Now this truly is a mystery. Usually, Babu’s pictures and diaries line up perfectly, date for date, event for event. She writes about her day and I can always understand where any pictures with that date on the back fit in. Not this time. Here is her passage: June 8, 1941 Saw Ernie off to…
Tag: vintage diaries
Joe and Billy Fight
June 18th, 1941, Frances, the new girl, eats lunch with Ernie and me now. She’s only 17 and very young. Gets tired soon and tell us too. Not like I used to keep it to myself. Ed. came up and told me, after all Chet. M.’s studying he didn’t pass his recent physical. I drove…
A few in between the letters
June 8, 1941, Saw Ernie off to Vt on the train and checked up on how much and long it would take to go to Alabama. Spent all afternoon looking for a white dress and finally bought one. Came home all tired out and got dressed for tennis. Nat’s brother, John, came at 5:30 but…
He’ll be dizzy and she won’t throw things.
May 28, 1941, When I get home and don’t have a letter from Peach, I feel like throwing things. I had one, however, today. Helped Mom a little in putting up the hem on my new dress and then went to rehearsal. Chet and Ed called me at the office today. At rehearsal Spike asked…
Jake Gets the News
May 24, 1941, I had no plans for this evening. Was taking a bath when Ed came up. He asked me to go to a show. We went to Hartford and saw Count Bernie Vici and his show and a picture “Redhead.” We stopped for ice cream and Ed brought me out a box full…
Before the New Breaks Part II
On the day she recieved the following letters from Jakey, this is what she wrote: May 23, 1941, Soon after, and this morning we drove down to the funeral home. Zosh and I said good-bye to Stretch. I touched my cheek to his lips. He had a beautiful military funeral and Nat didn’t say hardly…
In Honor and Memory of Stretch Part II
May 19, 1941, Even though I realized Stretch was dangerously ill, I didn’t think of him leaving us. He died this afternoon. Zosh and I stayed with Nat all evening trying to console her. She is being brave. I haven’t got much use for the army since this happened. They can’t be getting the right…
In Honor and Memory of “Stretch” Part I
Unfortunately, this was the start of the end. I am simply to sad to create suspense or to worry about spoilers. May 11, 1941, Nat was angry because Stretch didn’t come home. However, he’s sick in the hospital and can’t help that. Ed K. came up and gave me a driving lesson and we picked…
Fortune Telling and Spinning Planes
May 15, 1941, Ruth, Emmy, and I made plans to go to a fortune teller tonight. Emmy took me home to supper with her. We skipped over to see Vi and then went to know our future. She told me about mother’s throat. It was alright for me to take a trip. She could see…
Convicts in the Barracks, May 10, 1941
May 10, 1941, Saw Ernie off on the train and felt lonesome. Came home and started cleaning my drawers. Jake sent me another letter and some pictures. He looks so thin and his hair is clipped short. Edmund, Johnny Lech, and Eddie came up early and left soon. J.L. came back about 8 and we…
In Between Letters
Having been on this side of things more than once, the partner left home, I can tell you it’s not easy for either. Basic training, and being away from home for what follows, is no joke. We hear the strain of it in Jake’s letters immediately. But we left at home not only pine for…
Letters from “This Godforsaken Hole”
May 6, 1941, It’s so warm again and no rain. I had another letter from Jakey again today. It felt so good. Freda Grockmal read our palms and told us what the stars had in store for us-at club tonight. We adjourned to the Moonlight and we had cokes and exchanged experiences. All the way…
transcribingmemory 