Thursday, June 23rd, 1977-In which Little Davey comes to play and a very grown up tea is served

Pete and I babysat for little Davey this morning.  We managed to be up and dressed by 9:00am when she came.  Pete and Davey played cars in Pete's playroom.  We turned off all the fans so he wouldn't get his little fingers into one.  Then we took Davey outside because it was so hot.  I was trying to maneuver him, slinky caterpillar (toy), and a ball down the stairs and one of my thongs gave way, but I didn't drop anything.  He really liked slinky caterpillar and Pete gave it to him.  He was good as gold, didn't fuss at all after she'd gone tho he did try the doorknob on the back door where she'd gone out.  She and Sharon had their hair cut.  When Sylvia came back, Davey was sitting on my lap on the front stairs-quite contented (luckily since she'd forgotten to leave a dry diaper for him).  Pete begged her to stay and have a pot of tea so she did, and Sharon and Pete, being very grownup, had a "cuppa" with us.  The car rally starts at 5:30 so we arranged for me to give Pete his medicines before he goes to Betty Phipps, and give him his dinner.  Sylvia paid me $1.00 for the two hours I had Davey-the first money I've earned in over a year.  She said she'd like to have me babysit regularly because they only have one sitter.  Pete and I took naps and then John Sandquist came over to pick up the wheelchair.  He said our house was the coldest he'd been in today-the fans do help-but it got awfully hot in the late afternoon.  Pete settled himself with his car stencil set right in front of the living room fan and stayed there.  John said after Stewart talked for 1/2 an hour, he called John back immediately  to double check USDS address.  Stewart said he was sending documentary proof that he had $12 Million dollars backing for his import scheme...well, we'll see... or rather I'm betting we won't.  Arranged for a ride to Boise the 29th*-Thelma (Keffer-PL) might take us.  Thelma called and came over to get us so I could cash in my last WIC coupon.  She wanted to go to the Mall and we arrived just in time to see Windy the Clown's balloon tying demonstration.  Pete wanted a balloon so badly that he tried to go up and ask for one at the end but lost his nerve.  Then Windy moved to the other end of the Mall to tie balloons and Petey watched again.  Vicky Plaza was there and said "hello Petey!" and Windy turned around, said ""Hello Petey!" too-and gave him a balloon!  It was tied into a puppy dog, and Pete went to sleep with it beside his bed tonight.  Couldn't find the picture to coulour for him to enter the colouring contest tho-but that was a minor disappointment since he had the balloon-and James returned my Haydn album-again-the one I got this time plays..I think.  Got green peppers, mushrooms, and strawberries and gave my WIC groceries to Thelma.  Pete and I went for a walk at 9:00pm-saw a badminton game, a lost kitten, a little boy (toddler) with whom Pete a "conversation", and Peter walked on the "magic" stepping stones (Tree pictures stamped in concrete) by the "wishing well"  The moon was out, too.  We ate yogurt for dinner-too hot to cook or eat.  Pete played "George Washington cutting down the cherry tree" with my arm tonight.  We both had bubblegum.  Pete couldn't bubble, and got it on my nose.  Pete went to sleep at 12:30am laughing and Thelma told me she'd had Monty arrested for growing and using marijuana, being "out of parental control.  Pete and I are so lucky in being able to love and be happy now.

*PL Context & Notes:  At the time I was being treated with Leukemia, Mountain States Tumor Institute (MSTI)-where the specialists were located-was in Boise, ID-meaning regular trips back and forth-along with having to seek out family, friends and volunteers to transport us since mom did not drive. I should also note that, as I was growing up, the "Mall" in Ontario (West Park Plaza) was actually a pretty thriving enterprise-not the husk it is today.