Wedding picture of Milton and Audrey MacDonald

Audrey: It has been raining and snowing so now it is muddy. The snow is piled up about five or six feet high. I’m happy and contented here. Everybody in the family is doing well. I’ve got on my white pants and red shirt. They (Alpine Nursing Home staff) are very good here.They take good care of us. Someone helps me get dressed each morning. They are very good nurses. We know them all. They are all pretty young and they wear pretty colors. We cannot find fault with these young women. They are kind and take good care of us.

I love this chair! (light weight “Companion chair” with four small wheels) I get around just like I’m walking.

Theo, she comes out and we have big and long talks in the hall. She’s in Room 10. I’m in Room 4. My room is nice. Everybody likes it here. I have three meals a day and the food is good. Theo plays Solitaire but I haven’t played cards lately.

She lived in West Greenwich and I lived in Anthony when we (Audrey and Milton and Theo and Bill) went to the dances. All the dances were (held) in West Greenwich. In the old days when we went dancing, all the dances were held in an old barn. After Theo and Bill married, they stayed in West Greenwich, and after we (Milton and Audrey) married, we didn’t see each other again. We didn’t get out then. Oh, Dear, my hand is tired!

Heather: I’ll call next Saturday, same time, same station!

Audrey: It is sunny. The snow is melting. It is heaped up on the sides and except for the snow on the stonewall, it is not pretty any more. The guy (Sobersides) is out with the trash and he put his hood up. It must be cold. We are hardy people. We all had to live through hardy weather.

The reason we have so many stones in R.I. was the ice was melting from the north and it would roll south. By the time it got to R.I., it dropped off all the stones before it got to the sea. It was all ice. It melted in R.I. When the snow melted, it left all these stones. The early settlers put these stones to good use and built stonewalls that are still standing today! They knew how to build stonewalls. They had wonderful reasoning in their minds to think of this. What else could they have done with all these stones?

Audrey: Amber brought over the larger bookcase that Ernie made. He did a beautiful job. She put it in the trunk of her car. The bookcase is beautiful. Ernie made a shelf for my telephone and a place for the wires to go through the back and not get all tangled up in the front. It like a little desk and all I have to do is reach for the phone.

Amber, she has a great mind for thinking things out. She put the bookcase between my bed and the wall next to the window. I still have a clear path to the sink land beyond. Amber worked all day getting everything in order. My books from Emily Dickinson to the Dictionary are all in order. The picture of the (historical) graveyard is set up. She brought cardboard boxes that hold my beautiful cards from Edith. Edith always sent me beautiful cards. She has my bulletin board all set up with pictures. I couldn’t be happier. She set up Belinda’s picture as a nurse. Belinda loves to study and hopes to he a surgeon. I can’t wait! Doctor Belinda!

Audrey: You call me every Saturday and it is Saturday today.

Audrey: Without this wheelchair (companion chair, light weight transit chair with four small wheels), I’d be in jail. I’m rocking back and forth constantly. I never sit still. It gives me a little walk. My knees push me back and forth. It gives me so much freedom. This chair goes everywhere. This little chair is an extension of me. The bending of my knees get plenty of exercise.

I enjoy my life. I loved my babies. I feel bad that I don’t have a baby in my arms.

Ernie made me this nice bookcase desk and I have my Emily Dickinson’s books. I like to read so that keeps me busy. It is such a beautiful sunny day. Amber, she bops in every other thing. There was a man playing a guitar (here at Alpine Nursing Home). There are always activities here.

Theo: We would all pile in the front seat. (Laughter)

(Somehow Mother, Theo and I started to sing I love Coffee and Mother knew all the words.)

Audrey: I love coffee. I love tea.
I love the boys and the boys love me.
Tell your mother to hold her tongue.
She had a beau when she was young.
Tell your father to do the same.
He was the one who changed her name. (Laughter)

Audrey: I don’t like it but I do!  They (Alpine Nursing Home staff) are very kind. They just have a hand on my shoulder and I get assurance, without that I feel like I am falling. I get along with the walker. I am glad to do (use the walker) only once a day. If I had to do it three times a day, I’d just stay in bed. (laughter) I do things because I have too, but not because I like it.

Audrey: Oh dear, I’m having such a good time!  Everything I like is here for me. Never a dull moment here.  I love this chair (companion chair, a light weight transit wheelchair with four small wheels).

Audrey: Theo, she’s so cute. She’s a talker. I’m not a talker. I like to associate with her, so I don’t have to do much talking.