Author: Nichelle Barra Page 84 of 91

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 🙂

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!