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…
Tag: local history
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…
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. …
Did You Miss It? I Sure Didn’t!
Were you laughing when you read Saturday’s post? You may have missed a few things if you weren’t. Check it out: Excerpts April, 1937 Babu always has a way of writing something off hand, explaining nothing, and leaving me saying “Whhhaattt?” Let’s look at April 15th again: “John came in after 12 and started playing…
Excerpts April, 1937
To be completely cliche- these excerpts are the good, the bad, and the ugly of April, 1937. It seemed appropriate because this month was such a mix of highs and lows. In romance: The Good: Monday, April 12th, 1937 Didn’t go home after school. Ernie and I went to the show and saw Bette Davis…
It’s a Thin Line
I haven’t shared much in the way of passages lately with Babu. In the way of excuses I have: I began the year with a pretty bad cold and wasn’t putting my germy laptop in front of Babu, then the first day I went to share the computer battery died, then I’ve been working a…
Also April, 1937
April saw the resolution of one conflict but another one, this time at home, reared an ugly head. There was always tension between Babu and her parents and the landlady. Here’s an example from December, 1936: Johnny Olbryck’s mother is a meany. She won’t let us have steam heat. Says she needs an even temperature…
March, 1937 Excerpts: Dual Theatre and the WPA
As I said yesterday, the dramatic tension of March was how Babu was going to manage being cast in two plays at once. The first was the WPA play: Monday, March 1st, 1937 Surprise? I’ve got a part in the WPA play “Correspondence Courtship.” That of Bessie the dumb shop girl. Oh! If only I…
February, 1937 Excerpts
More evidence that Babu only looks far away and not right under her nose: Tuesday, February 9th, 1937 Last dance tonight. Francis Cebula and I went together. Jaime gave me the ticket, bought me a sundae, took me home, but that doesn’t change my attitude toward him. I can’t help it. I just can’t go…
transcribingmemory 