The Theatre again! I’m an addict. Just reading about Babu performing in a play again makes me itch to be back in again, too. From her talking about auditions to dress rehearsals to performance night, there is jealousy but something more – a rush, an urge, a left over spark that reminds me of the…
Tag: diary
Writing Wednesdays: Writing Non Fiction
It makes me nervous. It’s also all that more exciting. I forget all the time for brief moments that the people in these books, besides Babu, are real. Yes, maybe they have mostly all passed, but their children and grandchildren haven’t. Meeting Kathy last weekend and hearing her talk about the past and all the…
“Cooperate with Nature, It is Kind”
Another new book and new year and, as always, I get excited first about the book itself. This year, she uses a variety of colored ink. On the inside page, written in green, is her contact info including the house I am currently in, and her phone number. 818 818, guys. That was her phone…
Zosh’s Legacy
I’m still thinking about Babu’s birthday party and about meeting Zosh’s daughter, Kathy. More importantly, about the interactions Kathy had with the family, especially Babu. When you hear stories, especially ones you hear more than once, there is this mistaken sense of ownership. You feel the person who told you the story and you now…
December Lovin’ or Nah
I. Just. Don’t. Get. It. On Saturday, December 4th she tells Johnny L. she loves him and I don’t think she has ever said it to any other boy before. Saturday, December 4th, 1937 Saw “Nothing Sacred” and “Adventurous Blonde.” Ernie and I shopped but didn’t buy anything. My voice is going an account of…
December, 1937
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,…
The Stages of Getting Over a Crush
You write and he doesn’t write back. You say – if he doesn’t write back, you’ll write again. You see him in everything. Tuesday, October 5th, 1937 Stella Liana is home from her visit to Poland. Mom and Dad were up yesterday and brought back some gifts from Godmother. Expect mail every day and hope…
November, 1937
Guess what?!?! Babu’s parents find out that the rent in their new place will be raised and they move, again. Why is that so exciting? Because they move in here. So I know that this move is the last move her parents will make in their very long lives. It’s not the last move Babu…
Ch-ch-ch- Changes
As I’m progressing through transcribing the fourth year, I’ve observed some things that have changed in the last almost four years. “Drobey” has become “Drobe” and she never calls him “Caveman” anymore. In fact, she talks less and less about him. She seems clear now on how she feels about him. She is not…
In Honor of Milton Adams
I hope you have never had the experience of pulling up to a familiar place, your home, your work, or a friends house, and seeing the immediate signs that something wrong has happened. There is nothing worse then that sinking feeling. In October, 1937, Babu writes: Monday, October 18th, 1937 This morning Jaime gave me…
Who is Johnny Krol?
Johnny Krol is a reoccurring character we haven’t talked much about yet which is a surprise because I love reading about her. Don’t get her confused with Johnny Lech – especially in the upcoming posts as Johnny L. is going to take a larger role. No, I’m talking about Johnny Krol. She has been friends…
A Brief History of Dance
In last Saturday’s post, I wrote about how Babu was getting out of the house and having more fun. If you couldn’t have guessed, most of the outings are to dances. Monday, October 11th, 1937 Registered at cooking school and made breakfast. Zosh wore Helen Oparowski’s dress to the banquet. She looked lovely. Nat and…