Life With John in Florida - Car Accident

After growing up in snowy, cold Buffalo NY, John always dreamed of retiring to a warm climate.  In the mid-1960's, they tore up their roots in Illinois and replanted themselves in Clearwater FL.  Their roomy 3-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath co-op apartment was in the brand-new Horizon House on the Causeway leading to Clearwater Beach.

Ruth probably didn't object because that was what many of their friends were doing, traveling and re-locating in Florida. By then she had been overseeing brother Jimmie and her mother, Lottie, for 20 years - and was probably tired of that responsibility.  They, too, moved to Florida (Largo) after a few years of separation from Ruth.  Though no one realized it, she was also ever-so-slowly fading into dementia.

Though the photo is most likely from the 1950s or early 1960s, it gives you an idea of what Ruth and John looked like as they grew older.  Never very easy to deal with, John exhibited his anger in different ways, such as on the roads in Clearwater. 

"John got a citation today!  Police came here after J. had slight accident on Causeway.  Easter holidays have brought too many cars and caused so much delay that he got upset at people 'cutting in' & thus got it himself!  Tonite I drove both ways to Greer's." This is from Ruth's diary on April 17, 1981.  She was 74 and John was 81.  The following quote is from her April 24, 1981 diary entry.

"No tennis as John had to appear in court about last week's accident on crowded Causeway. 'No contest' plea got him $25 fine.  I hope he has learned something.  Started reading a free gift book - "The Spike" by Arnaud de Borchgrave & Robert Moss.  John liked it very much."

Both of them were avid readers and led an active social life centered around traveling as well as playing bridge and tennis with friends, some of whom were from their 20+ years at First Baptist Church in Oak Park.  As far as John's learning something from the ticket is concerned, fat chance!