February 1999

 

February 2, 1999

Overcast, freezing rain.

Why do people bother to wear clothes? As the millennium approaches new things have to be tried, so I am adjusting my uniform to include a thick, black leather collar. When I go out I should also wear my athletic cup with a diaper in it so I can be a real pig. 

Friendly's stock continues to rise. The Southwick Public Library has opened a lovely new building. It has taken them a long time. The Just Kiddin Around Children's Theater in South Hadley is featuring Tony Lupo and his monkey Coco.  I recall that the same act was at the Grand Opening of Filene's, which Mother and I attended. At one point the monkey kissed Mother. 

I drove out first thing and got the paper out of the trashcan at Breckwood and put out the mail. Once back home, Byron's Funeral Home called at 12:14pm and said they have Mother's urn and cremains and I could pick them up in an hour.  So I drove out about 1pm, stopping to make copies of Mother's obituary at Shea Library . I will mail one to Aunt Maria, who has said she doesn't want me coming over to visit her. 

Passed through the Goodwill, where I bought a bell, then over to Byron's. Surprise! They had the wrong date on Mother's urn - 16 Decemeber should have been 15 December -  so they will do it over. I also ordered an urn for my own cremains, with instructions that it be engraved "Queerboy Fag Sissypansy" with the date of my birth. They promised to contact me when the new urns were ready. So at least I have Mother's cremains, currently in a box sitting on Father's Monarch chair in the parlor.

Next I drove down to Subway and got my usual deli sandwich for 99 cents. I was waited on by a sweet, young woman who said she was the manager with four employees working under her. She was generous putting the stuff in the roll. When  I got back, the mail included a sympathy card from the Cressotti's, but it had been ripped and bent by the postal machinery.  

Called Picknelly's office and told Brenda about the winter antique auctions. I then called the St. Francis Chapel but Father Zachary was unavailable. Also called Old Hadleigh Hearth and Patio and they sell Hearthstone stoves.  Sales lady said there is a $350 installation fee and there may be other charges.

Called to hear Eamon's latest phone editorial but he answered directly - most unusual. I asked him if he has ever been to Barnes & Noble and he said he has not and does not intend to. He told me people at the Basketball Hall of Fame have been calling to listen to his messages regularly, adding that he has heard through the grapevine that the Hall has been lobbying for an exit ramp from the highway leading right to them.

I mentioned to Eamon that my electric bill averages about $25 per month and Eamon told me his is about $30. I told him how I had come upon an old receipt from Channel Home Center in Springfield dated 8/23/87 for a paint sprayer we never used. Channel was a very large and complete hardware store right where Food Mart now stands. Mother was sad to see it go and Eamon said he also liked it.

Eamon says his friend Karen Powell and her husband Bob,  who led the fight against needle exchange, have been calling him lately. Apparently the Powells would like to move their auto repair business from East Longmeadow to Springfield. I said that sounds very foolish. Karen is trying to convince Eamon to run for mayor, but he is too smart for that. 

February 3, 1999

Very misty. 

We need to get away from all our traditional clothing to something like a single, zip-on plastic suit. It won't soil the way fabric does and stays clean on the outside no matter how fouled on the inside. 

This morning I cleaned up a bit and shaved my head down to the skin, put on my biker jacket, boots, and my new, raspberry colored round glasses. My pants of course are very baggy. My outfit is stunning as my appearance is queer thru and thru and I daresay neat and slick.  

Petco is also at Holyoke Crossing.  Today I came upon Mother's list of the members of the Wesley Church Bridge Club - Katherine Hill, Ursula Smith, Gladys Stone, Lois Hastings, Mabel Williams, Sally Bender and Marian Staniski. A note at the bottom says that Mrs. McFarland and Mrs. Margeson were sometimes players but not regularly. 

On the news, Brenda Garton mentioned the State Board of "Resignation" when it should have been Registration. At 5:40pm Barry Kreiger said the Dow went down today though it actually went up. A few minutes later he laughingly corrected himself in small talk with the other anchors. 

Deluxe Check Printers are closing their main plant in a Springfield industrial park and there go over 200 jobs. That's along with Caldors closing their store and big new warehouse in Westfield. Who says times are good?

Unknown called while I was outside putting out the recycling. I called and spoke with the secretary to Principal Budd-Jackson at Central High, Mrs. Crinalla, and suggested that with all the errors in it, they ought to have their best English students make a week's project of correcting the school handbook. She thanked me for calling and hung up without commenting. 

February 5, 1999

Cloudy and showery.

Miller at Springfield. Logged 74.1 miles driving today. I went everywhere in full queer outfit with a chain around my waist held together by handcuffs.

I drove up to Whately for the Antiquarian Book Center winter sale. First I drove through Hatfield trying to locate the offices of the Valley Advocate. The Hatfield Library is a nice, 1920's tudor schoolhouse across from Town Hall. Their sidewalk was salted but still quite icy. I asked for directions to the Advocate offices and the librarian told me. 

I found the Advocate building on School Street. It is a beautiful, 1840ish wooden mill structure of two stories with a cupola on top. There is a wide waterfall to one side. The building is chocolate brown in a town of white New England farm houses. 

All the parking spots were taken so I parked in the street. I went in the front door and found a very warm, friendly, quiet, home-like, softly lighted interior with a Hatfield historical preservation award on the wall.  A receptionist greeted me with a jovial grin. I introduced myself and she recognized my name, telling me that her name is Patty and she is an assistant to the publisher. 

She pulled out a Advocate 25th anniversary t-shirt and placed it in a tote bag with an image of their first issue on it. Patty asked me if I had ever received the Pynchon Award and was surprised when I replied that I have not. I told her that it must be a pleasure to come to work in such a nice place that is so superior to the office they used to have in Springfield. I thanked her graciously as I left and urged her to thank Maureen again for giving me these things.

I drove back by Rte. 5 and saw lots of new development in Hatfield. It is sad to see all that historic countryside lost to commercial use. When I got to the book sale everything was 40% off, so I got a few things considerably cheaper than I could have got them from Jordan Luttrell. 

The owner came over and thanked me for "taking the trouble to take a look." His name is Eugene Povirk and he said he attended Harvard in the 1960's and graduated in the 70's.  Povirk said he just got a lot of signed stuff from Charles D. Farrell, and also does some trading with Moyer Boswell. He didn't know  Luttrell.  At one point he told me he has met David Starr and found him ungracious. Eugene said he would send me his catalog and I said I would send him photos of my poster collection. I was there from 10:30am to 1:30pm.

Back in Springfield, I stopped at Subway and noted that the once stylish block looking over the park next to Merriam-Webster is boarded up. Then I drove to the Kasparian Center (former Monarch back building) to check out the Open House for students considering going to Sci-Tech. When I entered the high school info fair I asked if there was an English teacher around. 

They introduced me to Mr. Richard Stoddard, an Assistant Principal who was a former English teacher. He sort of reminded me of Peter Johnson. I told him about all the grammar errors I find in official School Department publications. He was cordial, but made no comment, politely thanking me as he walked away. 

Rained a bit on the way home. News had a story about Hoboken, New Jersey cracking down on Federal cars parking everywhere they want illegally. We've had some of the same problems here, with federal employees parking where they please and claiming they can't be ticketed. Journalist Elizabeth Drew called the Clinton's "hypocritical" on the Lehrer Report. I agree that hypocritical is the right word for the Clinton's.

The mail brought condolences from Dianne and Maria Mulhausen. When I got home a bag of Harvard Gazettes and other periodicals were hanging on the back gate from Mrs. Staniski, so I called and thanked her. Called Aunt Maria and she said she hasn't any money. I told her she should have gotten her Social Security check on the first but she hung up after accusing me of wanting to get into her bank account. 

Called Eamon, who told me his phone editorial has received over 60 calls today. He said he is still getting calls from the Hall of Fame and for some reason he keeps getting a listener from Enron. Eamon told me he went to see his friend Dick Serkin at his leather shop on Worthington to buy an Italian jacket but they were sold out. Serkin told him he'll call when some come in and said Eamon could have any coat he wants at 30% off. Eamon knows a lot of people. This is Eamon's latest phone message:

"Does anyone think that Springfield's dull in the extreme downtown, without a single retail anchor store, can be saved by enlarging the badly designed, misplaced, white elephant Civic Center and Hall of Fame, along with a new Federal Building and baseball stadium? Can Springfield's downtown ever compete with Boston, Providence, Worcester or even Northampton? Springfield's downtown is beyond the point of no return."

February 7, 1999

Overcast, a few snow flurries.

Grease featuring Frankie Avalon is appearing at the Wang Theater in Boston. Black Sabbath are playing Wednesday at the Fleet Center. Mad Max and bell bottoms are back and they're hot! 

The Clinton impeachment trial started today around 10am. I recall going to a Ward 7 Democrat City Committee meeting once where I was politely told (and thanked for coming anyway) that I had to be a registered Democrat to attend. There were about twenty people there and I remember Bill Foley giving me a good stare. 

The Easton Press in Norwalk, Ct. is a top-rated publisher, but I don't know about the quality of their texts! Reading all my new books has taken a few days. Now proofreading the Central High handbook.

I left at 10:30am and mailed at Louis & Clark my letter to the Tuesday Morning Music Club, describing my history with the organization. Next to the Big Y in the Acres for fruit punch and that was all. The new gas station is coming along, building looks about finished.  

Then over to the Open House for 296 Longmeadow Street, a grandiose ranch house. Really nice. Around 11:21 I arrived at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst via 47 and down 116. It is a fabulous, wonderfully exhilarating, moving, functional - what else you can say - beautiful building! I told everyone that. 

There were several extremely ornate chandeliers. Ramps, not stairs, connect the levels. There is a theater in the back. Exhibit rooms are small and intimate. You can wander freely about. I bought some postcards and running the gift shop was a Mrs. Fine, who said her husband and daughter are Springfield lawyers. I departed at 12:20pm and as I left I got a poster for a pro-pot rally off a pole by Hampshire College.

On the way back I saw Schmerhorn's white blimp with red fins aloft over Amherst. Home at 1:05. For the second time lately a Papa Gino's discount coupon doorknob hanger was awaiting me. I baked lima beans, Spam and potatoes in the oven.

Called Aunt Maria and she said she was cleaning house. She said she gets so tired she just falls asleep. Told me she wants to die. The cat goes in and out whenever he wants. She doesn't want me to come over. 

February 8, 1999

32 degrees at 8:50am. 

Is President Clinton emotionally immature? For most people, emotional maturity means going along to get along. I may be emotionally immature because I admit I am turned on by leather. 

I drove out at ten to nine, came through the Goodwill and got the newspaper out of their trashcan. Why buy it if you can get it out of the trash? Then I drove over to the high school to give R. Stoddard the corrected handbook I made for him which I had told him about at the high school Open House. The black lady at the desk said Stoddard was with a parent, so I told her I would just leave this for him and asked for a receipt, which she gave me. 

Then Stoddard suddenly appeared at the desk, where I welcomed him as "my friend." He replied, "I'm not sure about that!" I told him the lady behind the desk had just taken my corrected version of the school handbook. He asked me if I spent all weekend working on it. I replied no, informing him that I am so expert I did it in just one evening. Then I wished him a pleasant good day and beat it. 

Then over to the Bank of Western Mass where I withdrew $600  from my savings account. I will use $250 of it to pay Jeff Manzetti  for 25 shares of Woronoco Bank stock. I stopped at the Citgo on the corner of Alden for gas at 87 cents per gallon. From there I headed toward Feeding Hills to give Aunt Maria a box of Valentine goodies.

When I arrived there was a red truck outside and at the back door I met Paul Broz, a good looking young fellow from the Methodist Church, who said he was here helping Aunt Maria. What a mess, more of a mess than I have ever seen before. There was clothing all over the floor, not even a path through it. The door to Uncle George's room was open. 

I placed the Valentine box on the night stand. Aunt Maria herself was standing at the far side of the bed without her teeth and naked from the waist down, with a paper towel in her crotch. Mother would have made a diaper for herself, but not Maria! Paul said she had diarrhea real bad and was about to take a bath. He told me he was leaving but would be back at 1pm.  

When Paul left I told Aunt Maria her house was an incredible mess, and she didn't like to hear that. She took the shitty paper in her crotch and threw it at me. She also grabbed the box of Valentines candy and threw that at me, but she missed and hit the wall. Aunt Maria then screamed at me to get out and never come back. I disposed of the shitty paper and departed. 

On my way back I swung by the Buffet and for $6.50 had chicken, liver, onions, potato skins and a nice plate of salad. Then I came home and read the paper and other stuff. The mail brought the proof from Hein, but no Milton Society booklet. Also got a letter and t-shirt from Dan Caccavaro, Editor and Chief of the Valley Advocate, thanking me for the medal I sent him.

February 10, 1999

Sunny, 38 degrees at 9:30am.

The blessing for Mother is that she was so sick she was just happy to have a place to die in peace. Aunt Maria is still her sassy old self that has never taken any advice. I just hope that when she dies I will be able to get the Revere glassware and a couple of other things. When the time comes there is a lot of stuff I should get, technically, she once said it is all mine.  

Wrote letters to Maureen Turner and others. Then to Breckwood to put the mail out. As I was leaving, the Powers drove by and waved. They both go out every morning, maybe she works over to the monument works too.  Swung by the Big Y for asparagus and more Swanson dinners at $1.30 each. Ran into Mr. Anzalotti .

Dined on a Swanson Chicken Dinner and had a grapefruit for breakfast. A Peter K. Barrett 565-2643 rang and when I said hello they hung up. So I called back and a woman answered and I said, "When you dial the wrong number the polite thing to do is to say you're sorry, not hang up and hope they don't know. Get it???"

I called and left word with Jen for Anthony Ardolino to call me so I can tell him why the positions on the Historical Commission should not be a lifetime job. Eamon called, his birthday is Friday the 13th and his sister is coming over to bake him a cherry pie. He gives away all his food coupons to his sister. I mentioned my supper and he said he rarely eats Swanson dinners. 

Eamon then recalled how before he had his office in the Produce Building, he was with the Department of Education at 235 Chestnut on the second floor next to the Attorney General's office. Mass Rehabilitation was on the other side of the building. Sheriff M. Ashe, who was a sociology major in college, originally started out working for Mass Rehab.

I noted how years ago Wayne Phaneuf used to write the historical pieces for the paper, then R. Garvey started writing things, now Phaneuf is back to historical writing. We agreed that the stories in the paper about the arrogant Historical Commission and political fixer Charlie Kingston reflect the stinky political situation in Springfield. Eamon says that in his opinion Kingston is connected in some way to the mafia. 

Eamon recounted how on the corner of Morris Street used to be the Empire Cafe, a notorious mobster hangout. On the right two houses down is the house of Jake Nettis, a soft-spoken gentleman who was General Manager of Dreikorn's Bakery in Holyoke. The house looks old from the outside, but inside it's a palace. His wife is Rita Santaniello. 

Eamon met Nettis through Joe Calabrese who owned New England Auto Body on the West Side. Eamon also met Morris Kirby there, who had a good size office over the oriental rug shop on the Apremont Triangle. Nettis has a son who is one of Sheriff Ashe's deputies out in Ludlow.

Eamon knows everything. 

February 12, 1999

Sunny day, 33 degrees at 8:30 this morning.

President Clinton has been acquitted in his impeachment trial. Rendering the decree Chief Justice Rehnquist declared it "ordered and adjudged." I should think it would be the other way around, that is to say, adjudged and ordered. 

The map of Springfield in the 1999 Getaway Guide newspaper pull-out is very inadequate. Springfield's map in the 1999 Mass Transportation Guide is much better, but they should put a little blue star on the bottom of the eastern end of Wilbraham Road, which is just about where my house is. 

The news on 22 had a story that Big Dig overruns in Boston have delayed completion of 57 from Agawam to Southwick. The project is now a year behind schedule and there was no progress last summer. Gorden Cinema in Greenfield is showing the film Payback, a remake of a 1967 thriller.

Drove out at 9am and put out the mail at Breckwood. Then I left papers, a box of chocolates and copies of Mother's obituary on Mrs. Staniski's back porch. Stopped at the office of St. Michael's Cemetery and asked for a map, but they had none. Then I had two Big Macs for $2.22 each at Allen Street and came home. 

The mail today brought condolences today from Chrissy and issues stickers from Common Cause, but they are defective and don't stick. I also got an Albank statement postmarked February 10th that was sealed in such a way that the sole check enclosed was folded out of the back under the sealed flap to the extent of one corner of the check, base an inch, altitude an inch and a half, third side or hypotenuse along the flap of the envelope. 

First thing this morning I called the President's office at Baypath and the secretary said they would be "glad to publish" notice of Mother's passing in their alumni magazine and a note will be sent to Joanne Guernsey, their Director of Publications, to see that it's done. Then I spoke to Judy, the secretary at Byron's, who said Mother's urn is done and it's on its way here. Shortly after, Joe called from Byron's saying Mother's urn is "being shipped today" but that "Wilbert refused to do your urn" with my Sissypants name.

I called Tom Devine and told him various things, he said he hadn't seen Mother's obituary in the paper. Tom is quoted in this week's Valley Advocate in an article about Linda Melconian. He told me he has never been to the Advocate's Hatfield office but he has driven past it. Last week Tom's website got 830 hits. Anthony Ardolino called and I told him what I think is wrong with Fran Gagnon and the Historical Commission. He thanked me and said he would "pass it on" to the mayor. 

Called Aunt Maria and Edith Michaud answered, saying she was there to "help clean up a little bit." She got Aunt Maria to come to the phone, but when my aunt heard my voice she hung up immediately without speaking. 

February 13, 1999

Sunny but colder, some occasional flurries. 

A poster can last for years if you use paste. There is a poster from the 1970's from when Angela Davis spoke here still visible on a door at the back of Rose Bedding (now Chapin Furniture) on Bliss Street. I have photographed it as it has deteriorated, but it is still mostly legible after two decades. 

ABC News said their polling shows that 49% of Americans believe President Clinton should be criminally charged.  85% said they believe he has lied under oath. Doris Kearns Goodwin was on and said Clinton's trial "represents a failure of the political system." Sam Donaldson said that "Mrs. Clinton is not in a particularly forgiving mood" over her husband's affair.

Drove out at 10:30am and the mailman was just heading down the street as I left. I bought gas at the Citgo on the corner of Alden and Wilbraham Road. Put the mail out at Louis & Clark, where Candy was on duty wearing tights and a sweater.  

Then over to Angelo's, where they always have a good spread on the day-old counter on Saturdays. I haven't mentioned it in ages, but they are still rehabbing the K-Mart/Shop-Rite (later Unclaimed Freight) complex. They have put on a fancy new front.

Mail brought the February 16 Acres Civic Association newsletter and a surprisingly nice letter from Assistant Principal Stoddard. He thanked me for my interest and said that the school handbook will be revised in the ways I suggested.  

I saw four Mark E. Salomone commercials on TV40 between 6 and 7pm. His ads always show the insurance guy saying "let's settle it" as though getting a company to settle a case is a big thing. None of his lawyer ads say "let's litigate it." Bruce Avery was on the weather. Didn't he used to be on 22? 

Commercials for Manny's Appliances always end with Manny saying, "You'll see why we're better, we have to be - we live here!" I decided to call Manny's Boston Road store and a woman answered. I told her their commercial is misleading because the other appliance store owners live here too. She thanked me for calling and hung up without commenting.

Got a wrong number from June Collaro of Hampden, looking for Storrowtown Tavern. She politely said she was sorry.  Later Mary Serra from Agawam called looking for the Tavern and apologized. I called Aunt Maria, who said, "I'm not interested in hearing from you in any way" before hanging up.

Phoned Eamon and sang Happy Birthday on his tape. His latest message concludes, "Dr. Seuss must be rolling over in his grave wondering how enlarging the white elephant Civic Center can save our downtown, which has been dead for years."

February 15, 1999

The automobile and the computer are antithetical. Autos made people outgoing and gregarious in the fullest physical sense. It made everybody want to go, go, go! Computers will make people not want to go out. They will stay home and browse, browse, browse. There will be gregariousness of a different sort, interaction of a different sort, most social interaction will not be physical, but electronic.  

This is school vacation week. Reading Cowley's Reader's Companion to Military History. A good book. Proofread my proofs from Hein. My new editor is conscientious but inserts too many commas and uses the colon incorrectly.

Did two loads of wash. Took out seven bags of trash. Spent a lot of time today cleaning out the medical closet. I found an old paper bag from 16 Acres Drug. They were located next to the Acres A&P and had a blue and yellow tile image of a mortar and pestle on their outside wall. After they closed, everyone went to Parker Drug, now Walgreens.  

The Reminder arrived at 8:45am as I was leaving to get the Union-News. Picked up Tom Devine's newsletter at Louis & Clark. Drove to the X, but nothing going on there. Bought a few books at the Eastfield Mall. There is now a chain link fence around a large area behind Friendly's where they are digging up the parking lot pavement and preparing to construct the new mall movie theater. It was an area where no one parked anyway.

Newspaper says Pratt & Whitney has lost a multi-billion dollar contract. Charles P. Catjakis was fired from his court guard job but has now been hired for a full-time job at the State Turnpike Authority. He'll get $30,000 a year plus benefits and union protection.

Antique Roadshow was broadcasting from Milwaukee. TV22 had a story about Joanne Garland of Greenfield, who takes people's memories and turns them into books. For a fee, of course. PBS told how poor government economic development policies hurt the city of Moscow. Hope Eamon heard it. 

The news had pictures of the Oriental New Year. This is the year of the rabbit. Weatherman John Quill tried to use the word "plethora" and couldn't pronounce it. He tried and stumbled a few times, then admitted that he had never used the word in speech before. 

Bananas for breakfast, a Swanson Meat Loaf Dinner for supper. Tomorrow I'll cook the green beans I bought.Called Byron's and Fred Aldrich picked up very professionally. I told him I would pick up Mother's urn soon. Called Albank and Mother has $4,239.44 in her account.

Called Aunt Maria, but she hung up instantly at the sound of my voice. Wrong number my identifier said was a Pat McGrath calling looking for Storrowtown.  A few minutes after he apologized, it rang again but stopped before I could get to it. Then fifteen seconds later it rang again, so I snatched the receiver and declared, "This is your third try Patrick J. McGrath! Don't call again!"

February 17, 1999

Overcast, 44 degrees on the breezeway at 1pm. 

Should Democrats make an issue of the way Republicans pursued impeachment? For the first time in history the U.S. Post Office processed more advertising than first class mail. There are not enough jobs, and automation will just make it worse.

The mail brought a condolence from the Allards, a Milton Society booklet and a letter from Joe Roy at Byron's saying my urns are ready. So I went right down and got them. The first time they left out Mother's full name, but now it is correct so I think I have done my best by Mother. It is a top of the line urn, stamped with the brand Wilbert as well as the date of production.

I next went to STCC to drop off a letter to Leonard Collamore, then walked around. They have relocated the campus store to another building. From STCC I drove down Pearl Street and saw the sad state of the apartments along there that my parents told me had once been the choicest in the city. 

Parked by the cathedral and walked down to the Subway for a $1.25 deli sandwich. Johnson's is pitch black inside. Came through Tower Square and looked into Antiques, but nothing going on. Then down to the Peter Pan bus terminal, the only place downtown that had people everywhere and bustling with activity.  

Next I delivered a letter for David Starr to the desk of the Union-News. I asked if Starr had gone to lunch at The Fort today and the receptionist said she didn't know. So I left there and drove over to the X and came through the Goodwill, but nothing good there. 

Then on to Eastfield Mall where I bought some books, including one on the ACLU. I swung by Albank and showed Barbara J. Sullivan the statement from them that had been damaged in the mail. She photocopied it and apologized.

Thermostat set at 60. Cooked up some beans for supper. Eamon's new message complains about all the litter in the city. Called Aunt Maria and got Edith, who said they were having lobster. Aunt Maria refused to come to the phone. I'll bet my Aunt is feeding Edith bad gossip and mean stories about me. 

Wrong number Michael Murray called from 731-8531. Teresa of Uniset Commerce of Capital Drive in West Springfield called seeking to sell me something and I asked from what number she was calling. There was a pause, and then she asked, "Why would you want to know that?" I replied, "Well, you seem to have my number, why shouldn't I have yours?" She hung up in my ear. 

February 18, 1999

Bill Clinton is in New Hampshire, where 64 percent believe the president's sex scandal will have a negative effect on the country's moral fiber. The newspaper says that Peter Picknelly has been back at work for several days. I brought down the little white RCA portable TV with the dials on top and can now work and watch at the same time. 

I see that Erwin E. Evans has died at age 86. He was the head of the trustees at Wesley Church about the time my family left. Evans was the liaison to the black community as they moved into the Square and remained loyal to the church after it turned black. 

I called Mrs. Staniski and told her of Evans death. She said she was surprised there was no mention of Wesley Church in his obituary. She recalled how he went back to the days of Dorothy Smith and remained with the church right up until he was disabled by a stroke. Evans worked as a purchasing agent for Valley Bank.

Called Aunt Maria and she hung up. Ruth Johnson called and said she hasn't seen Aunt Maria in about a month. She wondered whether anyone has been in to clean her house, then she called it a "pigpen." Just the right word. Ruth thinks Edith is a wonderful hard worker who takes Aunt Maria to church every Sunday.

 

Former State Rep. Fred Whitney with the Coolidge etching

 

Eamon called at 6:57pm and talked to 7:15. He spoke about Allen Simpson, who owned the junk shop on Worthington Street and had an enormous old iron safe in the back of his shop. Simpson liked to go to the girlie bars but would always complain about the prices even though he was loaded. 

The Mardi Gras eventually took over the building and made Nader and Simpson move out. However, Simpson died before he could remove his stuff so Eamon thinks the Mardi Gras people got everything in the shop. Eamon then recalled how downtown really started to go downhill after the opening of the Eastfield Mall. Eamon says he now feels that downtown Springfield has no future. 

February 19, 1999

Sunny, no precipitation. 

Spent time going through Mother's dresser and found inside a grey jewelry box her "Backstreet Driver's License" a humorous promotional piece from Ledger's Service Station at Six Corners. I also found Mother's locker key #32 from when she worked at Forbes & Wallace. A receipt I found showed that Mother got her ears pierced at Bradlees for $85 on April 22, 1978. 

Left at 9am and made copies at Copycat. Then I bought asparagus, peppers and onions at Angelo's. Stopped at Caldor's, which was having a 50% off sale, but it looked to me the markdown was only about 20%. Bought a Subway sandwich next door for $1.65, a little lower than most Subway's charge. Next to that, where Cindy's Lounge used to be, is now Card Smart, offering greeting cards and cute knickknacks.  I asked when they opened and the lady said two weeks ago.

Then over to White and Sumner Avenue, where I found all the antique shops closed, so I couldn't see my tag sale friend who owns Forest Park Antiques. The Coin Shop isn't completely cleared out of its space. Paused at Trinity Church to leave off an envelope for Rev. Goad. The sanctuary was unlocked and in Asbury Hall they were serving lunch.

From there down to Salem Street and went through the Apremont and Dwight street porn shops. Fewer mags, more videos, less in the line of toys. Saw a poster for The Judge's Chambers in the entrance to the Dwight porn shop and asked about it. I was told it is where Zone used to be, underneath the print shop. 

I went inside and looked around and the bartender, a short, older and jovial man told me The Judge's Chambers now has 112 members with membership only $10. There is a large square bar in the middle and two pool tables, plus a back room with sofas in it. He invited me to their big party on the 28th. 

Came through City Hall and checked with Kathy to make sure I am still listed as an independent. There were a couple of lights on in Johnson's and there appears to be furniture still in there. Down the street where Westfield Savings Bank is supposed to open soon there was no activity at all. 

Antiques on Boland Way was almost empty, the manager told me they are "restocking." As I was leaving Roy Scott from PBS was just coming in, wearing a turquoise and white ski jacket. He smiled and asked, "Did you find something you couldn't live without?" I replied not today but told him about the cherry highboy I bought recently. We wished each other a nice day. 

Next I drove up Liberty to the new Salvation Army in where the Food Mart next to the cemetery used to be. It is a clean, well-lighted place with lots of clothing. Then out to Indian Orchard and picked up free literature at the office of Sen. Brian Lees. As I walked past Paul Caron's office I waved to him through his office window. 

Went to Cat's Paw, where they had a retirement medal from Moore Drop Forge to a John M. Collins dated 1955. She asked $15 but I talked her down to $10. There was a lovely little oil painting of a brook in the woods, a Spring scene by James Pierpont dated 1902. It was priced at $85 but I know where I can sell it for at least $125 so I bought it. Before coming home I stopped at the Acres Big Y and bought some bottles of Sprite. 

The mail brought a misdelivered thank you letter from the City Library for a financial contribution made by Mr and Mrs. Irving Cohn. Called Aunt Maria. Ruth answered and said my Aunt wouldn't come to the phone because "she isn't in a good mood."  

February 21, 1999

Overcast, 35 degrees at 9am.

For breakfast I had grapefruit, Wheaties in milk, two tomato and lettuce sandwiches for lunch and a Swanson Veal Parm Dinner for supper. I've been doing a lot of running around lately. While Mother was alive she was sensitive to me being away for more than a short while. Now I'm largely caught up. 

Drove out at 1:25pm and attended the memorial service for Erwin E. Evans in Longmeadow. There were about 70 people in attendance, including 14 blacks from Wesley Church seated near the back. I sat by them and it was a very nice service. 

Following the funeral I stopped at an Open House at 283 Longhill in Forest Park, which turned out to be Rev. Riddle's place. It is a lavish Mediterranean Revival style home that I have always admired. I told the broker Linda Lappin of Sears Real Estate that from the style of the staircase it appeared to have been built in the 1920's. She told me it was built in 1926 by Harry Slingerland, who was an executive at General Ice Cream. She said the Riddles moved to Granville.  

The mail brought a condolence card from Mrs. Devine and Tom, as well as something for the Allards that was misdelivered to me. Also got a letter from Russell Denver at the Chamber, thanking me for sending him a copy of the Herald, noting that he is familiar with the area having once lived in Haverhill, New Hampshire, approximately 40 minutes north of White River Junction.

Called Aunt Maria, but she wouldn't come to the phone because she was having lunch. Eamon called and I told him about yesterday. He noted that there was a large photo in today's paper of Francis Gagnon posing by displaced bricks on Salem Street. I told him they didn't print my picture when I complained about improper disposal of books by the City Library, but they print her for whining about bricks.  

Eamon said he ran into a guy he knew from school named O'Shaunessy, a former vice-president at Friendly's, who told him that the reason Friendly's has been in decline for the last 15 years is because they wouldn't pay salaries high enough to attract and hold competent people. Eamon also said that the police department doesn't know what it is doing, with the Chief of Police "running around like a chicken with their head cut off."

February 23, 1999

Sunny and 23 degrees at 8:30am.

One month since Mother died. 

Got up to pee at 2:30am and saw the light was on in Kelly's garage. Dined on Wheaties, asparagus on toast and a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Linda Bartista was the Employee Representative for Monarch Life Insurance in 1991.

Cleaned out the drawer in the china closet in the living room. Mother saved all her dead ball-point pens and worn down pencils "just in case." Also found a 1995 receipt from Accurate Termites and Pest Control of Wilbraham for removal of termites outside the house on the side of the breezeway. Best of all I found a medical receipt for Father from Archer L. Hurd, a doctor with an office on Maple Street, dated April 17, 1952.  

Made copies and put out the mail at the Breckwood Shops. Came through the Goodwill and gave Patty some discount coupons. Then out to Walmart on Boston Road and got the pictures I took of Mother dead, her urn and the basement. The disposable Kodak camera worked splendidly. 

Then to Staples and bought envelopes in which to send copies of Aunt Jennie's Poems to those who sent condolences. The strip mall up there is mostly occupied, but the space formerly occupied by Marketplace and the little package store are empty. 

Headed downtown and noted a man replacing a broken window pane on the State Street side of the Indian Motocycle building. Downtown I strolled around and the sidewalk on the north end of the Kimball building is a mess, so cracked up it looks awful. Over at the corner of State and Main, the former Masonic building where Maurice Freedman had his studio, the original Richardsonian archway is intact, but the inscription on the cornerstone with its Masonic symbol has crumbled away, perhaps by the combination of snowplows, salt and who knows what else. 

From there I drove over to Aunt Maria's to see if she wanted to go to The Buffett at Springdale and brought along Mother's urn so she could see it, but she declined to come to the door. On the way back I saw that the Edward's bridge is closed for construction. 

Received in today's mail a Year 2000 Litigator's Calendar and a card from Cathy Davidson at Duke thanking me for my letter.  Also got a subscriber's savings card from Michael P. Fay, Circulation Director at the Springfield Newspapers. TV57 had a story about how Levi's jeans are in trouble because kids are becoming more individualistic and don't like the conformity of big brands like Levi's.

I called Edith and she said she hasn't seen Aunt Maria since Thursday. She asked if I have a key to Aunt Maria's house and I said there may be one somewhere in my house but I don't know where. I told her it is sad how my relationship with Aunt Maria has soured. Edith told me she just received word that her 76 year old brother in Florida was in an auto accident and broke his neck. 

Eamon called and told me a woman close to his house had her home broken into Sunday while she was at church. She came home to find her door open and men with pillowcases full of her stuff running out the back door. She lost a valuable coin collection. 

Eamon said he heard that Mayor Albano and Tim Rooke went to Moody's in New York to see about the city's bond rating. Eamon said he called Moody's today and discovered that Springfield's bond rating is BAA3, which the lady told him is "just a hair above junk bond status." 

February 24, 1999

Sunny but chilly. 

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "Our critics are our friends, for they show us our faults." Rub your nose in it Dave Starr, Peter Picknelly, Mike Albano, Larry McDermott and the whole bunch of you. 

Had hotdogs and beans today and some apples. The living room and my bedroom were painted with Glidden paint, but nobody in Springfield sells it anymore. Fortunately Aubuchon up in Chicopee next to the Chinese restaurant sells it. 

Watched Teletubbies on TV57 today. What utter nonsense it is! Talking to children like that will keep them babies. My parents always addressed me as an adult, which is why I became serious and mature at a young age. They also encouraged me to have broad interests. 

Also on 57 was a special interview with former Clinton mistress Juanita Broddick. I called Eamon, Nader, Devine and Whitney to tell them it was on, but only Mrs. Whitney answered saying, "We're watching it!" 

Edith called complaining that the drawer in Aunt Maria's kitchen is broken. I told her there are many things in my aunt's home that are lost or broken. I asked her to ask my aunt if she would like some of Mother's perfume. 

Prudential called but hung up without speaking when I answered. I called back and Betty answered. She said she didn't know why someone had called my number so she connected me with Mark Brown. I told him I don't like voiceless calls and told him how I am continually annoyed by wrong numbers looking for Storrowtown Tavern. He said he will see to it that no one calls me again. 

Eamon called and told me that Nader the Hatter's father fell last weekend and broke three ribs. Nader rushed his father to Baystate where they had to wait over four hours to see a doctor because the waiting room was filled with Latinos. 

Eamon said he called Robbins on the business desk at the newspaper and asked her what the city's bond rating is. She replied, 'I haven't got the slightest idea." He then called Mark Wiernaz over at TV22 and he didn't know either. Finally he called Tom Vannah at the Advocate, and to Eamon's delight he did know. Eamon then shared with Tom the numbers of his own inside contacts at Moody's Public Finance Division in New York, for which Vannah thanked him profusely. 

February 25, 1999

29 degrees on the breezeway at 8:30am, light snowfall all day.

Stuart Hurwitz is the Chairman of the Springfield Arts and Entertainment Committee. The 16 Acres Library has closed for renovations for the rest of the year and perhaps beyond.  

PBS says the White House has "no comment" on the rape accusations of Juanita Broddrick. That is how Clinton operates, you have to have actual photos of him with his pants down or he will just deny everything. Tonya Harding, the spiteful little skater, was on NBC trying to rehabilitate herself by claiming she is now a devout Christian. Watched Teletubbies again today, more of the same nonsense. 

Looked over some of my old slides about Madison, Colby, the Methodist Church and other things. Found a slide from the Birchland Avenue area clean-up of 1975 which shows 13 trash bags collected. That compares to the nearly 80 bags collected in recent years. I also found an old script for Father from Navazio and Ramaswamy of 15 Mulberry Street dated March 19, 1979.

TV22 reported that Salads and Such in the Food Court at Baystate West/Tower Square is closing. They always offered a good choice of selections on their menu. Also, Autumn Furs of 318 Bridge Street is closing after being open since 1910. So there goes two more downtown businesses. 

Cooked up hamburg and spaghetti and two baked potatoes. Called Paul Martello and told him I want to see more proofs. I also told him to have all my legal books listed together in their catalog so that people are encouraged to buy more than one. 

Called Westbank and asked for Donald Chase and got his secretary Denise. I told her that their advertising line "At Westbank we have a reputation for doing things better" is grammatically incorrect. She asked if I had a complaint about my account or customer service, to which I replied that I was complaining about their English. She thanked me for calling and hung up without commenting. 

Called Aunt Maria and she hung up in my ear again. 

A woman calling from Spaulding Sports was a wrong number. Eamon called and told me there was an enormous explosion at the green-painted Jahn Foundry in East Springfield and a dozen men were seriously injured.  I told Eamon what I was cooking and he said he buys Franco-American Spaghetti at Stop&Shop rather than make his own. 

Eamon then said he called Carol Mally at the newspaper and asked her for the city's bond rating. She admitted she didn't know it but thanked Eamon for bringing the subject to her attention. He told me Mally's maiden name was Schultz. Eamon then called the National Civic League and alerted them to Springfield's near junk bond status. 

Finally Eamon said he called Treasurer Donna Williams at City Hall today but was told she was unavailable. He asked the aide who answered the phone if they could provide him with the city's bond rating and was told, "We have it on file somewhere, but I don't know where to find it." 

February 26, 1999

Today started sunny but turned cloudy. 31 degrees at 9:30am. 

The Arthur Blank Printing Company is located in Boston. The Rev. Jerry Falwell has claimed that the purple Telletubby is gay and a poor role model for kids. Naturally, that has done much to sell Telletubbies merchandise to the queer community.

The mail came at 1pm. Drove out at 1:45 and as I was leaving the Allards drove by in a red van, she in the passenger seat, he in the back seat and Debbie driving. They stopped and we had a pleasant conversation for a few minutes. I thanked them for their condolence card and told them I'll respond in appropriate form in due course. 

Made copies, then put out the mail at Louis&Clark, where I bought a 20 cent postcard of the downtown Springfield Post Office. As I was leaving, Mrs. Penniman was just arriving and we waved. Then I headed downtown and parked on Salem. The Spanish Baptist Church looks nice with their stones cleaned and the woodwork painted a deep red. No activity at Westfield Savings.

On Dwight Street I found lying on the ground a warning notice from Commerce to student Myron Debane that she is failing Mr. Rice's Physical Science course due to poor test and quiz scores. Came through City Hall and used their restroom to wash my hands. Crossing Court Square, I passed a lady dressed in a black leather jacket, black tights and black boots. I said hello but she scowled at me and proceeded to the bus stop. Then to the Subway on Main for a baloney sandwich. They tried to overcharge me by a dime, but I caught them.

Got a poster for the 20th anniversary of the Iron Horse from the convenience store next to the Christian Science Reading Room. The Indian owner of the convenience store graciously let me have it, the only such poster I've seen in Springfield. Posters are expensive and many do not consider it worth it to put posters up in Springfield. If you can get an adequate audience from postering Amherst, South Hadley and Northampton, why bother with Springfield?

State Treasurer Shannon O'Brien was on TV meeting with officials in Northampton. Their government officials look younger than the old farts who run Springfield. At 7:33pm TV57 went briefly off the air due to "satellite transmission difficulties."  

Wrong number called looking for Connie Avery at Storrowtown. Called Aunt Maria at 12:45pm, no answer. Eamon called and said he knows and likes Shannon O'Brien's father, a longtime Governor's Councilor and player in the local Democratic Party. He thinks Shannon could help clean up the mess in Boston if she lets her father give her advice. He then recalled once meeting Mayor Albano's father, a short man and union leader who often wore dark glasses.   

February 28, 1999

Sunny and 34 degrees at 9:30am.

Westbank has a new slogan, "Westbank has its roots where others have their branches." The Chicopee Public Library is showing the film Paper Moon, which it describes as "a self-reliant orphan teams up with a con-man to steal your heart." 

Got up at 7:30 and spent about three hours going through the drawers in Mother's dresser. The dresser produced two important items for my archives. One was the original sketch for the layout of our house by builder Lorenzo J. Lawson. The other was a complaint I wrote to the Haband Company in 1984 over a hat I ordered but did not receive.

Dined today on grapefruit for breakfast and beans and potatoes in milk for supper. The paper guy left my newspaper in a snowbank where I had to fish it out with a rake. I drove out around 9 and bought gas for 85 cents per gallon at the Citgo on the corner of Alden. Across the street it was 86 cents as the price of gas continues to fall. Then I backtracked to Dunkin' Donuts and got a cheese and bacon bagel plus a raspberry doughnut. I tossed my ten cents change into their tip cup. 

However, when I sat down to eat I realized there was no bacon in my bagel, so I asked to see the manager. A young woman with flour all over her apron came out and apologized, giving me a bonus bagel with bacon and cheese, meaning I got two for the price of one. It's a good sandwich but I won't be buying anymore. As I ate I noticed that in the strip mall across from Dunkin' Donuts, down from the theater and liquor store there are two vacancies being offered by Fran Cataldo Jr. The barber shop and bar are still there. 

Next I drove down Breckwood to Boston Road, pausing at Russell's to get a copy of their take-out menu for my collection. At the nearby convenience store run by a black lady I got three Arizona beverages in the Peter Max bottles and a half-gallon of milk. I also stopped into the porno shop next door but the selection was pretty thin. Then I crossed the street to Angelo's and bought two grapefruit. 

From there I headed over to Forest Park Antiques on White Street, which was having their Grand Opening with a big bouquet of balloons out front. The proprietor is someone I've seen at tag sales. She sold me a very handsome Reed & Barton pitcher for $16 after I talked her down by a buck. I also bought a 1931 postcard of the Brooklyn Bridge. I then proceeded to Red Brick Books, where I bought a collection of back issues of Hungry Hill magazine plus a book on the history of Florence, Massachusetts. Didn't see a single oil painting.

I decided to briefly stop at O'Brien's Corner, where I barely found a place to park in back. They have a pay phone out front and a Friendly's across the street. It is a well-lighted bar and clean, done up in knotty pine with a bulletin board for business cards. There were old photos and fireman's hats on the walls. About five older men were drinking at the bar and about a dozen young people of both sexes were at the tables laughing and having a good time. The bar has a reputation as a place where women go in order to meet unmarried public employees. A nice place to spend a Saturday afternoon, but I was in and out rather quickly.

Wrong number Paul St. Amour of Indian Orchard called looking for Storrowtown. Called Aunt Maria and asked, "Anything special happening today?" She replied, "If you want to talk to Ruth, you can talk to Ruth. I'm not talking to you." Then she hung up in my ear. 

Stu Hurwitz called thanking me for the downtown critique I sent him. He said that he "reluctantly agreed" with some of the points I made. I told him abut the flea market on King Street in Northampton and thanked him for calling. 

Eamon called and we spoke about Mayor Ford of Northampton deciding not to seek re-election. Eamon says Northampton has an A-1 credit rating. He then explained that Springfield is having a hard time attracting substitute teachers because the pay is too low. According to Eamon the city is also having a hard time meeting its financial obligations to the municipal employee pension fund.