Subtropical Lady
Where Pelicans Fly
October 1987
Springfield, MA
Age 21
I wrote journals by hand from 10/27/1987 till 6/1/98 when I went all-digital. I have typed up all the handwritten journals, which I no longer have today.
Oswego Street…
10/27/1987 Mon.
Jenny C, whom I’ve known since 4th grade, came over at about 9:30. I’m 21, she’s 22. I was very tired when I woke up and I still am. The medication I got last night really wipes me out. It's funny how some medications just don't agree with me. She made us coffee and some toast. Then after that, she took a shower and I listened to music and then laid down for a while. When I got up I went to the mall in Enfield with Jenny and bought this journal. She wants me to go work out but I am just too tired. So, here I am in this mall just wishing I had money to shop with. I could really go for some new clothes.
When I came home I fell asleep till the mailman woke me up with a certified letter from the bank. Nellie R, who lives two doors away, owes me a total of $175 for having me cash those checks she stole that I didn’t know were stolen. She'll be paying me $40 every 15 days. It won't be for almost 3 months till I'm reimbursed.
I am going to tell the doctor that I want off this medication and I'm sure she'll suggest something else even though I seem to have side effects from everything I take.
I am now at Friendly's with Kevin T, an old neighbor/friend.
Instead of lying down I took a bath, washed my hair and put it in a ponytail with my new pink ribbon. I am wearing my sweatshirt dress which I just found the other day hiding way in the back of my closet.
Kevin and I are now talking about his kids and just bullshitting about odds and ends. He’s divorced, 45 years old, and his ex is down in CT. He hasn’t seen her or his two boys in quite a while.
I am home now and Kevin and I are watching TV as I sip coffee and write. Before, I was in the process of doing a major clean-up. I finished vacuuming and after my coffee, I must finish cleaning the bathroom and then dust and mop. Housecleaning is very tedious and boring but if I put it off another day it'll never get done.
Kevin is going to go with me tomorrow to the doctor. I hope all goes well.
10/28/1987 Tues.
I got up today at 8 AM, made coffee, and listened to music. At 9 AM I was fully dressed nicely and then Kevin and I went to Friendly's for breakfast. We are now going to the Fairfield mall in Chicopee so he can do some inventory, part of his job.
I just got back from buying new kitchen curtains from Bradlee's. Surprisingly enough I ran into Mattie I, who lives next door to me, working as a cashier. She helped me as far as measurements. Thank God for her as I would've gotten the wrong size. Kevin is still in there counting ties and belts.
When I get home I'm going to hang up my new curtains, then eat, listen to music and lay down till my 3:30 appointment. I have asked Kevin if he will go with me. He said yes, but Dr. H, my shrink, may say no. I doubt she'll say no, though.
I am at Mary C's for the night. She’s another old neighbor/friend. We are watching Halloween.
I see Trisha, my therapist, at 2pm tomorrow, then after that, I have to go to the post office for a certified letter and stamps. After that, I need to go to court to drop charges since Nellie paid me for the radio/cassette player her boyfriend stole from my kitchen. She also gave me $40 earlier this evening.
I hope that the medication for my side effects helps and that I stay feeling good that my bad times get less and less and that I'll always be able to cope.
I also hope tomorrow I start receiving some of the books I ordered. According to Nellie, she hasn’t received hers yet and I would think she'd receive hers before I got mine, as she is a new member.
I think I'm gonna hit the sack soon. The only bad thing about staying here at Mary's is that it's freezing in here and this place is so filthy and smelly it drives me nuts.