I mentioned a few days ago that my grandma Jane was the writer of a diary for many years. These are not emotional out-pourings, but rather the details of her days with my grampa, Chet. After her death, my dad let me borrow a couple of them to read through, and I thought I might share an entry here and there - there are a few of you who knew them and I think those of you who didn't might still enjoy reading a few notes about her days! I'll start with November 1975. I was six, and I think she was almost 58, living on Crandall Street, in Madison, Wisconsin.
November 7, 1975
Partly sunny - rain early - rain after supper
Washed my hair - made chili and put it in basement oven at 225 all day - Good
Made 4 apple dumplings - finished the cleaning
Wrote to Mike (note: my dad - we were living in Russia) - mailed it
Chet home at 5:30 - ate in front of the fireplace.
Watched TV - took a short walk at 11.
November 8, 1975
Partly cloudy - Chet worked on eavestroughs - measured the yard for building permit - Letters from both boys!! I ironed - washed - weeded some of the plants - Drove to Orfordville for Lutefisk supper - Lutheran Church - $4.50 - Very very good! Home at 8 - Took a long hot bath - Called Mom.
As an extra bonus (!!), I'll also include a few one-line entries from a 1937 diary she compiled in 1971 to share with family. She was nineteen and living at home in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
Nov. 1...Well, now I am laid off --went to the dentist - had one filling $1.00
Nov. 3...Applied at Dorflingers again
Nov. 4...Went to the employment office
Nov. 5...Mom went to Madison with Aunt Marie. I took care of the house--made cupcakes.
Nov. 12...Alice Jean and I went around to all the stores but they wouldn't even take applications.
My family has always joked about Jane and her details - especially about the food - but I love reading these little entries, written in Insurance Agency daybooks and riddled with paperclips holding church bulletins, birth announcements, newspaper clippings, death announcements...It's all there.
those are great, deb. thank you!
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