Jessie’s journal: March 18-24, 1959

Here is the second posting from my grandmother Jessie Lehmer’s 1959 journal. You can find the first post here.

Jessie kept her journal for at least 29 years. She was 57 years old at the time of these entries; her husband Harry (who she refers to as Daddy) was 60. Other people mentioned this week include Harry and Jessie’s granddaughter, Judy (17), and Jessie's doctors, Drs. Lowry and Martini.

March 18, 1959 (Wednesday)
    “My back has hurt so much all morning. So nice out, would like to go for a walk. My legs feel shaky.”

March 19, 1959 (Thursday)
    “Sure felt rotten all day. Had a headache when I went to bed at 8:30. Had to get up 10:30, took 2 Anacins, no relief. 12:15, got up, took 2 more, no relief. Finally got up 4:10, took 2 pain pills Dr. Lowry gave me. Finally got some sleep. I never had such a headache, all over, inside temples, top and back of neck. Daddy said he didn’t sleep good, I was awake all nite nearly. He didn’t toss & turn so much as nite before. Hope he gets used to our mattress.”

March 20, 1959 (Friday)
    “As usual, I had my headache all nite, severe this morning. I took one of the pain pills Judy gave me, same as I took in the hospital. Headache all gone, but so woozy & shaky. I am fighting sleeping pills, took them for 18 days. I sleep, not good. Daddy still can’t. Hope he gets used to this mattress. … Daddy said he sure was glad to see this Friday roll around. He is so tired.”

March 21, 1959 (Saturday)
    “I am getting worse when it comes to keeping up this diary. Didn’t do this until Sunday. Daddy raked the parking part of yard, came in and said what he used to like to do was too much for him now. He was all in. He is so sore all over and tired.”

March 24, 1959 (Tuesday)
    “Going to get my hair cut and fixed. I look horrid. I went up to see Dr. Martini, waited from 2 to 4 before I got in. I was so tired & nervous. He gave me pills for 2 weeks – 6 a day, twenty cents apiece, $16.20.”

Author Larry Lehmer's book about Dick Clark and American Bandstand --  Bandstandland: How Dancing Teenagers Took Over America and Dick Clark Took Over Rock & Roll --is available from Sunbury Press. His book about the last tour of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens -- The Day the Music Died: The Last Tour of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens -- is available at Amazon.