When I share passages with Babu, she reacts to the funniest things and goes right by the things I think are interesting. She said she remembered the March 1936 flood but I believe it was barely and had little interest in talking about it or her picture taking antics. She did, however, ask about her…
Tag: local history
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…
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,…
October, 1935
She attends Casmire’s wake and is frightened by the body. She and Jeanette are still not friends. She tried out for the orchestra and dramatics. She gets good grades in everything except for penmanship. (Really?) Drobey is hanging out with Jeanette and Teddy, instead of her. Babu’s reaction? Oh, I’ll be darned! She is becoming…
September Excerpts: What the Fight was Really All About.
Or can we even know? Usually, I’d say we can only know one side of this story, therefore, discredit the whole account, but since Babu records exactly what Jeanette said to her, I think it’s pretty fair. To someone who knows her and has read all the previous passages, it’s rather revealing. Tuesday, September 17th,…
transcribingmemory 