Monday, 26 April 1971

Up about 8:15—Carol Lewis arrived to leave Chris here for the day—she was substitute teaching. I shaved, had breakfast—left for St. Mary’s. Went to the Post Office first. Spent my morning reading in Gray’s The Canaanites. About 11:40 I went to our church. The W.S.C.S. was holding an all day meeting—making things for the Fair—I just dropped in to say hello. Chatted with Winnie re: organist. Then about 11:50 went to the Congregational church for the Public Affairs Luncheon—the speaker today was Josiah Spaulding (he ran against Ted Kennedy for the Senate last year). He’s a very dynamic person; he spoke about Common Cause. [1] The luncheon was from 12:00 to 12:30, then the speech + discussion period 12:30–1:30. I was impressed by him—I hope he makes it to higher office someday. After the meeting was over, I chatted with Ed Nutting briefly until about 2:00, re: my discussion with Ernie Bailey yesterday. I went back to the Episcopal church, read further—but I got very sleepy. Came home and lay down for about 30 min. I tried to read after that, but didn’t get much done. After Carol picked up Chris, Bonnie went to the lumber yard, and Debbie was “on the loose” out of her room. Helped with supper, then read, 6:00–6:30. Watched CBS news, etc. Then read, played with Debbie, read, helped Bonnie put shelves in her closet in our bedroom. Prepared post cards to mail to Ad. Board re: May 5 meeting. Read, bathed, OBLO c. 12:15.

Tuesday, 27 April 1971

Up at 7:50  Shaved, had breakfast, made it to St. Mary’s in time for morning prayer. Then read in Grays, The Canaanites. The league of women voters held a meeting—thus I had to use my earplugs to drown out the chatter—but when I finished Gray’s book about 11 o’clock I came on home. Bonnie + Debbie were away shopping. A record had been delivered by the mail man—guitar + mandolin music. Shortly after I got home, B + D arrived—I help get groceries out of the car, and helped with the preparation of lunch. During the noon hour, after eating I relaxed—played with Debbie on the swings. After Bonnie left for work (she gave her two weeks’ notice today) Debbie went down for a nap. I began Gurneys book on The Hittites, napped briefly. Don McGaw appeared at the door about 2:00—he was accompanied by the young man (layman) who does work with youth at Christ Church Lynn. His main purpose in dropping in to see me was to give me (rather Bonnie + the new baby) a painting (?—medium unknown) entitled “Circus Time”—appropriate for a child’s room. It had won first prize at their Arts Festival—and he wanted us to have it. He didn’t stay more than 15 min. Then I went back to reading in Gurney—for the balance of the afternoon. Fixed supper—we ate shortly after Bonnie got home. Went to the church to turn off the heat. Watched CBS news etc.—interrupted by phone call from Homer. I spent the evening—except for a doze—reading The Hittites. Found the moon fish dead—I’d been suspicious of his behavior for days. No bath OBLO midnight.

Wednesday, 28 April 1971

Up shortly before 8:00. Shaved, had breakfast, made it to St. Mary’s in time for morning prayer. Read all morning, except for a conversation with Dick Bamforth and Ed Nutting. I left for home about noon. Debbie had played hard all morning, so when I walked in the door I found Bonnie trying to get her off to bed for a nap (she’d had lunch).  I took her to her room, got her calmed down (she didn’t like the word “nap”) and she went right to sleep. Bonnie and I had lunch. I then relaxed with Newsweek, then turned again to The Hittites—before napping for a while. About 2:45 Debbie awoke—and played the rest of the afternoon. And I continued with my reading—finished Hittites—at which time I began working on supper. We ate shortly after Bonnie got home. After eating I went to the church to turn off the heat, then came home, began looking over Saggs The Greatness That Was Babylon, watched CBS news, etc—then we played with Debbie for a while before she went to bed. Then I returned to reading in Saggs. A very good book—its not on my list, but on the revised list, which Beck gave me “for my information.” But I’ve decided it would be wise to read as much on the second list as possible. I will read only the first 153 pp. in Saggs, which deal specifically with the histories. About 9:30 I see Saggs aside, had a snack and coffee, and turned to working on the sermon for Sunday. Am preaching for the next 3 Sundays on the Lord’s prayer. Stopped to bathe about 11:15. OBLO 11:45  Θ

David’s diary, 28 April 1971

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Cause

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/14/davids-diary-26-april-1971/

Friday, 23 April 1971

Can’t remember what time I got out of bed—after Θ. Shaved, had breakfast. My main concern for the day was to get my sermon finished. I got down to St. Mary’s, and devoted my time to the sermon. I was finished with the rough draft by about 11:30. Came on home, after stopping at Riverdales for bread. Ate when I got home. After lunch I set about fixing the door to Debbie’s room—bottom section had to be glued back on. Bonnie left for work, then I remounted the shade in Debbie’s room. The window isn’t finished yet, but the shade is needed. Then Debbie went down for a nap, and so did I. About 2:30 I got up, worked on the sermon for the balance of the afternoon—also put together a squash pie—I finished the sermon about 4:45. After Bonnie got home Debbie and I went outside. She had been asleep all afternoon. I set to work turning over the soil in the garden plot out in the yard—worked at this for a while. Got almost ¾ done on the larger plot. Debbie and I also played on the swings for a while. About 6:45 the Burtons arrived. We had supper, visited—it’s been over a year since they were up here, and they’re moving to Colorado in June. Larry brought me some Fritz Wunderlich records which I asked him to buy for me in Boston. So we listened to those, played with Debbie for a while. Spent a good amount of time recalling BU and church relationships. OBLO  c. 12:05.

Saturday, 24 April 1971

[Top panel: took pictures of Burtons, harbor from headlands]

Up about 9:20. We had breakfast, after which I shaved. It was a glorious day—warm, sunny—so we all went for a walk. We showed the Burtons the church—took a picture on the steps—then we walked down to St. Mary’s; I gave them a tour of it, too. From there we walked down to T-wharf—and out to the headlands. We headed home about noon. We parted from the Burtons in Dock Square. They wanted to walk down the Neck—and we were weary, especially Debbie, for whom it was proving to be a long walk indeed. When we got home Debbie had lunch, then went down for a nap. We relaxed, had lunch on the table when Larry + Mary Kay returned. After eating we had to prepare for going to the garden. Among other things this meant getting Debbie up out of a very sound sleep. We got to the garden about 2:15—the Burtons drove up too, just to see it—but then they left for Boston. It will probably be many years before we see them again. Then it was work. I took one of the roto-tillers, and didn’t let go for a full two hours—no breaks. About 4:20 I finally shut it off—joined the party for refreshments. We picked up Debbie at the Lewis’—where she had gone for a nap—but didn’t take one. We got home shortly after 5:00. I went to Gloucester for Kentucky Fried Chicken—since we were too weary to cook. Then flopped after eating—watched NBC news. Spent the balance of the evening working on service; made brief trip to the church; practiced sermon. Listened to music; bathed, read in bed. LO. 11:30.

Sunday, 25 April 1971

Up shortly before 8:30—we lost an hour due to the time change. Shaved, had breakfast. 3 showed up for my class. We began the story of Joseph. Got to the church about 10:40. Medium sized crowd. Preached on “A Formula for Coping.” Bonnie taught Sunday School today—as for the next few weeks—so she’s not in church. I was home by 1:15—got lunch going. I tried to read a while after eating, but was too weary. Napped, Θ. Got up about 3:45–4:00 —read for a while, then went down to the Universalist Church. They were having a 4:00–6:00 o’clock “tea” —in celebration of their 150^th anniversary. It proved to be a negative experience for me—not that there was anything wrong with the tea itself—rather the conversation that I had—with Ernie Bailey, the Baptist minister. I had been given the task of approaching him regarding participation in the Joint Church Committee—the group trying to find out how local churches can cooperate. He’s a great ecumenist, but he has the theory that the Cape Ann area is the smallest viable unit for ecumenical work, and thus he doesn’t want to participate in strictly Rockport ecumenical effort. It’s a stupid theory. In any case his reaction was wholly negative—and I found the whole conversation very irritating and annoying. After I got home I relaxed, we had a late supper, then I spent most of the evening until 10:00 working on reading—Gray’s The Canaanites—snacked, wrote my weekly letter to Mrs. Myers (copy to folks)—puttered at this and that. no bath, read in bed briefly. LO 12:20.

David’s diary, 25 April 1971

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/13/davids-diary-23-april-1971/

Tuesday, 20 April 1971

Up just about 9:00. Shaved, had breakfast. I then had to spend some time working on the poems for the funeral—had to copy them out from books. About 10:45 I got to St. Mary’s—not much left of the morning, but it did give me time to make some progress. Came home by about 12:20. Had lunch. Debbie went down for a nap after Bonnie left for work. Shortly thereafter Virginia Bate arrived. The funeral director’s assistant called for me about 1:30. Took me to the funeral home—at two the funeral for Evelyn D. (Mrs. Thomas) Hendrickson—64 years old, dropped dead last Sat morning. The funeral was longer than usual, since I incorporated poems into the service at the request of the family. Also a soloist sang two pieces. And the burial was at Locust Grove—all the way over at Lanesville—the first burial over there that I’ve officiated at. Got home about 3:30—Virginia went home. I then did some more reading until it was time to put supper together—very simple, remains of a beef roast. We ate shortly after Bonnie got home. I read 6:00–6:30, then watched CBS news etc. Historic supreme court decisions today—unanimously upheld the legality of busing. Debbie was in bed about 8:00; Bonnie went to the executive committee meeting of community chorus. I spent the evening reading. When Bonnie got home she gave me a HAIRCUT. Read, bathed OBLO  c. 12:10.

Wednesday, 21 April 1971

Up by about 8:30—didn’t bother to shave, had breakfast. Bonnie and Debbie were preparing to leave for Avon. It was a beautiful sunny mild morning. Debbie and I played on the swings together for a few minutes, then I left for St. Mary’s. I was able to get Jones’ book, The Herods of Judea finished. Virginia Bate came in while I was there; she had come in to return some books she’d borrowed. After finishing my book I came home—about 12:30. It was so lovely out that I decided to do the roto-tilling at the garden. Some weather reports had indicated rain for tonight and tomorrow—and that might have made roto-tilling impossible on the weekend. So I got my lunch, relaxed with Newsweek—waiting to see how the weather was developing—there had been some sprinkles while I was eating—but the dark clouds moved out. I borrowed Herlihy’s car, went to the rental place in Gloucester, then headed to the garden. I roto-tilled without a break from about 2:30–4:30. I had to stop in time to get the machine back to Gloucester. I found to my dismay that my work gloves were in our car—i.e., in Avon. So I had to work without them, and after 2 hours at the roto-tiller my hands were a wreck—a few blisters—and itching, stinging. After returning the tiller—came home, thanked the Herlihys for their car. Collapsed with the newspaper. Had supper, watched CBS news, etc. took a walk to the church to turn off the heat, bought a copy of Playboy. Spent the balance of the evening working at my desk, watching TV. OBLO  c. 1:10.

Thursday, 22 April 1971

[Top panel:   called A. B. Dick]

I awoke about 7:00, but turned over and went back to sleep—and it’s amazing how late one can sleep without an alarm clock such as Debbie. I didn’t awake again until 9:45! I got right up, shaved (2 days worth), carried a glass of juice and some cookies to my study, and continued working on sorting, filing, getting things straightened up in general. I was still doing this at noon. About 12:30 I stopped to eat. But then completed work at my desk. I then did some stock-taking re: reading yet to be done for the next exam. I made two lists of things that have yet to be covered—one on history, one on archaeology. About 3 o’clock ? I went to the post office, then to the church. I’d forgotten to turn on the heat at the church—so I dropped in to see the boys—only 2 there. Then I headed home. I looked through the paper when it arrived—but then turned to working on my sermon. Didn’t even have a topic selected—so I had to do some hunting in my “sermon material” folder—old “sermon starters” from the Xn advocate. I finally settled on an idea that I’d jotted down long ago when I’d done some sermon planning. About 4:45 I started on supper—and Bonnie and Debbie arrived home. We ate about 5:30. After supper I helped Debbie with her bath. Relaxed, watched CBS news etc While watching TV I clipped old articles from New Republic. Watched a program on childhood; Ironsides. Then worked on the sermon further. Bathed 10:45. OBLO 11:10.

David’s diary, 22 April 1971

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/10/davids-diary-20-april-1971/

Saturday, 17 April 1971

Up about 8:00, after Θ. Shaved—2 days worth. Had breakfast. As I was about to leave for St. Mary’s to study, got a call from Mrs. Bamforth asking if Bonnie and I could be witnesses to the signing of their wills this afternoon (Dick witnessed ours)—at 3:00, at Starretts—I said “yes.” Then I went to St. Mary’s—had to come back home, because I forgot my book!—i.e., it didn’t get into my briefcase. But once I got to work I made progress—reading in Meek’s Hebrew Origins. Came home about 12:30. Relaxed and read after lunch. About 1:45 I went to see the Hannibals. I took the tape of Bishop Mathews’ sermon. This was over just at 3:00—I then left, picked up Bonnie and Debbie and went to Starretts. We witnessed all the signings—also stayed to watch a play worked up by Starrett and Bamforth children. We got home about 4:00. I walked down to Richdale to get milk, but lay down for a nap when I got home—and got some helpful rest. About 5:30 I got a call from the funeral home—Mrs. Thomas Hendrickson died suddenly this morning, funeral to be on Tuesday. We had supper, then I returned to reading—About 7:45 I went over to see Thom Hendrickson—many of his family were there—I stayed til about 8:30. When I got home Bonnie went down to Patriquins—Kay just returned home from California. I worked on tomorrows service, practiced the sermon, but then returned to reading in Meek for a while, bathed. OBLO  c. midnight.

Sunday, 18 April 1971

Up shortly before 8:40. Went downstairs, read in Meek til shortly after 9:00. Dressed, shaved, had breakfast, practiced my sermon. Got to the church about 10:30. The “post Easter slump” was definitely in evidence—about 25 in church, including the choir! I preached on “God’s Reputation”—home before 12:30. Ate, relaxed—but had to be at St. Mary’s by 1:30 for a Joint Youth Fellowship meeting. Ernie Bailey didn’t get there til 2:00 (he had to be called, he thought the meeting was at 3:00)—we didn’t break up til sometime after 3:00. The main thing discussed was the apparent favorable response from the Universalists and RC’s on being asked to join. After the meeting I stayed on at St. Mary’s to study. Finished Meek, made a very small beginning on Jones, The Herods of Judea—but came home about 4:30 because I was so weary—I napped until about 6:00—at which time we had supper—at 7 o’clock I had to be at the Congregational church for the final C.O.C.U. sum-up session. The attendance was pretty slim—and we broke up about 8:30—a committee will draft a final report for the Rockport effort as a whole—and of course individual evaluations will be sent in. I got home about nine. Bonnie had made some bread pudding and cookies—so we had a nice snack. Then I read in Jones—about 10:30 I stopped this—wrote an article for the Eagle, then wrote letter to Mrs. Myers/copy to folks/ no bath/ OBLO 12:10.

Monday, 19 April 1971

Up about 9:00—seems hard to get going on Monday morning—shaved, had breakfast. Didn’t get to St. Mary’s until about 10:15 or so. Read for about an hour. Then drove over to the Eagle office with my article—from there went over Stop + Shop to get chicken livers. Carol was invited to supper tonight, since Jerry was out of town—and I was planning our new dish with chicken livers and coconut milk. Today being the holiday, [1] many of the stores were closed—so I had to buy the livers at two small shops in Gloucester. Got home shortly after noon. Relaxed after lunch, tried to find a suitable poem for tomorrow’s funeral. About 2:00 I got back to St. Mary’s. Read for the afternoon—in Jones, Herods of Judea. I came home about 4:45—Carol was here. She and Bonnie chatted and supervised Chris + Debbie while I worked on supper—and I think it can be judged a success. I varied the recipe somewhat from last time: more curry—no peanuts—except those sprinkled on top. Relaxed after supper, then watched CBS news, etc. As I was preparing to go to the funeral home, Carol was gathering up Chris to go home. I stayed at the funeral home about 1½ hours. That is not very usual practice—but after seeing the family, I got into conversation with the new owner of the funeral home, Mr. Greeley III—35 years old—quite a change from Mr. Mackey. After I got home I went to work searching for suitable poetry again. This took quite a while—didn’t get back to reading as I had hoped. Bathed. OBLO c. 12:20 Θ+

[1] Patriots Day, in Maine and Massachusetts

David’s diary, 19 April 1971

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/09/davids-diary-17-april-1971/

Wednesday, 14 April 1971

[called General Theo Library, Boston]

Up about 7:20. We had to be ready to take Chris Lewis—Carol got a call to substitute teach today, so since we are on her list of prospective sitters, she called us—this was arranged yesterday. After I had shaved and had breakfast, they arrived. Carol was running late, so she left hurriedly. I naturally was able to make it to morning prayer at St. Mary’s since I was up so early. But the preparations for the rummage sale were still in full swing, so I went to the congregational church. Studied in one of the Sunday School rooms. About 10:30 I went to St. Mary’s for coffee—got involved in looking at the book table—bought several books. Went back to the congregational church—read for a while, then came home about noon. Bonnie was finding it taxing to care for two kids, especially since Debbie wasn’t in a very cooperative mood. She has been displaying jealousy toward Chris—very possessive of some toys. After eating I read a while, but was pretty pooped, so lay down for a short time, then got back to reading. Carol got here shortly before 3:00—she’d had a bad day, no discipline in the class—we went over to Gloucester to get surplus food. Bonnie stayed with the kids. After getting home we relaxed, I read while B + C chatted. Fixed supper about 5:00; made trip to church to turn off the heat (which I’d put on at noon) watched CBS news, etc.—Men at Law—a great drama tonight slamming the Vietnam war. Read the rest of the evening—bathed about 10:30  OBLO c. 11:15  Θ

Thursday, 15 April 1971

[Top panel:  called Burtons]

Up about 7:45. Shaved, had breakfast. Made it to St. Mary’s in time for morning prayer—then went to the Congregational church to study. About 10:35 I went to St. Mary’s for coffee break, but returned to study about 11:00. Read until coming home about 12:15. Had lunch, relaxed, but read too. About 2 o’clock Carol Lewis arrived—she and Bonnie went to St. Mary’s to look at rummage sale goods. Debbie went down for a nap before she left, so I had was able to work. After finishing C. R. North’s book, OT Interpretation of History, I turned to writing my sermon. Bonnie and Carol got back by about 3:15. At which time I went back to the congregational church—continued to work on my sermon—by the time I headed home about 5:30 I had it about 75% done. I stopped on the way home to turn off the heat at the church—which I’d put on at noon. Ate supper as soon as I got home. Relaxed after supper, watched CBS news. What a remarkable break in Chinese-American relations has come with the ping pong match! [1] I just hope that Nixon will have the sense to respond in full—make every effort possible to open up relations. Between 7:30–8:30 I worked further on the sermon. Helped put Debbie to bed—playing the role of the “cookie monster”—she hides in the closet, then gets on my back—and I dump her in her bed. 8:30–9:30 watched Ironside. 9:30–10:00 worked on sermon—finished rough draft. 10:00–12:00 watched Academy Awards while doing other things—mimeographing parish letter service. Also called Burtons—who were supposed to come tomorrow. They’re coming out next weekend. Watched news after Academy awards. OBLO  c. 1:00 AM.

Friday, 16 April 1971

[Top panel: took several pictures of Debbie—inside the front door; called Moody; called Bob + Lea]

Up shortly before 8:30. Didn’t bother to shave, since I was somewhat behind schedule. Had breakfast, then went to the Congregational church to study. Got there about 9:20. I read all morning—no coffee break—didn’t go to St. Mary’s because of the rummage sale in progress. I started on Theophile Meek’s Hebrew Origins—read it several years ago, but must be reread. Got home shortly after noon. Bonnie and I had lunch—Debbie had gone to sleep about 11:30. In the mail was a letter from Lea asking about her coming out this summer to help with the new baby, etc. When Bonnie left for work I got to work reading—also dozed. Debbie awoke about 1:30 and I spent some time with her. About mid-afternoon I gave her a snack. But I turned my main attention to writing the final draft of my sermon—and I got it all finished by supper time. We had a roast for supper, so I had supper all ready by the time Bonnie got home. After eating, I read for a while in Meek before CBS news. How strange it was to have the opening list of reporters topped by the one in Peking! The films were very interesting. 7:30–9:00 I read and took time to play with Debbie—“cookie monster” and bean-bag. About 9:00 we called Lea to gladly accept her proposal. At 9:30 we were all set to watch The Odd Couple—but it was preempted—as last week!—by a basketball game—how infuriating—read after watching TV for a while—bathed, read in bed briefly, LO. c. 12:20.

[1] http://www.history.com/news/ping-pong-diplomacy

David’s diary, 16 April 1971

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/07/davids-diary-14-april-1971/