1937, still moving into a new home, an alumni game which steals her voice, a bad case of laryngitis, a trolley ride with Ray Balut and Jackie Stefanik, Benny is going to the Rose Bowl, supposedly, finally a cozy home and steam heat, shopping for bedroom slippers, white sweaters, sport coats on sale, and portraits,…
Tag: 1937
The Case of the Wooden Shoes
I will warn you before you read any further. This case may never be solved. It may live on in your memory, niggling away, as your soul searches for answers for years to come. Those answers may never come. In August, 1937, Babu writes: Monday, August 9th, 1937 Did my first day’s work. Seven hours. …
The Dark Side: In Honor of Norma Harry
I write a lot about contrasts in this blog. That is life. The good and evil. Sometimes just the kinda good and kinda bad. As a writer, I look for structure. I look for patterns and the way this life story is told. It’s eerie that those patterns happen, in non intentional nonfiction. She isn’t…
Blessed Life! But What Comes Next?
I often wonder if Babu realized how privileged and blessed she was. Her teenage life is one of constant dances, experiences, friends, clothes, and comfort. I know, she’s lonely and insecure. She doesn’t understand why she faces constant rejection, but still! I look at her life and feel pretty jealous. This is THE GREAT DEPRESSION…
July, 1937
There is much to celebrate in the heat of July. Babu says that she will “melt like a piece of wax one of these days,” yet things move along swimmingly. (Kind of.) All About Benny: The month begins with the sentence: I guess I needn’t have worried about Benny. She didn’t know if he would…
Sharing with Babu, Less is More
Taking care of someone who is nearly 99 takes constant readjustment. What she can do, what is good for her and in what amounts, differ even during the same day. I shared some passages with Babu again, and this time kept it shorter, telling her that’s all I had for today rather than asking her…
Dull Days
Some days she has no events, no near tragedies, no brushes with moments of history. Some days she stays around the house and she will confess that those days are “dull days.” Yet sometimes, her dull days entertain me very much! Sunday, June 6th, 1937 Went to high mass. Zosh has Andy’s watch and says…
The Case of the Peanuts
Thursday, June 10th, 1937 We went to the circus (Cole Brother’s) tonight, Benny, I and Ernie and Charles, Lincoln, and Budson. Oh! It was wonderful. We had three pounds of peanuts, but we got there late to feed the elephants, so we fed ourselves. After the show we went to “Dutchland” for ice-cream, and thence…
Pretty in Pink (Babu Style)
Wednesday, June 16th, 1937 It seems almost incredible. I thought about it before but only as an impossibility. Going home after school Benny stopped me and asked if I wanted to go to the dance to Meriden Saturday. Said he would come for me and bring me back or I could stay over. Mother said…
June, 1937
I am reading and typing along and suddenly it makes sense why she is doing things like playing tennis and sunbathing. It’s June! I had lost all track of time. As I go through the month I keep wondering if she is approaching graduation. Classes continue into July so before the end of this month…
May, 1937
I’m going to get this disappointment out of the way because I know it’s been on my mind. I’m sure it’s been on yours, too. Hasn’t it? On May 6th, 1937, the Hindenburg explodes. Here was Babu’s journal entry on that day: Thursday, May 6th, 1937 Thank you for a lovely evening! It was lovely. …
March 1937, An Excerpt Deserving of a Post All its Own.
In 1937, Easter was celebrated in March. Did you know that Easter is a “moveable holiday?” It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first Spring full moon? I’m not sure of the truth of this, but I was surprised that Babu writes about celebrating Easter so early in the year, so maybe it’s…
transcribingmemory 