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Wednesday Evening before Thanksgiving, Gaylor Road, November 27, 1974
Candid conversation at 169 Gaylor Road, Scarsdale NY, Early Evening This recording took place seven months after my last visit at Easter. By this time, Aunt Lucy had passed away (July, 1974 at age 86; perforated intestine resulting from untreated colon cancer) and Uncle Fred had passed away (September or October at age 94, just before his birthday on November 11; prostate cancer). Lucy, Julia, and Fred held little faith in doctors or modern medicine, privately blaming the death of one of their siblings in middle age on medical maltreatment. As a result, they never visited doctors. Although Aunt Lucy's cancer could have been surgically removed if caught at an earlier stage, it was not discovered until it caused rupture of the intestinal wall, an unrecoverable situation for someone of any age. At the start of this recording, I am carrying a portable cassette recorder which I switch on just before arriving. You hear me walking up to the front door at 169 Gaylor Road, and Aunt Julia answering the door. My brother Mark arrives later although you can only hear him saying good-by at the end, and two people walking away from the front door. It is touching to hear how sad and lonely Aunt Julia is in this recording. Recordings I made during subsequent visits show that she never recovered from this sadness and loneliness. Duration: 7 min, 24 sec |
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