John B. Goering’s memoirs – Chapter 6

back to Chapter 5

July 27, My 90th Birthday! The children where all here, but Walter couldent come so they had a family sale and sold all Leonard had stored in his garage, ever since I left the apartment; I think he was glad to get rid of all. Then on Sunday was an open house in the basement of the church. They took a lot of pictures. Havent seen any yet. Their where a lot of peopel thee. I think they surved about 250 or 300. It was nice but I was awful tired. O yes, Leonard took me to Wichita and got Arthur and I had to get me a new suit and shoes. They even wonted me to get a new shirt but I told them I had one. So it was a big day, but dident feel difrent (Oyes) wore out; and so I past the mile stone of (90) and I am getting slower everyday. This evening we where on the west porch and Classes — he is, I think, 86 said that men still walks and we are all in weel chair ang cant hardley get along. (and) I am so thankfull for it all, but allways thank the Lord for my clear mind. When I had the trubel with seeing dubel, I allways thanked the Lord that it wasent worse–that I still can get around and my mind was so clear. Yes, I still go to the cafeteria where a lot cant, and still thake a walk most every day, still can go to church–it is getting kind hard but will try as long as I can.

To day is the 6th of August. We had exersices this morning. It helps and I was the only men. The other where all wimen, so you see they are more active than the men. Some think it doesnt pay, but I think it helps a lot.

This is August 7. It is a nice day. Not to hot for this time. I tried to walk this morning, but couldent for some reason. It just dident wont to go. Then I rested a quite a bit after Breckfast. Then we had singalong for about 1 houar, then after dinner we played domono for sometime and I played the record player for sometime. Some came and said it was so nice. After supper I walked quite a bit. So time goes, and now I’ll get ready to go to rest.

I was kind lasey dident write, will try and do it again. This is Oct 31, Trick or treat day. I dont know if something speciel will be going on this evening. I am writing this at 2:30 p.m.  We had a big rain yesterday about 4″ and this morning they anounced that 50 is closed to Hurchion and most likley will be closed all day. Just cant think what all had happened since Aug. O yes, I was in the Hospital 1 week and the Dr excamend me and espacle my colen and said all is O.K. I am so dicey and he thinks tha is from the left sied of my brain poor blood surcolation. He wont me to walk about 6 Blocks each morning, so I kept it up. If it to cold or wet I can do it indoor.  O yes, I had a surprice on Sat evening. All of a sudden, Arne’s and Ervins walked in. Hadent seen them since sometime before my Birthday. I called them and told them that I was disapointed not to see them. They said why should we come afeter we where treated as we where. I told them I dont know anything about it. Marey said I told Arney we should go their. They came but dident menchen anything about that Irean told Deloras why should they go their to apoligize. But we had a nice wiset and I was so glad they came. O yes, Walter and Della stoped on there way to Taxes and Johns were here. On Sunday, we went to Freidas for dinner, then stopped at Peabody, took Ralph out, then Home.

Today we have a cold day, 31th of Oct 1979. This morning we had coffee hour. That is what they call it just a discussion around the tabel. Nove. 1, at 9 a.m.: Exer, then Bible Class at 10 a.m., and so on time went on. Nov. 2 is arts and crafts allways something new. I started to make a cap on a nitting bord. Dont know how it will work out (Ha), and today, Satm Exersizes. The other time is what one wonts to do. O yes, Bill and B.J. where here and Leonard stopped. O yes, Herbert had that operation. Hope he is doing O.K. Their is so much that I just cant understand. Esther knows how all was handled. She allways said why not divide it in 1/2 and now when Mam died, all is diffrent. They took it all, no question they know it is not the way it should be. Why should things be handled diffrent? I just cant understand, they know better–should one just keep qute, or should a thired partey brought in and have them look into it–or should I ask Esther why things are handled in such a diffrent way. That is hard to be answered or would it best to forget it all–just to keep peas in the Familey. Let us pray about it all and the Lord will open some way. I leave it all to the children. So much of this. On Sunday, I went to Sunday school and Church, then to Leonards for dinner, had some company after I came home, was a windey day.

On Monday, Nov 5, still windy and coold. Now on Tue, not much wind but quite coold, about in the 30th. Today we injoyed our Morning worship. Mr. Boers Dauther was with us. She is from Canada. Her Dauther Married A. J. Kaufman, Son that is Florence, V.A. Stucky Dauther Low, so I had quite a visit with her. Now at 10:30 a.m. we have our Singin, so that is a nice way to begin the day. Today is Nov 16 and much has taken place. For one thing, we have a new chaplin. His name is                                             he is a nice man. I think he will be well exeped. I, myself, are not doing to well. Have kind of intestonal flue now for a week. Hope it will change soon. Had a bad night. It is werey nice out–looks more like a spring day. We used to call it Indian summer. Wont be long and it will be Thanksgiviing. My Dad allways said, “lettus get all done because one never knows what the wether will be after Thanksgiving.” Today we have Arts and Crafts. That is allways on Friday. I am trying to make a cap. Have it quite as ways, of course with the help of Mrs. Classen. Hope some day I will have it done (Ha). This p.m. we have Worship at 2:30. I allways injoy it. I had the announcement that I am Grat Grand Father from Paula. It kind of makes a mixed feeling, but this isent the first time. That happened with Daun R. and all one can do is except it and be thankfull that the lord will forgive, and they have that maid it right with the Lord. I just have to think, when I was yong, we where living in a small comunity, and what is it today–a large woried. I was 17 years befor I ever got out of McPherson and Harvey County and how is it today with the children. They are all over and their work thakes them from one place to another, and so the children get together with so maney kind of others, and that causes so maney diffrent problems. But the Lord is evereywhere, and so we are all in his protacting hand and we have to the promess that we will never forsake his own. What a promes! Last Sunday, we went to Moundridg. Freida and Walter and they took me along. It was Ervins Goering 40 Wedding aneversety, and I had the pliverage to meet so maney of my Nephuse and Neases that I havent seen for so long a time, and as I am the only Uncle left–so this generation is folding up.  So when I look back, there is so much that comes in remembrence and I often wondar what am I hear for, but the Lord knows and his will be done.

We have so much at the Home that we can do at present. I am in the proces of making a cap. Have it all done as far as I know so on Friday we have art and craft, so will find out what is next. Yes they maid a tossel on it and then I give it to Lorey. That must bin about 2 months ago I maid. Since then I maid one for Janalle, one for Russel, and one for Lawrence and finished one for Mr Boehar. The next one if for Valerie, and so I am kept kind bussey, and I like to do it. Have the yard for one for Loren.

Well, it just before Christmas. We had our Family gathering last Sunday. On Sunday, tomorrow, I am envited to Alvin & Esther for dinner. Then on 4 p.m., we have here Christmas gathering. Will have comunion. O yes, on Thursday we had a supper and a Program and they give gifts to all. I got a box of choclat candey’s, a 1980 coldender so have 2 get om by mail. I feel very Happy here. The Lord providet so wonderfull. But I am waiting for his coming. It cant be to quick. I all ways think what a day that will be when we will meet him in the air, the first resurection and the living will be chaingel in the twinkling of an eye, will meet his in air. I am allways Praying for all and hope non will be missing. So maney things happen, but nothing is to big that the Lord wont forgive if we come to him. So let us all look up to him, and he has promesed never to leav us his own. Christmas is about over with this 26 of Dec. and so it want be long and will have to write 1980.

If I look back what all has taken place in this Year, in May we cleand the apartment out, then I staid with Freidas for Month, then went to Elvas for about 3 weeks, and on the 27 of June, I anterd in the Home Bethel Deaconist and I like it hear. We started with difrent things in Art and Crafts. They tried to see what I could do. Then one day, they came up with that thing to make caps and they asked if I would like to try it. I said, ” Why not?”, so they helped me with the first one. Mr. Boear started the same time. I maid so far 5 and finished the one Mr Boear started. I like that kind of work. O yes, dont wont to forget the light stroke in April about the 15. Then seen dubbel but that all left me and the Lord helped me. What if he dident? Then I couldent do like I can. Thank You, O Lord, for they grate Love, and that we cane rest in all the time. And here is the 27. Today, we have Bibel studey this morning. And 28, Worship service and today is Saturday–kind open day. I finished Loren Cap and Leonard came and took the last one to be mailed. Now I will have to get me some more yarn. So I maid 6 sofar and finished the one for Mr. Boear. Just 3 more day till New Year. Leonard came on Sat and took me to Town and so goot me some more yarn and will now make one for Ragenia. O yes, on Monday, I maid one. Think I will sent that to John Ralph.

Next:  New Year 1980