Audrey Mae SpencerSpencer Historical CemeteryHenry Straight / William Spencer Family Cemetery
Vaughn Historical CemeterySpencers of East Greenwich, RI
Life at Alpine Nursing Home
5 June 2004

Heather: Does that mean that in addition to flying, the mourning dove only walks while the robin hops as well as walks?

A: Oh, I think so.

5 June 2004

Heather: Who is your new roommate?

Audrey: I do not know yet.

I’ve seen the outside of Amber’s new house. I’ll see her sooner or later. She gets in here every other thing.

6 June 2004

How are you today?

Audrey: Everything is going fine. We just finished breakfast.

6 June 2004

Heather: How is Ruth (another Yankee resident at Alpine Nursing home) doing?

Audrey: “Oh, she’s awful old now. She walks slowly with the walker. She is 102!  There is also someone in here who is 103 years!”

6 June 2004

Heather: Yes, Mother, 92 seems pretty young. Doesn’t it? [Laughter]

Audrey: Children are just getting out of a white van. Children come here on special days. We talk with the older children.

I have the best window.  It has pretty woods and stones outside. I have birds here as Spencer put the bird feeder right behind my window. I sit here and look out at squirrels, birds and butterflies. It looks wet so it will kind of be a wet day.

6 June 2004

H: Really? Well, I never stopped to realize that, but that goes with that old New England saying, “Use it up. Wear it out. Or do without.” What was it like to move to West Warwick in that big house?

Audrey: Oh, all the houses I lived in were big. Now I live in a mansion (Alpine Nursing Home) but I only have one room, but it is enough. [Laughter] I’m reading –oh I can’t remember–wait a minute. I’ve got to back-up in my chair and go over and get it. The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw. Do you know Tom Brokaw? That Tom Brokaw’s book is cute. I like the picture on the front cover. I guess it is a couple who are saying “good-bye”. The Greatest Generation, that’s the book you sent me. The only thing that is sad is people getting killed. That drives me crazy.

I lived through all that war.

6 June 2004

Heather: Did you hear that Mark and Tonya are having a son?

Audrey: That is good as he has girls and now a boy to carry on the family name.

12 June 2004

Heather: Hello, Mother. How are you doing?

Audrey: I’ve been reading and sleeping. I’m a great sleeper, you know. I like quiet. I feel pretty good. It is sunny today.

12 June 2004

Heather: How is your new roommate?

Audrey: She is very quiet and always reading the paper. She stays in bed most of the day. One doesn’t have time to talk if you are reading. I read all the time.

19 June 2004

Audrey’s phone conversation with Heather on this day was full of “imaginary thinking” and concerned Heather greatly. The prevailing thought was that this was just a temporary lapse of Audrey’s reality.

“Edith, my sister, she’s living you know etc. (Edith died on 12-8-1991)  Oh, I got some news to tell you at Alpine. I don’t think I’m a coo-coo, but I go like a flash, etc. Heather, I can walk out of this house and get in your car. (At this time Audrey was mostly using her companion chair for mobility.) I can walk ever since.  My feet still seem a little heavy (but) I go, etc.”