Author: Nichelle Barra Page 77 of 91

Amanuensis Monday: May 18-20 1943

On 14 July 2014

There were only a few entries for 1943 in my grandmother’s journal. They are crossed out and I believe it’s because they aren’t from her. These three entries have different writing, different scenarios (like a job) and different people mentioned than when it was my grandmother’s voice. Plus, one of these entries mentions going to a show with Mary Jane, who is my grandmother. I think these were crossed out when this person gave the journal to Mary. I’m wondering if these were from Betty, my grandmother’s older sister.

18 May 1943

Tuesday 18 May 1943

Worked until 5:30. Went to the bowling ally. Got the prize money. Jack + Margie was over. Wrote Stan a letter.

19 May 1943

Wednesday 19 May 1943

Worked hard today. No letter from Stan, but one from Gene + from Al Briggs. Went to the show with Mary Jane.

20 May 1943

Thursday 20 May 1943

Worked today. Took inventory. Maxine McPhetias called me up. She is really a terrible girl. Wrote Stan a letter but am praying that he will forgive me.

My Birthday :)

By Nichelle Barra

On 13 July 2014

In History, Pictures

Today is my birthday and I got a phone call from my mom who out of the blue just started to tell me about the day I was born. So I thought I’d share that story although it isn’t an unusual one, but I felt like sharing it since it’s something that tends to not be written down.

side note: I feel like birthday’s should be more about the mother than the baby. After all, they do most of the work!

Probably 1983, when I was about one but this is the closest I had on hand to baby me 🙂

This is my mom’s version of the story:

“It was three days before your due date and I was at the doctor’s for a checkup. I was in the waiting room when I felt my water leak a bit. I went to the receptionist and said that I thought my water was leaking so they took me in a room and got me ready for a doctor. They got me dressed, on to the table stirrups and all, and went to find a doctor. All the while I could feel myself leaking a bit more and didn’t understand why I was still there waiting! About 15 minutes passed when a nurse came back in, checked me, and said she was going to just send me over to the hospital since all the doctors were busy. I drove myself to the hospital, they put me in a wheel chair, and I signed in. They wheeled me up to the room, I stood up to get undressed and onto the bed when whoosh… my water officially broke and there went the long pants I was wearing!

I had called your dad to let him know. He was taking a class at the high school (not a high school class though, some sort of mechanics class) so I had to call the school. They wouldn’t let me talk to them so I told them ‘Well, this is his wife and I’m having his baby at the moment.’ To which they replied that they would rush the message to him. About 10 minutes later he showed up at the hospital! He had taken his bike to the school so I could have the car that day so he must have flown on his bike to the hospital! [side note: that is normally about a 20 minute bike ride with traffic!] He was huffing and puffing when he finally arrived but he wanted to be there because he got to be in the delivery room this time with me. He didn’t get to for Devon [my older brother]. He didn’t need to rush though as it takes time from the water breaking to the actual delivery.

I got to the hospital about 12:30 and had also called my friend who was a nurse in that part of the hospital. She had told me to let her know when I was there so she could be my nurse. Of course, it was her day off but she came up anyway to sit with me. After a few hours, she mentioned that she didn’t like something and left to find a doctor. That made me nervous. A bit later I heard nurses telling the doctor “Just come in! Don’t bother washing!’

I told them I had to push a bit on that last one and they set me up to deliver. The umbilical cord was around your neck, that was what my friend didn’t like. Your heartbeat was slowing the further down you went and when I had contractions. Once your head was out, they cut the cord without a problem, and out came the rest of you! It was such a relief!

My friend turned to me and said I now had the perfect family: a boy and a girl. I felt so good after the birth too. The nurse asked if I was hungry and I was and then I proceeded to call everyone to tell them the happy news. It was so easy that I thought I could have five more without a problem! I didn’t want to have five more but I felt like I could. “

I was born at 4:40 so only about 4 hours of labor! I have had friends who had over 20 hours of labor so I know how lucky my mom was. Days like this make me wish I lived so much closer to my family. I miss them!

Left to right: my nephew with my sister-in-law (who was pregnant with my next nephew at the time), my brother, me, my mom, my dad, and my sister. This goofy picture pretty much sums up my family!

Amanuensis Monday: May 15-17, Aug 1, 7-8, and Dec 24-25 1944

By Nichelle Barra

On 7 July 2014

In Diary

These are the last of the 1944 posts. There are a few 1943 that I’ll post next Monday and then a few 1946 that I’ll post the Monday after that. She wasn’t a very consistent writer 🙂

15 May 1944

Monday 15 May 1944

Dear Diary,

Went to school. Got a telegram from Ned he’s coming home. Finished the puzzle. Did my social science. Listen to Lux + Gild Theater + Blondie. Went over to Pats played volleyball awhile. Didn’t put up my hair.

16 May 1944

Tuesday 16 May 1944

Dear Diary,

Went to school only in the morning stayed home with Dickie + Brian. Big Betty wall papered Ned’s room. Had a lot of fun but frankly I did miss school. Went to the show saw Don O’Conner + Blondie.

17 May 1944

Wednesday 17 May 1944

Dear Diary,

Went to school. Made butterscotch pudding. Couldn’t play basketball it rained. Went to the shows saw “The Solvens” [The Fighting Sullivans is my guess] was it good. I cried almost all the way through it. Also saw Alan Ladd again. Mom put up my hair.

1 August 1944

Tuesday 1 August 1944

Today I went to the show with Catherine + tonight I went with Francis Kovagel. I saw “In Which We Serve” + “Stand By For Action.”

7 August 1944

Monday 7 August 1944

Worked until noon. Was shopping with Betty. She had a party and Dick + I Lill called.

8 August 1944

Tuesday 8 August 1944

Got up at noon. Went to the show with Mickey. Saw “Dixie.” Got a birthday cable from Gene.

24 December 1944

Sunday 24 December 1944

Christmas Eve. Went Christmas Caroling with Bud, Tillie, Eggs, Janie, + Jack. Got $2.70. Jack, Marge, Grant, and Pee Wee came over. Put the rest of the Christmas gifts under the tree. Read a love book. Merry Christmas Ned and Gene.

25 December 1944

Monday 25 December 1944

Christmas morning. I got a skirt and jacket, billfold, p.j. pants, + brazziers, hat and gloves, bracette. Got mom a music box and box of cards, socks and slippers. Had a wonderful Christmas.

Amanuensis Monday: May 7th- May 14th 1944

By Nichelle Barra

On 30 June 2014

In Diary

385-may-7-1944

Sunday 7 May 1944

Dear Diary,

Didn’t go to sunday school. I’m mad at Bonnie for not going to the show with me. But I went anyway with Mom, Dad, Dick, Betty, Kye, Agnes, + Dickie. Had a gallon of ice cream. Took my bath. Mom put up my hair.

8 May 1944

Monday 8 May 1944

Dear Diary,

Went to school. Rained this afternoon. Read a love story. Da was sick today. Listen to the Lux + Gild Theater. Mom got a new set of cute dishes. Betty gave me my birthday present. A red fathans[?].

9 May 1944

Tuesday 9 May 1944

Dear Diary,

Went to school. Was taken out of gym to help Miss Conie. Got mom a birthday cake with 50 candles. She blew out only half of them. Played volleyball with Pat. Had a lot of fun with Brain [Brian?] Got a gallon of ice cream. Mom put up my hair.

10 May 1944

Wednesday 10 May 1944

Dear Diary,

Went to school. Today’s Ned’s birthday. Tomorrow is mine. Played volleyball with Pat + Colleen. Bob gave me my present, it was a ring to small. Mom gave me a white blouse, a pair of blue shorts + a green skirt (she made it). Made a sundae. Mom put up my hair.

11 May 1944

Thursday 11 May 1944

at top: Marge, Jack, Grant, + Pee Wee gave me my birthday present. It was a dollar.

Dear Diary,

Went to school. Today’s my birthday. Took my ring back + got a larger one. Margo, Jack, + Grant came over. Played volleyball with Pat. Played hide and go seek . Took a quiet bath. Marge put up my hair. Had a wonderful time today.

12 May 1944

Friday 12 May 1944

Dear Diary,

Went to school. Made potato salad was it good. Went + got my ring, Bud went to. Grant came over. Played volleyball for a little while. Grant + I went to the court. Saw “Dinamite Kid” with Bobby Jordon. Was it good. Still working on the puzzle.

13 May 1944

Saturday 13 May 1944

Dear Diary,

No school. Grant stayed all nite. He learned how to ride a bike in ten min. He, Bonnie, + I went to Bliss Park. + Gibby away Island [I believe she meant Ojibway Island]. Got two cokes + a malted. Went over to Dickie + Betty’s played soldiers with Dickie and Grant.

14 May 1944

Sunday 14 May 1944

at top: also saw Alan Ladd

Dear Diary,

Worked out in the “Victory Garden” with dad. Made … pen. Took some pictures. Dad, mom, Toby, Betty, + I went over to Jack + Margie’s. Went to the Jenysle with Mom + Dad, Bob, Dick + Betty saw “Shine on Harvest Moon.” Was it good. Mom put up my hair.