January 10, 1986
1986!!! Shelley will be 5 on Sunday. Wayne and I celebrated our eighth anniversary last Tuesday. And in about a month Wayne will be 39! He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m planning a surprise party. A wake. For him. I’ve asked Liz and Phil to deliver the eulogy, we’ll drape the house in black crepe paper, have a sign-in book at the door for all the mourners to sign. Everyone will be asked to wear black - or we’ll pass out black arm bands at the door. Ruthy says she’s going to have a bunch of black balloons delivered. We’ll set out the kind of buffet wakes usually have. Sandie is going to make the cake. I’ll have to compose a remembrance card and invitation - black edged of course.
From The Little Prince
January 23, 1986
Ah blessed, blessed naptime! I’m sure God invented naps just so mothers with numerous progeny could survive the time between lunch and dinner without killing said offspring. Talked to Lori a few days ago, David was back in the hospital with pneumonia and Bob was in the hospital because he tried to commit suicide - carbon monoxide. He’d gone to the shop (business has folded) and started up a couple cars. It took three hours to fill the garage - Lori claims that the ‘hand of God’ guided her to go down there, she dialed 911 and he was pulled out just in the nick of time. He just felt that everything was too much for him and the family would be better off without him.
(Editor’s note: His second attempt was not caught in time, and he did in fact commit suicide.)
I just checked on all my sleeping beauties - Ruthy is asleep with her “woobie” against her cheek, and her two middle fingers in her mouth. Martha is clutching the sheet with thumb in mouth. Shelley is sucking her thumb with a favorite blue pillowcase against her cheek, and Mugsy is my satin freak...she has MY old satin blankie over her and is stroking a pink satin pillowcase. So different...so alike. My four little darlings.
February 17-18,1986
I’m developing a definite allergy to white fiberglass! Potty training twins is the absolute PITS! Whenever one of them even thinks of heading for the bathroom the other is right there too, shedding diapers, clothes, training pants - whatever! They seem to be catching on, but initiation come slowly. The constantly have to be reminded to go. Of course, they’re only 26 1/2 months old, so what can you expect?! I think I’ll close for now and go to bed. Rain tomorrow,so maybe we’ll bake some cookies and a lemon meringue pie for daddy. GramBam came down for a few days and it was wonderful! Someone to take care of the kids and act as a buffer between me and that constant “mom mom mom!” I just noticed how close I’m getting to the end of this book one. I feel so isolated sometimes. and terribly parochial. too busy to keep up with good literature. I just found out that there are three or four more books out in the Dune Series. I enjoyed Herbert’s Trilogy so much...guess I’ll just have to make an effort to read the rest of them. I don’t know if I put this into writing yet, but we found out that Martha was even more critical than we thought. The nurse at PVCH who was Martha’s primary care nurse introduced her to someone else in the ACN as “my first full arrest.” I guess I’m glad we didn’t know sooner - we might have wrapped her in cotton and been totally afraid of her. BEDTIME NOW! 1:30 am.
March 29-30, 1986
Easter...my birthday is still 5 months away and I’ve already blown point 1 of my three point plan. I couldn’t stand my hair. Because of how long it did get, I was at least able to get a different style. Martha and Ruth and Mrs. Lento made the Fontana paper today. The photographer was at the SBMOTC Easter party and she took the girls swinging with Nannie giving them pushes. Really cute, except that they listed them as Martha and Ruth White. I think I’ll call on Monday. There were 85 people there. Including kids - the best turnout we’ve had for anything for a LONG time. Sandie said “Everything you work on turns out great...don’t ever move!” I’m running for club Treasurer and was voted Delegate to the upcoming Convention in Anaheim.
March 31, 1986
Well, we survived Easter. Now I remember why we go to two separate Masses. Although I have to admit that the girls did behave themselves this morning. We got there early (for the 10:00 Children’s Mass with Easter Bunny) and discovered that this year it was the 10:45 Mass. So we were just about the first people in the gym. Unfortunately it also meant an extra 45 minutes of being good and sitting still. Only one trip to the bathroom with Mugsy and Ruthy in two. not bad! And all four of the girls walked up to get an egg from the Easter Bunny after Mass was over. Mugsy was willing because “I’m almost 4!”
December 16, 1986
Almost nine months later - perhaps no news is good news...but this is ridiculous. Actually all my creative juices go into writing the newsletter. Regardless, this past weekend is a must-record event.
