Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, April 5, 1962

A fine spring day – pleasant temperature (56° in the p.m.). Hepaticus in bloom – (Martha said that hers were in bloom two days ago) toads singing –

To Drs. Aberman + Gurney – Dr. A seemed to feel I should try to get along without any “booster” such as cortisone. I forgot Dr. G would be in the new Buffalo Medical Group building on High St., and went to the old place.

I had difficulty finding the new place, too, but finally found their parking lot – a young man was in attendance there, who parked my car for me.

The new quarters very attractive. Ram showed me about the place – we had a good chat. I asked him about advisability of our driving to Texas and he could see no reason why we shouldn’t go. The thought of the possibility of taking such a trip has haunted both of us all day – If we go, we would aim for about May 1 –

It was too late to go food shopping when I got home, so we went first to the Lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon I went out to look at the hepaticas – then I had to call Bertha to see – the sun shown warmly – the calls of toads filled the air – oh the wonder and delight of this miraculous season! It seems impossible to look at the downy hepaticus among the dead leaves long enough – to drink in the wonder of this moment – at this instant, the most magical one of the year.

On my trip into town, I noted in my mind three things worthy of remembrance; already but two of them remain – just before getting to the Thruway, a number of old stumps and logs in a vacant lot – lit up with the warm misty sunlight from above with a ghastly highlight – this is but one time of year when such an effect can be seen – It reminded me of a similar moment many years ago when I was a boy – The apple trees next door had been trimmed, and the already bundled branches left lying on the ground. They were lit up with same warm morning sunlight – I remember feeling a little sad, that the branches had been cut, and not allowed to mature into blossoms. I can still see vividly the whitish green fuzz covered little buds, with just a hint of pink showing.

My afternoon nap was marred by coughing spells – coming just as I would doze off.

Evening to church at East Aurora for committee meeting of the Neeb anniversary celebration – They are a good bunch – there never seemed to be a dull moment –

Bedtime music – the Virgil Thomson film music.

In the mail, birthday cards from Bob + Evie and the grandchildren – (with a drawing by Sally Mustain of a spider in its web). A good letter from Evie –

This afternoon when Bertha called the Richter’s Tom answered the phone, and said that Mart was up at Dr. Elingers office with David, who had been “kicked in the eye at school by a boy” – that Mart was “taking the place of the nurse for a while.” Naturally it sounded pretty bad, but Tom didn’t seem to know very much about it.

When I called Mart later, she said, to my relief, that it really didn’t amount to anything – that not even a black eye would result – she was not clear, either on what really happened. But, we have a very anxious time for a while.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, April 5, 1962