January 26, 1995
This is to be a new program created for me by my son Clint and brother in law David. They installed it last night to make it easier for me to find and put on a hard drive and to copy. A new copier has been installed for me. Thank-you so much for the help, I need it. Now to get back to my story.
January 10, 1995
I left the other story entitled " Rain" where we were in the Doctors office and he was prescribing and diagnosis of my illness and that he would like to treat it with intravenous injections of Chemotherapy. In fact he would like to start immediately, that very day if it would be all right with Etta and me . Dr. Campbell said that treatment would consist of six to eight injections given on a monthly basis. The first week would also have pills to be taken daily, these being designed to work on the lump on my nose and the enlargements of the lymph glands. We would have to start sometime so Etta and I decided to get the show on the road. A call was made to pharmacy for the medicine VINCRISTINE, DOXORUBICIN and CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE. From now on I'll refer to the combination of drugs as " The witches brew." Its much easier to spell. This brew to be injected with a glucose solution containing an anti nausea drug. The whole procedure to take the better part of four hours. Our appointment that day was at a 12-45 and we left after five thirty, Stop ping on the way home to pick up the pills PREDNISONE and some anti nausea pills to be taken if needed.
January 11, 1995
Had a good night. Pulse rate in the morning at 65, evening at 77. I feel a little out of sync but otherwise not too bad. Have been doing a lot of resting and thinking. Took the first pills and I don't like them, they are soft and bi tter and extremely hard to swallow. Read most of the literature that the nurse gave us. All the do's and don'ts, things to eat and things to avoid. All the side effects that may occur from each of the concoctions given. Most of them had the same side effects. All said a loss of hair will occur.
Thursday January 12
Had my usual night of about three and a half hours sleep , so had plenty of time to just lay there and think. Six to eight months of this program seems like an awfully long time, and this is only the third day. Pulse is still good, just a bit hig her and appetite still good.
Went up to the History Class this forenoon. Karen our leader was absent because of the flue. We didn't accomplish to much. Have been doing a lot of resting and spending some time in front of the computer. I'm planning on writing a diary of this journey that I've embarked on. Stopped at the parsonage to inform the minister of my progress.
Friday January 13
Had the usual three hours sleep. Ate a grapefruit for breakfast, pickles made from vinegar for lunch and topped off with a large bowl of tomato soup for supper. By nine o' clock my tongue felt like I had scalded it and it is start ing to swell up. Woke up at two ,my tongue swelled to the point of not having room in my mouth and is as stiff as a board. I'm about ready to hit the panic button and call 911, but the swelling has not gone down my throat so I can breath O K. Decided to w ait awhile as long as the swelling didn't go any further. Four o'clock the swelling is nearly gone and so is the soreness.
Saturday January 14
Reread the list of things to avoid eating so will now stay away from acidy foods. Spent the day watching basketball games on television.
Sunday January 15
Pulse in the morning at nearly seventy and about eighty in the evening so I guess the evil brew is beginning to work. I feel good so will attend Church. Sarah and her family came over for dinner and spent the afternoon with us. I cracked nuts f or the grandchildren in the after noon they seem to enjoy it so much and it brings back memories of my younger days when I would beg some of the grownups to crack nuts for me. What goes around comes around.
Monday January 16
Fired up the tractor and brought in a bucket of wood with Etta's help. It took less than an hour to do but I'm ready to rest for the rest of the day. Took time in the after noon to write a story for the history class on the moving of Clif ford Murray's house from Spoonville to its present location.
Tuesday January 17
One week has gone by since receiving the Evil Potion. The pills are now gone to my relief. They seem to have done what they were supposed to do as most of the lump on my nose has disappeared. Wrote another story on the computer and hit the save button but somehow something went wrong I lost the whole story. I have much to learn about the operation of these machines Sometimes I wonder if I was born in the wrong age and my mind is not adept to the computer age.
Wednesday January 18
Some days everything is on an upbeat and on others its kind of a downer. Today is one of the latter. Etta watches over me like a mother hen over her chicks, I really don't know how I could manage without her. Company today, Jerry came ove r for coffee and to visit. I'm afraid that the wrong message has been given out. I can have company and I'd like any and all to come as often as possible.
Thursday January 19
Our Crockery History class is scheduled to meet today. Tony informs me that Karen is down with pneumonia so I think that I'll skip this week. Visited David and made a deal to upgrade my computer to a four megabytes giving me twice the capacity. Clint called to say that he has ordered an Epson copier so will soon be tooled up to capacity. Now all I have to do is to learn how to use this contraption. Received a report card from the Spring Lake school givingme my fi rst semester grade. It was all "A" It must have been on effort rather than expertise in computers. It hurt me no end to have to cancel out of the class at the end of the first semester, but their computers were all Apple and the one I have is IBM so I was having trouble enough keeping one straight let alone two.
Friday January 20
Every thing is about normal , pulse rate has increased to the high seventies both morning and night. This is to be expected as I should be reaching the low point for the month. Jake Laning came for a visit today. He is always an upper to anyon e when he visits. Have found the solitaire game on this machine and have been spending considerable time at it. I even won several games . The computer goes into all kinds of gyrations when you win. I hesitate to write any stories as ever ything that I save will have to be transferred when we exchange computers.
Saturday January 21
A very quiet day no one showed up and I spent a lot of time watching basketball games on television.
Sunday January 22
Didn't go to Church today. Etta said that there was a lot of coughing and sneezing going on . My resistance should be at its lowest point now , I could catch a cold very easily.
Monday January 23
We were up early so as to go to the Hospital for the mid-month blood work. We won't hear of the results until our next visit in two weeks. Have been thinking of trying a trip to Bruce's Bayou to try fishing. I hear that t hey have been catching there limit every day.
Tuesday January 24
The weather forecast is for a beautiful day. A good day to try my luck on the bayou. It took me some time to get my gear together so didn't arrive until nearly nine o'clock. A couple of dozen fisherman were already on the ice. Of course the acti on was slowing down about the time I arrived. Caught one small throw back and then only a few nibbles after that. There were so many people out there that I knew that I spent the next hour visiting Fatigue soon began to set in so I rolled up my line and h eaded home. It felt awfully good to sit in my easy chair.
Wednesday January 25
Counted twenty eight deer in the field just north of the house this morning shortly after daybreak. This mild winter should have been good for them. Even if a cold snowy period comes they should weather six weeks before starvation sets in and t hat would be near the middle of March. I think that they should have it made for this winter. The fawn crop should be large and healthy next spring. Clint called and said that my printer had arrived and that he would come Thursday evening to instal it , so will have to contact David to bring the upgrade computer over so as to reprogram and do the instillations all at once.
Thursday January 26
Both David and Clint were here setting up a Computer center for me. Everything is working fine when they do it. I hope it will do the same for me tomorrow.
Bad news today, Etta brought me a wad of hair that she found on my pillow. A pull of some hair showed that it was indeed coming loose. Something that I had not expected for at least another six weeks . I can tell that I am now on the upgrade as my strength seem to be returning
Friday January 27
Clint programmed an icon to respond to the code diary so that it would be easy to open .up the computer. I tried it this morning and couldn't get any response from this machine it kept rejecting my instructions. after about two hours I discovered that I was using the code name dairy instead of diary. tried the correct code and got through immediately. I guess I milked cows for to many years. Tried to put this diary on a disc but I know that I was doing something wrong as it w as not registering. so will have to go through the procedure again.
Saturday January 28
David brought over a drop leaf to fit in front of the desk to put the keyboard on. It makes it so much easier to type on. The hunting gang came over to go rabbit hunting and afterwards came in for coffee and to visit. They shot three rab bits, not to bad. They reported seeing what they think is a lot of coyote tracks.
Sunday January 29
I didn't go to church this morning , but did go over to the folks for coffee. Super Bowl Sunday. Watched the game but soon lost interest in it as the "49's" made it look to easy.
Monday January 30
Two things to do this week. get the information together for my income tax and pay the property tax. Have been playing with the computer for two hours and have caught up on the diary. My hair has continued to fall out. There is still enough fuz z up there so it still isn't a cue ball yet. My strength seems to be returning so that wood pile i s beginning to look inviting.
Tuesday January 31
Practiced on the computer for some time and printed several stories that I had written in the last couple of weeks. They turned out rather well so I'm pleased with what has been accomplished. Fred Erhorn stopped by and we spent a couple of hours comparing our various ailments. After he left I tried the wood pile for about a half hour. It went fairly well, there was not any extreme fatigue so I'm planning on doing it daily for the next few days at least until they give me another dose of "witches brew" scheduled for next Tuesday.
Wednesday February 1
Spent the forenoon getting my income tax ready for the tax Man on next week Friday
In the after noon I transferred several of the stories I have written for the history class to the printer. It is working very well for me. Today I worked at the wood pile for a whole hour. No bad effects, so must be getting stronger.
Thursday February 2
Ground hogs day I don't know if he saw his shadow or not but I did see some sunshine in the afternoon. I went to the Crockery history class and turned in the stories that I had completed, they were well received. The room was cold and after a c ouple hours I was nearly shivering. After lunch I was still cold so went out to the woodpile and split wood for about an hour, that solved the problem. Received another assignment from the class so will have a story to write tomorrow.
Friday February 3
The weatherman is predicting a cold storm coming, two to three inches of snow each day through Monday. Now is the time to replenish the wood box. Wrote another story for the Crockery history group. All about butchering hogs way back in t he 1930's. Spent the rest of the day Cracking black walnuts. They are of very poor quality this year. Don't know if it was the season or what but they did not fill , the meats are shrunk in over half of them.
Saturday February 4
Esther came home this morning so I talked her into putting the information given me by Tony into the computer on the hard drive. Been snowing hard at times but not to much accumulation to this point. Went up to the open house for Dorothy Stroven this afternoon She is celebrating her one hundredth birthday today/ My brother Gordon called from Dallas, Texas and we talked for nearly an hour. He had been having trouble with his Van the motor gave out, it had about a hun dred ninety thousand miles on it. He now has it repaired and they told him it should be good for another couple hundred thousand . It wouldn't surprise me if Gordon actually puts that many more miles on it. I talked with Gordon so long that Esther couldn't wait for me as she had to return to college. I had more stuff for her to help me with, It will have to wait for next time.
Sunday February 5
Pulse rate is now back below seventy in the morning. It was communion Sunday so I went to Church today. First time in three weeks. Only two more days before I have to go in and receive another dose of the witches brew, it will not be my favorite pastime. I can sympathize with the teenager who was featured on Date Line a couple of weeks ago. He was scheduled for Chemo so he took off from his home in Boston and they didn't find him for three weeks. He was in Texas and refused to come home until his parents promised him he could skip the treatment, not a very smart idea on the part of his parents.
We had my brother Clifford over for dinner but I didn't get to visit to much as much of the day was spent on the telephone.
MONDAY FEBUARY 6
Very cold this morning and snowing . The county came in and plowed our driveway out for us, we appreciate them doing it and they find it easier to turn around in the yard than to back around at the mail box. Spent much of the morning writ ing some experiences of my teenage period. It was a time when I wanted to do things on my own to show that I was growing up, but some how things never quite worked out as planned. This computer is very good therapy for me as it keeps my mind on other thi ngs than the leukemia and the Chemo-shots that are to be given tomorrow.
Tuesday February 7
Another cold day and the weather man is predicting heavy lake effect snow squalls.
We left early to go to the hospital for the chemotherapy shots as we planned to make several stops before appointment time. Doctor Campbell was to make his monthly examination to determine the amount of the Witches Bre w to administer, and I had a thousand questions to ask of him. He was accompanied by Dr. Beckering , the Doctor who had drawn the bone biopsy. It was a little like having a reunion as there was much joking and laughing going on. Dr. Beckering informed me that he was meeting with the group of colleagues and he would at that time bring out the uniqueness of my nose lesion and how it is linked to leukemia. The meeting to be held this afternoon. I thought it a good time to question them on the extent of the penetration of the disease into my bone morrow as both Doctors who had worked on that angle were present, but they dodged the issue by saying that all places that the leukemia was found was of the same cells and that the treatment that I wa s being given would knock out the disease in all places equally. It was an answer but not what I wanted. At this time it was discovered that I should have had a blood test the day before to find out how much the white blood cells had recovered from the trea tment of January 10, We had completely forgotten to have it done so they took it from my finger and had a rush job to the Lab, By the time the results came in and the Witches Brew was sent up from the Lab the better part of two hours had elapsed, Time we spent in the lobby. A lady came in on crutches and it was obvious that she was having a lot of pain. She acted as though she recognized us and she did look familiar but I couldn't put a name on her until she started to tell us her story. It was Sharon who had been married to my nephew until she had looked for greener pastures and divorced himt several years before. She had a mastectomy a couple of years ago and now the cancer had returned to her pelvis bone and she was on b oth radiation and Chemo. It made my problems seem to be insignificant.
When the first treatment was given January 10 I had not paid to much attention to what was going on but today I watched the whole thing and kept a steady flow of questions to the nurse about each procedure. First a glucose solution was st arted to which a nausea preventive solution was added, followed by a Heart stimulant to prevent the shock of the drugs on the heart then the first of three drugs followed, a small dose administered in the glucose . Next a large tub e of red chemical was sent through the catheter over a period of about fifteen minutes. The last Medicine given was a quantity of a pint and was allowed to drip at the rate of a drop a second. The whole thing lasted about three and a half hours. Our total time in the hospital was about five hours. I was hoping that there would be no more pills prescribed as I didn't like taking them and they don't like me either, but I was wrong again and we had to stop at the drug store to get a new supply. The night went fairly well though I slept less than two hours.
Wednesday February 8
Cold and snowy today, so it looks like a good day to play on the computer. I started at eight thirty and stayed with it until after twelve. That's to long a time for me as I was losing concentration resulting in lots of errors. Etta had t o go to town and when she returned she had brought me a machine to punch holes in sheet of paper for a note book. Now I can put this dialogue through the printer and be able to store it. The witches brew is taking effect. I have had a very bad after noo n Supper time and I have no appetite but I know that I should eat something so as to take the pills. They don't go very good on an empty stomach . The side effect of those pills is they effect your nerves and make you antsy. Today they lived up to there reputation. I tossed and turned for hours in bed , finally I done some calisthenics and was able to settle down for a couple hours sleep.
Thursday February 9
I'm not feeling to chipper this morning so will make it a slow day. Called Tony to inform him that I would not be attending the History Class. Then played a few games of solitaire. Fatigue seem to be the order of the day so I retired to the sofa for the rest of the morning. After lunch I brought this diary up to date. Had just finished when Cal and Willene came over. They brought over a package of goodies from the Wierenga Clan. It included a surge suppressor to hook up to the computer to prevent electrical surges from damaging the set. Also included were a package of discs for storing information, and a large pad of printing paper. I have more than enough paper now to last me for years.
David included a plaque of his design as a moral booster. It did the trick. It is wonderful to know that you have the support of family and friends.
Friday February 10
Had the meeting with the tax man this morning, all went well except that he was having computer problems. My tax job was rather simple so he done it manually and will install it in the computer later. That seemed to be enough work for one day so spent the rest of the afternoon playing games.
Saturday February 11
Had a bad night last night as I couldn't get to sleep. One of the side effects of the witches brew is that it sets the nerves on edge and makes it difficult to relax. Have been getting about two to three hours sleep a night since last Tuesday. That's hardly enough to keep you going and it seems to be catching up to me this morning. Something else is happening also, My varicous vein has become very irritated and is as sore as a boil. Has the witches brew started it on a r ampage? The weather turned very bad last night, Its around the zero mark this morning and blowing with gusts up to 35 miles an hour. Its nice to be able to be inside and not have to brave the elements. Watched a couple basketball games this afternoon. Got nearly three hours sleep on the davenport after supper. watched the late night news and tried to take a shower but there was no water pressure, The cold wind had penetrated the well pit and froze the pressure switch. I didn't want to leave it that way over night so I took the electric space heater and headed for the pump house . Etta would not let me go alone so she came to. We placed the heater and left it on, returning to the house at about half past midnight . By th e time we returned I discovered what fatigue really is all about. Finally went to sleep and had the best rest I have received in a week. The exercise must have been good for me. Water pressure is back to normal Sunday morning.
Sunday February 12
Cold and stormy this morning so I have decided to stay home from Church. The effects of last nights fatigue seems to be still present. The Doctors suggested that because my white blood cells would be reduced to a very low level from taking the wit ches brew that it would be better if I would stay away from crowds where it would be possible to pick up any of several contagious diseases. In other words I should lead a more or less hermits life for the next six to eight months. Being a farmer and having spent countless hours working alone this didn't seem like it would be a problem. Now I'm in the second month of my hermits jail term and I find that I have a partner who is with me constantly . He follows me around where ever I go. It is he t hat determines what I do, where I go. and how I'll do whatever I want to do. In other words He rules my life. If I think that I can catch him sleeping and try to sneak out and do something without consulting him first he catches up to me and sett les in and I pay for it. It is obvious that he will be with me for several months to come and its up to me to accommodate him. I have given him the name of "Mr. Fatigue."
Monday February 13
I have no pep this morning and I don't seem to care if school keeps or not. Played a couple games of solitaire , not even that helped. Finished the day cracking walnuts. Counted out the trays of nuts and if I do one every three days it will keep me busy for three more weeks.
Tuesday February 14
Valentines day and I'm stuck here where we can't get out to celebrate. Etta made the day worth while by making a large valentine in the snow and putting in the proper wording . It is visible from the living room picture window. The nurse wanted to know if I had any withdrawal pains from the pills after my first session. I had some but thought it to be indigestion . I took the last pill Sunday morning and Monday afternoon the pains started and lasted through the night. The best way to describe t hem is to say that they were like having someone using your stomach as a basketball and dribbling all over the court. The dribbling wasn't to bad but those "slam Dunks" sure got my attention. .
Wednesday February 15
The stomach pains seem to have subsided and I feel fairly good. I plan to do another story and run what I have done to date over the printer so that they can be taken to the History Class tomorrow . The printer is working very well all the stories came out just the way I wanted them. Finished the day cracking nuts.
Thursday February 16
I presented the story on butchering hogs to the class and then they read some of my diary and other stories . Some of them might be useable in our book if a few changes were made. I left the class early as I didn't want to over extend myself. It seems that for the last few days I can sleep anytime and all the time. I must be catching up on the sleep lost earlier in the week.
F riday February 17
Warming trend coming . the birds are happy and we are seeing about 35 deer at a time early in the morning and again just before dark. Large flocks of geese going and coming every day. Talked to Bill and invited his family over for Sunday dinner.
Haven't seen them since new Years day. I have stories scattered all over in three notebooks. Some from the Apple computer. Some from a year ago and now this machine is full , But until they are organized it's hard to tell just what is out there.
Jerry called last night and said that he had been on Muskegon lake for the first time Thursday. They had good luck ,he got 39 good perch. They were going to go again today. Sure would like to be with them, but I'm afraid that I'd run out of gas befo re we even started Maybe next week when I'm on the upswing.
S aturday February 18
A beautiful day the temperature is above freezing . A lot of the snow left on the ground will go today. There were between thirty five and forty deer in the field north of the house. Went for a very easy stroll out to the woods and ended up on th e far side . Saw some tracks that I cannot identify. They have a large ball print and long toe nails It travels like cat tracks but are slightly spread out. He went into several woodchuck holes and came out of them. At first I thought that they might be those of a badger, they are large enough but do not toe in as badger tracks do. Its to early in the season for them to be those of a woodchuck. A mystery that I hope to be able to solve in the near future.
Sunday February 19
The turkeys gobblers are displaying their feathers and strutting around trying to impress the hens . Their heads are all different colors from light blue to scarlet red. A sure sign that spring has to be just around the corner. Bill and Candice were here today . Bill checked out the computer and deleted some garbage that I had accidently installed It should make it easier to find my programs. Then David came in the evening and also played around checking things out and giving suggestions . I'm sure lucky to have so much expertise available to me. I still feel the effects of the trip to the woods yesterday. My white blood cell count should be at about there lowest point this weekend. There seams to be no stamina left and I tire so easily.
Monday February 20
A fast trip to Grand Haven to have a blood sample taken. It only took a few minutes. Brought the dairy up to date but for some reason I didn't care if school kept or not so ended up the day sleeping . Was mostly a lost day. Had chills and fever an d for some reason there was a gristly throat and a lot of coughing all of which I was told might happen .
Tuesday February 21
The chills carried on into the night as I awoke around two o' clock shivering. Etta jumped up and supplied my side of the bed with an extra blanket. It felt so good and was able to get a few more hours sleep. Fred Erhorn made his regular visit . We sat here watching the deer out in the field north of the house. The sun was warm and they lay down next to the woods out of the wind and warmed themselves. Later George and Ruth came over for awhile. The deer were still there for them to see. The weather man says that we might be getting a cooling off period for a few days.
Wednesday February 22
The grisly throat has developed into a raspy cough and seems to be more persistent . Cracked nuts for awhile but have little ambition for much else. That nap after lunch seems so good and I enjoyed it today.
Thursday February 23
History Class day. We had a lot of odds and ends to take care of including the ordering of another two hundred books. The price may have to be increased because the printers cost to us is considerably higher for such a small numbe r . Sat in the entire morning and found that the fatigue had set in. Received some material on the storm that went through Crockery Township back in 1979. I can now write the stories of both tornados that hit our Community.
Friday February 24
Have had chills and fever off and on ever since they gave me the witches brew. Last evening chills started just before bed time. In the early hours of the morning I woke up drenched from top to bottom with a sweat that I haven't experienc ed since having Malaria fifty years ago. It seems that many of the side effects of the witches brew are much more pronounced this time around than the first. Headaches at night that you wonder if the top of your head may blow off. These dissipat e after getting up in the morning. Oh well nobody said that the road of chemo therapy would be an easy adventure.
Saturday February 25.
Took my income tax forms to the post office this morning. Going down Cypress road there was a woodchuck in the middle of the road, he was sitting up as big as life. I was surprised because I didn't think any woodchuck would be out in the middle o f February in twenty degree weather. It is the time of year for the buck woodchucks to be out looking for a little romance and maybe explains the tracks I saw in the woods a couple weeks ago. This computer seems to have developed a glitch of some kind. It didn't want to program itself this Morning. I called Clint and he said he would come over and check it out Sunday. It would be better if I didn't fool around with it in the meantime, this puts me behind a few days on this journal.
Sunday February 26
I started the day off feeling very good however I thought it best not to go to Church just yet, maybe next Sunday. Philip and Chuck and family were over for dinner and the afternoon. Those girls are sure growing up fast and its a joy to see them develop into nice young ladies. I missed my usual after noon nap today. Clint came over in the evening and run the computer through a series of tests. It seems that nothing is wrong with the computer but there is a glitch somewhere in the programing. Clint couldn't put his finger on the problem but he made some suggestion. He slowed down the speed that the computer operated so as to give it a little more time to perform its functions. I tried to stay with him in what he was doing but for some reason I lost concentration as extreme fatigue set in.
Clint and Amy had brought a video tape of the ultra sound that had been performed on her pregnancy . We got to see our youngest grandchild to be . It was every fascinating thing to see. Little arms and legs moving and a heart t hat was working very well. After they left it took me forty five minutes to get ambition enough to go to bed. Didn't sleep to well either. Oh well what else is new.
Monday February 26
The computer seems to be reacting to the changes that Clint put into it , so far has not given any trouble. I reviewed the Newspaper account of the tornado that struck Crockery Twp. back in August of 1979. I prepared the story for the history cla ss Hope it is what they want. In the afternoon I took a walk out to the barn and back. It seems that I am awfully weak I should be recovering now and it just doesn't seem to be happening. I think that I may have a bronchial tube infection. That may be t he cause for the waking up with the sweat the other night.
Tuesday February 28
Last day of the month. Feel good this morning , had a good night without too much coughing but the big head is there at least for awhile. Worked on the diary for awhile then Fred came over for his weekly visit and stayed for a couple of hours. E tta went out to see if the water tank was open for the cattle to drink. The turkeys followed her all the way. Three of the gobblers are getting a bit feisty and show signs of attack. They have been following her when she goes to the mail box and even follows along side of the car like a dog. I started to write about the tornado in the afternoon. I will have to write two v ersions of it one for the History class and the other for my book.
Wednesday March 1
The weather is cold and intermittent snow flurries. With sunshine in between . A sure sign of more of the same for tomorrow. There was either a fox or a coyote going along the woods to the north during one of the snow squalls . It looked to big for a fox but its tail appeared to be to bushy for coyote . Spent a lot of time on the computer today as my stamina seems to be increasing. The afternoon and evening cough returned and was able to get rid of a lot of phlegm , so had a very good night.
Thursday March 2
Real cold this morning . Temperature in the single digits, but the sun will shine as the sky is clear. Went to the history class. we had a good turnout as a couple of our snow birds is back from Florida. Orrie Jubb and Laura Pickett. The only o ne missing was Leo Brown who has problem with a aneurysm in a main artery near the heart which the doctors say is very difficult to correct with surgery. Left a couple of stories with Tony to edit and rewrite. Had company in the after noon . Brot her in law Bill Weirenga came for a visit an enjoyable time. Plenty of deer to be seen every day. Had the usual cough late in the day and brought up lots of phlegm .
Friday March 3
The brightest day that we have had in 1995 Sun was out all day but the temperature stayed below freezing all day. Arnie and Molly Johnson went south shortly after New Years and they have a house sitter to keep the house warm and to take c are of the dog. He lets the dog run more than Arnie was in the habit of doing. I notice that the deer do not travel through the field south of the house. They still enter the garden but only from the north side. Took a walk into the woods , went out as far as the pump house I rested there for awhile and observed the wild life Squirrels, Turkeys, and lots of crows. I'm surprised at how weak that I am My legs felt all drained out by the time I got back to the house.
The neighbors dog barked all night last night.
Saturday March 4
Wrote a story about our dog Jack. this morning. then spent to much time playing games on the computer . Became a little exhausted and felt it for a long time . at about five in the afternoon we counted forty five deer in the gras s water way and another twenty west of the house all at the same time for a total of better than sixty six. That's the most for this year.
Sunday March 5
The computer received a rest today as it was never turned on for the whole day. Saw a dozen blue jays in the pair tree this morning. Went to Church for the first time in a month and afterwards stopped at the folks for coffee . The deer w ere back out again just before dark but the number was at about forty .
Monday March 6
The weather is nice this morning. its just below freezing . It will be good driving to Grand Haven to do the blood work in preparation for tomorrows trip in for another dose of the "witches brew". I still have the grisly throat and the hacking cough. I think that the Doctor should be made aware of the problem as it seems to be more than the normal side effects should be. Spent considerable time trying to find some documents that I read years ago. I thought they were in some old book in our collection but some how I don't find them anywhere. They are sure to turn up when I no longer need them. Large numbers of geese are in the fields now. I would guess there numbers to be in the hundreds. The deer still congregate in the soybean stubble. I wonder what they are after. Is it the straw from the combine or are the re still a few beans to be gleaned?
Tuesday March 7
Everything is a covered with a blanket of ice this morning the trees are beautiful as they glisten and sparkle. Over two hundred schools have been canceled in western Michigan and we are scheduled to be at the Hospital at twelve thirty for another shot of the "witches Brew" today . At eleven this morning the snow started to come down very heavily. put on top of the ice making driving conditions very hazardous . We left early and traveled slowly and arrived on time only to sit around for an hour before getting into the examining room. Doctor Campbell says that every thing is on the up and up my plate count has been excellent and there are no signs of any enlargement of the lymph glands now so the Witches brew seems to be working He was unconcerned about the hoarse throat as being a normal side effect. My dosage would be the same as in the past. He hinted that more tests would be performed after the sixth dosage or about the first of June to see if more would be needed. As usual we had to wait for the stuff to be delivered from the pharmacy and then more time before a station became available so our stay in the Hospital lasted until well after five o' clock . My blood p ressure was 128 over 78 which is very good and I weighed in at just 200 pounds just the same as I was when we started . Etta couldn't believe it as she thinks that I'm not eating half of what she thinks I should.
Mrs. Hall was there with her daughter in law from Iowa . She was to receive her weekly shot. She seemed a little frail and a bit confused which in not in her character .
Wednesday March 8
I feel good this morning , the witches brew doesn't seem to have kicked in as yet. Spent some time cracking walnuts . If I don't get busy on them there will still be some left when gardening starts in the spring. In the afternoon I went on an eg o trip and wrote a story about all of the various public service jobs that I participated in over the years. I spent three hours going over it. It was really to much time to be on the P.C. and I felt the fatigue. Ended up sleeping good fo r four hours but then woke up at three in the morning and it has been down hill ever since so I' planning to make this a slow day.
Thursday March 9
Played hookey from the history class this morning as the 'witches brew" was catching up to me. It felt as though I'd been out in a boat and was just starting to get sea sick. The time when both your head and your stomach begin to act up but befo re you lose your cookies. It only lasted a few hours, so I rested much of the day.
Friday March 10
Extremely cold this morning but the weather man says that a warming trend will arrive this afternoon. The winds are blowing in a traditional March fashion so will eat up the snow very fast. Watched about ten deer north of the house for three hou rs, Finally they lay down in the sun right out in the middle of the field. Our supply of wood in the house is getting low but for some reason I don't have the ambition to do anything about it at this time, maybe tomorrow. My exercise today was walking to the mail box for the paper. There was a owl hooting in Floyd's trees . I walked up that way a little ways to see if he could be spotted but as soon as I went his way he shut up.
Saturday March 11
We seem to have a Mexican standoff going on now. Since our Neighbors the Johnson's left for vacation and left someone else to watch their dog he has been coming over here and barking at the cattle in the barn yard Etta is so afrai d that he will spook them that she is out there telling him to get for home. Now when Etta goes down to the mail box the dog feels that she is invading his territory and he tells her so from the time she leaves the house until she gets back. I don 't think that she is afraid of the dog but she sure doesn't trust him. What a beautiful morning the snow just about disappeared yesterday and the thermometer is flirting with sixty degrees. We have seen no robins as yet but I wouldn't be surprised if they show up sometime today. There is a large flock of blue jays around this year. This morning a pair of mourning doves was on the front lawn and I was able to observe them up close. They are really a beautiful bird.
Sunday March 12
Sunday is a slow day as I stayed home from Church . Etta brought home a book that a nephew had loaned her on the early history of Ottawa County. I had seen a book very similar to it before but there is much valuable information in it, so I may be able to glean something new. It amazes me how people keep coming up with books for me to read. It is good and I appreciate it.
Monday March 13
Withdrawal time from the pills prednissone. A very bad day, a very very bad day.
Tuesday March 14
Jerry Stroven called to see if I would like to have him take my four wheeler in to have it serviced . It was not running good last fall. I think that the choke was goofed up. Jerry wanted to do it before taking his four wheeler away for t he summer and bringing back his boat for summer fishing. It was good of him to do that for me and I appreciate his volunteering to use his trailer. The four wheeler will have to be my legs for this summer as my energy will hardly let me walk from the house to the barn. I told the service manager that I wanted it to be in top condition as I would not be up to doing anything on it.
Wednesday March 15
Today seems to be a good day for me as I feel great. Done some work on a new category that I plan to start. I'm calling it "bits and Pieces" and will consist of little things that happened way back in the early Peterson stay in Crockery Township. It was so nice out this afternoon that I went for a walk to the far end of the woods. fatigue didn't bother much but after returning it kicked in and stayed for the rest of the day.
Thursday March 16
History class day. We had bad news , the cost of printing a new supply of our book has taken a big increase as the cost of paper has gone up over two dollars per book. Making the price that we will have to charge go up to seventeen dollars per boo k. But what can we do. I was gone away for the first time in three weeks and as you can guess we had company.
Friday March 17
I haven't had any pep for the last couple of days so have tried to make each day a rest day. Al and Bernice came over in the after noon and we had a very enjoyable visit for three hours. There were a few deer out for them to see.
Saturday March 18
The gang all came over at about ten this morning Jerry, Jake, Ken, and Sam Creasy. They seemed to have a lot of fun as a group, the suggestion was made to have a get together on a regular basis they all seemed for it but no next meeting is scheduled at this time. In the afternoon my nephew Morris from Holland came over . He is interested in the Alt property that is to be auctioned on April first. It would be nice if he could secure a part of it as it joins up on the back end of our proper ty on the other side of Crockery Creek. He also left a documentary of tapes on War at Sea of W.W. 2 . The whole series will take seven to eight hours to run. It will be something to do on the days that I don't have ambition for anything else
Sunday March 19
This is my low time when my resistance to cold infection is the greatest. Etta and I were scheduled to be greeters at Church this Morning but as Etta usually does she performed the task by herself. John Ruiter came over after lunch and visited for more than two hours. He was interested in the stories that I have been writing and would like to spend time to read them all at a later date. My son Bill and family came over as it was there anniversary Twelve years. Candice is still w aiting on the stork. But her wait can't be too much longer. In the evening my sister Wilma and Frank stopped by . She brought over several shoe boxes filled with clippings that my mother collected over many years. I will go through them to glean any info rmation that is there. Much of the material seems to be obituaries. but she must have cut out every article that happened to have my name mention. From what is there I think that I could start my personal scrapbook. That raspy cough has returned with a v engeance . I'm spitting up huge mouths full of phlegm , It wouldn't leave me alone during the night so I didn't get a lot of sleep last night.
Monday March 20
Today is the first day of spring. The wind is out of the south east and blowing at about twenty five miles per hour. The old timers always say the wind and the direction on the day that the sun crosses the line indicates the prevailing weather fo r the next three months. That cough seems to be getting worse and the junk that I'm spitting out is increasing . Its hard to sleep when you keep having coughing spasms. I don't know how Etta puts up with me. She can't sleep either.
Tuesday March 21
Spent hours going through the clippings that my mother had collected and saved. Found four stories that I had written as a sophomore and the teacher had put in the Coopersville paper. I knew that some had been printed but I was surprised to find four of them. I think that I will reprint them in the book in the chapter on growing up as a teenager. I have to watch myself as I can black out during some of the coughing spasms.
Wednesday March 22
The cough isn't any better today and it doesn't allow for good sleeping . I copied one of my essays from way back in high school days. still have one more to go. Bill Boot from the Church consistory called and said that he would be out. I gave him directions but he didn't follow them and so he got lost and didn't arrive until noon. Run several pages of the diary through the printer but some how I didn't start in the right place and now there is one full page to be caught up and I don't k now how to do it so will have to wait until someone comes over.
Thursday March 23
I'm all in this morning so I called the history class to say that I will not be in this morning. Tried to do some work on the computer but found that I was to shaky and I wasn't concentrating. Napped until noon. The sport shop called to say that m y four wheeler is ready. Jerry and I picked it up in the afternoon. They sure know how to charge it appears that they may be double dipping on me and charging twice for labor. I was in no mood for arguing the bill so I paid it and walked o ut. John Yonker came for a brief visit later on.
Friday March 24
Etta goes out to see if there are any new calves. They have been coming pretty fast now. Have had one set of twins and they are doing fine. I have been extremely shaky and exhausted the last few days. The cough has kicked into high gear now and it gets to be a little disconcerting. Such a nice warm sunny day I took the quad out for a test run. through the woods and around the soybean fields. Most of last years woodchuck holes have been opened up this spring, maybe I should set my box t raps.
Saturday March 25
I don't seem to care if school keeps this morning or not so am planning a slow day. Jerry and Ken came over for coffee and to visit. While they were here Etta went out to check the cows. One had her calf half out and it appeared that she might ha ve a hip lock. Etta came running to the house to get help. I called Philip but by the time all of the troops arrived the calf had came normally. Its better to be ready for an emergency and not need it than to get caught Flat footed. Esther came down fr om college with a couple of her girl friends. They had to go out and see the new born calves. Esther went through my book and wanted to take it back with her so she could spend more time on it. I said no not at this time as I'm still adding more pages t o it. Spent the rest of the day doing nothing but sit in a chair and watched the fourth segment of the VCR program War at Sea. Its very interesting to me as I have been in several places shown on the tape.
I was having trouble getting enough air into my lungs so had a very bad night This morning I feel all washed out and in need of some sleep.
Sunday March 26
That cough is very persistent and I'm bringing up some unbelievable gobs of junk. I always have been a gagger all my life and now this stuff causes my stomach to retch . So far I have not lost my cookies but have been awfully clos e to it. Something else has been added this month, I have blacked out two or three times and found myself on the floor. I can usually tell when it is going to happen so can take proper precautions. These bouts with the "Witches Brew" do no t follow a pattern , each one gets worse than the one before. The weariness and the fatigue never lets up It is with me all the time.
Phill and Lillian and children were down from Traverse City. Those kids just keep on growing especially when you don't see them only about every two or three months. John Ruiter says that he will come over Monday after work and run the Roto tiller for an hour or two for me. The weatherman is predicting rain showers at about that time.
Monday March 27 through April 7
Some developments have occurred in the last ten days that has kept me from the computer so I will have to bunch about ten days into one story. A road block has appeared in the road of chemo therapy and it has been necessary to make a detou r around it, But to understand the whole episode I'll start at the beginning. For several days prior to March 26 I knew that all was not as it should be, I was to tired and to out of breath to be normal and then there was that persistent cough th at was bringing up big gobs of junk. My thoughts were that it was a part of chemo and I should learn to live with it. On Sunday Philip Bliss and Lillian came down for Sunday dinner. Phil is a Respitory therapist in the hospital at Travers e City, He could also see that things were not as they should be and he urged me to get immediate attention from a Doctor. I put him off saying that my cancer Doctor would be in Grand Haven clinic on Tuesday and I would wait until then. He didn't think I should wait that long. He stayed in Grand Rapids Sunday night and on Monday Morning he called Pam Burns [our niece ] for back up and they came over to check me out. They decided that I should go to the emergency at the hospital i mmediately. They would not take no for an answer. So I ended up at NOCH in the emergency room. Tests were taken that surprised everyone, My heart beat was between 135 and 140 per minute. The blood pressure was 90 0ver 60 ., and the oxygen level in the blood was extremely low. I was suffering from a mild case of pneumonia, among several other things. All kinds of things started to happen Including all kinds of blood samples. I was put on oxygen and IV's of various kinds. They told us that I would have to be admitted to the hospital until they could find out just what was causing the various flair ups. The Doctors had several ideas as to what might be the cause but until tests were completed they could only guess . In the m eantime they started all treatments hoping that one of them would be the right one. Over night in the hospital. and the next morning brought all kinds of tests. That evening while several of my children were present and the Minister Ken Vis was there to. Doctor Ottenbacher gave us the complete diagnosis. It seems that the Chemo had loosened up the blood clots in my legs from the varicose veins. and they were floating around my blood stream and settling in the lungs preventing them from oxygenating the blood. That caused the heart to beat faster and the blood pressure to go down. Treatment would be complete rest and blood thinners to break down the clots. It meant that I was confined to my bed for most of my stay. Slowly things started to r eturn to normal. But my heart was not in rhythm and a heart shock was performed. The results could be felt immediately . I will have to thank all of the visitors that came up to see me It made the stay much more pleasant and shortened the d ays for me , A special thanks to Pastor Vis for his daily calls they were very up lifting both physically and spiritually.
It is now Friday April 7th and my first full day home. My energy is picking up and everything seems to going as it should. All that I have to do is take the Pills that have been prescribed . The biggest job is how to keep them all straight. The cancer doctor has scheduled me to restart the Chemo on Tuesday, but he is going to leave one medicine out. The red one that was guilty of all my problems and many of the side effects of the therapy. It should make the chemo m ore pleasant to take.
I wonder what might have happened had Phil and Pam not got on my case and ordered me to go to the hospital. The Doctors say that substantial damage has occurred to the heart and that I will probably have to take a heart medicine daily for the rest of my life, but that I can probably do everything that I have done in the past but it will have to be done in moderation.
Saturday April 8
A quick trip to the hospital to have a blood sample taken. The doctor wants to keep a check on how thin the blood is . He will call if need be. I'm still on blood thinner to break down the blood clots that collected in my lungs from the varicose veins that the chemo stripped from my legs. While at the hospital we went in to see Mrs. Stroven [Jerry's Mother] . She had been admitted just before I was released. She had taken some kind of medicine that had not agreed with her and she couldn 't wake up. She was awake when we entered and she knew both Etta and I calling us by name. She sure is sharp for a woman of over a hundred years. After getting home fatigue set in and lasted all after noon. After noon visitors included Joe and An drea Brondyke. Ran into one of my neighbors and in talking to him he says that he is also on the same heart medicine that my Doctor has prescribed for me, only his daily dose is almost double what mine is and he is leading a fairly active life. I guess th at maybe I should stop and count my blessing.
Sunday April 9
Philip and Bills birthday today. Also received news that we have a new Grand Niece born today. She is the Grand daughter of Jon and Betty and they named her Hannah.
Etta and Esther went over to Bills in the afternoon to see our new Grand Daughter for the first time. She was born during my hospital stay. I didn't feel up to the ninety mile round trip so will have to wait for another time to see her. I seem to be having some kind of reaction to the variety of pills that I'm supposed to take. I'm light headed and it feels good to have a hand on something to hold my balance. There are so many side effects to every pill. Another side effect is the prickly skin all over. It feels so good to scratch and rub my back. Etta is afraid that I might draw blood from excessive scratching, she says that she will have to put boxing gloves on me.
Monday April 10
We went to the hospital to have a white cell blood count in preparation for tomorrows return to the chemo therapy . I took most of the pills that have been prescribed on a daily basis. at breakfast time and found that when in the Hos pital I almost had to grab onto the walls to keep my balance. So now I have decided to spread the pills out to only a couple at each mealtime and lesson the impact of so many at once. The unsteadiness had passed by the time we returned home. Neigh bor Arnie Johnson came over for a visit, the first time I have talked to him since his winter vacation. In the afternoon Fred paid his regular visit. I notice that my pants belt has stretched two notches in the last couple of weeks. Food s till doesn't taste good and there is a bitter taste in my mouth most of the time, this will have to be blamed onto the pills rather than the chemo.
Tuesday April 11
Spent the morning writing a few tid bits about the early Peterson family experiences. The weatherman is predicting rain later today but the sun has been out in full force this forenoon . Our appointment at the clinic was for three o' clock so it gives us a late start. Our Doctor for the day was Dr. , Rotman. My vital signs were excellent . Weight at 187, blood pressure 127 /72, Heart beat 60. about as good as one can hope for. The regular dose of the witches brew was pre scribed less the " red pop. " A long slow process taking until after seven o'clock in the evening. A thundershower came through sometime while we were at the clinic. It had opened up the first daffodils of the season in our yard.
Wednesday April 12
No sign of the witches brew kicking up a fuss as yet, it will probably come later. Had a good peaceful sleep. Worked on some stories of the past for the book. was able to print them and add them to the collection. Printed an extra copy o f a few pages and included them in the birthday card Etta sent to my brother Gordon. I'd like to have him give me some information on a few of our uncles. He's older than I and maybe remembers better.
Thursday April 13
Went to the History class for the first time in several weeks. The new book is coming along in good shape but it appears that we may not be able to get it ready for print for this spring because of the illness of several on the group including me. I tried to bow out of one assignment that had been thrown my way but they said that I should hurry up and get well then get busy. Nice people don't you think. Was rather tired when I got back at noon. Rested a bit after lunch and then went up to Sarah' s for a short visit as it was her birthday. Got home and stayed in the chair for the rest of the day. Sleep came harder last night but still got rest and a few hours sleep.
Friday April 14
The witches brew is starting to effect my sleep. Sweat for four straight hours and had little sleep but I feel good this morning. Started the rototiller for Etta and she made a couple of rounds in the garden but the soil was a bit wet so we put i t away. took a short ride on the four wheeler to keep both it and me in shape. After lunch we went to the funeral parlor for Mrs. Van Beek's visitation. She was a very nice lady and lived to be in her middle eighties..
Saturday April 15
Another slow night as I could only muster a couple hours sleep. That's three in a row now and I feel it this morning. I did write a letter to the kindergarten class of the Grand Haven Christian School in answer to their response of a Easter card for shut-ins . I tried to make it to boost the moral of the children. John Ruiter visited for a time in the afternoon and then Philip brought the corn planter home and I went out and inspected the attachments that he had installed for" no till." That was almost to much for one day as it left me very sluggish for several hours.
Sunday April 16
Easter Sunday and here I sit at home. Thought it better to take it easy after the slow day yesterday. The weather man predicted possible showers last night but they never materialized and it looks as if we might have a bit of sunshine today. Esth er is coming home with a girl friend from College today so we will probably not have to active a day.
Monday April 17
A beautiful day, nice sunshine and in the middle fifties. Esther came home yesterday so I had her help me with putting much of these stories on a hard drive disk to have Tony go over them. I also picked her brain for other information on this co mputer. I'm sure lucky to have so many people in the family as a source of information . Clint called last night to say that his Company is sending him on a trouble shooting mission to Ohio State University for three days this week. Gordon's birthday today, he is seventy nine today. I felt good this morning so I got the roto tiller out and made a couple of rounds in the garden but found that my legs are not ready for that sort of thing yet. Etta took over and tilled the whole garden, It look s very nice and she done an excellent job for not having any experience on the tiller. I'll bet she will be tired tonight. We probably should be planting the peas this afternoon but the weatherman is predicting showers tonight. Took the four whee ler for a ride and toured the whole farm on both sides of the road. Jumped nearly forty deer, they seemed to be everywhere I looked.
Tuesday April 18
Withdrawal pains set in late Monday night and lasted most of the day Tuesday. Some times they became rather severe. By late in the day they were gone. It will be three weeks before I have to go through that again. The weariness in the legs is s till there today from the attempt at rototilling . Glenn and Marylou came for a visit today. Bill called to say that their new baby is still in the Hospital with a virus and is doing a lot of coughing but she appears to be bright and alert. Maybe she will come home Wed, Thunder showers tonight but not a lot of rain.
Wednesday April 19
Our day started with a trip to the hospital to have a blood sample to see how the blood thinner is working, in preparation for the Doctor visit tomorrow. We stopped on the way home to get the early garden seeds Peas, carrots, beets, lettuce , et c. If we had been smart we should have planted them in the after noon but the temperature was in the forties and the wind chill in the teens. so we procrastinated. we will probably regret that decision later this spring.
Thursday April 20
A busy morning , first went to the History group and brought a box of my mothers newspaper clippings for them to sift through to see if anything can be found for our next book. Had to leave early for the doctor appointment at eleven. The doctor said that I should reduce the amount of the blood thinner medicine as the blood is slightly thinner than he wanted it to be. He then proceeded to lecture me on my whole physical condition. I think that every doctor gives this lecture to hi s patients some time and they follow a certain pattern. Such as, You are getting older and you have to recognize the fact that you cannot do the things you did in younger years, and that you will have to take certain precautions if you wish to enjoy this earth. His story to me followed that line but he pointed out that I was lucky that I had pulled through the hospital stay. He said that I was in the balance and could have gone the other way. He didn't want to see a repeat of that so it is up to me to se e that I follow instructions carefully. The five medicines now being taken will probably continue for the rest of my life.. He stated that there was considerable damage to the heart but as long as I took the heart medicine and didn 't over exert it I should not have a problem. The lungs are a different story, They had considerable scarring before, from farmers lung and several bouts of pneumonia, But now there was much additional damage from the blood clots. It means that a very close monitoring will be necessary. My days of going to the woods and cutting wood will have to cease. In other words he has put me on the shelf. That doesn't mean that I have to sit in a chair, only that I do things in moderation after we finish with the Chemo. That should not mean that I can't service and ride the lawn mower. The grass is starting to grow , so it can't be put off much longer.
He didn't say anything that I didn't already know or suspect but hearing it from him sort of made it official and I guess that I should take it to heart.
Friday April 21
Six tenths of an inch of rain fell last night. There are puddles in the yard. The temperature has gone up fast since daylight but the weatherman predicts it to fall again later today. We have been averaging way below normal temperatures for April and there isn't any relief in sight. Put the battery charger on the lawn mower but the starter will need lubricating as it doesn't want to kick in. a job for tomorrow. Have been sleeping very well lately it seems so good after laying aw ake so much earlier in the month.
Saturday April 22
My sisters birthday , she will be 71 today. A beautiful day even though it is a bit cool for this time of year. Worked on the starter of the lawn mower and got the thing running. I tried it out under the cloths line and it run really well. But the blades appear to be very dull. A job for next week. Was out playing around for more than two hours and didn't suffer to much fatigue so I must be getting stronger. Sure hope so.
Sunday April 23
Clifford was here for the day and in the afternoon Clint and Amy came over with Lydia. She sure is growing and is starting to talk. She is now putting words together to make sentences . She will have her second birthday in a couple of wee ks. Noticed some swelling in my left foot Sunday night.
Monday April 24.
The swelling in the foot is gone this morning. Will work in the garden planting the peas today. I do it the hard way making much more work than necessary, but the results of the extra work shows up in a better stand. The weather man is predicti ng light showers tonight , We need a warm rain to bring the night crawlers to the surface. I'd like to collect a few for the opening of fishing season next Saturday .
Tuesday April 25
The rain has been postponed for a day. We only got a sprinkle. Rototilled a section of the garden and trenched it to plant the potatoes. It took about two hours. I must be getting stronger as the fatigue didn't set in but there are some muscles that haven't been used for some time that decided to rebel . Planted a half bushel of potato seed of three different varieties. If they turn out good and produce as they have in the past it will be more than what we need.
Wednesday April 26
It is a dreary day today, a light rain is falling and the weatherman says it may continue for 48 hours. There will be no work in the garden today, but I might get my nightcrawlers tonight. I am feeling extremely good now and the taste bud s are good again even though there is an odd taste in my mouth between meals. Today is a good day to catch up on some stories of the early Spoonville and put them in the book.
Thursday April 27
Went to the history class in the morning. Our new supply of books is moving fast. We now have most of the material and stories for our new sequel book so we will concentrate on little tid bits to put color into it. There is room for pict ures also. My after lunch nap turned into nearly two hours so the afternoon became short and was filled with a visit from Jerry Stroven His mother is still hanging on some days she is good and other she seems to be failing. It is very hard for him to cope . We had planned to try fishing for walleyes on Saturday the first day of season but it will have to be put on hold. Oh well a after the two inch rain it is doubtful that the fishing would be any good anyway.
Friday April 28
Kenneth my oldest brother's birthday today. He would have been 89 years old today if he had lived. He has been gone for a dozen years now. It is also the day that our mother died back in 1968. It doesn't seem to be that long ago but the calender doesn't lie. Spent most of the day organizing and putting together stories of Spoonville and of its early residents. There is still more to do. Tomorrow is the first day of trout fishing season and I'd like to go but something tells me t hat I'm not quiet ready for wading streams yet.
Saturday April 29
A beautiful day and I'd like to be out on some trout stream but I doubt if I could take it this year so will have to wait until next year. Worked on the computer for awhile compiling stored stories and running them through t he printer and putting them in the book. Went up to watch Esther run in a track meet of Calvin vs, Alma College .
Sunday April 30
Went to morning Church service for the first time in several weeks. Bill and Philip with their families came for Dinner/ Its the first time that I had seen our new grand daughter , She sure is a cutey but Bill told us of ficially that she is suffering from "downs syndrome". It is now official what they had suspected from the time of her birth. It is a hard thing to take but I'm sure that if God had a place for such a child he couldn't have picked a better place fo r her as she will be well cared for and cherished by both her parents and her grandparents as well. Afternoon visitors included Steve Van Andel with his children They came to see the animals and for the kids to see the farm. Steve was here often when he was young as he came to visit Bill. It was a sort of homecoming for him.
Monday May 1 1995
A trip to the hospital for a blood sample. The doctor wanted a test for the thinner. It gushed out real fast almost like water so I'm sure the rat poison {warfarin} is working. The rest of the morning we planted garden. Onions lettuce radish s pinach and other vegies. Stopped at Roy's to see when he can put a new a radiator in the suburban. The old one appears to be an accident ready to happen and I'm afraid that it will give out as soon as we try pulling the travel trai ler. He says tomorrow. I seem to be getting stronger every day and the fatigue goes away faster.
Tuesday May 2
We seem to have acquired three guinea hens that have showed up in our yard two days ago. Did somebody just dump them off?, or has someone in the neighbor hood lost them. They all look alike so I would guess that they are all of the same gender. Already they show that they can be a pest as they crawl through the garden fence. The last two nights they have roosted in the green barn. They are a noisy bird and I'm not sure that we should adopt them or not, in the meantime they seem to have adopted us. Roy put the new radiator in the truck so now I'll get the travel trailer ready to go. Finished planting the early garden, Early carrots and some golden bantum sweet corn.
Wednesday May 3
Routine chores today. Gave the suburban a surprise and cleaned the accumulation of sand and junk out of it. Mowed lawn and moved the travel trailer to where I can reach it with the water hose and get it ready for summer a ctivities.. Went out after dark to get nightcrawlers. Managed to get some five or six dozen.
Thursday May 4
History class in the morning. Had two visitors from Grand Rapids, a farther and son whose great uncle lived in Crockery. Solon Poll, He was township clerk for years . He had lost a leg in a hunting accident. He came down the street every day o n his crutches going to the town hall<< at the time I attended Nunica School. Afternoon a another story for the computer. and book.
Friday May 5
Decided to go trout fishing today. Left at seven for a stream north of Ferry. I have fished it several times. In the spring it has some nice trout. I chose this stream as it is easy to get to. A walk of only a hundred yards brou ght me to the water The stream was not as high as I had anticipated because of the recent rains. I didn't do that good as most of the fish were under size. I returned at one o'clock. All went well but the easy chair felt good when I got home.
Saturday May 6
A busy day. First we took a fast trip to Calvin college to bring home a loft that Esther bought for next year. She also sent home a lot of books and her roommate's refrig. Then we were off to Holland to help celebrate Lydia's birt hday which is next Tuesday . She sure knows that she is the queen of the ball . I'm afraid that when the new addition to the family arrives next month she will have a rude awakening. We returned home early so that Mom could prepare some deserts f or Sunday as Sarah and John and there brood is to come for Sunday dinner.
Sunday May 7
Not to much doing church and then dinner with Sarah and John and their children. John picked up the book on my diary and read for two hours. I guess that he was enjoying it.
Monday May 8
Was at the blood lab. by eight and got that out of the way. Back home I took the roto tiller out for an hour then Etta took over and I got on the lawn mower until noon. It felt like that would be enough for awhile. My after lunch siesta was enj oyable today. started on the trailer to get it ready for summer. Pumped up tires, put the battery back in and run water through the system to see if there were any leaks and to get the anti freeze flushed out of the system. will run the water daily until we are ready to use it. We have a Killdeer bird nesting alongside of the driveway going around the garage. She has her nest just off the wheel track and we bother her every time we have to pass that way. She is persistent and returns to the nest very qu ickly after being scared off. Also noticed the sandhill cranes out back of the barn. They have their summer feathers now and are very pretty. Early this spring there were three of them, Yesterday there were two, I wonder if the other one is nesting. The deer must be shedding too as their coats appear to be getting much lighter in color. Later on they will turn a copper brown.
Tuesday May 9
This is the Tuesday that the Wierenga family takes its monthly trip out for breakfast at some restaurant . Etta and I haven't attended since I have been taking chemo. But today I feel so good that we plan to go. Back by 11 o' clock so played with the computer for awhile then ate a sandwich in preparation for the trip to the chemo clinic. The doctor says that my last session was just the way he wanted it to be. Blood cells hit the exact low point at the two week interval and then recovered back to normal today. All vital signs were excellent. He reduced some of the medicines and increased others so time will tell what happens in the next few weeks. The nurse indicated that the side effects will probably be less sever. I'll take that any day. The Doctor is calling for a complete blood analyses in two weeks to see how many cancer cell are left floating around.
Wednesday May 10
First day after the chemo, I feel ok so far only slightly out of sync . So much of the day will be spent at the computer. Caught up on the diary and then started out on some of the stories I wrote for the History class. I'm adding to them to cover much that was left out to keep the history book down to manageable size. Even wrote a synopsis of my army experiences for the Church monthly the Link. They predicted showers but none materialized here though Grand Rapids received nearly two inch es. I should have been planting the candy sweet corn, it is now time, Will do it as soon as possible.
Thursday May 11
A beautiful day today. Went to the History Class . Our reprint of our history book is moving along rather fast as we now have nearly a quarter of them gone already. We set up a date for the group to tour the Spoonville area on May 25. I'm to see the local people for permission to make the tour. So far everything seems to be in order. More pictures are coming in for the second book. It appears that it may be nearly as big as the first book. I wish we could get it out this spring but there is still so much to be done. Afternoon Fred paid his usual visit, While he was here Rev. Vis came , he was able to find us this time. I'm sorry to have had to hurry them away as Etta and I were to go to a birthday party for our granddaughter Anita, and w e had to leave early. The chemo does not seem to be effecting me to much this time , but my heart rate was above eighty this morning. up about ten points since Tuesday.
Friday May 12
Heart rate back below seventy this morning. I like that better. Am planning a busy day. Planted some more sweet corn and set out sunflowers in the garden. That was enough for one day. Tried to fix the lawn mower but I have no strength and couldn't swing the hammer so will have to wait for some help. In the afternoon I went with the four wheeler to Bars and toured his woods for the first time in fifteen years. It brought back memories of my younger years. To me it was worth a m illion bucks. Then stopped at Fred Fritz place and talked for an hour. I got some things straight about early Spoonville that had been bothering me so now I can complete a story or two.
Saturday May 13
Philip had a thousand gallons of liquid fertilizer delivered Friday evening and put in his storage tank. It sprung a small leak and was dripping on the ground. We had to reduce the pressure fast. So filled the corn planter, It slowed the drip do wn so that a five gallon bucket may hold what will drop over night. Saturday morning Philip started planting the field east of the house to get the fertilizer down to the point that he can repair the leak. The ground was still a bit wet for planti ng so he may have created himself another headache, but he did get the tank almost empty. I mowed lawn until noon and had company in the afternoon so didn't get as much accomplished as I had planned. If Mom and I take a couple of days away in the t railer some of the yard will be getting a little shaggy by the time we return.
Sunday May 14
This is the day that we are to go to Bills church to witness the baptism of our new granddaughter Sarah May. She is so cute. Afterward went to Bills and had lunch with the whole family. Several of the Petty's were there also{ Candaces fa mily}. Started to feel real shaky in the afternoon but went to our church for evening service. Had a good nights rest but Monday morning the shakes seem to be getting worse so am wondering how a trailer trip will work out. I can't stay cooped up for ever . Dug about six dozen worms to take along if I get a chance to go fishing, and now I'm all in. Still have to get the truck and trailer ready. If I work it out right I can rest in between jobs. It shouldn't be to bad after we get the trailer set up as we only plan to go about fifty miles from home. Then I can rest and enjoy the woods .
Monday May 15
We got away with the trailer and stopped at Nichols Lake. Its beautiful out . The oak trees are just cracking buds. Some campers say that the speckled bass are bitting but the blue gills are still slow. and I'm set up for bluegills. Th e fatigue has set in so my fishing will be limited at best. Found a few things that isn't working as they should in the trailer so will have some repair work to do.
Tuesday May 16
Still camping. Went fishing and caught about twenty small bluegills and threw them all back. Spent a lot of time resting. The fatigue seems to be diminishing . We took a tour of the area back about ten miles behind Bitely to the west an d found a couple of good looking trout streams. If my ambition picks up I know where I'm going sometime.
Wednesday May 17
Thundershower last night but not to much rain just a lot of noise. The fishing was good this morning I caught about thirty fish but most of them were small some could have been kept if you were hungry. Came home at four and mowed some lawn. The little weeds are coming in the garden and most of which we planted is all up.
Thursday May 18
Jerry called and wanted to see if I could go fishing today. It didn't take me long to say yes. We were on Grand River at about 8;30 and had some strikes almost immediately but failed to hook them Later after losing some hooks on dead fa lls I finally got one nice walleye. He was just big enough for Esther Mom and I for supper. It was a long day for me but I was not to tired .
Friday May 19
Pulled weeds in the garden in the forenoon. Everything seems to be coming up that we planted. And the weeds are too. In the afternoon we went over to Etta's mothers for her birthday.
Saturday May 20
Took a couple of hours driving the tractor on the disc. It went O.K. It was the first time in the cab since starting chemo . I'm pleased that it didn't bother me much. Philip planted corn in the big field. There were two coyotes in the field with him but when he had the gun with him they were nowhere to be seen.
Sunday May 21
A nice sunny day but we had a cold wind. Went to church in the forenoon and slept most of the afternoon. Philip says the coyotes were back again just before dark.
Monday May 22
I changed the reel on my fishing rod. I lost some fish as the reel was to slow. Now I don't have an excuse if I lose one. Philip called and wanted me to take the disc to Bills for repair. Then company came and we visited until it was to late to finish the story on Gunlock Jones. Played with the computer and lost the solitaire game and had to get Esther to find it for me.
Tuesday May 23
Planted the string beans today. The ground was a bit wet but I done it anyway. I have to crawl on my knees as my back wont let me crouch over. Its less fatiguing anyway. Our killdeer that's been setting on the eggs by the drive way next to the garage is still faithfully setting on her eggs. I didn't check the date she started setting , it seems that she must be over her four weeks. Maybe we disturbed her to much and the eggs will not hatch. She seems to think that they will . I hope she is right.
Wednesday May 24
Our yard is a mess I only mow a <-$> little each day so as not to get too tired all at one time. I hardly get over it before its time to start again. I should get the weed trimmer out but that is a man killer and I'm not very anxious to get into it. Put the extra seat in the suburban so I can take the history class tomorrow on the tour of the Spoonville area. It has been a wet nasty day for the most part.
Thursday may 25
Sprinkling this morning It isn't the best condition to take the tour. It stopped by the time we started the tour but the grass is still so wet that walking is a bit inconvenient . We had a slight problem in the old Spoonville sch ool as we couldn't find the light switch for awhile. Cliff Murray had laid out several items from way back that we could identify. Jack Rollenhagan was very good , he knew what nearly every one was. All in all it was a very good tour and I think that the y enjoyed it . After lunch Reverend Vis came and visited for about an hour I enjoyed it. Spent about an hour in the garden there is so much to be done right now.
Friday May 26
Jerry called last night to go fishing today. I used to say between May one and November 30 Farming would take priority to fishing but now after my hospital stay I have changed my priorities so I said yes. Went out to the garden last ni ght for nightcrawlers. They were out all over It took only fifteen minutes to get five dozen. It was a beautiful day for fishing but we didn't do that well. Jerry got two walleyes and I got one. but we did get some cat fish and I hooked into a la rge carp that weighed somewhere around ten pounds. A carp may be considered a trash fish but they can give you an excellent scrap on the end of your fish line. It took some time to bring him in . Jerry was afraid that he would be to heavy for the landing net, but we managed to boat him and remove the hook and throw him back.
Saturday May 27
Set the tomato and pepper plants. and planted the sugar beets and muskmelons . Philip wanted me to move the fertilizer wagon from field to field as he planted so I kept one eye on what he was doing. He was having trouble with the pl anter as the seed was not feeding down as it should. He is going to look it over on Monday <[>memorial day.]
Sunday May 28
The Sabbath the day of rest and it was. I did check the corn field that Philip planted first it is all up on the sand and is breaking ground on the clay it may be a good stand after all. Our killdeer has done it she came off the nest with four little ones . They are so cute with there long legs running around soon after hatching. Now if the cats will only leave them alone.
Monday may 29
Decoration day or Memorial day to some, just take your pick. Planted in the garden for a couple hours then Philip helped me getting the chisel plow hooked up. I plan to chisel one field that the cows pastured on last fall and punched it full of holes from there hoofs in the wet soil. A full day of work and I was tired. Read back some of the stories and parts of the diary. I am appalled at the sentence structure that I have put in. Most of the stories are just as I have written them except for a few corrections of typo's and a few misspelled words. You would think that I never went to school by all the bad sentence structure and added words that are unnecessary . It should be all done over but I've f orgotten how and it would take a long time , besides I'm to lazy. So what you see is what you get. Jerry called shortly after lunch to tell us his Mother had just died. He has been expecting it for some time as she was four months over a hundred years o f age. Etta I will p ut off our camping trip for a day so as to be able to visit the funeral parlor .
Tuesday May 30
Weather is warming up. I disked twenty acres of corn ground getting it ready to plant. In the Evening we went to the funeral parlor. Prepared for a trip camping.
Wednesday May 31
Beautiful corn growing weather today. Made a fast trip to the bank for funds to go camping with. Bought a new door latch for the trailer but it was just different enough so that nothing fit as it should, so spent two hours modifying it. Philip had to finish the job for me. It works fine except you have to turn the knob to make it latch. It was much later than we wanted when we finally got away. We were only going about fifty miles to Benton Lake in northern Newago County. We arrived and found the camp was closed because of repair to the blacktop in the camping spots. So we had to go too Nickols lake Not to much difference and it was only four miles away. The bluegills were on the beds but without a boat it was har d to find them. Caught at least a dozen on Becky's worms that she had collected for me. A very warm night and I slept very good in the trailer.
Thursday June 1.
I had a long day of fishing, It was all catch and release. Most of them were to small to keep but some were big enough to stink a frying pan. I said after wards that I must have caught every fish in the lake at least once. It was fun and relaxi ng. We even went over to Benton Lake to try there new fishing pier but the fish were even smaller than at Nickols. fished until I ran out of worms so now I only have a dozen nightcrawlers left, and the fish seem to turn there nose up on them.
Friday June 2
A quiet morning the water was like a mirror. The fish didn't like the crawlers so I only caught a few. but it was nice just to be out there. After lunch we came home early and done some weeding in the garden until a sprinkle chased us o ut. A half inch of rain would be just what the doctor ordered.
Saturday June 3
The rain gage says that we got about four tenths of an inch. That freshened things up. spent much of the morning moving wagons and fertilizer for Philip and planted the late carrots and more radishes and parsnips in the garden. The ground was in ideal condition for planting. The last sweet corn that we planted is coming up so I'll wait for a few more days to make the last planting of the year so that it doesn't all get ripe at the same time.
Sunday June 4
The usual Sunday Church in the forenoon and a nap in the after noon will have a full day tomorrow getting some ground ready for soybeans.
Monday June 5
A fast trip to the hospital for the day before blood count. Stopped in at Roy's Garage on the way home to schedule getting Esther's car in. She is having some trouble with the fuel injection. Home by nine-thirty . Went out with t he disc and covered nearly forty acres by 4-30 in the afternoon. I didn't notice the fatigue until getting out of the cab of the tractor and then it hit me with a vengeance . Did manage to get Esther's car over to Roy's with Philip's help.
Tuesday June 6
The day of the monthly chemo treatment. We left early as we had some stops to make. Arrived on time at the hospital. Doctor Rotman gave us a rundown on the blood samples taken two weeks earlier. The chemo seems to have done its work on the bl ood but without a bone biopsy the Doctor . couldn't say if it is gone in the bone marrow. He says it usually takes longer there so he is going for the full eight treatments. In other words there will be two more after todays treatmen t of the witches brew. It went very fast today so we were out of the hospital by shortly after one. Came home and helped Philip get started planting soy beans. Also went to get Esther's car which was finished.
Wednesday June 7
The witches brew doesn't seem to be affecting me to much as yet I only feel a little out of sync. Weeded in the garden some and added nitrogen to the sweet corn. I found that the moles have undermined the whole end of the garden. I don 't know if they are a blessing or a curse. They just may be getting a lot of bugs and worms that infest the area. But they also prevent some germination of the seeds. I guess that it may be a trade off. Took a ride on the four wheeler around the field corn fields. It appears that Philip has a good stand of corn this year. But it will have to grow fast to reach knee high by the fourth of July.
Thursday June 8
Went with Etta as she picked up her mother to get groceries. They dropped me off at the Weirsma residence so I had a very enjoyable visit with Burnie. We went and picked up Elsie Wezeman and brought her back to Burnies for a visit with mother A nn Wierenga. They are both in their nineties. and they enjoy those visits. It is fun to watch them reminisce of times gone by. While there Burnie brought out a book that he thought that I might be interested in. It was a collection of Life Maga zines from the war years of the nineteen forties . So I spent much of the afternoon thumbing through the various copies. One picture caught my attention, It was of the Japanese General Yamashita as he was walking in the jungle after the Malayan camp aign and the capture by the Japs of Singapore. I recognized him instantly as I had processed him after V. J. day in the Philippines, But what really caught my eye was his Aid who was walking on his right. He was immediately recognized an d brought back memories to me. I have written of him in my War Stories book but will rewrite it here. He came through the processing line a few days before the General. His English language was very good so we ended up talking. He had been the editor o f the leading Tokyo Newspaper before the war and now was the Generals aid. He seemed to want to talk politics. and to defend Japans roll in the war. His theory was that the U.S. was to blame for starting the war as we were throttling Japan's economic grow th so they had no choice but to lash out to gain influence in the Asiatic area. He could not defend there raping of Manchuria and the Chinese mainland. I reminded him that they had actually started the conflict by the attack on Pearl Harbor, so yo u see that in a way we had crossed swords. I became busy so he sat down to await his forms to be typed up. In the meantime The U.S.O. representative came and delivered the monthly rations of tooth past, shaving cream, Cigarettes and candy bars. I was busy at the time so I stuck the candy bars in the cubby hole of my desk where they were easily seen by all the Prisoners sitting and waiting. This aid came over to me and asked if I would give up my candy bars to share with the various prisoner pres ent as they had not had good rations of food let alone a candy bar for months. For some reason it struck me in the wrong direction maybe because of our earlier conversation anyway I jumped onto him with My Drill sargeants speech that I had learned to perfection while working in the Guard house. I didn't hold back any words , they came fast and fluently. I reminded him that it was because of the Japanese I was giving up four years of my life and It was necessary for me to be down in that hot climate taking care of the prisoners for the International Red Cross. and that I had a good friend from high school that had been on the death march from Bataan earlier in the war and that the Japs had shown no mercy to them. Tho se candy bars was a little link of home for me and there was no way that they would be shared with him or any of the likes of him. He got my point and went back and set down. Its funny how I recognized his picture in the Life Magazine after all of these years even before recognizing the General. I have often wondered if after this aid returned to his job on the Tokyo Newspaper, did he editorialize on the selfish, stubborn, sargeant that he encountered during the war who couldn't even share a candy bar.
Spent most of the afternoon thumbing through all of the magazines. So now will have to go back through again and read many of the stories. I can see that much time can be spent reminiscing many parts and understanding much that I misse d in the war years as we didn't always have good communication of all events while stationed in the Army.
Did spend a little time mowing lawn in the afternoon. I added some oil to the lawn mower and forgot to replace the filler cap so after about ten minutes of mowing I thought the lawn mower sounded funny. It was then that I remembered the plug. All the oil had blown out the filler hole. It took nearly a quart of oil. I hope that I didn't run it long enough to do damage to the motor.
Friday June 9
Spent an hour on the computer bringing the diary up to date then a trip to the garden to plant some more sweet corn. It will be the fourth planting so if all goes well we will have a supply of corn to eat for a long time. This will probably be the last planting for this year. I am able to feel the effects of the chemo creeping up on me now as it is the fourth day. The Doctor says that's the way its supposed to be .
Saturday June 10
This is the day that Philip plans to move the cattle and their calves from here to the hills for their summer pasture. He had some work to get the fence ready so I prepared a couple of gates so that we can run the cattle in the barn. It only too k a few minutes but the fatigue set in quickly. I don't plan to be of much help in the transfer. Just help rounding them up with the four wheeler. Everything went well so I got on the tractor and prepared the last soybean field for planting. Riding the tr actor doesn't seem to bother me until after I get out of the cab.
Sunday June 11
Our Church, as part of memorial day service has been posting pictures of service men of W.W. 2 on the bulletin board. Some had not been labeled as to who they were, so the names were being added. I went over to bring myself up to date on all of them. While there I found it necessary to have a hand on something to hold my balance. Everything seem to be getting out of sync for me. Will stay home from Church tonight . The 6, 7, and 8th day after a dose of the "witches brew "s eems to be the days that I'm most effected and from then on I have clear sailing until the next session. I find myself counting down the days that it will be necessary to complete this ordeal [but necessary] treatment of chemo.
Monday June 12
This is our Wedding day plus forty two years. We do not have anything specific on the agenda for today. Jerry and I had planned a fishing trip on the Grand River for walleyes. Early I went to the garden to check on the latest planting. Only a few minutes and the fatigue set in. It will be a very bad day. Went fishing anyway. Sitting in the boat did not bother me but as soon as we got out, it hit so hard that it was an effort to just move. Caught three walleyes but two of them were too small to keep. We had the other for supper. I will place the walleye right up there with the perch for good tasting fish. A telephone call after getting home informed us that Brother in Law Cal was having troubles from his surgery last week and it is nec essary for him to have emergency surgery immediately. Last reports is that he is in I.C.U. and may be there for a couple of weeks. We hope and pray that his surgery is successful .
I don't think I have experienced the fatigue any stronger since starting the Chemo as I did today, It was overwhelming you just can't get away from it. Oh well in a couple more days it will pass and then maybe there will be about three weeks of ne ar normal life.
Tuesday June 13
Near to a full moon last night . The air is nippy this morning but it appears that the temperature will be warm by afternoon. The fatigue has disappeared this morning but I plan a slow day anyway. Worked on the computer for awhile, Brought the d iary up to date.
The circle has been broken as we just received word that Cal did not make it and has passed on to the other side. It comes as a great shock to all of us. Mark and Ena had left their children with us while they went up to visit their dad only to f ind that he died at about ten o'clock. Etta and I opted not to tell Mark and Ena's children the sad news but to let their parents do it in their own family way. I think it was the right thing to do. It was very hard to watch the children give their littl e prayers at the noon meal and each included there Grandfather in their prayers as only a little child can do.
Wednesday June 14
Still no rain. We are getting a little dry. All I can say is that we should be making hay, but there are a few odds and ends to do first. I will get the duals off the big tractor today and do a little discing of some weeds before they can go to s eed. Went to the funeral parlor for a visitation of Cal. He looked very good, just like his dad. Etta and I brought back all of Pam's and Marks children to stay with us while their parents greeted at the funeral Parlor . Bill and Candyce left their kids too so we had nearly a dozen Kids running around all of them under ten. I gave them all a ride on the four wheeler. It must have went a dozen miles before I got around to all of them.
Thursday June 15
The weather is warming up so will work in the garden for awhile before it gets to hot then a stint on the lawn mower. In the afternoon I spent some time on the computer catching up on some stories, Its so nice and cool in the basement her e, almost like being in an air conditioned room. We had Mark and Ena's children again today. this necessitated another long journey on the four wheeler. Some one at the funeral parlor mention that they were surprised that Cal was first to go in the famil y That because of my recent problems they would have thought that I would be the first to break the circle. Well my ordeal with leukemia is nearly over now and I can soon get back to normal. So I'm now going on record to say that I intend to have many mo re years to enjoy this world. After all there are many more fish to catch, more gardens to plant and family get to gethers to attend and I intend to enjoy them all for years to come .
Friday June 16
Summer has arrived, a beautiful hot day today. Hoed two rows of sweet corn and thinned it to four plants per hill. That was enough for one day so will do the rest tomorrow. Etta has been working hard to keep the garden clean. You may find some dust in the house and even a cob web , but a weed in the garden, NEVER. Cal's funeral in the afternoon, a sad time but Willene and her children seem to be holding up very well.
Saturday June 17
Hooked up to the haybine and started on the field south of the house. The haybine was bunching the hay on me . Philip came along and could see the problem so he corrected it. After that the only problem left was the woodchuck holes. You can't see there piles of dirt in the hay and the mower would scalp off a half yard of sand and plug the cycle. There were only three or four of them that gave trouble. Finished up by noon. Afternoon we went to Troy's graduation party. He has gr own up in the last few years into a fine young man.
Sunday. June 18
All days are hot now and no rain in sight. It is good hay weather. Lillian and Phil are supposed to arrive at about noon. the rest of the family will also be here so will have a sort of family reunion. enjoyed the company. We are still waitin g for Amy to have her baby, she must be close. It is fathers day and I received many nice cards. We made tentative plans with Bill to go camping later in the week.
Monday June 19
A busy day. First a fast trip to the hospital for a blood count , then to Coopersville to get a different tire for the hay rake. replaced several broken teeth and managed to be out raking by eleven o'clock. After dinner Tom Holmes took over on the rake. A call from Clint to say that our new Grandchild may be coming today and would Mom and I come down to watch Lydia for awhile. By the time we reached Holland we have become the Grand Parents of a beautiful Baby Girl. She was only about an hour old by the time we saw her and she had not been given an official name as yet. We still haven't heard yet as I type this but we should hear sometime today. or tomorrow.
Tuesday June 20
Our new grandchild will go by the name Isla Marie Peterson. The "S" is silent so it is pronounced Ila. She is doing fine and will leave the hospital on Wednesday. The thermometer is blowing its top off. Reached 98 degrees today. It was at least ten degrees hotter in the cab of the tractor. I mowed about ten acres of hay, It was all I wanted for one day. I drank gallons of water but still felt weak. so I quit for the day. There is much residue from last year in the bottom of the hay and it causes the sickle to choke up. An occurrence that seemed to happen at least once every round. Philip baled another thirty bales tonight , making over sixty so far and I have close to that many more waiting to dry and bale. Its perfect hay weather but we sure are in need of a rain as the corn is standing still. at the rate its growing not much will be knee high by July four. Our schedule calls for a trip down to the Fort Custer area at a State Park there. I haven't been in that area for years. It will be interesting to see it again after spending the entire summer there in 1944 while in the Army.
Wednesday June 21
The first day of summer and it appears to be another scorcher . We are getting prepared for a short camping trip with Bill and Candyce. Finished mowing a field of hay. A section broke just before it was done so I kept on going. It proba bly left a streak of uncut hay. Brought the Haybine home only to discover that the sickle was broke also. We have a new one on hand so we will not have much of a slow down.
Thursday June 22 to Sunday June 25
Pulled the travel trailer to Fort Custer State Park for three days. Bill and his family went with us. We followed the same pattern each day Fishing in the morning to let the little ones catch a few bluegills. after noon we spent sight se eing and in the evening the children went swimming. followed by a bonfire and marshmallows . all in all a very relaxing time for me. On Friday we visited the military camp or what is left of it . Went to headquarters and received a pass so we could tour anything we wanted. Took in most of what is left including the rifle range. Some how it brought back memories of 1944 as I spent the whole summer at the Fort. Returned home late Sunday. and passed through several brief thunderstorm s on the way home but not a drop of rain on the farm. Later on we received about seven tenths of an inch of rain in a down pour. We sure are thankful to receive that much.
Monday June 26
Hoed a row of sweet corn but it was a bit wet for even a hoe. The forecast is for more rain later in the day. The corn fields can stand more if it comes gentle enough. The rain came shortly after lunch. About a quarter inch thi s time. It won't go to waste. Took the afternoon off and visited with the neighbors.
Tuesday June 27
The weeds are responding to the moisture. They are sprouting by the millions. Wore a blister hoeing this morning. Another rain after dinner, a half inch this time , it was very welcome . Grand Rapids had up to four inches in some places. a bit to much when it comes at more than an inch an hour. We could see the thunderheads in the east all afternoon.
Wednesday June 28.
The garden is to wet to even hoe this morning so spent some tome pulling weeds in the row. Put up a fence to keep the deer out of the sweet corn. Etta tied strips of fabric softener on the string hoping the odor will scare the de er away. Two years ago the deer bit the corn off to stumps before it could tassel . Etta picked the last quart of strawberries today and also picked the first pint of raspberries on the same day.
Thursday June 29
Killed time in the garden and then put the box traps out for coon. Also went to the history class. A lot of material has been coming in for the new book but most of it is from the 18 hundreds. and we want to get material for the period of 19 hun dred up to the present.
Friday June 30
Had my father lived he would have been a hundred and eleven years old today. Both box traps had a big mother coon in, they were both nursing yet. A half grown one was hanging around the trap where its mother was. That will be three less to get i nto the sweet corn . I caught one within ten feet of the house and the other in the barn. Done some work on the trailer as we will be taking it to the Conference Grounds for Lynn and Roger for next week.
Saturday July 1
Delivered the trailer to the conference Grounds at noon. They had a tractor to set the trailer on the site. so all we had to do is get it ready for them Had lunch with them but hurried home so as to mow the hills. but got there to late . Philip was just finishing up That didn't hurt my feelings very much as I felt a little out of sync for some reason. Took it easy for the rest of the day.
Sunday July 2
Etta, Esther and I went up to Traverse City to Lillian's . We had to celebrate Bethany's 16 birthday . Lillian also has a birthday coming up later this week and they just had a wedding anniversary to, so had a lot of things going o n. Arrived home about eight thirty.
Monday July 3
Corn growing weather. Worked in the garden trying to stay ahead of the weeds that come so fast in this ideal growing weather. My back has been telling me that I am over doing it. Or maybe that I'm out of shape either way it hurts when I make th e wrong move. Went over to Philip's to rake hay on the hills but someone beat me to it and the job was all done. It didn't hurt my feelings one bit..
Tuesday July 4
Independence day , and the annual Weirenga family reunion over at the folks house. There is the threat of thundershowers in the early afternoon. We had just finished the pot luck dinner when the thunder started and a little later the big drops ca me. The result was over a half inch of rain fell. Bill and Clint and their families came over to our place. Soon after Mark & Ena Brondyke came to. Clint brought the completed version of my war history book. He and Bill had taken my long hand script an d put it on the computer . Esther had gone through it and corrected many of my misspelled words. I owe all of them many thanks for the work that they have done for me.
Wednesday July 5
The day for my next dose of the "witches brew" we arrived at the doctors office a little early so had to sit for awhile. A couple of people I knew from my teen age years came in and I had a nice visit with them. They had also gone through the sa me thing that I have been experiencing but were now only getting periodic check ups A thing that I hope to be doing soon. Doctor Rotman was especially optimistic about my progress and gave us a very good report of my blood tests. The dose was the same as last month and the nurse speeded it up so that we were out by early after noon. Went Coopersville to do some banking and to see if I could get some negatives of the tornado printed so as to give them to the children. It appears that it wi ll be extremely costly as black and white film means much more work now days than when it was used exclusively. Six dollars for the first print and five for the duplicates making the price about forty dollars for each negative and there are 24 negatives. I hesitated at that price so will try to find a better way to go.
Thursday July 6
The night did not go to well for me as I woke up at one thirty and could not get back to sleep after that . My heart beat was in the sixties before the "witches brew" yesterday but now it is crowding ninety., And I didn't take an anti nausea pill and I should have as I lost my cookies for the first time since being on chemo. All passed after eating breakfast and the rest off the day went fairly well, only slightly out of sync. Set out cauliflower pants in the afternoon. As soon a s the pea row is finished we will get the late cabbage plants out too.
Friday July 7
A slow day today. Worked in the garden some . I seem to be having a catch in my back that tells me that if I move to fast it will give me a jolt that would wake up the dead. I've had it before and it only lasts a few days so I have more enterta inment going on. Never a dull moment.
Saturday July 8
Picked up the travel trailer from the Conference grounds. Lynn and Roger has stayed in it for a week. They reported no problems. and they went over it giving the hitch and bumpers a coat of badly needed paint. It looks so nice . We are glad to be able to let them use it. In the afternoon Al and Bernice visited for several hours. We reminisce many of our experiences that we had during our tour of duty during the war. A very enjoyable time
Sunday July 9
I should be feeling the effects of Wednesdays dose of the witches brew but it has only kicked in slightly. Took the book of "Life magazines" back to Burnie. There is more that I would like to do with some of the pictures so I may have to borrow t hem again. Also left my War history book with a friend to read. I'm a bit proud of how well it turned out and I think it will be well be appreciated by my children and grandchildren.
Monday July 10
Every thing seems to be happening at once. The witches brew is kicking in and the withdrawal symptoms of the prednisone all are hitting at the same time. Even my sciatic nerve in my back. has decided that it is time to make itse lf known. All added together has made for a very unpleasant day. Had to give up weeding in the garden and found that even the computer was a drag, so ended up in a chair feeling sorry for myself. A bad state of affairs. We have company coming tomorrow a nd we had planned to go with the trailer but it appears that will be delayed a day or two. Should be over it soon. Saw a flock of young turkeys Sunday and again today there are six of them and have reached the size of pigeons . They shoul d be big enough to fare for themselves now. Where have they been hiding all the time?
Tuesday July 11
I am not so jittery this morning so the chemo must be receding. The back is still threatening , making for a slow day. Bill and Mary Boot from church visited for an hour today. an enjoyable time. My afternoon nap turned into a two hour siesta . Watched the national league all-stars out slug the American league in the all-star game last night.
Wednesday July 12
The weatherman is predicting a heat wave for the rest of the week so will spend much time on the computer in the comfort of the basement of the house for the next few days. wrote a couple of stories today and put them through the printer and they are now in the book. Took a long ride on the four wheeler and inspected the corn fields. I like what I saw but they are about a week behind what one would like for them to be. A shower of rain would be what the doctor ordered. Maybe we will get one this week end. Etta has been working over time in the garden, she is spending more time there than she is in the house and it is responding to her tender loving care. She has been doing a lot of watering.
Thursday July 13
A scorcher today. The thermometer has been in the middle nineties. a nice breeze has been blowing so it doesn't feel as hot as it really is. Etta stays in the garden for long hours and I can't get her to leave. She had the sprin kler going all day today. She has weeded the whole thing and now we can say that the garden is as clean as I have ever seen it at this time of year.. Her raspberries are still producing abundantly. Etta picks every day to stay ahead of the birds. She gets about two quarts daily and they are nice berries with a good flavor this year. I stayed under cover most of the day. except for a short trip on the four wheeler. It went well until trying to cross the fields. then the little jolts to the back m ade me grit my teeth. This sitting around is not good for the swelling in the ankles so I will have to go for walks,
Friday July 14
It promises to be another of those hot days with the temperature in the middle nineties. I'll stay in the cool of the basement and catch up on some stories for my army book. All went well until I tried to print what I had written. Some how I push ed the wrong button and got something from the printer that I didn't want so when I tried to find my story it was gone, necessitating doing it all over again. This time I got it right. Just before dark I counted fourteen deer in the soy bea n field back of the barn and two more south of the house at the same time. They have raided our strawberry patch. It looks as if we had mowed it down. Will have to replace the fence again. The turkey with the six little ones has roosted in the oak tree inside the circle for the last two nights. A good place for them as the wild animals are not as likely to attack them there.
Saturday July 15.
Still no rain. The weather is still hot but there is sign that it may cool. The catch in my back has slowed me down so that I limit my activity to the bare minimum. Jerry came for a brief visit. Etta picked a supply of produce to get ready to take to church, The sweet corn is now tasseling. so we should have some to eat in about three weeks.
Sunday July 16
The day of rest and I intend it to be that. The back needs it. The minister tells me he has prepared his evening sermon for my benefit so will try to be especially attentive . I have questioned him about the roll of our guardian angles and there roll in our lives. so he has built his sermon around that theme .
Monday July 17.
July is over half gone already. The day for a blood sample. and I'm nearly out of some of the pills so a fast trip to town. Went to the Ravenna flea market after wards bought an electric motor and a sledge hammer and a pan to be used in the trailer for the deer hunters. Took a ride on the four wheeler to inspect the corn fields. Found that the corn has been progressing very fast. Also that my back has not. A stint on the lawn mower was especially pa inful but after awhile it eased up.
Tuesday July 18
Four deer south of the house this morning All were sprouting horns in the velvet.
Our turkey with the six little ones showed up with five, Wonder what happened to the other one? Took the wagons out and loaded two loads of hay. The jar of the tractor is still sending stabs of pain in the back, so it was easy does it.
Wednesday July 19
Took a walk in the corn fields today. I like what I saw, the corn is about ready to tassel, but it needs rain badly. Some places on the lighter ground the corn is rolling and the leaves are turning a bluish gray color indicating that it has reache d its maximum stress and if rain doesn't come soon it will give up. The weatherman says that maybe by tomorrow morning a shower will come through. Picked up more bales today. Mowed some lawn.
Thursday July 20
The garden is growing beautiful The sweet corm is all silked out so we should be picking some in about two weeks. Caught a wood chuck today a big male . Set my other trap in the water way. weeded in the garden until I lost interest. Wen t with Mom and helped her pick tart cherries. They were only ten cents a pound. and we had forty five pounds in about an hour. I don't see how the farmers can make ends meet at that price.
Friday July 21
Picked up two loads of bales for Philip. I cleaned up two fields. He can unload them when he gets home. There are nearly three hundred of them now. Went to Becky's birthday party in the evening. She is ten years old now. My box trap was empt y this morning.
Saturday July 22
My box trap had a big fat buck raccoon in it this morning. This is the eighth coon caught in our yard this summer. Hope to have the population down by the time the sweet corn is ready. The silks is now drying up so we should be having c orn in about two weeks. Helped to load a wagon of corn this morning, it had two hundred thirty bushels on it. A big load and the test weight was 57 so it was of good quality. The deer found the strawberry and cucumber plants and are striping off the leaves. We will have to put the fence back up again.
Sunday July 23
I didn't get to much out of the sermon today as the sound system and my ears weren't cooperating together. Picked Clifford up today. Otherwise a quiet day of rest. It was good for the muscle spasm the back. We are still looking for a soaking rain . The last two showers totaled about a half inch together. Not what the corn needs to push the tassels out.
Monday July 24
Pulled weeds in the garden for awhile then put up the deer fence. Went over to Bills and got a osage post that the county had cut out of the fence row along 130th Ave . Will let it dry out and then shape a couple of mall handles o ut of it. The wood of the osage is hard and tough and holds up well in handles.
Tuesday July 25
Caught another buck raccoon in the box trap He was extremely fat like the other ones were. Finished weeding the strawberry row. It might come through in good shape and replace the new patch that never got set out last spring.
Wednesday July 26
Received a thunder shower this morning , it measured nearly three quarters of an inch. The corn needed it as the tassels are showing up fast now. Inspected the corn fields and am pleased with the progress in spite of the lack of moisture u p to this time. The wild black berry patch out back of Murray's house is starting to ripen now The Yonkers picked three Ice cream buckets full today Not bad for the first picking.
Thursday July 27
We made plans at the history class to set up a booth at the Nunica School reunion. on next Saturday. We now have material for nearly forty pages in the new book and pictures for about that many more.
Friday July 28
Visited Clint and Amy for awhile this morning then took in a couple of flea markets Didn't find anything we liked. The black berry patch looks like it will yield a lot of berries tomorrow. We have no use for that many so we might take som e to church to see how they will go. Still to wet to work in the garden. The sweet corn is nearly ready. We can try it out in a few days, Caught a possum in my trap this morning.
Saturday July 29
Saturday is always a busy time as Philip tries to catch up on the farming operation Today is no different. Went out to pick some black berries. they were hanging full Picked five quarts before lunch. My legs gave me trouble as the doctor said t hey might. They felt like they were going to sleep. Stayed home from the school reunions I didn't feel up to it. Did go out and help Etta pick berries , we got six buckets full and didn't finish the patch .
Sunday July 30
Etta took three bags of goodies from the garden to church this morning plus twelve quarts of berries. It was all gone in record time. The senior citizens of church seem to appreciate it so much, and we have an outlet for the surplus of the garde n so that it doesn't go to waste. I didn't check my box trap in the morning but waited until very late. There was a raccoon in it but the hot sun must have been to much for him as he was dead and stiff already. That makes thirteen caught in and ar ound the yard this summer. I hope that it will protect the sweet corn.
Monday July 31
Last day of July and the corn is nearly all tasseled out and silked. That's a good sign that this warm weather has caught up with the season. A few more showers and the corn crop will fill all expectations. Mowed lawn for most of the day, Not t o much grass but a lot of weeds to trim. Getting the plate count at the Hospital wasn't very long as there was no waiting line. The last of the chemo treatments tomorrow. For some reason I seem to be dreading going in this time. But I guess I can stand o ne more.
Tuesday August 1
Heart beat at 64 before leaving home. It was 72 when getting to the clinic. Weight was up three pounds so I have almost gained back what I lost while in the hospital. The Doctor says that my blood plate count was very good again. He left out o ne of the medicines after I told him of the numbness in my legs from time to time. He said that he was expecting that to happen and it was caused by a build up over several months. That part of the brew was no longer necessary. He gave me only one ingred ient in the brew this time. My next trip will be on the 29th of August and will be a bone marrow biopsy at that time. To see if the leukemia is gone and this eight month ordeal can come to an end. You can guess what my prayers will be fore the ne xt four weeks. Came home rather early but the witches brew was taking effect so played around with the computer for the rest of the day. Took a anti-nausea pill before going to bed. Wednesday August 2
The pill didn't last all night as I got up feeling a little sick to my stomach and I lost my cookies before breakfast. It cleared up by the time I had eaten something. Felt a little out of sync for the rest of the day Heart beat was up i n the eighties again. Rode the four wheeler out to the fields. The corn has now caught back up to the place that I would like to have it on the first of August. It appears that if there is any ripe corn this year we might have some of it. Etta h ad a very busy day she put in over fourteen hours of steady work She picked five ice cream buckets of black berries then picked a 12 quart pail of string beans , dug a pail of carrots and washed them dug a pail of beets cooked them and pickled fourteen pin ts Then she made five blue berry and blackberry pies. A rather busy day if I say so.
Thursday August 3
A kind of lost day. I never left the yard all day. Worked on a story for my War memories book and ended up writing three. Will find out from Clint if I can insert them into the book with out goofing up his pages that he put the book toge ther with.
Friday August 4
Will try to rewrite the several stories that disappeared from my Bits and Pieces on the hard drive of the computer. Had a lot of company today and ended up doing a lot of visiting. I enjoyed the contact with other people even if one was a salesman. We done a lot of talking but he didn't make a sale. I wasn't interested in his project.
Saturday August 5
Philip had to deliver a thousand bushel of corn to a neighbor so he asked me to help watch the wagons as they filled. He asked Amber to keep the corn running in the silo. A big task for a twelve year old. She done a good job. The corn didn't come like an adult would do it but she stuck with it and kept a steady stream of corn coming I was a little proud of the work ethic that she displayed. The last chemo shot was starting to kick in today and I ran out of gas rather quickly. Mowed law n in the afternoon, a job that doesn't seem to bother me to much when I'm out of sync.
Sunday August 6
The day of the Peterson reunion at Wolf lake. This is the 69th anniversary That we have enjoyed a get together at the same location on the first Sunday in August. The witches brew was giving me some trouble so by the time church was over I had ab out had it so we decided to wait for later in the afternoon to go to the reunion. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with members of the family that you seldom see except on a occasion like this. Bill and Clint with their families followed us home so w e loaded them up with garden goodies and had a supper lunch.
Monday August 7
This is the day that the witches brew should kick in . Nothing to start the day so went over to visit David, Then a short visit to Pastor Ken Vis. I left my War Memories book for him to read. Back home and repaired the potato fork and dug about t wo bushels of spuds. They turned out very nice and it appears that we may have a bumper crop. Then the fatigue set in and increased as the day progressed.
Tuesday August 8
I have never seen corn fields that progressed so fast and looked so good at this time of the year. They seem to change from day to day. Tried to mow some lawn to help earn my keep. I was mowing out by the barn when I saw an animal up under the c loths line. Thinking that it was a coon I drove in that direction with the mower. The animal held its ground until I was within six feet of it. Then it charged the lawn mower in a vicious attack. I speeded up the throttle and tried to ru n him down but he only rolled in front. then ran a short distance away. A short board finished him off . Now I'm apprehensive as to the cause for his attack. Could he have been suffering from rabies. I have told Etta to be cautious of the cats f or awhile. Will warn the neighbor to be watchful of the little boys. I hope it was only some kind of brain damage but you can never tell. It was a full grown woodchuck .
Wednesday August 9
I feel bad this morning. We just read in the paper that Sharon did not make it. We visited with her on several occasions in the cancer clinic over the past few months. She was very upbeat the last time we talked to her and was optimisti c for her recovery. It has happened, the raccoons found our sweet corn patch. I put out all my traps. We have eliminated a total of fifteen in and around the buildings. One would think that the population should be reduced but they are survivors and its hard to win against them. Its time to get the trailer ready for the family camping trip to Hoffmaster Park. Flushed the water system , started the refrigerator , Cleaned and flushed the drain system Charged the battery and suppl ied a generous supply of wood for a camp fire.
Thursday August 10
The raccoons stayed away from the sweet corn last night but I did have a possum in one trap. Took him to the woods and saw a huge horned owl sitting on the woodchuck that I left out there a couple days ago. He looked like a big dog until h e flew then his wing span was longer than my arms. The sweet corn is ripening to fast as it is already becoming chewy. We planned to take several dozen ears when we go camping tomorrow Hope that it will still be tender enough to eat. Spent time today visiting with the neighbors. I'm getting over the effects of the last chemo and am going very good except for tiring to easily.
Friday August 11
Today we go to hoffmaster Park with all the kids and grandchildren. Arrived just before three o'clock and had to wait for the lot to be vacated . tried to get off the road and caught the corner of the trailer on the site post and tore off the handles of the utility doors. The whole family arrived including Mike Reid and his family. We took up seven lots . Every one was there except Becky who came on Saturday. It was pleasing to see them all work together without any confusion. we all h ad a good time around the campfire even if the temperature was extremely hot.
Saturday August 12 .
Clint and Amy's wedding Anniversary today. We all celebrated the event. The weather was nice and all the kids went swimming in Lake Michigan. Mom and I stayed at the camp site and watched the little ones. They have been so good. Went to Harold's 70th birthday party in the evening Had a good meal and visit with all the others afterwards.
Sunday August 13
Mom and I went to church as usual but we had no produce to bring as we do so often. My War history book has been lost temporarily but was located and returned. Broke camp and returned home tired but happy. It was a very successful outing for the whole family and they all want to do it again next year.
Monday August 14.
Back to the old grind catching up on what needed to be done. Still hot and no rain here even though there have been showers in the area. The weather man is still saying that some will come. The corn is progressing so fast with this hot weather. Most of it has finished tasseling and silking and the silks are drying up. Its still to soon to determine if the pollination was good or not. Tuesday August 15
Still hot with no rain, they have been scooting all around us. More have been predicted for tonight and tomorrow. Am getting over the effects of the last chemo and feel real good so now I will have to find the ambition to match it. Dug some potatoes , They are good but not outstanding . We will have much more than enough for our own use. The sweet corn is ripening almost to fast. Picked a couple of pails full for Etta to process. Some in cans and some in the freezer. Gordon came over for a couple hours in the afternoon. We had a nice visit and tour of the farm. He took my war history book back with him to read.
Wednesday August 16
Our rain finally arrived this morning a total of more than an inch and a half. We were loading steers in the afternoon When another storm came over. The cattle spooked by the Thunder broke the fence and was running around loose. We had to rou nd them up in a cloud burst. Everyone was soaked completely. This storm produced another inch and a half making for a total of three inches for the day. The ground took it all and was much needed. It should be enough to finish the corn crop for this yea r. Received word that a cousin Harry Correl died today. He was eighty one, and I had gone to school with him at Nunica.
Thursday August 17
Still hot and muggy. Just what makes the corn grow. Have seen a lot of Blackbirds landing in the corn field north of the house. It takes several shots of the 22 to chase them out. they leave for the day when chased out. Visited the funeral parlor and had a good visit with Harry's children , some that we had not seen in years.
Friday August 18.
We went to the funeral and afterwards visited with the family. It was a very touching affair. Jerry and Gene took my last history books that I had on hand. They were very happy with the contents. They also wanted the Peterson family tree book of Bills. Clint and Amy left Lydia and Isla with us for the evening, while they went out for the night. They were so good, not even one tear the whole night. Clint took the keyboard back with him to see why it was acting up.
Saturday August 19
Made another fly trap and put it out at noon By night it had collected a goodly number of flies , bees and wasps. It is working very well. Went up to Tony's and got some more Crockery history books. A good thing I did as Jerry, Gene and Chris showed up looking for another one.
Sunday August 20
Left a table full of veggies at Church and then went to Holland for the babtism of Isla. Afterwards we went to Tunnel Park for a Picnic Lunch with the whole family. The weather finally cooled off a bit and made for a delightful afterno on.
Monday August 21
A delightful day. Lower humidity and not to hot. Went to David's and borrowed a different key board to use until Clint can find what is wrong with mine. This one works like and old worn out car but it does get the job done. Fred cam e over for his regular visit. They will be selling there cattle this afternoon. I picked a bushel and a half of sweet corn and husked it for Etta to can or freeze.
Tuesday August 22
A dew like a rain this morning so worked on another fly trap in the morning then went with Etta up to celebrate Davids birthday. On the way home we went up to Peach Ridge to the Irish farm and picked three bushels of nice peaches. They were nice but most were a bit firm so we will be able to take our time processing them. More corn this afternoon. The ear worms have moved in and have made a mess of the corn.
Wednesday August 23
Nothing special today. Checked the corn fields and found a few dents. It won't be a spectacular yield but all fields look good . Tried the tractor but found that someone had left the key on so the battery was dead. Had to wait until Ph ilip came over to give it a tow. Clint says that he found a stainless steel washer in the Keyboard, He cleaned it up getting the dust out. It worked fine for him so he will return it to me to try on this computer .
Thursday August 24
Disced some weeds down on set aside land. some were up to the top of the tractor. I was surprised at how well they cut up. Some of the rag weeds were in blossom and the pollen came out in a cloud. It burned the nose.
Friday August 25.
Fred and Jerry were both here today. Jerry was planning for our deer hunters summer picnic tomorrow night. Picked sweet corn and found some that the worms had hardly bothered it was very nice. Still have to chase the black birds out of the field corn every morning. If I move them out early they seem to fly east and be gone for the day. Saturday August 26
Looks like a beautiful day for the deer hunters picnic. Finished another fly trap so now we have four of them. I'm surprised at how well they work. You wouldn't think that there were that many flies around but they get in the trap. We had a good turnout at the picnic. nearly all who could come were there. We had some business to attend to and we had a good time of fellowship.
Sunday August 27.
Either a virus or the pollen caught up to me as I coughed almost constantly so stayed home from church. Watched a football game on T.V. had a very uncomfortable day.
Monday August 28
A fast trip for a complete blood analysis. I hope that it is the last one . Returned home and picked two bushels of pairs before the sprinkle came and put a stop to it. Clint left Lydia with us while he and Amy went up to help Esther put the lof t together at Calvin . Lydia is a go go girl she kept mom and I busy all evening. The swing is of special interest to her. She wore both of us out pushing her and she still did not have enough.
Tuesday August 29
The bone marrow biopsy was taken today. It was not to bad so the doctor and I are still friends. It was early afternoon when we returned. Took a short nap and then a trip on the four wheeler to check the corn fields. My attention today was on the areas that usually doesn't have a good crop. I found that there is a stand there but it is about a week behind the rest of the field. It will need a week or two longer to get ripe. All in all I was not disappointed in what was there.
Wednesday August 30
Yesterday Clint was thirty years old. It will be thirty years since the tornado went through. It still seems just like last week. Time flies whether we want it to or not. I asked the doctor how long it will take the effects of the chemo to wear off and I can start to feel normal again. He says it will be at least four more weeks. He also said that my middle of the month blood count was low for the first time and the recovery was slower than in the past. He didn't really have to tell me as I ha ve been feeling it all along. Both my ambition and my desire to do anything has disappeared for now. That virus that has plagued me last week is taking its toll also. I will have a lot of recovery to do in the next couple of weeks.
Thursday August 31
August is gone already , it has gone so fast . I hooked the tractor to the haybine and cut the field south of the house. There was a lot of summer grass and weeds. About eight or ten bales worth. It will help out on the summer pasture. Two ho urs on the mower was just about enough for me , any more and I would be over fatigued. Watched a foot ball game at night and had a good nights sleep.
Friday September 1
Have been watching the fly traps , They are working extremely well The accumulation of dead flies in the bottom of the trap is growing fast. You wouldn't think there were that many flies in the area. Etta took the new one to the barn by the door to the barn yard and in a 24 hour period it has collected over a quart of flies and I doubt it has made a dent in the population. The cough has been with me all the time but there are signs that it may slow down some. Went with Philip and his fam ily to the White caps game and watched them secure a play-off spot. They also had a season high in attendance tonight . The weather has cooled off some, we are not used to it and we went to the game a little unprepared for the change in te mperature.
Saturday September 2
I have no ambition this morning. Felt that I should do something so I went over to the other place and picked a bushel and a half of pears. The last on the tree, The fatigue was all over me, so I took the afternoon watching Michigan foo tball. The black birds are landing in the corn fields by the thousands now. I hope the corn has reached a maturity that will slow the damage that the birds can make.
Sunday September 3
It was thirty years ago tonight that the Tornado went through here. A lot of water has gone over the dam since then. Church this morning. I examined the exhibit of W.W.2 artifacts brought by members of the congregation. They ha ve a good collection so I don't think mine will be missed if I don't bring them. We had Clifford over today. Spent the afternoon watching the Lions lose another game in the last second on a field goal. What else is new.
Monday September 4
Labor day and it will be that. We have the hay down south of the house that needs raking. Sarah has asked us up for supper. John ,as we expected has purchased the new Micro-soft 95 computer program. It will do wonderful things. I may ask him to print some pictures for me.
Tuesday September 5
We thought that we could get some more sweet corn but discovered that it had matured to fast in this hot weather. The field corn did to and is now almost beyond frost free stage. The soybeans appear to be in need of a couple of weeks more time to ripen. A trip to the cancer clinic in the evening. Doctor Rotman says that the blood test and the bone morrow biopsy showed that there are no more leukemia cells present. Real good news and it takes a big load off our minds. The ordeal of the last months appears to have been worth while.
Wednesday September 6
Spent much of the day spreading the good news over the telephone to all relatives and friends, It doesn't seem to have completely sunk in to me yet. The doctor says that it will be necessary to monitor the situation in about three more months and that I will probably feel the effects of the chemo for the next three or four weeks before getting back to normal. I wonder what normal really is after so many months.
Thursday September 7
Sat in the barbers chair for the first time since December 27. A sure sign that I'm returning to normal. Sent in the application for a antlerless deer permit. Jerry and I are making plans for a fishing trip up to Drummond Island later this month. I am planning on closing this chapter of my diary now.
I feel that now I have completed another chapter in my life. After nine months of test and chemo and fatigue is all past me. I can now open a new door and start living again.
The doctor says that the chemo will be with me for a few weeks yet but I should gradually pick up steam. My greatest concern at this time is to get my muscle tone back. I didn't realize how far down I had gone until I tried to shoot my bow. It was almost impossible to pull the arrow back. I'll have to go on a crash course to be ready for bow season that comes in only a couple of weeks.
My teeth that had been neglected during the chemo treatments was in bad shape. Two trips to the dentist has put them back. Only one had to be removed. My medical doctor [Ottenbacher ] has taken me off the blood thinner and that's another plus. My blood pressure has been excellent. 112 over 70. and the heart beat is in the middle sixties. Now if only the rhythm would get away from sk ips and double beats. That's the reason the doctor is keeping me on the heart medicine and water pills.
I have decided that it is time to bring this phase of the diary to a close so as not to make it to cumbersome and to close a chapter in my life. It has been a steadying act for me during the ordeal of chemo therapy. That is now finished except for some monitoring visits to the doctor in the ensuing months. Perhaps I might start it up again just for the fun of it at a later date.
Nearly two months have gone by since the last entry. My strength is returning very slowly , so slow that at times I wonder if it will ever return to what it was before I started chemo I guess that my age may have something to do with it. Deer hunting is just around the corner and I am getting ready for it .