Author: Nichelle Barra Page 6 of 12

*I didn’t miss a day, in case you’re curious. I’ve just decided to fix them since my grandmother wrote on the space for February 29 (when there wasn’t one in 1945) and is now a date behind. In her journal, the dates are a day behind but I’ve corrected them on here. 

11 March 1945

Sunday 11 March 1945

Went to sunday school. Went to the Court + saw “Christmas Hollday” with Gene Kelly, Diana Durbin + Dean Harens. Cryed. + Roy Rogers. Went to the Drugstore with Pat + Frankie. Walked to the bus stop with Hine. Put up my hair. 

12 March 1945

Monday 12 March 1945

Went to school. Martin wasn’t there today. Tonkin’s team lost that mean we play Chadwicks. I didn’t work in the office or after school. Went bike riding with Pat, Cheese, Hines, Cartwright, + Berlinger. After supper I went with Hines, Frankie, Tonkin + Marlene. Listened to the radio

13 March 1945

Tuesday 13 March 1945

Went to school. Little behind on my diary. Don’t remember what I did. I worked in the office + after school. Got a long distance call from Gene. He’s in New Jersey + will be home Friday. Went bike riding.

14 March 1945

Wednesday 14 March 1945

Went to school. Worked in the office + after school. Went bike riding. Martin doesn’t talk to me very much. Had an assembly. 2nd hour class have their plays. Put up my hair.

15 March 1945

Thursday 15 March 1945

Went to school. Gave my report in SS. Worked in the office + after school. Went to the store. Went bike riding by myself. Went over to Buds. Got in a hair fight with Bob Hugist. I could start liking that guy again if it wasn’t for Tillie + Marlene. Came home + put up my hair.

*This ends the consecutive diary entries for 1945. There are a few more that I will post but the dates are scattered through the year. 

My comments: I have NO idea what she means by a hair fight – a fight about hair styles? It sounds like it wasn’t serious if she said she could like him again. I do like that she’s loyal to her friends though and won’t pursue her crush because of her friends. 🙂

6 March 1945 Wednesday

Went to school. Heard Martin don’t like me started to cry. Had a test in Math. Worked after school. Went to the store with Bud. Went to the show with Bud, Bobby, Tillie, + Frankie saw “Lady Corages.” with Loretta Young. Was it good. Came home put up my hair. Dick + Betty were over. Had some ice cream. I’m suppose to be on a diet.

7 March 1945 Thursday

Went to school. Martin doesn’t act as though he likes me. I hope Eddie goes with Hines. I think he likes her. Worked after school. Went to Ames + play volleyball. Changing the hayride from 8 to 9. Bob + Bud met Martin today. Bob likes him. Went over to Marlene house + over to Martin’s only he wasn’t home. Then went over to Hines + Buds. Came home + put up my hair.

8 March 1945 Friday

Went to school. Asked Martin he said he was going. We played basketball at noon + won 7 to 10. It was a hard game. Martin sprain his ankle he said he couldn’t go. It was raining anyway. So we didn’t go on the hayride. We over to Buds + had a party. Had a pretty good time. I wish Martin would have been there. I hope Martin is better. I may go over to Marlene’s + see him too. 

9 March 1945 Saturday

No school today. Went to the show in the afternoon at the Court + saw “Chip Off the Old Block” with Don O’Conner. + The Momeys Goust” [The Mummy’s Ghost]. Went to Town Club. At the “Hard Times Party” After I went with, Cheese, Hines, Twins, Berlger, Pee Wee, + Marlene to a ice cream store. Got a malt + hamburger. Went to Odd Fellors with Bud + Tillie. Got home at 12:00. Put up my hair. 

My Response

So it turns out that being heartbroken and diving into some ice cream isn’t a new idea at all. Who knew? Good thing she had good friends to get her out of her funk. 🙂

This is a day off I know 🙂 Speaking of that, I’m going with the dates that Grandma used in her diary but as explained last time, I think they are now about a day behind.

2 March 1945

2 March 1945: Saturday

Didn’t go to school. Put up my hair. went over to Dick L. Had a lot of fun. Bonnie, Bud, Bobbie, Dick + Johnnie, were all going to Ol’ Fellors but changed our mind + went to the Temple. Saw Tonight + Every Nite  with Lee Bowman + Rita Hayward. Sat with Dick. He paid my way. Bobbie went with Tillie. Dick brought me home + kissed me. 

3 March 1945

3 March 1945: Sunday

Went to Sunday school. Called up about the hayride. Called Martin he can go. Went to the show with Bonnie, Lillian, Hines, Marlene, Bob, + Brad. Got a sunday after they show. Jack and Marge were over. Went to the store then over to Buds, Bob H was there. I don’t think I like him. Work on English. Took a bath and put up my hair. 

4 March 1945: Monday

Went to school. Martin told Jackie that he hoped I was a good necker. Had an assembly. Worked after school. Walked home with Pat. Met Marline + Marilyn D. They Pat + I went bike riding. Got caught in the rain. Listened to Lux Alan Ladd was on Gild Theater. Fred McMurry + Barbara Stanwick. Put up my hair. I hope Martin likes me. 

5 March 1945

5 March 1945: Tuesday

Went to school. Had an assembly. Worked after school. Have planned the hayride. Me + Martin, Bud + Marlene, Bob + Lillie, Eggs + Joyce, Bobby + Tillie, John + Margie, Hines + Ed. I hope. Frankie can’t go. Went to the drugstore with Frankie + got a coke. Came home listened to the radio. Put up my hair. Went to bed. 

My Response

I always knew that my grandmother had a few admirers when she was younger. It’s one reason why I always loved my grandparents story. The way it had been told to me, was that for my grandpa, she was it for him but he was a very shy kind of guy and had a hard time approaching her. But he won her heart anyway 🙂  She kind of dismissed Dick but I’m not sure what kind of kiss he had given her – a quick friendly peck, or something more? She doesn’t really mention him except in friend terms and she makes it clear she likes Martin. And I think his comment about her should make it clear that he’s interested in her too.

One thing I like about this diary is it shows Grandma as an outgoing girl and a bit of a leader – which is really how I remember her. Once she set her mind to something, she would get it done. It’s neat to see this was something that came about in her youth.

*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 🙂