On This Date in 1998

Dear Eric and Sally,

We do actually spend some time at home. The two times you called you reached our voice mail, and I meant to call back promptly if for nothing else than just to chat.

We dispensed with the one-size-fits-all letter format this year. Instead, as if I’m living a life of leisure, I assigned myself the duty of enclosing a personal note in each card without trying to repeat myself too often. That didn’t work with the relatives, on both sides of the family. My longhand notes informed them that we’ll be in Two Rivers for the first week of Christmas break and Warren during the second week and not much more. As I moved toward the heart of our Christmas card list, to the names of special friends, I decided to sit in front of the computer and just share whatever’s on my mind.

I talked with Paul Stearns last night. He’s living in the Eagle River area, working for the Commissioner of Public Lands. He’s developed a long-distance relationship with Sarah, who lives in Milwaukee. They were supposed to get married this year but postponed the ceremony since they couldn’t work out the details of a practical living arrangement. \

I spent an evening with LeRoy and Patsy Stahle this summer. I scheduled the June meeting of the Wisconsin Library Association board of directors, of which I was president this year, at the Oshkosh Public Library. They are both doing great, enjoying retirement, keeping busy. LeRoy looked like a Native American he was so dark from playing golf every day. What a life! (Only 15 years until my retirement. And, no, I’m not counting.)

As for the Schnozz, I haven’t heard from Pat and Vicki in over a year. When I read in some library publication that he had accepted the directorship of the Pikes Peak Library System in Colorado Springs last November (1997), I gave him a call and we chatted for a half hour or so. Up to that point, he had been doing a lot of consulting as well as guiding a successful building project to completion. I think they have two kids now. Actually, you may know more about them than I do. 

After five years of hanging upside down in the garage, the bicycles that JoAnna and I use were finally taken down off their storage hooks. Naturally, they both needed major tune-ups before being roadworthy. So how many rides did JoAnna and I take together this summer? Zero. Andy and I took a couple of short rides, but otherwise, the bikes leaned on their kickstands until last weekend when I returned them to their hooks. And when I think back on all the bicycling I used to do. Eric, I still consider our bike trip through parts of Wisconsin and Michigan to be one of the highlights of the 1980s. I hope that it won’t turn out to be the one and only two-wheeled excursion of my life. 

I’ll save more of the family stuff for a phone call. Stayed tuned.

October 12, 1991

The Domestication of Nellie.  Stearns observes chapter 5 or 6 in this ongoing saga.  Our lifestyles are so different now, but the bond of friendship is still strong.  Paul makes that apparent when he admires the sunset over Lake Superior photograph I have on display in the living room.

He leaves around noon, and as he backs out of the driveway I get a little misty-eyed thinking about an even longer absence between friends.  Andy stands next to me, the little sweetheart; maybe he senses my feeling of loss.

I had planned a productive afternoon of household chores, but JoAnna isn't feeling well and I have to watch the kids through much of the afternoon.  I have enough time to do all the bedroom windows before supper.

October 11, 1991

Stearns called yesterday afternoon while I was at the library to announce today's impending visit.  He arrives shortly after 1, and I've already made plans to take the afternoon off.  We stop at the house so I can change my clothes and then head for State Street. We chow at Radical Rye and then spend most of our time browsing for CDs.

JoAnna and I take Paul out to dinner, our first visit to Smoky's in more than four years.  I get blissfully sloshed in three martinis and enjoy the tastiest steak I've had in more than four years.  We go on a search-and-intruder mission for Eric and Cheryl's house, which is only partially successful.  We find the house but nobody's home.  We stop for dessert and a nightcap at the Second Story.

April 9, 1991

Session #10 already.  During the intro, I share with the class what the rain had done to my sock as a result of a hole in my shoe.  I spend most of the session hogging the airwaves and leave hardly any time for discussion.  Overall, a good session, though.  The continuing rain postpones my plans to walk to the IMC library and assorted other destinations.  While home for lunch, I get a call from Paul.  He's concerned about the content of the evaluation form I received.  We chat for at least 15 minutes.  It's always nice to hear from my best-ever pal. 

The board meeting that evening becomes a bit contentious when Gail asks about the format and content of the vendors report and income statement.  I'm not in the mood for what I consider to be minutiae. 

March 2, 1991

JoAnna has a meeting that takes up the morning and a part of the afternoon.  I fill in for Liz at the information desk for 2 hours, reviewing my ETN notes when I'm not helping patrons.

Otherwise I spent a lot of time reorganizing my correspondence and other writings.

JoAnna suggests we make the family room our bedroom and the bedroom into a TV/play room.  Initially, I'm lukewarm to the idea.

The major event of the day:  a call from Paul Stearns.