1985-06 (June)

Miami Reporter at 3 p.m.

June 11th, 1985 Sandra Saunders called to say that Tunkie is much better. “He’s back with us,” was how she put it. Continued Vietnam, into final hundred pages. At 3 o’clock, as agreed, Bill Robertson, a Miami Herald reporter, who was here for an interview in connection with retracing Mark Twain’s steps in Life on the Mississippi. He had wanted to bring along a photographer but I declined. After he left, the photographer called with an urgent plea. So I said o.k. He came 5:40; stayed till 6:30; took about a hundred pictures without pauses, inside outside. I missed the news. Hard rain from about 5:30 to 7:30. Air conditioner repairman un-arrived again.

June 12th, 1985 New yard man, Hetcher Walton, showed for first day’s work. Grass wet from yesterday’s rain. I put him to clipping ivy which badly needs it. Hospital (Methodist, Tower Room 801); stopped in to see Tunkie, who looks bad indeed, but is much better than he was during his three-day “stroke.” Tobacco bowl; got six 12-ounce cans of Edward g. and six 8-ounce packets of swinger- at least a two-month supply. Also bought an on-sale pipe, a black, sleek Conoy-style model, 35% off. Air conditioning breaker switch replaced. Finished Karnow’s Vietnam –a nightmare from which we’re still trying recover. Yard man did a good job, cutting ivy. Return tomorrow to cut grass. Walked two miles; Mozart piano sonatas.

June 13th, 1985 Yardman back, mowing grass, trimming shrubbery, edging driveway. Good worker but unexperienced. Cut all grass, front and back, and finished the ivy clipping. Late morning; drove to Methodist and was glad to find Tunkie much improved, though still don’t know what caused his seizure. Opus 2; retrieved Sony Walkman unrepaired. Delightfully cool weather! Even slept under a light blanket last night. Margaret came by for money. Exasperating attitude combined with scorn and ingratitude. I gave her $20 and told her that would be my last contribution to her present life style.

June 14th, 1985 Mailed order to Southern Review for current issue to be sent to Michel Gresset. Hospital; visited Tunkie and found him improved. Fletcher wound up his three-day yard work- mainly removing dead shrubbery, great relief to get the yard squared away at last, not to mention the weed-bordred driveway and the overgrown terrace up by the fish pool. Best of all, the ivy no longer threatens to lift the roof off. Gwyn paid the quarterly estimated tax- just over $4000. My share, in this slack year, comes to $603.75. Bank; cashed $200 check to pay my share of Mary’s and Fletcher’s salary.

June 15th, 1985 Hot weather returning, but not yet in full force. Lipsey’s fish market; got four filets of sole and three soft shell crabs. Latter were frozen and all tasteless when Gwyn sautéed them for lunch. Began Zola’s Pot-Bouilee (Restless House in my train station) but didn’t like its superficiality; so I drove out to the Book Shelf around 4 o’clock and got the Penguin edition of La Terre, figuring that if I was going to read still another Zola this one (The Earth) is reported to rank with L’Assomoir, Germinal, and The Debacle. We’ll see.