Category: Diary Page 6 of 11

*side note: Grandma seems to have just continued writing on the Feb 29 spot even though there wasn’t a February 29 in 1945. I did wonder if maybe then these entries weren’t written in 1945 but there was no Thursday for Feb 29 except in 1940, when Grandma would have been 10 and that doesn’t make sense for the things mentioned in her diaries. So I’m believing that the dates here are just what the diary is stating, and may be a day off from this point on.

27 Feb 1945

Tuesday, 27 Feb 1945

Went to school. Martin wasn’t there today. Had a test in S. Sci. Turned my ankle again. Worked after school walked home with Bobbie B. Got a Sunday with Frankie + Bud. Danced for a while. After supper Frankie + Bud came over. Fr kissed B.S. Listened to the radio. Put up my hair. Soaked my ankle. Hope Martin is in school tomorrow. I miss him.

28 Feb 1945

Wednesday 28 Feb 1945

Martin was in school today. Went to school. Did my test in English. Had an assembly. Took gym today. Worked after school. Walked home with Bobbie Brown. Nice day out today. Got a sunday. Went to the Court with Frankie saw “Leave it to the Irish” + Flesh + Fantastic [fantasy] with Robert Cummings, Betty Field, Barbara S. Charles Boyer, and many more. Dick + Betty was over tonite. Had some ice cream. Put up my hair.

29 Feb 1945 – really 1 Mar 1945

Thursday 29 Feb 1945 (more likely, this is 1 Mar 1945)

Went to school. Didn’t have to work tonite. Met Don + Bobby on the way home from school. They walked with us. Bobby borrowed my bike for a while. Went over to Buds after supper. Planned our Hay Ride {Bud + Marline} {Dot + Bob H} {Gille +?} {Frankie + ?} {Bobby + ?} {Dick L. + ?} {and maybe + I hope + pray Martin Davis? Bob + Dick want to take me on the hayride + to the Concert but I want to go with M.D. 

1 Mar 1945 – more likely 2 Mar 1945

Friday 1 Mar 1945 (more likely 2 Mar 1945)

Went to school. Talked to Martin about the Hay Ride + about horses. I think he may go. I hope. Worked after school. Came home put up my hair + took a bath. Went to the concert. Took tickets. Stood a hour + a half. Got mad at Frankie + Bud slapped his face because he didn’t save us a seat. Made up with Bud. Went out with Bud, Martin, Bob, Lillian, Jen, Edgar, + Bob. 

My Response

I love my grandmother’s crush. It reminds me of those lovely school crushes all teens get. I do find it funny how often her and Frankie get into fights. That also reminds me of school days. And to slap someone over not saving you a seat? Seems a bit extreme but there may be more to that conversation than she put down in her diary. They did make up awfully quickly but I wonder what happened to Frankie. I also wonder if she will go with Martin on the hay ride 🙂

23 Feb 1945

Friday 23 Feb 1945

Went to school. Worked after school. Then went over to the ice cream store + got a Sunday. When I came out I met mom coming home from the hosiply. Got Betty Hatton, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Laraine Day, Richard Carlson, Lana Turner, John Hodiak. Went to the show and saw Earl Flynn in Strange Glorgy. Sent out 15 more movie stars.

*Quick note: I looked up what movie she could be referencing and found nothing. I’m assuming she meant Errol Flynn, not Earl, as there is no Earl Flynn in the movies at that time. There was a film called Strange Glory about Abraham Lincoln that came out in 1938 but there is no name close to Earl Flynn listed in that movie. Maybe she meant Uncertain Glory as the movie?

24 Feb 1945

Saturday 24 Feb 1945

No school. Put up my hair + cleaned the house up. Went over to Ames church saw Martin play basketball. Went over town. Went to Town Club. Had a lot of fun. Mike S. actually talked to me. After Town Club, Hines, Frankie + I went to Old Fellers danced with Frankie, Hines, Bud, Bobbie Brown, Tillie, Lillie. Had a wonderful time. Got home at 2:10. The girls stayed all nite. Put up my hair + laughed in bed.

25 Feb 1945

Sunday 25 Feb 1945

Didn’t go to sunday school. Got up at 10:0o. Ate breakfast. Bud + Bobbie came over + we danced, Frankie went home. Hines stayed. Hines, Tillie, Lillian, Bobbie, Bud, Frankie, Bob, Lillie + I went to the Court saw Four Jills in a Jeep. Was it wonderful. We took Hines home. I took a bath + put up my hair. Listened to Take It Or Leave it.

26 Feb 1945

Monday 26 Feb 1945

Went to school. Martin gave me his picture and I’ll always keep it. Had an assembly. Also a booster’s meeting. Malin [Martin] had to sit next to me. hubba hubba hubba. Worked after school. Walked home with Bob + Jack H. Got a picture today of Tom Drake. Sent out 28 more stars. Listened to Lus + Gild Theather**. Bud came over + we danced. Had a lot of fun. 

**I am not sure what this is supposed to be. I’m assuming some sort of radio show or maybe even a band but I couldn’t find anything that resembled this. If you know, feel free to leave a comment!

My Response

I LOVED the hubba hubba part in the diary. It made me laugh out loud. And all the dancing! I didn’t know Grandma was so into dancing but I am not in the least surprised. She always had a love of music (especially big band) so I’m sure she was also a big dancer. I loved that she had girl nights where she spent the night laughing in bed after a night out dancing, and then the next day there was more dancing. These entries made my heart happy for my youthful grandmother 🙂 I am also going to see if I have a picture of Martin somewhere in my stash of pictures I was given when both her and my grandpa passed. There were several of people I don’t know – this could help with a mystery picture!

19 Feb 1945 Monday

Went to school. Played in the noon home against the 104’s. We beat them the score was 12 to 15. At eight o’clock I went to Agnes Church to a party played volleyball + other games. Had Cola Cola + donuts. I fell down + sprained my ankle. Mr. Tonkin brought me home.

20 Feb 1945 Tuesday

Couldn’t get up my foot hurt to much. Finally I crawled down the stairs. But mom said I couldn’t go to school. But in the afternoon I went. Had a basketball game. Juniors won 15-18. Seniors lost 22-12. Took a bus home. Got my move star, Van Johnson, Bob Walker, June Allyson, Phyllis Thaxher, + Katherine Grayson.

21 Feb 1945 Wednesday

Went to school. Had a sub in English. Worked after school. Got home + I had a picture of Arturo de Cordova. It pained all day. Had to walk home from school. Went to the Court with Chase + Hines. Frankie couldn’t go. Saw Higher + Higher with Frank S. Got out + it was still raining. Put up my hair.

22 Feb 1945 Thursday

Went to school. I’m beginning to hate Aud. Had a S. S. test probably got a E. Worked after school then went over + saw Dad. Frankie + Pat went with me. No mail today. Sent out 13 more movie star letters. Mom went to the hosipily. I listened to the radio. Dick + Betty came over for a while. Put up my hair + went to bed. Going to give Hines my Van Johnson

My Response

Sprained ankles are never fun. I know from the diary and stories she would tell me that she walked all over the place when she was this age. I’m positive that the pain was a secondary thing to the not being able to go anywhere. Even school! I do love the slight rebellion of going in the afternoon after her mom said to stay home. I also did not know that she loved Frank Sinatra either. My sister is also a huge fan and is going to love that connection. 🙂

15 Feb 1945

Thursday 15 Feb 1945

Went to school. Didn’t take gym. Had an assembly gave out letters. I didn’t get one. Worked after school. Didn’t go to volleyball. Came home study my Science. Burrow Buds record the songs are “I Dream of You” + “Saturday is the Loneliest Night” Listened to the radio. Got a note from Tonkin. Wrote her back. Am going to give her mittens back. Put up my hair. 

16 Feb 1945

Friday 16 Feb 1945

Went to school. Worked after school in 116. Got a at 4:00. Read my new book “Silver Chief.” Went to Dick + Betty’s took care of the kids while they we to the hosipily with mom. Came home + put up my hair. And read for awhile.

17 Feb 1945

Saturday 17 Feb 1945

No school. Got up at 10:00. Read most of the morning. Went over town + got Mary Jean’s birthday present. Then went to the hosipily with mom. Went to Mary Jean’s birthday party from 6:00 to 10:00. Had a wonderful time. Missed Uncle Dick + Aunt Anna. They were up for a little while. 

18 Feb 1945

Sunday 18 Feb 1945

Went to Sunday school. Went to the show at the “Michigan” + saw “Gyspy Wildcat” with Jon Hall + Maria Montez. also Irish Eyes Were Smiling with Dick Haynes. Came home listened to the radio programs. then put up my hair and went to bed.

My Response

It sounds like Tonkin and Grandma had a fight. The note and response with giving back Tonkin’s mittens seems like it anyway. After all, why wouldn’t they have just called or stopped over each other’s house? It really seems like teenage girls are the same in every generation!

The Saturday entry is also the first mention of aunt’s and uncle’s from Grandma. I know there were lots of them – her mom was one of seven as is her dad. I had wondered about her aunts and uncles with her dad in the hospital as well. I do hope that in future entries he’ll come home and maybe Grandma will say why he went into the hospital in the first place!