anderson of the X-Files that she had cut out of TV Guide.

Thursday, June 1, 1995

To Burger King, 8:30.

Then laundromat, washed wool sweater, poncho and blue shawl. No one there but one woman and one man, took Gap sweater!

To Post Office, mailed package to Justine with candy, toothbrush and floss.

To show, "While You Were Sleeping." Good, fun.

Justine called, talked long. She moving 24th.

Watched Prime Suspect, two hours.

Friday, June 2, 1995

Up 8:30, breakfast at McDonald's.

Home, put Clorox on termites, many in shed.

Started cleaning, Larry talked.

To office at 11, Mary there, talked til 12.

Some food (cereal.)

Cleaned shed, sprayed with ant/roach killer. Waited two hours, then put things back!

Forgot to watch tennis!

Paper, X-Files. Taped "Due South."

Bed 11 p.m.

Saturday, June 3, 1995

Up 7:30. Watered lawns, breakfast McDonald's -- hot cakes!

Home, took some weeds out.

To Penney's, got knee highs; Gottschalks, earrings and pin; Drug Emporium, aspirin and diuretic (2) and sweets.

Home 12 p.m., tennis. Ran tape of "Due South."

Watched Larroquette Show, Law and Order. Bed 11 p.m.

Sunday, June 4, 1995

Awake 5:30, back to sleep til 8. Donut shop 10 a.m.

Tennis, Becker out! So is Courier, 19-year-olds beat both. Agassi in.

Shower, washed hair.

To mall, got fish and malt at Carl's Jr. Suffered later.

Got card for Noble.

Bed 9 p.m., read. Wind came up in evening.

Monday, June 5, 1995

Awake 6:55, up 7:20. Breakfast McDonald's. No toilet paper, toilets don't flush.

Got Santa Cruz t-shirt- $14.95!

Mailed card to Noble, also to Yvonne and Sy!

Mail from DMV, needs reg and smog.

Tuesday, June 6, 1995

Up 7:30. Breakfast McDonald's.

Car to Watsonville to clear fumes. Passed smog check, but new tube needed. $46.80

Agassi lost, hip injury.

To library, got "Cat Who Wasn't There."

Tried to find parking for "Tales from the Hood," but none!

Home, read papers. Bed 10 p.m., up and read 1 -2 a.m.

Must vacuum and clean and dust!

Wednesday, June 7, 1995

Up 8. Breakfast Carl's Jr.
To Gottschalk's, got 2 rings. Home, some tennis.

Watered lawn before breakfast, cleaned under bed - dust.

Got some wash ready, changed sheets.

To show, "Bridges of Madison County." Meryl good, Italy accent.

Home, read, some TV. Eyes burn!

Thursday, June 8, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast McDonald's.

Laundry, to IRS for instructions, out of date. Corrected form, mailed.

Thrifty, got tissue, soap. Home, got gas.

Read, eyes hurt.

Lost pilot found, Scott O'Grady. Six nights, shot 6/2, picked up a.m. Thursday! Teaches survival techniques.

Saturday, June 10, 1995

Up 7. Breakfast McDonald's. Home, cleaned kitchen and sinks.

To Longs for cholesterol check, report not good!

Graf over Arantxa Vicario, 7/5, 6/4, 6/0. Played well. (She cried at ceremony.)

Monday, June 12, 1995

Up 7:30. Right eye stuck. Breakfast Lyon's.

Drug Emporium, got vitamin A and B-12.

Dusted outside windows, wiped inside. Water shut off.

Wrote to Mina, took to mailbox. Water back on 1 p.m.

Washed bedroom curtains, read book.

Ate beef stew. Larry cut lawn.

Ironed curtains, watered lawn, raked. Some TV, Star Trek.

Tuesday, June 13, 1995

Up 7:45. Breakfast McDonald's.

To library, had soup for lunch at Erik's (Deli).

To show, "Tales from the Hood." Morals. Much violence.

Mail from McCoys, pictures of me (2).

Gargled with sodium perborate. Medical dictionary says is antiseptic.

Wednesday, June 14, 1995

Up 7:30. Breakfast McDonald's. Rained, washed car.

Cleaned clothes closet, insects in it!

Vacuumed, took three hours.

Read, then put clothes back. Next more curtains.

6 p.m., scattered seed on lawn, plus dry fertilizer.

Watched Diane Sawyer interview with {Michael} Jackson & wife {Lisa Marie Presley.} Much criticism on KGO in a.m.

Thursday, June 15, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast Carl's Jr. To Penney's, got skirt, long.

Home, some yard work. Rained in night, soft ground, pulled weeds.

To Drug Emporium, got crackers, cookies and candy!

Watched O.J. trial, tried on glove! Big show about not fitting!

Gargled twice.

Saturday, June 17, 1995

Slept good. Perborate seems to be helping infection in membranes.

Some vacuuming in dining area.

To show 12:30 after shower/hair wash.

Got salad at McDonald's. Home 3:30 p.m. after library.

Eye damage from insect spray?

Sunday, June 18, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast McDonald's. Walked in Brown Ranch.

Drug Emporium, got Head & Shoulders, candy and cookies.

Home, Dodgers vs. Cubs. Dodgers won 6 - 0. Piazza home run with 3 on base! {Isn't that a Grand Slam?}

Tuesday, June 20, 1995

Up 8:30. Ironed blouse.

Breakfast at Carl's. Breakfast too much!

Washed curtains in dinette, kitchen, etc. Argued with man who closed dryer. He scared of drugs!

To Longs, TV Guide, cough drops, candy. Checked blood pressure, talked to nurse.

Ironed curtains, watched NYPD Blue, Koppel.

Wednesday, June 21, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast McDonald's. Got Lotto ticket.

Penney's, knee highs; Payless Shoes, denims, heel grips.

Finished putting curtains up, lunch here.

Some O.J. trial.

Mall, got shower liner and faucet.

Put liner up, read papers, watched opera.

Mary C. home!

Thursday, June 22, 1995

Up 8:30. Breakfast Carl's Jr. Message on phone from Mary, went to hear about trip. Her eyes bad, she had friend fly up to drive her home!

Shower, washed hair with Head & Shoulders.

Mall, glasses aligned. To show, "Red." Good, film half hour late.

No mail, got Greek salad at Pizza My Heart.

Call from Mary Cooper, slight stroke.

Friday, June 23, 1995

Up 7:30. Awake 4 a.m. Breakfast McDonald's.

Talked to Mary C, taking blood thinners, needs to have blood test Monday.

Washed four curtains from front, still need three big ones.

Usual TV, Dodgers beat Giants at L.A. 7-2!

Broke glasses frame, right corner.

Mail, letter from Justine, moving this weekend.

Monday, June 26, 1995

Mary to doctor at 8 a.m., waited until almost 9 a.m., doctor had not signed slip for Mary's blood test.

Breakfast at McDonald's, Mary paid.

Ordered muffler at Toyota, not in stock.

Wrote letter to Justine.

Some yard work, washed two shirts for thrift shop.

Tuesday, June 27, 1995

Awoke 3:30 a.m. Usual problems, no sleep after.

Up 8 a.m., breakfast Lyon's. Ate too much. Walked a bit.

Bank, Longs, got TV Guide, Kleenex. Also at Thrifty's, plus Vick's.

Rented Demolition Man! "Rat Burger," violent, but S S {Sylvester Stallone} doesn't lose his cap!

Bed 11:15. Not able to sleep until 2 a.m.

Wednesday, June 28, 1995

Awake 7, up 8. Breakfast Carl's Jr.

Mall, walked around. Turned in video.

Home, rearranged one small closet.

Mary C. came by, needs another blood test.

Read until 12:30. No Nightline?

Took Actifed and aspirin.

Thursday, June 29, 1995

Up 9:30. Breakfast Kmart. Bought pants and lingerie.

To San Jose, got gas at Arco, $116.9/gal. To Emporium, then Nordstrom's, got pink jacket.

Trader Joe's, got coffee for Justine.

Collapse of wing of department store in Seoul, South Korea.

Read late, couldn't sleep.

Friday, June 30, 1995

Up 7:30, got paper. Mary ready (for appointment). To McDonald's, she paid.

Home, watered lawn, roses fertilized.

Read, hemmed beige pants. Haircut 4 p.m.

Diagnosis Murder, X-Files re-runs.

Bed, 10 p.m. Tired.

Entries for May, 1995