Charles Burchfield, Journals, October 11, 1961

Oct. 11, Wed –

About 10 a.m. Louise called and said that Fred had had to be taken to the hospital last night and was not given much hope of recovery by the doctor in charge. Hepatitis was the main factor –

My first thought was that I should go immediately, but she said that he was so very sick and did not recognize her or Irma; so I concluded that inasmuch as we could not come down and wait indefinitely for the end, that we had better wait until later…

A flood of memories and regrets –

A cloudless day – we ate lunch under the rapidly thinning willow tree –

Restless in the studio – unable to settle on anything –

About 6:00 I called Louise – talked to Irma first – she said Fred had brightened up a bit had recognized Tim + both Irma + Louise – The doctor now fears cancer of the liver, but cannot make tests while he is so sick –

We began to feel that we should go down tomorrow, or at least [unintelligible word], if there was any chance of him knowing me. We decided to wait until morning to see how he was.

To the Lake Shore Plaza for a snack + then do some necessary shopping for Bertha –

On the way the sunset glow in the west. A long horizontal cloud-less, rich pink – the vapor trail of a jet plane, of the same color, in huge loops and turns – startling in effect – and in the midst of this color, the first sliver of  a new moon – the thinnest I remember – it was of a pale yellow-green white color –

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, October 11, 1961