Thank you for being genuine, blogosphere.

If you read yesterday’s post, you know that I said that even though I have been away from this project for a month, that it has been on my mind for two reasons.  I explained the first reason yesterday, that, unfortunately, I know I wont have Babu around forever to share her history with her,…

Babu Update (and a bit of an update on me;)

Happy December everyone!  I have been away from the blog and the entire transcribing project for a while, but it has never been far from my mind, for two reasons.  I’ll get to those later. First, Babu is fine.  To elaborate further, she’s developed eczema over her whole body which we have a hard time…

March 1936 – The Great Flood Excerpts

Thursday, March 12th, 1936 It’s been raining all week so far.  If the river doesn’t stop rising conditions are going to become drastic.  Havoc has already been done in some places.  Some small bridges and dams were swept away and trolleys didn’t run for a while today.  Miss Dickey ordered us out of the room…

Winter 1935-1936 Excerpts

Some difficult times: Tuesday, December 10th, 1935 Oh lord please don’t let a thing like a misunderstanding come between friends, as between J. and me.  It’s horrible.  We had an election of office.  I was elected secretary.  J. Sat with Teddy and Drobey.  Drobey didn’t even talk to me.  I passed by all of them…

February 1936 “She Talks to Angels”

This February is not a surprising month for this to happen but it brings with it a new crush, Maurice, the boy she went to the dance with.  AND he is in her English class. There is a scandal with another girl in their class, one whom Babu refers to as the “class freak.”  This…

January, 1936

I’m thrilled to be in the new year!  Interesting things are on their way and I know it.  Now in January 1936 she is eighteen years old, attending a college secretarial program, rarely mentions Drobey anymore but is still pining for W.B.Z.  She is without a steady boyfriend and it’s shocking to me.  Her children…

Another Day

Another Day I pull the curtain back to let in diffused autumn sun It’s a new day. And she arose from her bed Despite letting the clock tick past 9:00… Past 9:30… Leaving me hanging on the question: Will today be the day she doesn’t wake? I straighten the bed as I hear her Moving…

Chatting with Babu, Nothing New or: Let’s Talk About Poop, Baby

I have changed the format of this blog slightly.  I used to write a post summarizing the journals, then a post about the conversation with Babu, then a post with excerpts.  I sometimes skip the middle one and I want you to know I’m still sharing these with her.  It is my favorite part!  I…

December 1935

This month seems mixed with deep peace and a little bit of torment.  She writes lovely passages like this: Saturday, December 6th, 1935 Went to confession this evening.  First time I felt so swell after going.  So peaceful.  I could have stayed in church all evening. Plus there is the excitement of the holidays is…

Autumn Excerpts

Tuesday, October 1st, 1935 Went to see Casmire but, Diary, I couldn’t look at him but a second.  He drew me so I thought I’d have to touch him then I was so frightened of him I couldn’t look.  His lips were a vastly blueish read.  His hair was light and wavy.  I hope he…

Just Sitting Here Trying to Write This Book

This is a post from my other blog:  Just Sitting Here Trying to Write This Book So, I apologize for any repetition but this is more proof that the more I write about this experience the more I process it.  Please go check out my other blog!   What It’s Like Transcribing My Grandmother’s Journals…

November, 1935

There is a small earthquake on the first of the month and Babu continues to be successful in her college courses.  These two facts were placed in the same sentence for their juxtaposition, not their similarity.  Perhaps a story that better belongs with a tale of a small earthquake is what is still going on,…