1985-05 (May)

May 26th, 1985

[ MISENTERED on MAY 28] Which see; then pick up as follows; Subscribed to Southern Review as a result of reading the current issue with Jim Cox’s piece on my War narrative, along with other articles.

Finally got around to packing for tomorrow’s trip to New York.

[Additional Entry accidentally put on May 28th Page by Foote] Weather warming but skies are clear; real feeling of summer, outdoors’s and in: air-conditioner always breathing. Cereal breakfast; later, fried egg on rye- first I’ve had fixed in weeks. Cold-in head improving, but slowly. Started light packing for three-day New York trip. In afternoon Margaret called with word that some man had thrown her down the stairs and broken her arm; ambulance was on the way; she’d call me again from wherever they were taking her. About 6 o’clock she called and said for me to come get her at Elvis Presley Trauma center and following which which there was a frantic and angry- making search for a drugstore open on Sunday. Madhouse carrying on, and more to come.

May 27th, 1985

Memorial Day (observation): plane left on time and landed on time, too, at LaGuardia – high noon. Fast cab ride to Westbury; unpacked, went down to lobby, ran into Gloria Emerson, with whom I sat and talked awhile, embarrassment nor remembering her name until she told me. Walked down Madison to 50th; stores nearly all closed for holiday, weather hat and muggy. Had an omelette and coffee at Maigold and was shocked at prices. $13.25 with tip. Back up to room; read Times AND Tactius till 7’oclock news. Had a club sandwich in pajamas and watched the 9 o’clock movie, “The Rape of Richard Beck,” with Richard Crenna. Not bad, in its way. Asleep by midnight.

May 28th, 1985

Woke at 6, dozed till 8, ordered Continental breakfast in room. News program, then Donahue. Left for 20th Century (one block away) at 10:30. Press conference began some after 11; lunch followed at 12:30. Back in hotel by 2:!5. Weather muggy, with occasional showers; quite unpleasant to walk in though I managed not to get rained on by where I walked down to 59th street and Agony Books, still in search of Claria and still with no luck. Back in room by 3:45, just before showers turned into a thunderstorm that picked up and a full inch of rain in the next two hours – watched. Thank God, from hotel window, so high up (14th floor) that I couldn’t see the street, just the rain. Dinner at bistro: moules marinara, as well.

May 29th, 1985

True breakfast – eggs, toast, sausage, pot of coffee - in xxxxxx roll-in table. Downtown, first by walking. Then by Cab, to visit with Bob Loomis at Random; stayed about 45 minutes, till 11; now walked over to fifth and across it on 51st street, for a similar xxxxx visit with Bob Rosen. Then returned to Westbury; left eight copies of Battle Lines (our report, printed along with other matter in a $10 paperback) with the concierge to give to a messenger Loomis sent over from Random.

Lunch in polo at 2 p.m. – chicken breast with assorted vegetables, cooked with a nouvelle cuisine. Back to room; finished packing and left for LaGuardia at 3:40; arrived 4:$0- with another two hour wait till plane time. Read Tacitus and walked to Delta corridors. Took off just before 6; arrived Memphis on schedule at 7:11 C.D.T. As always glad to be home.

Unpacked, tried to call Gwyn in California; no answer. Tried again; got Kim; arranged to call again, an hour later. Did call, and reached her. She’ll be leaving Friday morning on Republic; status, stand-by for flight 7:08, departing at 8:50 a.m. Lean Cuisine for dinner. Watched TV- testimony on Reagan’s new tax-revision bill.

May 30th, 1985

Filed for NY expenses with 20th Century: Airfare, $410; car storage $15; taxis ( LaGuardia) $30. Total: $455. Back; cashed $200 check for paying Mary. Called Chris Tommansimo at RLR to discuss French reprint situation; not here – I left word for her to call me Monday.

Continued reading Tactius’ Histories, supplemented by study of Ronald Matiny’s critical exegesis. Fascinates me more, and more I get into him.