Audrey Mae SpencerSpencer Historical CemeteryHenry Straight / William Spencer Family Cemetery
Vaughn Historical CemeterySpencers of East Greenwich, RI
18 May 2004

Heather: I hear you went to Stephanie’s baby shower?

Audrey: Deardra took me to the party. Yes, it was a beautiful party. I had a lovely time. Stephanie’s baby will have the Spencer blood. (B.J.’s mother’s birth name was Margaret Spencer) Isn’t that amazing?
18 May 2004

Heather: What have you been doing lately?

Audrey: I’m packing and picking things up. I’ve got plenty of room. I have this plastic thing (magnifying glass). My sight is not good anymore. I take this glass and put it over words. I love this glass. It is just great. It is not heavy. This magnifying glass comes in handy.

I have spells where I’m awfully tired, and then I don’t. I sleep a lot, because I like to sleep. I have a great time. I don’t have to worry.
 
There are yellow birds, three or four at a time, that are at the bird cage. I’ve got this bird cage and the birds ate all the stuff. Here comes some squirrels. There goes the first one up the pole.
22 May 2004

Heather: Hello Mother. This is your memoir writer.

Audrey: You keep everything I say and write it down.

22 May 2004

Heather: What was life like for your parents when they sold the homestead and bought the house on 742 Washington Street?

Audrey: Grandpa was thrilled to give the horse a vacation and get an auto. A man wanted to buy the horse. I can not remember if we had a horse in Anthony or not? I can’t remember if and how long we had the horse in Anthony.
 
I remember when we had a trolley go right by the house. In one ice storm, it skidded off the tracks into Grandma’s front door. There was little damage.
22 May 2004

Heather: I never knew that.

Audrey: Oh, you don’t know that! The front of our house was so important because the door is a very special front door. The door was very valuable as an antique. The front door was always there, but seldom used. I remember some people wanted to buy the house because of the front door. They stood there the whole day arguing as both wanted the house. I laugh now as they stood there with their scissors (tool to take off the door) to take out the front door. The old folks are easily turned to do things they didn’t want to. I’m glad I was there.

When Aunt Edith would come with little babies, I was the number one baby keeper.

22 May 2004

Heather: Did you ever think that you would have seven children?

Audrey: No, I love my little babies. That was so fun, the baby part of it. And to think I had seven! That’s a lot! Now, I would think and not have so many babies. They just came along. I just loved my babies.

What, Oh, they are coming for Bingo. I’ve got to go. Love you.

23 May 2004

(no answer)

29 May 2004

Heather: Hello, Mother. What have you been doing?

Audrey: Deardra came. I’m in my chair and we go out. Everything going fine! Stephanie and her sister look  just alike. Been out and walked around a lot. I was with Deardra.

I called Dawn. She’s got a boyfriend! He was a college professor. He is a “gentleman”. He is older than she. Spencer couldn’t get over it! (he was surprised but happy for her).

Amber and Crystal pop in. Amber bought curtains yesterday. She is having lots of fun. It’s nice to settle down. She has her own car. Today, men and women both need a car.

Amber’s boyfriend is awfully good to her. He’s a good guy. I hope they get settled down and both enjoy their life!

Tell me. Who are you’?

29 May 2004

Heather: I’m Heather in California. You are talking about so many people that it is easy to forget who you are talking to. Where do you go when family members take you out for a ride in the car?

Audrey: We go by the Fiskeville and Quidnessett Baptist Churches and they have changed to big long strong things. I like the older little churches (the physical buildings). Now the new churches are all alike.

29 May 2004

Heather: You were ahead of your times. I couldn’t understand why you were so upset when they tore down the Rocky Hill Chapel because it was in the way of the 95 Freeway. You wanted them to move it to the Fairgrounds as a historical building. The ignorant people, with lack of foresight, tore it down. Now as I age, I understand why you were upset. If that building were still standing today, the county could use it as a tourist attraction or the historical society could use it as meeting room. After all, how long ago was that building built and it was kept up all those years.

Audrey: I am glad I’m old. I would not want to be 20 years old now.

I am so upset when they take the older reporters on TV off and put a younger person in the older person’s place.  Old newscasters are taken off. I’m reading Tom Brokaw’s book. That’s a different story. It’s nice and interesting. I’ll grab a book and pick it up anywhere I am and begin reading. I’m always reading back and forth. I keep reading. All those I’m meant to read, I really want to read it. Every book get everything upset or up in arms in the first part of the book and then the end is what happens. I have been so busy. I’ve got a lot of books to read!

Tom (Audrey’s friend at Alpine Nursing Home), he’s about to die. He’ll he dead.