Two Little Girls Bring Joy - and an Even Busier Life

The picture was taken in 1968, so almost a year after my own diary entry in 1967.   Dan and I (Diane) are sitting in the living room of our first house, which was in Mt. Prospect IL. I am holding Cynthia Jo (11 months) & Dan has Lynn Meredith (2 years + 1 month.)

August 9, 1967 - Wednesday   "Hurray!  Cynthia slept from 6 PM to 4 AM.  It looks like she's moving toward all night sleep at this tiny 4-week stage.    She's really something! ...This was an exceptional day -- much smoother than most have been since Cynthia's birth.  The morning was frantic with both children awake, then the bathrooms and kitchen to clean and a few phone calls to boot.  But from lunchtime on, all went well.  

Beth and the boys arrived at around 1:00,  after our lunch and during Lynn's.  Lynn was passed around from one area to another.  She enjoys her mobility in the walker very much!  I'm sure she will walk fairly soon...Beth is rested, relaxed after 2 weeks in Florida and 2 weeks away from the children and household in Springfield.  Talked for a couple of hours.  

Then Lynn and I took a quick shopping trip to Randhurst.  She's such a cute, bright little thing.  We're very lucky to have her.  Darlene Cibic called today and I declined dinner this Saturday.  Dan and I started to go over our social calendar, but gave up.  The last few years have been unbelievably busy.  I'm afraid that one day I will look in the mirror and see an old woman gazing out.  I hope I age with grace, wisdom and good humor.  

Beth was my brother's first wife.  Her mother lived in Springfield, so may have taken the boys while Ken & Beth enjoyed a vacation. They lived in Des Plaines IL at that point with their 2 boys.  Philip was almost 6 and Roger nearly 3.  Darlene & Bob Cibic were good friends...Cindy did not sleep through the night until she was about 3 months, so I was overly optimistic!

Ruth's Birthday on July 5,1983

The top picture shows the Pellettieres in Palatine in 1981:  (l to r) Cindy (14), Diane, Dan, Lynn (15).  In front is Katie, age 11.


The lower picture shows Diane's parents, John and Ruth (Meredith) Kellogg in 1977 at ages 78 (John) and 71 (Ruth).  They moved from Oak Park IL to Clearwater FL after retiring.

Tuesday, July 5, 1983 - "Seventy-seven today!  On my birthday I think about Ken's and Diane's ages too.  He's 52 and Diane was 47 in May.  And John will be 84 in August !  And Mom tops them all at 96 so far.  I went to see her also today.  We sat outside briefly & then a phone call from John that he had to go to Dunedin about typewriter got me started homeward.  He got a new typewriter then."                                                                                                                            

I've noticed that Mom gets dates confused, repeats herself when writing, etc.  Dementia was poking its fingers into her life, but not enough to alarm John or others who saw her often.  It was to intrude
more and more as the '80s rolled on.

The day after Ruth's birthday is a mix of activities that appear often in her diaries.
Wednesday, July 6, 1983 - "I spent 1/2 hour getting tennis instruction from Pro, Bill Rousseau  this A.M.  Then home to peel off my very wet clothing and shower. Hot!

At 12:15 I was at Beauty Shop where Mary Cox gave me a cut and a new Perm.  It was $30.00.  It's the most yet for a Perm I get every 4 to 5 months.  Feels good to be shorter and permed.  Just 4 days less than 5 months!  I'll be due for another in November if not before." 

.  

Ruth's Diary Divulges A Clipping From 1976

The picture (1981) is more recent than the diary entry from 1976.  Kate (11) is in front of:  Cindy (14), Diane, Dan and Lynn (15).  We were in Palatine, standing before the fireplace in the family room.  Lynn and Cindy were at Fremd High School and Kate was at Hunting Ridge, a grade school.

In Ruth Kellogg's diary was a newspaper clipping dated May 20, 1976 about the end of daughter Diane's volunteer time at Hunting Ridge School.   "Diane Pellettiere, parent education committee chairman for Hunting Ridge School, received a surprise award from the school's PTA  Citizenship Committee Tuesday night.

The award was presented for Mrs. Pellettiere's 'outstanding service to the school.'  She was given a silver charm and a silver charm bracelet."

Then living in Clearwater FL, Ruth also had an entry in her diary for May 17, 1976.  "Diane is 40 years old today!  As we don't exchange birthday gifts (adults) she rec'd our card before now.  We had our 2nd Bowling Class lesson from 3 to 5.  Some dropped out, but still a crowd.  Trying to 'pick up spares' was more difficult, but at the end I was helped with foot placement and AGAIN had a STRIKE on final try."

All Dressed Up & Ready for the Picture - When Our Lab, Daisy, Drops In!

May, 1989 - Oldest daughter, Lynn, graduated from Rosary College in River Forest, IL.  My mother, Ruth Meredith Kellogg, came in from Clearwater Florida for the big event.  (By then my father, who was 7 years older, had passed away.)

I don't recall picking Mom up at O'Hare, but I was probably the driver.  "Mom stayed several days, the centerpiece of the trip being the graduation ceremony.  It was our first such event, Lynn being the oldest of the 3 girls.  She was graduating with a degree in Nutrition & Foods."

"At Rosary College - now called 'Dominican University' - a beautiful ceremony was held on Friday night.  Carrying candles like stars in the darkness, all of the graduates would went their way though outdoor corridors on an old, ornate campus building."  Lovely, but that night, May 5, it was very cold and snowed!!  

"Most of the graduates didn't wear coats, not wanting to cover up their new dresses.  Fortunately we viewers did bundle up as we sat huddled in chairs sat up on the lawn.  I was wearing a fur coat.  We all thawed out at an informal reception on campus afterward, thankfully held inside.  Graduation itself was inside on the following day.  It was uneventful -- and not as cold."

"The memory that's so vivid is of taking Mom to O'Hare a day or two later.  The picture I have is of waiting until the very end to board.  I remember how she walked down the long corridor to the plane, a small figure shrunk further by old age.   She was 82.  What happened on the flight I don't know -- only that she told my brother Ken, who met her at the airport, that it was awful and she would never fly again.  She never did."

What do I imagine?  That she was confused, much less capable than I had thought.  I should have quizzed Ken about any changes in her in 1989. ...The picture, taken in 1990, shows Kate, Dan and Diane in the back row and Cindy, Daisy and Lynn in front.  Daisy plopped down in front just as the picture was taken! 

Our 3rd Wedding Anniversary in Riverdale, NY

The wedding picture was taken at my parents' home in Oak Park  IL on Feb. 1, 1963.  From left to right:  Daniel Pellettiere Sr., Josephine Pellettiere, Dan Pellettiere Jr.,  Diane Kellogg Pellettiere, Ruth Kellogg and John Kellogg.  We were to leave for Philadelphia the next day, but a snowstorm kept us near O'Hare Airport another
night to Feb. 3rd.

Three years later, I left my job as a Technical Writer at U.S. Life in New York City  (documenting the info on huge room-size computers).  Back then, the rule at U.S. Life. was to work only until you were 5 months pregnant, which was Jan. 21 in my case, though Lynn Meredith was actually born on May 12.

Tuesday, Feb.1, 1966 - "Our third anniversary...I slept in the morning for an extra couple of hours after dusting...Took an afternoon nap too.  Took me a while, but I finally got going on the April "Lines of Communication" late in the afternoon.  I'll probably finish it tomorrow.  Had a nice steak dinner.  

Vi called and so did Mom & Dad P.  The baby dressette was delivered today.  It's nice.  I put all of the baby stuff (coupon samples) in the first drawer of the 5... Dan finished the income tax returns, did the cash flow, and worked on the blue still life.  I read.  We both watched Johnny Carson until
12:30.  I seem to sleep better if I stay up past 11:00."

I was writing a newsletter for U.S. Life, continuing it just for a month or two.  Vi (Veronica) Saletta was Dan's older sister, born 16 years before Dan.  Like the rest of the family, she and her husband, Chuck, lived in the Chicago area.  As a mother-to-be, this was a new experience - and so was not going to work.  I'd had my first (part-time) job at 14.

A Very Fine Day for Busch Gardens

The picture was taken in the back yard of 5458 W. Iowa St. in Chicago, where my mother, Ruth Kellogg, and her brother, Jimmie Meredith, were fooling around in the back yard.  The Merediths had lived in the 2-flat, renting out the smaller apartment above, since 1922.  This was probably
10 years before the diary entry.

Jan. 26, 1971 - "A very fine day for the big outing to Busch Gardens in Tampa.  We (Ruth and John) picked up Mom and Jim at about 10 AM.  We took our lunch with us and sat down twice for snacks.  We first took the Monorail train ride thru the wild animal zoo.  We had excellent talk during the ride about the animals.

Next we went to the bird show, which kept us on hard cement seats for an hour, but it was good as the finale of our expedition.  Mom didn't give in to renting a wheel chair, so she sat down now and then.  Her foot got pretty sore toward the end.  We got back to Largo at 3:35.  Came right back here.  Letter from Diane saying she is looking for a job for sake of her mental health.  

Florence phoned."

Ruth was probably about 55 when the picture was taken and Jimmie about 50.  They were 64 (Ruth)
and 59 (Jimmie) on the day of the trip to Busch Gardens.  Ruth's father had passed away in 1944 of a stroke and heart attack.  Ruth and John had moved to Florida

I don't recall looking for a job in 1971.  Kate was 1 year old that year with Cindy turning 4 in July and Lynn reaching 5 in May.  I did become a teacher aid later on.

Lottie's foot was sore because many years earlier she had fallen down the back stairs at Iowa Street and broken her foot.  She refused having it set, so had problems with it for the rest of her life.

Florence Ballentine, one of Ruth's closest friends, suffered with dementia by the 1970s, I believe.  She was able to call Ruth in 1971, but we don't know how well she could communicate by then.

Two Diaries: December 1954 (Diane's) and December 1971 (Ruth's)

When this picture was taken in 1954, Mom (Ruth Kellogg) and I were getting into her car, most likely going to church, clad in those high heels.
The car?  Maybe another Packard?  We are parked in front of 1210 N. Euclid, Oak Park where we lived for about 25 years.

I thought it would be interesting to compare my diary entry from Dec. 7, 1954 to my mother's on the same date in 1971.  It turns out that I said very little about Pearl Harbor Day, the beginning of World War II in 1941 - and my mother said nothing at all.  Perhaps we commemorate events more after 50 or 75 years have passed.  However, you can see the way our lives were going at 18 and 65 and what we were focused on.

Diane's Diary - Dec. 7, 1954 - I was in college at the University of Illinois, partway through my freshman year and very involved in my sorority, AOII, where I lived on Mathews St.  I was still writing to my high school boyfriend at this point, who was a senior in high school.

"I really got tired & depressed today, 2 hours of Illio creamed me...Pearl Harbor was 13 years ago...Nancy Klopfenstein was pinned to Terry tonight.  He's going in the service; I'm happy for them!  Got A on that term paper sentence outline I slaved over at Thanksgiving.  Have got a million things to do - that dance chairmanship will involve making table decorations & place cards.  Gotta work.  Wrote Morey at end of phone duty.  Wish he were here.  Wish I had his pin..."

Ruth's Diary - Dec. 7, 1971 - Ruth and John had moved to Clearwater FL where they knew some couples who'd been at First Baptist in Oak Park.  Ruth was 65 and John 72 at this point.
They seemed to enjoy life in Florida & develop more friends in their building, Horizon House. 
This was a retiree building (55 and older), so they were among the younger set.  In 1971 they
went to a lot of parties in December and also a funeral of a friend, Mildred Johnson, who died suddenly on December 16.  Beth was my brother's first wife.

"I 'm tired!  So tired that John decided to MAKE the supper all by himself.  I was re-making one of the 2 ties I had finished for him.  He wore  it once and wanted a heavier inner facing, which we bought on Sunday.  I hate "doing something over."  It's done.  Also got out the Xmas decorations.  All of this after we played 3 sets of tennis in afternoon with Jean & Ray Boehne!  I got into tub but was still exhausted, but had to get that tie done and ready to straighten house for awhile, I hope.  All necessary Xmas work done - next Xmas dinner which is undecided.  I talked to Beth, who will decide how we will do it - eat there or out."

Ruth Becomes a Senior Citizen!

Ruth Kellogg. my mother, is pictured with John, my father in Clearwater FL. Standing next to them are Dan, Lynn, Cindy and Kate.  This was taken at Easter 1977, so the girls were 10, 9 and 6.

Monday, July 5, 1971 - "Today I am a Senior Citizen - 65 years old!  I have gained a little in the 3 1/2 weeks since returning here - and have to watch that after getting into smaller clothes, etc.

We played doubles again from 8:30 to 10:00.  Then went directly from Ken's shop to mark off with chalk where boxes and rubber are to go when they arrive soon.

Very hot in sun but good breeze helps.  We took  a few hours - from 2 to 4 to visit Ethel & Ernest Betts.  She is doing quite well with her walker but will be using it the rest of the summer."

This diary held surprises for me.  I thought that Ken and Beth had divorced before he and the boys moved to Florida, but they must have broken up later.  She was "very nervous" about the move to Chicago, according to Ruth.

Also, Ruth was very focused on her weight.  She had been in the 130 - 140 range earlier/  On Jan. 1, 1971 she was 128 1/2, dropped to 112 on June 10, popped up a bit to 113 1/2 by July 5.  She doesn't say just how she was losing weight, whether using some weight loss product or just by eating a healthier diet.

The Betts were unknown to me.  They may have been friends through their building,  Horizon House, or through church.  Ruth and John knew a lot of couples. Visits with friends, bridge games, tennis were the fabric of their lives as retirees.  Ruth also spent a lot of her time sewing, knitting and helping her mother, Lottie Meredith, and brother Jimmie near Clearwater.  They had lived in Mt. Prospect for a few years after Ruth and John left the Chicago area.  I was their driver/helper then, but also had 3 little girls and a house to take care of.

"Ken's shop" was the new Florida location of the bandage business John had started in the late 1930s.
Ken took over when John, his father, retired.   He bought a house and a "shop" for making the bandage.  Their home in Des Plaines IL was sold that summer.  Ruth mentioned that I seemed depressed in a letter because I was the only one left in Illinois from the Kellogg family.

Amazing! Within Walking Distance of Me in West Bucktown is...

... MY FATHER'S FIRST FACTORY BUILDING

As I grew up in Oak Park in the 1940s and 1950s, I was very aware of a certain Chicago address:  2014 W. Wabansia.  That was the first factory building my father, John Webb Kellogg, bought in the late 1930s.  (See picture on the right.) He was proud of owning it and of the 6 1/2 day work weeks he trudged through to pay his costs as the Great Depression gradually ended.

From age 6 or 7, I saw it rarely, but heard about "the factory" or "Wabansia" every day.  Dad occupied the first floor, which was 8 or 9 stairs up.  Beneath it was an English basement, which was several stairs down and had a low ceiling.  All but Dad's floor was rented to industrial tenants.  There was a parade of them during the many years he owned Wabansia with constant stories about tenants, complaints about late rent,  about skipping out without paying at all, being hard on the floors, walls, seeing poor management etc.

What did Dad do on his floor?   Earlier when he was selling for them, Dad bought a surgical bandage company that was going broke.  He moved that business to Wabansia.  This was cohesive bandage
rather than adhesive, meaning it stuck to itself instead of the person using it.  He had 2 brands,
Sealtex and Quick.  At first he did all of the work himself, working 18-hour days.  By the time he bought Wabansia, he was able to hire Polish women from the area to roll and box the bandage after it was processed.  Years later, a client wanted unusually wide bandage.  Either Dad or my brother, Ken, who worked with him, found it was being used to support racing horses' ankles, especially when there was a wet or muddy track.  That turned out to be a valuable piece of business.

Dan and I live in West Bucktown in Chicago.  We found 2014 W. Wabansia one day while looking for the local branch library.  The factory is no more.  It's an upscale rebuild with a small grocery store on the first floor and condos above.  There's no English basement.  When my brother in FL heard about it, he was stunned, thinking it was still a Polish neighborhood with a mixture of modest homes, apartments and industrial buildings like his.  He bought the business after Dad retired.

"Out of a Job, Wife Gone, He Ends His Life..."

Ruth Kellogg and Kenny in Ann Arbor MI in 1934...

One day when I was leafing through my mother's 1935 diary, a yellowed newspaper clipping fell out.  It was tucked between the Nov. 18 and 19 diary entries.

Monday, Nov. 18, 1935  - "Did some cleaning, but am getting a cold and cough and it doesn't give me much pep. Afraid Kenny is also getting a cough.

Charlie Beal called up tonight to say they couldn't come this following Sunday as his brother (on north side) committed suicide last night & they were quite broken up about it for the time being."

The clipping itself tells more about this sad story...
"Out of a Job, Wife Gone, He Ends His Life With Gas"
William R. Beal, 28 years old, 1350 Argyle street, committed suicide by inhaling gas in the kitchen of his home yesterday.  His body was found by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Ruth Holland of Hammond, and by policemen who went to the house to investigate the disappearance of Beal's wife, Marion, 25 years old, which was reported by Beal last Thursday.  A daughter of the couple, Roberta, 3 years old, was left in care of neighbors by Beal Sunday night.  In notes left by Beal he said he was taking his life because he was unable to find employment."

On the following day, Ruth said she was filing the clipping in her diary and added, "It's quite sad."  This was still in the aftermath of the Great Depression, with jobs in short supply.   Ruth was about 3 months pregnant with her second child, which would be me.

President Reagan Shot!

Mon., March 30, 1981
"President Reagan shot plus 3 others.  He has bullet wound into left lung, but is doing well in the hospital.  TV has been all about the shooting by a young man ever since it happened about 3:45 PM."

I think the idea was to calm the public, reassuring them that all was well with the President.  The picture on the right is of John & Ruth 4 years earlier in 1977 in front of their car in Florida.

Tues., March 31, 1981
"I played bridge at Em Frost's - our 4-sum - this afternoon.  No luck, but a few good hands were fun for me.

Pres. Reagan's bullet was removed and is carrying on the office from the hospital room.  The culprit was caught immediately & the other victims are in various degrees of serious hurts."

Every once in a while Ruth's phrasing seems odd - such as the "serious hurts" sentence.  At this point she was 74, gradually moving into dementia.  Her handwriting began to change in 1982, another hint of what was to come.  In the picture, she and John are 70 and 77.

Wed., April 1, 1981
"Both Reagan and Brady (his Press head) are doing very well after the shooting.  The young man Hinkley is in custody.  He has wealthy parents to hire good lawyers.

J & I went to dentist for a check up & I had him (Dr. Faklis) grind down sharp back tooth.  That's all & no charge!  Letter from Marge Homer re: her Mom Bea - not good at all - a shame!"

Older than Ruth, Bea Newton was one of her closest friends when the Kelloggs lived in Oak Park.
These entries are not in Pieces of a Life. 

Newlyweds Are Busy (But One Is "Fussy") in 1929

Pictured: John and Ruth Kellogg honeymoon in Detroit and Ann Arbor (June,1929) after their wedding in Chicago.  Ruth is wearing her flapper-style cloche, coat and dress.

Saturday, Aug. 10, 1929 - "I hated to get up this morning.  Too tired.  I was busy finishing up work in the office this morning.

This afternoon I baked a pineapple upside down cake and ironed some clothes.  After the dishes were all washed, John and I got ready & went to Rose Roberts' home where we met her husband for the first time.  We had supper right away & then all of us did dishes & then played bridge.  Had good time.  They are so nice.  Home 12:00."

In one of Ruth's diaries - perhaps in the 1930s - she mentions that Rose Roberts "is getting a divorce."  Ruth and John were both working on Saturday morning for Montgomery Ward, so a 5 1/2 day work week.

Sunday, Aug. 12, 1929 - "Read paper before I did anything else after getting up.  I was on the run and had John busy too until about an hour before Fullers came at 4:00.  Papa called up this morning and told me to stop fussing so much.

Fullers, especially Mabel, were very appreciative and we all enjoyed ourselves.  The meal was good too.  There wasn't a thing that Mabel hadn't seen, but she was good company while I was preparing meal.  They had all gone by 8:30."    The "fussing" may be something Mama (Lottie) mentioned to Papa and had him pass on to Ruth.  She and Ruth were very close - only 19 years apart in age.  I'd think the fussing was part of adjusting to marriage while working, taking care of the apartment, entertaining friends.  These diary entries were not in Pieces of a Life.

Ruth is Busy with Friends, Family, Clubs in 1964

Ruth is shown feeding Philip Alan Kellogg here in late 1960.  She was helping with his younger brother, baby Roger Winslow Kellogg, at the time of the diary entries in 1964.

Ruth (57) and John (64) had just returned from 7 weeks in Florida when the diary entries were written.  They were still living in Oak Park where Ruth was involved with many First Baptist Church activities and other friends as well.  She was also the guiding hand for her mother and brother, who lived 2 miles away in Chicago - and helped Ken and his family in Westchester.  Diane and Dan Pellettiere were living in NYC.

Monday, Feb. 24, 1964 - "Letter from Diane with Beth Israel Hospital return address.  We phoned her tonight.  She's to be there a week and home a week.  Sounded good.  Went to Mom's for a few hours and forgot to bring my plants home!"    I think I had a bladder or kidney infection when I was at Beth Israel.  Lottie Meredith was 77 by then.

Friday, March 13, 1964 - "Letter from Diane asking if her room is available when they come in for first 2 weeks of July.  Of course we are writing right back that it is and always has been.  She is leaving 'sleeve' question to me - so I'll try to satisfy her with a small sleeve in dress.

Advised Mom to take tranquilizers to calm down.  Flat still not rented as of A.M."  Ruth also mentioned helping with the church circle meeting in the Colonial Dining Room that day.  I had asked Mom to make me a dress a week or two earlier - which is what the sleeve query is about.  Lottie Meredith had a small 2-bedroom flat above their 3-flat on Iowa St.  That caused a lot of stress on Lottie and son Jimmie, but provided some income.  I am surprised about the tranquilizers.  Both Jimmie and Beth were probably taking them.  Lottie's husband, Jim, had died about 20 years earlier.

Friday, May 16, 1964  - "Beth phoned - was depressed - so I drove out and brought Roger back for the nite.  (Philip was napping.)  Roger coming down with a cold.  He settled down by 9:30 for the night."   In skimming through the 1964 diary, I saw many entries about taking one or both of Ken's little boys for a day or two.  Beth was having a rocky time in those years.  Her own mother, Vera Tharp, a dietician, was most likely still working and was not from the Chicago area, so Beth called on Ruth for help.

Ruth Meredith Kellogg Turns 24 in 1930

The photo shows Ruth in 1930 wearing a black fox stole John had given her for her birthday.  They had been married one year in June.  
Saturday, July 5, 1930 - "I'm 24 years old today.  Folks gave me hose -- also rec'd 3 birthday cards.  Made a big bowl of potato salad.  More varnishing & polishing.  Went to show with folks & had ice cream at Walgreen's."

On June 25 Ruth and John had moved from 4705 Byron in Chicago to 5841 W. Superior St.  The "varnishing and polishing" is in their new apartment.  Ruth's parents, Lottie and Jim Meredith, helped too.  They did not live far from Ruth and John.  The unpacking and getting settled went on for several days.

The Great Depression was in full swing, but John and Ruth still had jobs in July.  Ruth bounced from one job to another at Montgomery
Ward as the sales dropped and people were fired.  She must have been well thought of because it would have been easy to fire her when a job she was in was eliminated.

Tuesday, July 8, 1930 - "Very tiring day.  John brought a mirror and end table home without consulting me!  He was late too!  Started to eat without him.  Took hot bath."

John is the kind of guy who wants to get things done right away - very industrious.  To him, it doesn't make a lot of difference which mirror or end table is picked, just that the task is done while Ruth would be concerned with the color, style, etc.  Neither the picture nor the diary entries are in Pieces of a Life, 

June (and May) Wedding Bells

Left:
1965 - Daniel and Josephine Pellettiere

Right: 1929 -John and Ruth Kellogg






"Something borrowed, something blue..."   June used to be the traditional month of weddings.  Perhaps it was because so many married right out of high school or college.  Or maybe it was just because June is a beautiful warm month with trees and flowers bursting into bloom.

I didn't wed in June, but my parents did.  Ruth Meredith and John Kellogg tied the knot at her parents' home on Iowa Street in Chicago on June 1, 1929.  Another June 1 wedding, but in 1947, was that of Vi (Veronica) Pellettiere and Charles Saletta, who had been in World War II.  They were married in Chicago at Our Lady Help Of Christians Church.  Vi and Chuck were married 36 years and Ruth and John 58 years.

Vi was the daughter of Daniel and Josephine Miraglia Pellettiere, shown above on the left at their 50th wedding anniversary in 1965. They are also the parents of my husband, Daniel Jr. and two deceased sons, John and Joseph. To add some perspective, Dan and Josie were married right before World War I on May 30, 1915, which would have made this their 102nd anniversary.  Their wedding was in Chicago too.  Josephine was born here, but Daniel sailed to America from Italy with his mother and 2 brothers in 1899.  What a journey he had in his lifetime!

Just for fun, I counted the number of friends and relatives who have June anniversaries.  Including the Salettas and Kelloggs, there are 17 of them, though several are no longer among us.  Only 3 of them are divorced or separated, so their divorce statistics are much better than average.  Why?  Maybe because most are 60 or older?  There are a few younger ones, such as our daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Jim Waldman, whose anniversary was a few days ago.

If you have a June anniversary, happy day to you!

Two Dates: Wedding pic from Feb. 1963 and Diary from Jim's Birthday June 1962

This wedding picture was taken on Feb. 1, 1963 in the Kellogg house in Oak Park.  From left to right:  Dan Pellettiere Sr., Josephine Pellettiere,
Dan Pellettiere Jr., Diane Kellogg, Ruth Kellogg, John Kellogg.

The diary entry was 8 months earlier.
Sunday, June 17, 1962 - "I picked Mom up at 8:15 a.m.  We got to Elgin by 9:05.  Nice time to drive - good weather but got warmer and warmer as day progressed.  

Jim surprised to see us so early on his 51st birthday.  He is now getting dissatisfied where he is - says nothing to do but sit and hear others troubles.  We told him to wait for the doctors to say he is ready to leave.

Brought Mom back to Oak Park and 4 of us (Diane) had salad dinner for Father's Day before Dan P. came for her to play tennis at O.P. High courts.  Mom & I attempted to dye a light green dress of Diane's a royal blue.  It is spotted!  Now what to do!

Diane has borrowed Packard until tomorrow night to go to Nancy & Bernie's & to Evanston to have 5:30 dinner at Fanny's. She took Mom home on way."

Jim Meredith, Ruth's brother, is back in a mental hospital, Elgin, at this point.  He has been in and out several times and is under psychiatric care when he is at home as well.  His schizophrenia started in high school.  "Mom" is Lottie Meredith.

The couple we went out with are Nancy and Bernie November.  Nancy was a very close friend, starting at AOII in my University of Illinois days.  I didn't have a car and was living at 1448 Astor St., Chicago.  The graystone that housed my apartment was torn down years ago.

My bridal dress is pale blue satin with a matching lace jacket.  The diary entry is not in Pieces of a Life, but the picture is.

Ruth and John's Adventure in Brazil, 1980

The picture was taken in FL a year before Ruth (73) and John (80) flew to Rio De Janeiro from Miami.  They arrived on May 24.  After some touring in the area to Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Copacabana area and the Botanical Gardens, the picture changed dramatically.

Mon., May 26, 1980 - "CATASTROPHE!!!  We walked to the beach walk to see hang gliders & take pictures.  As I got tired, I sat on bench and John went the last block.  Suddenly my shoulder bag was snatched from my arm from behind!  I jumped up and screamed as I saw a barefoot fellow dashing to a VW with my bag!  A native woman came up and told me she saw it.  Then John came about 5 minutes later.  He was very upset as was I.

Saw a police car by hotel and took a policeman inside to learn from English-speaking Porter of our troubles.  Porter wrote on paper and gave to police.  All our money, passports, eye glasses, my driver's license and many other items were gone.  So John phoned tour man to cancel rest of trip and change our plane reservations to Wed. night.  Luckily, he had our tickets!!We gave them to him to confirm flight home on Sunday next!  

The tour man came over in his wife's car and took us way downtown to American Embassy to get new passports - also to a photographer and later to Brazilian Consulate for visas.  Just made it to last one a minute before closing!  Then we taxied to a bus station where tour man told us to take the St. Conrad bus to our hotel as he had to go to airport next.  

We got a scare on the bus.  The girl ticket giver (thru interpreter in seat near us) said we were on the wrong bus!  But before we could decide to get off or not, she found out we were O.K.  She had given out wrong tickets!  So - we got back after dark, but O.K. as the bus ride ends by our hotel area.  What a day!  Glad it's all over and we are all set to leave for home - partly packed.  Played
cards again to relax."

The thief also took Ruth's diary for 1980, so she reconstructed what happened on the brief trip.  They
never forgot that adventure!

Ruth and John Kellogg Visit the Pellettieres in Palatine - 1973

1973 - Katie (3), Lynn (7) and Cindy (6) Pellettiere sitting in the family room at the house in Palatine.  Grandma and Grandpa Kellogg flew in from Clearwater FL on May 19.

Friday, May 25, 1973  - "Today was not quite so hectic but still - it had its moments.  I went with Diane to her beauty shop to have haircuts for all 3 girls this afternoon.  It took an hour longer than it should have due to the operator having a long, unscheduled customer.

It was fortunate that I was there to help.  Lynn & I went out for candy and gum, which also helped.  Katie got the "prize" haircut - cute as a button - short & shaped to the natural curl she has.  

The two older girls were an hour late to a naborhood birthday party.  This bothered Diane enormously, knowing how much such things are planned by mothers.  Also we were late in getting the spareribs into oven for supper, but we ate a little later, which was O.K.  I shortened a new long daytime skirt for Diane.  Dan phoned his flight time for early A.M. arrival tomorrow - John to go for him at 5:30 A.M. from here."

Ruth and John were 67 and 74 at that time and still functioning well, though the pace in Palatine was much faster than in FL.. With Dan in to Las Vegas twice, it was helpful to have them visit.  Dan and I both went to Las Vegas on May 28th for the pro-am golf tournament he was in charge of,

As much as everyone else liked the haircut, Kate did not.  Looking back, she probably wanted her hair to be longer like Lynn's and Cindy's.  This diary entry is not in Pieces of a Life.

Ruth Visits Diane and Dan in New York City, 1964

   Mom (Ruth Kellogg) and I are pictured on the roof of Rockefeller Center, looking north over Central Park.  On the left is the Hudson River.

   The Kellogg's next-door neighbor, Angela Lupi, tried to persuade 3 women to drive from Chicago to NYC in August, 1964 in her new Pontiac.  Ruth was the only one who could go.  It was a last-minute trip that turned out pretty well.

   Dan Pellettiere and I wed in Feb., 1963, moved to Philadelphia and on to NYC (Riverdale) for about 15 months.  We loved living in NYC.

Dan was in the Time-Life Building at 50th & 6th, working for N.W. Ayer, a giant in advertising history.  I worked on Maiden Lane near Wall St. for U.S.Life as the one and only writer in EDP (Electronic Data Processing).  This was a forerunner of the I.T. departments and companies that are so widespread today.  We loved living in New York.

Monday, Aug. 10, 1964 - "Angela Lupi & I left Oak Park in her new Pontiac for New York at 7:30 A.M.  I drove 200 of the 500 miles today.  Stopped for nite at New Stanton, Pa. - new 'Quality Court' motel - $14.00 nite - 2 others filled up - 7:30 PM.!"

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 1964 - "Started out 8 A.M.  Angela drove thru the winding Penn. turnpike and 7 tunnels!  I drove 100 miles.  At Holland Tunnel about 5:10 P.M. - very busy time of day in city traffic.  Found Belmont Plaza Hotel at 6 (7 N.Y. time)." 

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 1964 - "Breakfast at Waldorf-Astoria.  Bloomingdale's Dept. Store in A.M.  We walked to Time-Life Bldg. and I went to Dan's office to meet him and then to pick up Diane at U.S. Life bldg. in Lower Manhattan.  To their apartment."

Thursday, Aug. 13, 1964 - "Our day at World's Fair.  Some interesting - some not.  There about 9 hours!  Ate Indian curry dinner.  Our last exhibit was best - Illinois!  Had to phone Dan and cancel dinner plans for tonite.  Back by 10:45 P.M."

Friday, Aug. 14, 1964 - "Shopped in A.M. with Angela.  Met Diane at Rockefeller Plaza and treated to late lunch in their French restaurant.  More looking in shops and back to hotel for 45 minutes to rest until Dan came to take us to dinner."

Saturday, Aug. 15, 1964 - "Decided to start for home Sunday early after finding D & D had no
unbreakable plans for Sunday.  They took me to Rockefeller Center touring (TV studios & roof).  I treated to lunch at Schrafft's.  Am catching cold!"

Hmmm...Maybe Ruth meant that we had plans for Sunday rather than "no unbreakable plans"...Next time Ruth visited was in May, 1966 when Lynn Meredith was born.

Scenes from Ruth Kellogg's Life in 1937

The picture shows Diane with her one-year birthday cake on the back porch upstairs, next to the Kellogg's flat.  Grandma Meredith is holding the walker.

Ruth used a 5-year diary (1936-1940), with just 4 lines per day.  She did write regularly in 1936, but most of the rest of the diary is blank.  I suppose that having a second child to care for was quite an adjustment.

Monday, May 17, 1937 -  "Baby Diane now 1 year old - 4 teeth - trying to walk.  Had folks up for birthday cake I baked.  Baby rec'd 3 dresses, 1 swimsuits."

Thursday, May 20, 1937 - "Went to Bridal Shower on Evangeline at her Aunt Jaunita's house.  About 30 present.  Beautiful gifts.  Fun.  Home at 9:45."

Wednesday, June 30, 1937 - "BABY DIANE took her first independent steps.  About 3 to start, then several times she took from 3 to 8."

Saturday, July 3, 1937 - "Clyde phoned news of baby girl to Florence this AM.  Folks drove to Michigan."

Tuesday, July 5, 1937 - "Guess I'll stop recording my age!  Irene dropped in for few minutes.  Folks got back from Mich. about 3.  Left baby with Mama & Jim went with us to the Manor show."

Evangeline was one of Ruth's close friends, another member of the monthly Sewing Club that would come about in a few years.  Florence Childers Ballentine was one of Ruth's good friends from her working days at Wards.  She and Clyde were married on 12/31/30.  Her daughter, Bonnie Kay, was a friend of mine in our early years.

My grandparents were probably visiting relatives in the southwest corner of Michigan where Jim Meredith grew up.  Ruth's age was only a young 31 when she protested about recording it any more.  Little did she know that she had many decades ahead.  Irene Hertel was a little older than Ruth, but a long time friend of both she and her mother, Lottie.