AWESTRUCK APRIL 1984

APRIL 2, 1984

Monday

Last week was rather hectic. Among a few reasons:

1) Work was rush after rush after rush

3) Sherri is going to Colorado (maybe) April 6 and see a guy she’s falling for that she’s never met.

4) Money, as always

5) Right before my period, cranky and feeling bad

6) The weather was foul

7) Worrying, as always, about Bryant and Therese’s situation

You name it, it was bad. Except for my dear, sweet, precious, Barry. Sometimes he’s a regular lifesaver for me.

APRIL 4, 1984

Wednesday

I just came back from my 2:30 break. LouAnn, Garla, Kim and I were talking about Mary Faye’s husband’s death about four years ago. He committed suicide. She’s been in a funny mood today, and we were thinking that it was about this time of year when he died. Bless her heart! I think how I feel about Alex, could you imagine what it would be like to have your husband commit suicide? That would be awfully hard to take. LouAnn said that when Mary Faye came back, after the funeral and all, she didn’t say one word of it. Mary Faye’s boss was the one who told the girls here. I don’t see how she could not say anything. I couldn’t imagine going back to work, or in my case school, and pretend like nothing happened. Of course, my friends in Choir and such, sent me flowers and plants so they were all open and sympathetic when I returned. They didn’t let me have time to decide whether I wanted to talk about it or not. WHICH WAS GOOD! It made me more comfortable not pretending.

(2021 comment - I get Mary F’s handling of the situation much more now, if someone just mentions stuff - sometimes, I cry… better not mention it… she was such a sweet lady! - she told me tho I was qualified, she hired me because she saw an empathetic side of me working with Sp.Ed kiddoes, etc. - Lovely)

I love Barry! He’s my favorite person in the whole wide world. This Sunday we’ll be dating for six months. Saturday night we’re going to celebrate -we’re going to Caruso’s (the singing waiters) and to see The Dresser. (2021 comment - we might have gone to Caruso's but we did NOT see The Dresser - didn't see that for years)

Laura is probably close to 2 here - with G'Ma

APRIL 5, 1984

Thursday

Tonight Barry and I (I think) are going shopping for Laura’s birthday gift. I also want to buy some more undergarments. (Mine are quite scraggly.) I’ll have to make myself not spent more than that. I sure do love Barry!

I talked to Mom today and she mentioned that she thought Bryant and Therese’s situation is not going to jell. Oh, I don’t want to think about that!

Call me Barry! I love you and want to tell you so! I also need to tell you what I would like to do tonight. Shop, shop, shop! I have about $80 to spend on a Dillards charge card. I might as well finish it off. Call me, Barry! Now, Now, Now!

Who do I love more than anybody in the whole wide world? Barry Johnson. Dwight Barent Johnson. Call me! It’s time for your afternoon call! It’s 4:40 on the nose. Please call me, okay? Is that getting the point across?

Apparently not, you haven’t called. Any minute now, and he’ll be calling. Right……………………… now.

APRIL 9, 1984

Monday

I had a very enjoyable weekend. As always, usually.

APRIL 10, 1984

Tuesday

Tonight Barry and I are going to Mom and Dad’s and Mom is cooking dinner for us. That will be relaxing and fun. Tomorrow night DeeAnn, Brian and Barry are coming over, we’re going to get my shoes and dye them and then plan the shower I’m giving her. I can’t wait until everything is properly planned so I can relax. I sure would feel better. I love Barry, yes I do!

APRIL 16, 1984

Monday

I had a very good weekend.

Friday - I went over to Barry’s and we watched my very own movie, Norma Rae. That still is a great movie to me. I spent the night with them that night because I felt too tired to drive home. (2021 - always slept in separate room, mind you - lol)

Saturday - I woke up when Barry was about to leave for work. (About 7:30 a.m.) After he left, I stayed and visited with his parents. I sat out on the porch with his dad for a while and we had coffee. Then, his mother said breakfast was ready and I went in and visited with she and LeAnn. I left from their house about 9:15 a.m. and went to Mom’s to visit with her. I then went and bought the invitations for DeeAnn’s bridal shower and bought a few groceries. AT 1:00, I took Barry a lunch and we went to Central Park and ate. (It was too blustery though); a little chilly.

That night, Barry came over and we got ready and went to see the best concert I have probably ever seen. Billy Joel!!!! He was fabulous! So energetic! And entertaining! Both Barry and I loved him to death! (2021 - listening to An Innocent Man as I type - tho I believe this was the Glass Houses tour, not sure tho)

Sunday - We headed for the cabin about 8:30 a.m. We first went to Denny’s for breakfast and by the time we finished it was close to 9:30 a.m. We had a relaxing day there, but it was really too cold to go boating or even lie out on the deck. We pretty much stayed inside, but it was enjoyable.

Monday - Today is Mary Faye’s birthday. It’s been kind of a sad day though because Jane is not here. Her husband died yesterday. It’s kind of put everybody in a tired, sad, zombie-like mood. I sort of already woke up in a zombie-like way but this news did not help. Jane is a very sweet lady who is maybe a little older than Mom. Or maybe right about the same age. (She seems older.) Bill, her husband, was her second husband. The first was a paranoid schizophrenic and she divorced him after years of torture. He had threatened her life many times and they had to put him away. Later, after she married Bill, her first husband died of a heart attack.

I’m tired of bad news. Tonight is Oliver on cable. I am going to watch that. Nothing like a good musical to cheer Janie Boren up. Barry probably won’t be coming over tonight, so I am glad it’s on.