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.
 

Ruth Meredith Cares for Sick Family as a Senior at Austin High

This was 1926, Ruth's graduation time.  In the picture Ruth (left) is shown with a dear friend, Irene Hertel, who was bit older and also close to Ruth's mother, Lottie.  Irene's mother had died.

Ruth (19) had a cold early in February.  When it was ending, Jimmie (14) came down with the "Grip" (also known as LaGrippe) on Feb. 12 and their mother, Lottie, was laid low with it on Feb. 16.

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1926 - "Mamma sick, got the same thing as Jimmie, Grip.  I had to stay home.  (Mamma wasn't sorry she let me) and be nurse, housekeeper & cook & shopper for two patients.  Papa called up at noon.   I'm tired now."

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1926 - "Called Doctor.  He came at 10:35.  I'll probably have to stay home all week.  I've been busy between Jimmie & Mamma all day.  Had to shop this afternoon.  I'm getting to be some cook.  Wanda didn't call."

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1926 -  "I'm all tired out.  So's Papa.  We did the family washing tonight.  Doctor came again.  Jimmie got up for supper.  Haven't heard from Wanda.  It's no cinch caring for two sick people, cooking, washing dishes & clothes, shopping, etc.  After this I want some excitement and thrills!  Washed hair."

Friday, Feb. 19, 1926 - "Cleaned house while taking care of my two patients.  Had to go to the store this afternoon.  Went to choir practice.  Had coffee & sandwiches after.  Kough brought me home in Ford Sedan.  Patients better."

Ruth was anxious for her close friend, Wanda, to call because she was supposed to have a date.  As it turned out, Wanda's father would not allow her to go.

 In those days, the doctor did come to the house to see sick patients, as you can see from the story.  As late as the 1950s I recall a doctor paying a housecall when I attending Oak Park High and had a strep throat.

 "Kough" is one of the boys at church.  Ruth liked others better, but would sometimes take a ride from Kough.  She has yet to meet the man she would marry.

A small part of this and the picture are in Pieces of a Life.

Ruth & John Home from L.A. Vacation, August, 1977

Ruth and John Kellogg were 71 and nearly 78 when this picture was taken in Clearwater FL in 1977.  They were enjoying friends at Horizon House as well as son Ken and his family: Nellie, Phil and Roger.  Ruth also kept an eye on her mother, Lottie Meredith (90) and her brother, Jimmie (66), who also lived nearby.

Sat., August 6, 1977 - "We're HOME again.  A brief summary of the 2 weeks are on notebook paper herewith enclosed.  We had no trouble making connections with the 2 AIRLINES, but National was an hour late getting us to Tampa.  Again - we had much good food on planes plus a Jackie Gleason - Burt Reynolds movie.  We found 67 degree weather on our walk from United to National Buildings in Los Angeles Airport, but felt good.  Didn't like seats so when they let off a lot of passengers in New Orleans we got 2 good seats for the hour trip from there here.  

Had to take old Airport Limo as J. told Whitley Limo to meet us on the 5th, as was on our schedule by Oceanic Agency!  Their mistake.  We discovered it in Los Angeles Airport boarding ticket - stamped Aug. 6th!  Big lot of straightening, washing clothes, looking at mail.  Dan's brother, Joe, died Aug. 1st!"

As I perused this diary, which has both 1976 and 1977 in it, many little errors popped up in 1977 - such as repeating information within the same entry or in two different entries.  Maybe this is early evidence of the dementia that gradually appeared.  Should the Kelloggs have realized from other paperwork that the trip ended on Aug. 6, not Aug. 5?  We'll never know...

Dan's older brother, Joe, died suddenly at the age of 55.  We and the 3 girls, Lynn, Cindy and Kate, went to The Field Museum that day, Aug. 1, to the King Tut exhibit.  Dan had a strange sensation while were were eating a little later and soon afterward we learned that Joe had died.  This diary entry was not in Pieces of a Life, nor was the picture.

Around Valentine's Day, 1928, With An Engaged Ruth Meredith

In her 1928 diary, Ruth mentions that she and John Kellogg were engaged on Oct. 19, 1927, which is earlier than I had thought.  The picture shows Ruth in 1928 in a cloche and
fur-collared winter coat with a beaded purse.  She was in Chicago, but I don't know where.

February 12, 1928, Sun. - "Church with John.  We took snapshots this afternoon.  Took long drive.  After supper we strung beads.  Bed 10:30.  'Lincoln's Birthday' ."

February 13, 1928, Mon. - "Monotonous day!  Raining!  Bright spot - John came to supper and we poked fun at each other.  Didn't do anything worthwhile tonite.  Looked over old valentines."

February 14, 1928, Tues. - "More rain!  Got valentine from Wanda.  John is buying mine tomorrow.  Just answered Esther's letter.  Pay day!"

February 15, 1928, Wed. - John bought 1 1/2 lb. box of chocolates with a bit of verse, entitled 'A Dumb Man's Wail'.  Good.  We saw 'The Loves of Carmen' in the movies tonight.  Also good."

February 16, 1928, Thurs. - "Got my new swivel desk chair this morning.  Tonite I washed my hair.  Florence & Clyde were at same show last night.  Now to read.  I must write Wanda soon."

February 17, 1928, Fri. - "Snow!  John over to eat.  Teased me about something he has in hiding place till 19th, which is our 4th month of engagement."

February 18, 1928, Sat. - "Papa drove me around and I did Mam's shopping.  She has stiff neck. Mama stayed home & the rest of us went to the show in Papa's car."

February 19, 1928, Sun. - "John gave cast aluminum percolator for 'hope chest'.  John & I went to Oak Park church with Papa.  Took snow pictures & then took long walk together."

Ruth doesn't mention that she is working now at Ward's.  The little clues are "pay day" and the swivel office chair.  Florence worked there too and Clyde was her steady beau, who married her in 1930.  I'm not sure who Esther is - maybe a work friend.

I'm guessing that Ruth and John went to a Methodist church on the 12th, which was his faith, and then to Oak Park's First Baptist on the 19th.  Ruth was raised a Baptist, as was her father, Jim Meredith, who was from Berrien County MI.  Ruth and John finally chose to go to Austin Baptist Church when they married in 1929.  It was the one Ruth's parents had been attending since at least 1922.  Ruth and John switched to the First Baptist in Oak Park when they moved there in 1941.  By then they had 2 children: Kenneth and Diane.

Ruth Kellogg Is Happy and Busy at 64 in Florida - 1971

If you think this doesn't look like Clearwater FL, you're right.  The picture of Pellettiere grandchildren Lynn, Cindy and little Katie was taken on a windy day in Palatine IL in the same year - 1971.  Our house behind them on Skylark Drive was brand-new, as you can see from the lack of bushes, flowers, trees.

I loved reading this page of my mother's diary because she sounded so happy.  This diary entry is not in Pieces of a Life.

Sat., February 27, 1971 - "As I write this (Sun. 1:15 P.M.), it us a beautiful, sunny 80 degree day.  Boats are out in the Intracoastal waterway, which our apartment faces.  A girl is sunning on the lawn below us.  Also workmen are placing new seawalls on the west side of our parking lot.

Now for Saturday!   I wore my orange pant suit to Jennings tonite - surprised them, I guess.  Claire served bread-cheese souffle & cake with ice cream layer.  We played bridge and Merle won.  Nice time all told.

In afternoon I was unusually busy at the gift shop from 2 to 5.  A lady patient spent $15.42 on several items - two of which I gift wrapped.  She wrote a check."

Until I read this entry, I didn't recall that Mom worked in the hospital's gift shop.  I would guess it was the Morton Plant Hospital, which is the only one I heard about in their years in Florida.  The Jennings were long-time friends of Ruth and John's in Oak Park at the First Baptist Church.  Several couples moved to that area and others vacationed there for a few months in the winter.  Ruth and John joined the Methodist Church when they moved to Florida because it seemed more like First Baptist.
John had started out as a Methodist from boyhood until he married Ruth in 1929.

Ruth's Diary and Diane's - Hello to Kate, April 22, 1960

The photo is 4 months after the diary entries on April 22.  Diane (33) holding a smiley K - Katherine.  Two perspectives on Kate's day of birth follow. From my viewpoint now, it seems almost like a dream...

The 4 of us - Dan, Diane, Lynn (3) and Cindy (2) Pellettiere - had lived in Mt. Prospect IL in our first house since moving back from New York City in 1966.  Grandma Ruth Kellogg (62) flew up from Clearwater FL to lend a hand

Ruth's Dairy - April 22, 1970
"RED LETTER DAY!  Diane gave birth to 3rd girl.  Name is Katherine Diane - 6# 9 oz.  Dan took Diane to hospital at 8 and the baby was all day on the way until 5:18 P.M.  At 8:30 tonite Diane phoned here & we talked 20 mins.  Dan out to friends' celebrating.  I phoned Ken and Mom. Dan phoned John.  Both baby and Diane in fine shape.

I kept busy all day with Lynn & Cindy and food preparation, dishes, wash, changing clothes, shoes, boots (after a spring downpour).  Tired now.  Dan put girls to bed but I had them bathed and ready before he got here.  Girls & I made batch of peanut butter cookies and I froze some."

Diane's Diary - April 22, 1970 
"I awoke at 3 AM with labor pains - irregular and mild.  By 5 they began to settle down to every 10 min.  At 6 called Dr. Levan.  At 8:15 Dan drove me to the hospital.  Contractions were irregular until 10 AM.  Went into hard labor in afternoon, but didn't dilate to 5 cc until 3 or 3:30, so I was on a muscle relaxant and in great pain.  Then I got a shot, which helped lots. 

 At 4:15 or 4:30 the nurse checked me & found me fully dilated.  She flew me into the delivery room & called the Dr.  Baby was born as soon as I started pushing down - 5:18 - beautiful ruddy, brown-haired pudgy little thing - Katherine Diane - 18 3/4" long and 6 lbs. 9 1/2 oz.  Dan went home at 6 PM.  Called home & talked to Mom.  Dan at Farrell's.   

Lutheran General (Hosp.) O.B. very crowded.  A record 292 babies delivered last month.  May come close this month."