The Good Earth

My Grandma Margaret's favorite book was Pearl Buck's book, "The Good Earth". It is about a man in China who loves his wife and also loves the land. Grandma used to read this book about once every two years and never got tired of it.

I remembered this because Ann and I were on our way to a shiva minyon and we passed the garden and flower shop called "The Good Earth".
  ¶ 6:59 PM

  Star Trek

When I came home from college for winter break in 1968, one of the first things I wanted to do was arrange my schedule so I could see episodes of Star Trek (original series of course). My parents watched it once and didn't like it. I didn't realize at the time that Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock were both Jewish. If I had, I would have told them - they might have wanted to see it a second time. I do remember that at this same winter break I taught both of them how to play sheepshead. My father even played in some games that winter break. Of course, he liked bridge a lot more than sheepshead.

I was thinking of this today because I'm growing a goatee which will look a bit like evil Enterprize Spock's goatee in 'A Savage Time'.   ¶ 7:41 PM

  Grandma and George Wallace

In 1968, my grandmother Margaret was in Holy Cross hospital in Silver Spring Maryland for an operation (I don't remember for what). Then Governor and Presidential candidate George Wallace was brought to the same hospital after being shot by Artie Bremer. I was visiting my grandmother.

M - Grandma, do you know Governor George Wallace is in the same hospital as you?

Grandma - Does he play bridge?

I remembered this today because I was visiting the apartment of a Marie Lanham, a friend of Ann's mom. Mrs Lanham is from Alabama and during our visit she said something about Governor Wallace.

  ¶ 7:09 PM

  Very short BIO - Ann's mom

revised

Medical Doctors at Lenbrook (Part II)

Kathleen Byers Lindsey was born in Augusta, Georgia, and spent her childhood in the North Augusta area just across the Savannah River in South Carolina. She returned to Augusta for its Junior College Pre Med course and received her B.S. degree from the University of Georgia.

She graduated from the medical College of Georgia with an M.D. degree in 1943 as one of only three women in her class. She went to the Flower and Fifth Avenue Hospital in New York City for her internship. There she developed a special interest in anesthesia which she pursued in a two year residency at Bellevue Hospital, also in New York City.

Kathleen first practiced for three years at the original Piedmont Hospital on Capital Avenue. In 1947 she became the first woman anesthesiologist in Atlanta and first woman to be certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology. After her marriage to a pharmacist and the start of her family, she took a short break before resuming practice at the Veterans Administration Hospital (“Old 48”) in North Atlanta. She remained there for five years as chief of the anesthesia section but rejoined her former colleagues at Piedmont in 1955 when its new facility opened on Peachtree Street. She remained on active staff there until 1968. She is now on the Piedmont Hospital Honorary Staff

In 1972 Kathleen assumed a position at the Veterans Administration (VA) Regional Office in downtown Atlanta where she was an adjudicator for veterans’ claims. She retired in 1982 after ten years at age 65. After her retirement from the VA she traveled extensively, became more active in her church, Peachtree Christian, sang in its choir, and was active with the DAR Center for Positive Aging and with the Atlanta Writer’s Club.

Kathleen’s VA experience led to a much later part-time position in the State of Georgia Medicaid Program. She plans a final retirement from this post in October, 2004 after six years service. This will be contemporaneous with her 88th birthday.

Kathleen acquired her first convertible, a red Chevrolet she named “Maurice Chevalier” in 1999 at age 82. She enjoys her special grandchildren, Beth and George.

“On her Toes” both physically and mentally, Kathleen participates in the many dance and exercise opportunities at Lenbrook. She also enjoys music, reading and writing her memoirs. Residents admire and enjoy her special joie de vivre.


  ¶ 1:23 PM

  Two nearly identical cats

We were having supper with Ann's mom today. We discussed cats. I remembered that Ann's grandma Nell had two nearly identical cats. Both were mostly black with a little bit of white. One had a bit more white over its eyes.

Nell called one cat "Whitey" and one cat "Blacky".   ¶ 4:18 PM