tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30060032468354650122024-03-14T00:18:23.456-07:00About EleanorEleanor is my 90 Year old mother who lives at Heartland Senior Living center in Seward, Nebraska.About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-13317532789849072812013-04-23T16:38:00.003-07:002013-04-23T16:38:59.610-07:00September - December 1939. <b>September 10th</b>. Packed and left for nursing school in Red Wing. Schedule will be 1/2 work, and 1/2 classroom. Much of the month of September is spent learning to take temperatures, make beds, give baths, and general patient care. For a break we walked down town Red Wing, where we would pick up nursing uniforms and go to a movie at the Chief for 12 cents per show. Met Bob on the<b> 23</b>rd at the movie. Went home on the <b>24</b>th for the weekend and attended church with the family.<br />
<b> October. </b>A busy month where we settled into the routine of classes and work. Most of our time off was spent studying. Went to a movie at the Chief " The Rains Came", it was "very nice". My room mate is Leila Bremer, I went to school in every grade with her and we were confirmed together.<br />
<b>November</b>. The dumbwaiter broke and we had to carry patients trays for several days--very busy. <b>Nov. 7, </b>I worked all day and received a blouse and socks from Jean and Leila, Two dimes from Aunt Ethel<b>. </b>"I grumbled all day, and studied in the p.m."<b> Nov. 11-17 </b>Bob stopped by the dorm, and we walked to Red Wing. <b>Nov. 20</b> I have been moved to the third floor. "a terrible place." "Cleaned out a mouse nest in a patient room." "Mr. Jones smells terrible." "I think I will quit!" <b>. Nov 22.</b> Mr Jones died, Nancy and I laid him out. <b>Nov. 24. </b>Mr Woodward brought in, we had to place him in restraints to keep him in bed. <b>Nov. 28</b>. A date with Bob.<br />
<b>December</b>. I was warned not to sleep through breakfast any more. Very busy: studied for tests, glee club Bible class, dates with Bob. <b>Dec. 20</b> Christmas party. Some students left for vacation as they had long distance to travel. Eleanor stayed until the 25th. "Worked in the morning and Margaret picked me up in the afternoon." <b>Dec.28 </b>Dance in Goodhue, returned to Red Wing the following day. <b> Dec. 31. </b>New Years Eve movie double header at the Chief:" Daytime Wife, and Eternally Yours" , stayed out until 2 a.m..<br />
<i>I guess in today's world of 24/7 news, it is surprising to me that Eleanor made no mention of World war II beginning on September 1, 1939. I was surprised by her reaction to the Third Floor. I suppose everyone has a "third floor experience", where one is tested and tempted to quit. Eleanor mastered the challenge and wound up working quite a bit for others on the Third Floor. She doesn't have much of an opportunity to get back to Goodhue, I found only 4 entries where she went home in the last 4 months of the year.</i><br />
<i>Budget for December: 3 Movies @ 12 cents each. Ice cream 8 cents. Stamps 2@ 6 cents. Church 5 cents. Flowers 5 cents. Blouse 50 cents. Birthday card 5 cents, and candy 5 cents.</i>About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-15639509892488608902013-04-17T11:06:00.000-07:002013-04-17T11:06:23.140-07:001939: January to September. I traveled to South Dakota and spent a week with Eleanor while Barb and Keith were on vacation in Colorado. We had a nice time visiting and worked on her Journal for 1939.<br />
<br />
. Eleanor is in her final semester of High school . She lived in Goodhue with Margaret while she attended school and went home on weekends . Most of the rural students lived in town while attending school, as the roads aren't good, and farm work keeps the family busy on the farm. It was quite an investment to send a child to school. Eleanor enjoyed going to basketball games, parties, and dates. She mentions Orrie, Norman, and Bob as dates during 1939, they went to Luther League, parties,debate team contests, 4 H meetings, and Prom. Eleanor was on the debate team and acted in "Miss Adventure", she earned a letter in basketball her senior year.<br />
In May, college days were held in Red Wing, and Eleanor attended two information meetings about Nursing School. The senior class trip went to Stillwater to tour the prison and the food factory; they went to Saint Paul for dinner, before returning home. State exams were May 29 through the 31st, and commencement was on June 2. On <b>June 3</b>, Eleanor picked up her report cards."High school is over for good. I'm sorry because I had so much fun." <b>June 10th</b>. " Grandpas Nelson and Olson both died."<br />
<br />
<i>My Uncle Howard was born in 1934, and Uncle Bob in 1936. Eleanor would have spent the school year in Goodhue and returned to the farm some weekends. My Uncle Bob has commented that he really didn't know Eleanor, and it is easy to understand, as she wasn't around much of the year. Eleanor's mom and dad were Republicans and didn't care much for Democrats and Roosevelt</i>. <i>We discussed radio programs and she remembers getting radio stations all the way from Texas. Her parents favorite station was in Yankton, South Dakota where a local station had a program featuring a young musician, Lawrence Welk. She went to her first Movie in Goodhue with her parent's hired hand. He offered to take her and they said no, but then decided she could go. The movie was shown on the side of a building downtown.</i>About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-83687653854839019702013-04-10T13:26:00.000-07:002013-04-10T13:26:02.517-07:00September thru December <br />
<b>September 5.</b> Got a dog and named him Prince. <b>8 </b>Music lessons i first year book. <b>17</b> School starts. Hooray! Howard Albers is born. Many visitors the next several days. <b>26</b> Mama up. <b>30</b> Parents gone visiting with Howard, Lorraine, and Florence. I am home alone--nice.<br />
<b>October 9 </b>Finished potatoes<b>. 21 </b>Home alone.--lovely. <b>22</b> Howard baptized. <b>31</b> Halloween party at school<br />
<b>November</b>. <b>1</b> . Mama and Papa married 15 years <b>3</b> Music lesson. <b>5</b>. Broke a lamp while cleaning. <b>6</b>. Broke a cup.<b>7</b>. The honorable Eleanor Albers Esquire is 14 years old. Apron bracelet, and 50 cents for gifts. Thanksgiving party at school.<br />
<b>December 5</b> Florence is sick. <b>7</b> Lorraine is sick. <b>9</b> Goose for dinner. <b>24</b> Program at church, no presents as packages didn't arrive. Big storm. 20 below. <b>27</b> Packages arrived--dress, girdle, PJs, hanky, pencil boxAbout Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-70638342863066061902012-12-27T10:14:00.001-08:002012-12-27T10:14:51.824-08:001934 continued.<b>April</b>.<br />
<b>1.</b> Easter, went to German Communion , The roads were muddy, dyed Easter eggs for Florence in afternoon. <b>5</b>. School was cancelled all week as Miss Hangen was sick.<b> 7. </b>Mother's birthday. Had a music lesson. <b>8</b>. Outside all day, beautiful weather. <b>14</b>. Music lesson. <b>15</b>. Went to Grandma Nelson's house. <b>17</b>. Got new shoes--very nice.<b>18</b>. Broke heel of new shoe in race at school. <b>23</b>. Dust storm. <b>25</b>. Race and track day at school. <b>28</b>. Music lesson. <b>30</b>. Dust storm.<br />
<b>May</b>.<br />
<b>10</b>. Terrible dust storm. <b>22-23</b>. Hauled wood. <b>25</b>. Put away books at school. School is out. <b>26</b> Music lesson. <b>29</b>. English and science exams. <b>31</b>. History exam.<br />
<b>June</b>.<br />
<b>1</b>. Picnic. <b>3</b>. Dust storm. Mission fest at church. <b>5</b>. Plant Garden. <b>7</b>. Music lesson. Had glasses fixed. <b>14</b>. Dentist in Zumbrota. <b>15</b>. Rhubarb at Reese's. Florence stayed overnight at Margaret's house.<b>17</b>. Harlan Albers Birthday party. <b>21</b>. Glory, Glory Hallelujah! I passed my exams. Got letter in the mail.<b> 23</b>. Music lesson and dust storm. <b>29</b>. I graduated from Eighth Grade. 225 students attended ceremony in Red Wing.<br />
<b>July</b>.<br />
<b>3</b>. Cut Rye. <b>4</b>. Picnic at our place--Ice Cream. <b>6</b>. Hoed thistles.<b> 7</b>. Hauled Hay.<b> 8</b>. Hauled Hay. <b>19</b>. Florence's Birthday--2 years old. <b>22</b>. So hot we slept outside. 108 degrees.<b> 23</b>. Slept outside. 106 degrees. <b>28</b>. Music lesson. Cut grain in P.M..<br />
<b>August</b>.<br />
<b>3-7</b>. Threshers are here. <b>15-16</b>. Canned corn, plum jelly and peaches. <b>21</b>. Canned corn, green beans, peas, and apple butter. <b>22</b>. New Sear's Catalog arrived. <b>27</b> Canned green beans. <b>28</b> Started to fill silo, made Jam.<br />
<b> </b><i>The dust storms continue. </i><i>I remember that once we drove by an area where there was a clay pit for the Red Wing pottery, and she remembered people working there who lived in tents and cars. </i><i>Didn't realize that passing you final exams meant that you could go to High School. If you didn't pass, your education was over. Seems that there was plenty of work on the farm in the summer, that probably explains the fewer entries in the diary. </i><br />
About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-4055220692262752192012-12-17T15:13:00.000-08:002012-12-17T15:13:34.856-08:001934 DiaryOn December 22, 1933, Eleanor received a diary from her Sunday School teacher. 1934 was the first diary that I have found since she began the habit of keeping a diary. There are many gaps in the years, maybe I will be lucky and find more. I have decided to add the material in these diaries to this blog in hopes that children, grand children, and great grand children will gain some appreciation of Eleanor.<br />
<b>1934: January.</b><br />
Early January entries are mostly one word per day and describe the weather: nice, sleet storm, cloudy, snow, foggy, and the occasional beautiful day. <b>15</b> School begins with a new science book and a book to read "Uncle Tom's Cabin".<b>16 </b>Edna has the measles. <i>Little did Eleanor know how much of an impact this event would have over the next several weeks. </i><b>17</b> Ben Franklin's birthday. <b>18 </b>Daniel Webster's birthday. <b>19 </b>Florence is 11/2 years old, Robert E. Lee and Edgar Allen Poe's birthdays. <b>20</b> Sledding in the pasture. <b>22</b> Finished "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and began David Copperfield. <b>28</b> Windy with a dust storm. I missed school due to bad weather. <b>29</b> Father went to Zumbrota. <b>31</b> Mother went to Red Wing to get a driver's license.<br />
<b>February.</b><br />
<b>6</b> I am sick with the measles.<b> 9</b> All broke out, itching worse, nearly dead. Temperature 103. <b>10</b> Feeling better, I have missed five days of school. <b>12</b> Measles are awful, Lorraine came down with them. <b>14</b> Received Valentines Day cards in the mail. Lorraine is itchy and cranky. Ready to go back to school, but school is closed due to measles.<b>20 </b>Cold and windy, dust storms.<br />
<b>March.</b><br />
<b> 1 </b>Spring like day. <b>5</b> Dust storm. <b>7</b> Went to Red Wing to pick up Confirmation dress, slip, and shoes with Margaret. <b>14</b> Lenten services, Margaret brought me home afterward. <b>15</b> Dust Storms. <b>17,18,21 </b>Confirmation classes <b>24</b>. Last Confirmation Class, took cloths to Margaret's house.. <b>25</b> I am Confirmed. It went well. I got a book and a scarf. <b>28</b> First Communion, received a hymnal as a gift. <b>30 </b>Blizzard. I missed first group Communion at Church, and was the only one who was not there.<br />
<i> I have often asked Eleanor about the Great Depression, and she has always claimed that she had no memories of it. I was surprised by all the references to dust storms even after rain in Minnesota. </i>About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-14795611034788568922012-09-27T12:34:00.001-07:002012-09-27T12:34:36.358-07:00A great visit. Joanne and I went to South Dakota to visit Eleanor at Barb and Keith's home. We had a wonderful time which included a fall foliage tour , and a short tour of Volin, South Dakota.Eleanor is doing well and we had a wonderful visit. She was happy and alert, and didn't seem as tired as she did when she lived in Seward. Kudos to Barb and Keith for the great job they are doing, and to everyone who has stepped up the letter and postcard writing. She loves to get her mail and hear from everyone.About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-62397663242348213402012-08-16T13:53:00.001-07:002012-08-16T13:53:50.573-07:00Moving. About a month ago, my sister Barbara asked Eleanor to move to South Dakota and live with Barb and her husband Keith. Eleanor agreed, and I have been busy getting Eleanor ready to make the trip to South Dakota. Doctors visits, trips to the optometrist, and Miracle Ear, have kept us busy this month. I have made arrangements for a U Haul to pack her furniture for the move, and we have begun the process of packing her belongings for the trip. She is nervous about her decision, but remembers how much she enjoyed having her Aunt Margaret live in Mississippi with her. Change is difficult and sometimes it seems like it is easier to stay with the same routine rather that try something new. Mary Ann is coming to visit on August 24th, and will help with the packing. We plan to move on August 31. Wish us luck!About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-76551661589564467802012-07-11T14:11:00.002-07:002012-08-16T13:54:54.037-07:00St. John's Eleanor's brother Howard, and sister Lorraine are both at the Red Wing Manor in Red Wing, Minnesota. Lorraine is in the Alzheimer unit, and Howard is in physical therapy after several falls put him in the hospital. The Manor is located in the old St. John's Hospital, where Eleanor went through nursing training, and gave birth to me. It has been a central location in her life.Her sister Lorraine also trained as a nurse there, and her sister Florence worked there for years<br />
Before she was to report for training as a Army nurse in 1942, she went to visit her grandfather Nelson in Lake City, MN. When she arrived, she found him on the floor of his home. He had been having difficulty living at home,and Eleanor was worried that he was so frail that she couldn't leave him alone. Eventually she found a doctor friend who would admit him to St. Mary's in Red Wing. She left the next day for nurses training in Iowa, and was notified the following day that her grandfather had died at St. John's. She was comforted by the fact that he did not die alone in his house.Now with Howard and Lorraine both at the Manor, she feels a sense of concern but also comfort that they are in a place familiar to her and her family.About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-16977202144542685162012-06-13T08:05:00.002-07:002012-06-13T08:06:14.702-07:00Update. Eleanor seems to be doing well since her surgery last Thursday. Thanks to Barbara, who came to Seward on Friday and Saturday to provide support and assistance to Eleanor. Yesterday, Eleanor played Farkle, a dice game, in the activities room. Her friend Evelyn told her it was a waste of time, but Eleanor had a good time, and it's better than sitting in ones room. Thanks to Jill for the wonderful card with the cat in the hammock She has it placed on her table and comments on how nice it is every time I visit. Thanks to Mary Ann and Nette for the cards and phone calls. Eleanor loves to get mail and enjoys all the cards and notes she gets.<br />
Her surgeon called her two days ago to ask how she was doing and if she was taking her antibiotic pills. That really impressed her! Donna Meeks, Eleanor's sister in law, called and asked if Eleanor was doing well; she had a sense that she was not well--" a disturbance in the force?" We had been praying about the surgery, so maybe Donna was on the same channel.<br />
She received a letter from Bryan Hospital informing Eleanor that the information and I.D. card for new pacemaker should arrive in about one month. That was news to me, as I was under the impression that she was only having a battery replaced. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and cards!About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-53429688661317956222012-06-07T11:27:00.000-07:002012-06-07T11:27:01.562-07:00part II Just talked with the Doctor. Everything went fine. She will probably be discharged to go home this afternoon, and we can go back to Seward.About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-41650686555203752232012-06-07T10:56:00.002-07:002012-06-07T10:56:47.058-07:00The Big Day. Part I We arrived at Bryan Hospital at 10:30 am,and I am now sitting in the waiting room at the surgery center. The procedure should take about 30 minutes,d and the doctor will come and visit with me when he has finished. Eleanor is in good spirits, but would like some coffee and a bite to eat. They plan to replace only the battery, but will have to look at the electrodes to see if the are in acceptable condition. I guess its time to wait and see how it goes.I should hear something by 2 pm.About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-4641168956734992312012-06-06T09:49:00.000-07:002012-06-06T09:49:23.425-07:00Pacemakers Tomorrow Eleanor and I are going to the Bryan Surgical Center to have a new battery put into her pacemaker. This has not been an easy decision to make, as Eleanor struggled to make up her mind as to whether or not to have the battery replaced. She had a very difficult time when the original pacemaker was implanted, and worries about the surgery. We have been packing a bag in case she has to stay overnight, and making preparations for a bath with surgical soap this evening. She is nervous and still wondering if she shouldn't cancel the procedure. If you have a chance to send a card to her apartment it would be appreciated. Prayers are welcome via the appropriate channels. About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-16539717863736539212012-03-26T18:32:00.001-07:002012-03-26T18:33:36.551-07:00Flowers and Sunshine. I have been taking flowering plants and cut flowers to Eleanor for the past two weeks. Joanne sent a white Amaryllis to her apartment two weeks ago, and and it was beautiful. Several of the nurses aides commented that the white ones aren't seen too often. Eleanor enjoyed watching the plant with it's four white flowers bloom. When it had finished she asked me to get her some daffodils, and tried to remember the poem about "Daffodils" that her mother always recited.She remembered it for the most part:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">"<i>I wandered lonely as a cloud</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> that floats on high o'er vales and hills,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> When all at once I saw a crowd,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A host, of golden daffodils,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Beside the lake, beneath the trees, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Fluttering and dancing in the breeze"</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"> She has been enjoying her daffodils this week, and the Amaryllis that we had thought was finished, has decided to produce another set of blooms. I would guess by Friday it will be time to bring in new flowers. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> Eleanor called this afternoon and told me she wanted to sit outside in the courtyard, as everyone has been talking about the beautiful weather we are having. It was a bit windy, but we enjoyed watching the courtyard squirrel finding his buried nuts in the courtyard. I was glad that she decided to get up, get dressed, and leave her room for a change. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-84937384737379958162012-02-23T07:27:00.000-08:002012-02-23T07:27:18.764-08:00Lord I believe, please help me through my doubts. I went to a funeral yesterday for an old friend, Virginia Downing. I met her when I first started teaching in Seward, she was in the final few years of her career and I was a first year teacher. She was an excellent teacher, and had the desire to help those who were starting out in their careers. Virginia was born in 1919, so she was older than Eleanor, she was healthy, but had Alzheimer's so her final years of life were not easy.<br />
At the funeral, the pastor used the story of the centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant, Jesus asked if he believed in him, and his reply was yes, <b>but</b>. I was talking with Eleanor about the yes, <b>buts</b> in our lives and she told me that as she has grown older she is more certain about her relationship with God. She has a hard time reading and hearing, but she still tries to listen to the tapes from St. John every week and read the large print Portals of Prayer devotions. It is becoming increasingly difficult for her to get around, so corporate worship is not easy to attend. I'm glad the <b>yes</b>, <b>buts are now only yeses for her.</b>About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-34430244503224226482012-02-06T13:58:00.000-08:002012-02-06T13:58:56.948-08:00Funnies I had coffee and mixed berry muffins with Eleanor this morning. I asked if I could take the Sunday newspaper to the recycling bag at Heartland. Eleanor wasn't sure that I should take the comics, as Sam or Austin might like to see them. The boys enjoy looking at and reading the comics when they stop to visit her.<br />
She remembered that as a child, her grandfather Nelson would save the newspapers in his workshop. When Eleanor would visit, she would go out to the workshop and read and color the comic strips. She always looked forward to going through the papers looking for comics. When they were ready to return to the farm, they always brought the saved newspapers with them, as they were used in the outhouse.<br />
I can remember visiting my grandparents farm in Minnesota and visiting the outhouse with its pile of newspapers and catalogs stacked between the two seats on the outhouse bench.About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-57918116056435934622011-12-31T07:52:00.000-08:002011-12-31T07:52:45.908-08:00Lost teeth<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA12owIcLl0NN5pJj1mGVgW6DSp_XLXRmKLqSQrGWEXYyuauE1g_e2oGR3BA4yWQByRN5vLAypT94PXzNbs-n-KWb7UhyphenhyphenfOeijw7SxvKmpIHurkV7EVasOZdKcOTbINXiBAbX4Mgk1eSPt/s1600/IMGP3009.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA12owIcLl0NN5pJj1mGVgW6DSp_XLXRmKLqSQrGWEXYyuauE1g_e2oGR3BA4yWQByRN5vLAypT94PXzNbs-n-KWb7UhyphenhyphenfOeijw7SxvKmpIHurkV7EVasOZdKcOTbINXiBAbX4Mgk1eSPt/s320/IMGP3009.JPG" /></a> Shelby came with me to visit Eleanor while Joanne and I were baby sitting the girls. Shelby showed Eleanor her missing teeth, and Eleanor informed me that she had a tooth fall out yesterday. The girls posed for a picture to compare their lost teeth and great smiles. I'm thinking a trip to the Seward Dental Clinic for a check up for Eleanor. That will be after her appointment on the second to have her staples removed from the Christmas Eve trip to the emergency room. Looks like a busy first week of the New Year-- 2012.<div style='clear:both; text-align:RIGHT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-13530684614354891052011-12-26T17:35:00.000-08:002011-12-26T17:35:05.393-08:00Grandmother Albers and a question.Today I asked Eleanor about her mother. I really can't say that I know much about my grandmother Albers even though I spent more time on the farm in Goodhue than my siblings. I can remember that she liked to recite poetry, that she was a school teacher from Lake City, and that her cooking skills seemed to limited to eggs and sandwiches when I visited the farm.<br />
Eleanor was six when her sister Lorraine was born and she helped her mother care for Lorraine. I asked if that freed Lillian up to help cook and work on the farm, and my mother informed me that her mother wasn't much of a cook. When the threshers, came to harvest crops, Aunt Margaret, the real cook in the Albers family, would come to the farm and take over the cooking. Eleanor described her mother as stingy, she seemed to think the workers should be able to get by with a lot less food than Margaret prepared. It was maybe a difficult thing to be turned out of the kitchen of your own home for another person to cook. Eleanor wasn't sure that her mother was very happy as a farm wife, she had an education, and was a city girl who never was very comfortable with the isolation of the farm.<br />
The first time her mother left Minnesota was when she went on the train to visit Eleanor at basic training in Iowa. She was part of a program to assure the mothers of nurses who had joined the Army that their daughters were being treated well. When Eleanor came home from WWII, she remembers driving her mother to a town where they had a circular bridge that went down next to the river. Lillian was terrified when Eleanor decided to drive down the bridge and informed Eleanor that she was entirely too reckless for her own good.<br />
As I was preparing to leave, Eleanor had a question for me. "Do I think it is time for me to move to a nursing home?" Eleanor has fallen three times in the past month, and she has had a compression fracture on her hip, a badly bruised thumb, and a cut on her head that required 10 stitches. Her decision to move to a wheel chair several months ago is not helping with her strength and balance. She seems to be at risk in transferring from her wheelchair to a standing position. I didn't know how to react to the question, and was somewhat surprised that she was considering the possibility.About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-1381940774362937162011-12-20T09:19:00.000-08:002011-12-20T09:22:26.829-08:00Christmas MemoriesTis the season for Christmas past, present, and future. Eleanor has been enjoying the Turner Classics Channel watching old favorites. White Christmas, Miracle of 34th Street, and Scrooge were all on this week-- one night we watched the Wizard of Oz, not sure what the connection is there, maybe getting home for the holidays. Thanks to Mary Ann and Nette for the cookies and beautiful poinsettia, and to Barb for writing Eleanor's Christmas letter and sending out her many, many cards. I am always amazed at how many people she knows and still gets cards from. I brought the Christmas tree from the past trees that Mary Ann has sent; something salvaged from them all make a tree that Eleanor thinks is beautiful<br />
We asked her about her early memories of Christmas, and she shared lots of memories. Real candles on a tree, which were only lit twice as her father was concerned about setting the house on fire. Christmas presents arriving from the Sears and Roebuck catalog, and the Christmas they arrived late. A winter storm that prevented them from going to church, and how Aunt Margaret saved the day by walking to church and picking up the kids Christmas candy bags.{ Barb and Mary Ann can probably remember the bags we received after the Christmas service at Trinity}A Christmas dinner of roasted goose, not many had turkey in the 20's. Her grandfather coming for dinner and praying and reading the Bible in German. ( Komm Herr Jesu)<br />
Special thanks to Liz and the boys for visiting Eleanor while Joanne and I were in Mexico, and to Jill for her cards and letters. Prayers and hopes that your holiday is great!About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-39100369804787199832011-11-14T18:47:00.000-08:002011-11-14T18:47:27.881-08:00This is a test. Tomorrow morning I have to go to Eleanor's apartment to get her up for a telephone test on her pacemaker. She slept through the last one, so we are going to get her up and caffeinated prior to the test at 10:30 a.m.. This summer we went to the cardiologists office and were told that the battery in the pacemaker would last between 6 to 18 months; that was about 3 months ago, so she is a little nervous about the test tomorrow. The replacement of the battery in the pacemaker would require surgery, but we were told it would be a simple out patient procedure.<br />
I remember going to Mississippi when the pacemaker was put in. The process was scheduled as an out patient procedure, but she was in the hospital for 4 days. I guess one just prepares to expect the unexpected in these cases.<br />
Thanks to everyone who helped to celebrate Eleanor's birthday. She received lots of great gifts; probably too much candy, but who am I to say how much candy is too much.About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-86271147160776470552011-10-10T08:24:00.000-07:002011-10-10T08:24:11.973-07:00Who will take care of me? Since Eleanor's visit with her sister in law Donna, she has been preoccupied with the question of what is going to become of her when she is too old to take care of herself. Donna is moving in with Paul and Nancy Neeley, and Eleanor is wondering who she will move in with. She has even referred me to an article in Reader's Digest about parents moving in with their children. She has become more and more concerned about her bank statements and the cost of living at Heartland. Her decision to give up her walker and use the wheel chair has definitely slowed her down and made things more difficult for her from the mobility standpoint. I've given up trying to get her to use a walker or get out of bed for lunch because all we seemed to do was argue. I concluded that she has make these decisions, so when I come to visit, I try to enjoy my time with her.<br />
I can recall my experiences with Joanne's mother Mary, and Aunt Marge. They both struggled to maintain their independence, but ultimately they realized they needed to get more help. I'm not sure what we will decide about her question.About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-14511288304008274822011-09-28T09:46:00.000-07:002011-09-28T09:46:20.393-07:00What is truth?Had a great visit on Monday with Neeley relatives in Seward. My Aunt Donna had wanted to come to Nebraska to see Eleanor, and the opportunity to make the trip occurred when Nancy Neeley drove to Weeping Water, Nebraska to visit daughter Cora, son in law Adam and grandchildren . The weather was beautiful and a good time was had by all.<br />
Donna is 84, and is doing quite well, she reminded me of all the things Eleanor could do when she arrived in Seward. She have lost a lot of abilities over the past six years. Eleanor was recounting one of her stories about when she first moved to Pennsylvania and met her in-laws.<br />
<i>One morning Eleanor awoke and found a five to six year old Elwood standing next to her bed. "Daddy shot Harper" Elwood announced.</i><br />
<i> Fred was not close to his family, so they didn't make an effort to trace down the events surrounding Elwood's announcement. It did seem possible the Fred's dad might have indeed shot at his son in law Harper.</i><br />
<i>When Eleanor recounted her experience, Donna added a new fact to the story. Harper it seems was the name of the family dog, and her dad had indeed shot Harper. </i><br />
I have heard that story many times and had concluded along with Eleanor that my Grandfather Neeley was an ill tempered and violent person. I have heard other things that seem to fit with that conclusion, however the Harper story can no longer be cited as proof. I wonder how many impressions we have about people and events that are based on incomplete or incorrect memories?About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-35588276194937744392011-09-28T09:20:00.001-07:002011-09-28T09:20:41.014-07:00Getting Ready<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 30px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8670920074822498244" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"> Eleanor's Neeley relatives are coming Monday for a visit. All told the number stands at 10, so we have been busy with planning for a luncheon. They should all arrive about noon, and we will head for my house for lunch and visiting. I will take the great- nieces and nephews out side or to the basement, so everyone can visit. Eleanor's hearing aids work best with one or two people talking, so a big crowd will only confuse her.<br />
She had a good visit at Dr. Donovan's office and her next appointment is in January, so the shots have been having the desired effect on her back and hip. Next week will be a busy one as she has visitors on Monday, a perm on Tuesday, and plans to go to the movie matinee of "The Help" on Wednesday.</div>About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-89250044977290236072011-09-05T13:27:00.000-07:002011-09-05T13:29:11.254-07:00Colds and codeine. Eleanor has had a bad cold, possibly mild pneumonia. this past week. We went to the clinic on Thursday to see Dr. Suma ; he had an intern with him and after listening to Eleanor's lungs told her that he thought this might be as close to the sound of pneumonia as he could have her listen to. My sister Barb came down to visit this weekend, but unsure how much visiting took place, as Eleanor was using the codeine cough syrup that Dr. Suma had given her for her cough. Barb did manage to get Eleanor to get dressed after telling her she couldn't stay in the same pajamas for 36 hours( probably more like 48). I get nervous about codeine for Eleanor as Dr. Froehner used to give her pills to help her sleep that had codeine in them. I believe it may have contributed to her falling. She called me today to wish me a happy Labor Day, so I'll take that as a sign that she is recovering.<br />
Eleanor is still in the wheel chair and has refused to use her walker. Evelyn's falling and breaking her hip has frightened Mom to the point that she won't use her walker. She had the Heartland staff put in in her shower.<br />
Happy Labor Day to all!About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-78933116597513669532011-08-02T15:18:00.000-07:002011-08-02T15:18:58.946-07:00Old scrap books. Liz called the other night and said that she had taken the boys to see Eleanor, and get some ice cream cones at Heartland. While she was there, Eleanor was pulling old cards from her scrap book of the World War II years. She has kept that book for over 60 years, and suddenly she decided to "recycle" the cards, by tearing them out of the book and giving them to the ladies at Heartland to make new cards. Joanne, Mark, and I took Eleanor to lunch at the Country Club today, and she had baked salmon with green beans. She really enjoyed missing dinner at Heartland.<br />
When we returned to the apartment, Joanne rescued the remains of the scrap book and brought it to our house "for the boys to look at". There were lots of news articles from the Goodhue and Red Wing papers as well as cartoons, church bulletins, and magazine articles. I wish she hadn't decided to recycle, as I feel we have lost a link to her life. Something that one could go to and get a sense of who their mother, grand mother, or great grandmother was.<br />
Last week was a difficult one for Eleanor, she was depressed as she went through a period of remembering Fred's birthday, death, their anniversary, and Evelyn's broken hip. She seems to be doing much better now; she had several days of visits from Mark, and Liz and the boys, a family cookout with Mark, Dan and Jill, Liz, Sam, Maggie, Austin, Shelby, and Natalie in attendance.<br />
It's important to get out and see the world instead of sitting in Heartland. It's a nice place to live, but probably gets "old" being there day after day. Her back pain seems much improved, so maybe some short outings may be just what the doctor might ordered.<br />
About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006003246835465012.post-81857342453937379722011-07-23T17:00:00.000-07:002011-07-23T17:13:27.114-07:00Lois, Evelyn, and Irene. Joanne and I took Eleanor to the Nebraska Pain Clinic on Thursday for a steroid injection in her back. She has had injections before and sometimes they help and sometimes they do not. Our appointment was at 2 p.m., so we went to Perkins for an afternoon meal before returning to Heartland. She had two eggs, French toast, bacon, and hash browns; I was amazed at the amount of food she ate. We returned to Heartland, and we iced her back and drank some Gatorade to try to keep her sodium levels up.<br />
I have spent quite a bit of time the last two days with Eleanor to monitor her sodium level and make sure that she isn't showing signs of confusion. Hopefully we have been proactive enough that she won't have to have a sodium infusion, and getting the pain shots won't be so traumatic for her.<br />
I left for home at 3 p.m. today before she went to dinner. Eleanor just called to tell me her friend Evelyn Garske had fallen and broken her hip. Evelyn is mom's closest friend at Heartland and she really enjoys her company. I am sure that this will be depressing for Eleanor, as this is the second good friend at Heartland that has had a broken hip. When Eleanor moved into Heartland she became good friends with her neighbor,Lois Geisselman; Lois broke her hip and died about three weeks later. Another friend, Irene had a stroke about two months ago; Eleanor and Irene used to crochet together when Mom lived in independent living.<br />
I'm sure that Mom will be saddened by the loss of another friend. In coming to Seward, she left all her friends from Mississippi, but Mom has always been outgoing and able to connect with people. It is difficult to lose ones friends, and being in assisted living hasn't made getting out and meeting people any easier for Eleanor.<br />
Please keep those cards and notes coming, as they remind her she isn't forgotten or alone.About Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06218040476001918888noreply@blogger.com0