Left my great aunt Verona and uncle Charlie’s, (which wasn’t easy) and went to stay with my great aunt Mabel and uncle Chet. They live in a small apartment, but, very nice. They’re as sweet as can be and are complete opposites from Verona. They have a lot of money, but you’d never know it. We went to the hospital to visit a friend, then out to dinner at the “Red Balloon.” we came home and looked family pictures, which were so much older than Verona’s. Auntie Mabel talks only about family and cry’s when she speaks of her son Tommy who died a few years ago.


July 2, Tuesday, 1966


We went grocer shopping for the big family picnic on the 4th of July. The store was right across the street. We came home and looked through the family album. It was really fun to see everyone looking so young. They told me lots of stories about my grandfather Preston who died in 1936. Mabel cried and I did too. Tonight we went to a movie and saw “Lady L,” with Paul Newman and Sophia Lauren. I enjoyed it a lot. Then we came home and auntie Mabel mended my blouse and we drank strawberry sodas.


July 3, Wednesday, 1966


We went to the Catholic Church at 12;00…came home and I wrote letters. We ate at home at 4:00 and played scrabble, we each won a game. Then I fixed the potato salad for tomorrow with mom’s recipe. I ate so much of it I went off my diet. We watched tv and I read than called home. It was good to hear everyone’s voices. They want e to stay in Chicago and go to school.

July 4, Monday,1966

uncle Chet and auntie Mabel and I went out to lunch with Shirley, their oldest daughter. Then, they took e to a place called “The Golden Dolphin.” It’s the most amazing place. The whole store is bathroom and bedroom fixtures and decorations. I went crazy in there and bought a miniature piano for my aunt Verona, a perfumed Angel candle for mom, a gondola for Mary and some bathroom soaps and spray for auntie Mabel.


July 9, Saturday, 1966


We visited Al Williams sister Neppy. The father and daughter came home and we looked at family pictures. Ann Louise, the daughter came home with us and we went out to dinner at a Smorgasbord all you can eat restaurant. Then, Ann Louise and I walked into the town and bought auntie Mabel and uncle Chet a box of candy and a thank you card. I also bought one for aunt Verona and Charlie. When we got back home, our cousin John Huber was there, he looks better than before, and we went to the show to see “A Thousand Clowns.”


July 10, Sunday, 1966


Went to Church with auntie Mabel, uncle Chet drove us to the Cemetary to see Tommy’s grave and he told me to wait in the car. I watched auntie Mabel get down on her knee’s and brush off the headstone and place flowers on his grave. She was crying when she got back in the car. That afternoon it was so hot we couldn’t leave the house and later that day they drove me back to aunt Verona and Charlie’s house. It was so sad to leave them and my cousins, but I promised to write them all the time.