Audrey Mae SpencerSpencer Historical CemeteryHenry Straight / William Spencer Family Cemetery
Vaughn Historical CemeterySpencers of East Greenwich, RI
Conversations Sequel
23 October 2004

Heather: Have you seen Spencer lately?

I am glad for him with Carol.  He’s where he should be.

23 October 2004

Heather: What are you reading these days, Mother?

To Kill a Mockingbird and Dr. Martin Luther King’s book.

24 October 2004

Heather: Did you see Doug?

(Yes) Doug looks good.

I’m good (also).

The birds and squirrels are always outside my window.  They all come to eat and do acrobats! I’m never bored.

24 October 2004

Heather: Did you ever have nicknames when you were younger?

No, but Ed was John Edward (Spencer).

24 October 2004

Heather: What did you like most in your life?

As a child? Playing with my doll.  I adopted Edith’s dolls. I had them after Edith. Then Anna Jane got the dolls. They probably all broke with her.  She was reckless. She didn’t sit and hold them.  She was running around and throwing them up in the air.

I’m very alert today.  I’m reading books.

Vaughn (was here).

Everything around here (Alpine Nursing Home) looks so nice. I’m lucky. I don’t have any pain at all.

24 October 2004

Heather: Are you drinking enough water?

No, but the pan (pitcher) is sitting right there looking at me.  Sometimes I think I am bright but other times, I’m dead.

[Heather:  Yes Mother. We all feel energetic at times and other times just exhausted.]

Big time yesterday (Halloween at Alpine Nursing Home). Everybody had a pumpkin face.  Everybody made their own.  There was a beautiful witch with a cute face and a black nose with a hat sitting on head. Straw & hay.

24 October 2004

Heather: Tell me something about your grandfather, John Johnson Spencer.

He had a beard. He was all right.  I didn’t talk with him.  (In those days) “Children should be seen but not heard.”

24 October 2004

Heather: What work did you do in the home when you were a child?

Didn’t like washing dishes.  Didn’t have to do it too much. Don’t remember ever having to do any chores, outside of feeding the dog.

24 October 2004

Heather: Living these nearly 100 years, what made the greatest change in your life?

“Electric Lights!!! It was so bright and I could see everything.  I didn’t have to carry a kerosene lantern or fill the lamp.  I was afriad to light the lantern.  (With electric lights) all I had to do was turn the lights on!

(Oh) time for my lesson!  (scheduled activity at Alpine Nursing Home)

[Heather:  I’ll call next Saturday.  Love you, Mother.]

 

13 November 2004

Heather: (visiting Audrey at Alpine Nursing Home as family thought it best to not have Audrey Mae at her grandson’s funeral) Mother, why did you save this page, Good King Wenceslas (Ancient English Carol) from a hymnal?

Dad saw this on TV. He said, “I know that. I learned it in first grade” and he recited it.