DECEMBER 24

1939 Sunday 2:15 It was almost a bleary Christmas Eve. - My colossal idea for quilted chintz picture frames didn't work out... (After all that precious time) Bob came over - We had intended to go to the Cathedral but went to Mrs. Peck's for "Smorgasboard" + to Episcopal Church. - Came over here with Ed + Eleanor afterward -
1940 WORKED HARD ALL DAY GETTING HOUSE + ME CLEANED UP... WAS REALLY TIRED... COULD HARDLY GET UP AM-----------
DRESSED + GO DOWN TO MEET THE TRAIN ELEANOR + I FEEL VERY ALERT NOW, THOUGH AFTER A CUPPA COFFEE - SAW BOB + LEONARD OVER AT FOSTERS... DEAR BRATS
1941 1:50 Baby's home, putting up her hair. Normal, natural. - She's quite stable about Philip. (Thank Goodness) Trimmed tree - worked. Jo came in. Cute kid. No Leonard ? ? ? Gee - Hope tomorrow is good.
1942 12:20 I HAVE NO JUST CAUSE TO FEEL SO lonely I'M IN THE MIDST OF MY HOME, YET I'M VERY ALONE... STRANGELY DEPRESSED ALL DAY. [ADMIT IT - ITS BECAUSE TONIGHT'S Christmas  - AND NO SIGN THAT MR. PAYNE EVEN KNOWS YOU!]... AND BECAUSE Eleanor IS NO LONGER AS CLOSE TO ME AS SHE WAS... 
1943

DECEMBER 23

1939 At long last - a sister, again. She didn't get in until 12:00 today, instead of 10:30 - She looked so swell to us when she got off the train... We both have simply horrible colds.
1940 MAILED SLEW OF CARDS TODAY - EVEN GOT THEM ADDRESSED + READY FOR THE MAILS... SENT ABOUT 40 PINK LAMBS DID UP PKGS. MR. SPITZNAGEL CAME OVER... HE IS OKAY JOE - 
1941 Fun today Doing up packages. Got a housecoat for Mother from Dad - Hope its ok. - Went bowling with Stan - hmm. - Wasn't he who called last night.
1942 12- I FELT LIKE I WAS FALLING off A CLIFF, AND NO ONE EVEN NOTICED IT - ALL SECURITY SEEMS ILLUSORY... Leonard WAS QUIET, but "AWARE" OF ME, I THINK... WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ASKED HIM TO GO TO church TOMORROW BUT DIDN'T
1943

DECEMBER 22

1939 12:00 And here I thought I'd be staying up all night + pasting portraits - But Eide very considerately shoved our deadline ahead - It certainly would have been tough to meet it!
1940 SPENT DAY MAKING CHRISTMAS CARDS
1941 Mon HECTIC - Didn't get away from home until noon - Finished new batch of cards + shopped. Went to Boyers with Nessa - She's a wreck
1942 TUES SPENT TODAY IN BED... MADE A RED PETTICOAT FOR Olga TONIGHT... MY HONEY CALLED... SO DID MICHAEL - She's MARVELOUS. GEE, I WISH I COULD SHAKE THIS COLD! 
1943

DECEMBER 21

1939 Thurs. - I am still dead! - Got up at six - I wouldn't have missed it... (no snow - But cold!) - mailed my cards -
1940 WAS DOWNTOWN, SAW PEEPUL, GOBS. - FUN TO SAY "HELLO" - SHOPPED ALL AFTERNOON... SAW D.J., BETTE'S, MARIE... HAD LUNCH w/ JEAN V. SHE IS TO BE MARRIED 25TH. HOPE SHE IS HAPPY. SHE DESERVES IT.
1941 11:45 - ACTUALLY STAYED HOME TONIGHT - DIDN'T DO A DAMN THING ALL DAY EXCEPT WASH MY HAIR - AND RE-LIVE LAST NIGHT -
1942 MON OH! - EM I MEESURABLE! - SUCH A COLD. I THINK I'M ALLERGIC TO THAT RUBBER cement I USED ON MY Christmas Cards. Took me ALL day to finish them + address them. Shirley HANSON came over for a while...
1943

DECEMBER 20

1939 Wed 8:00 Stayed out at the Dorm with Marie - I am dead - B. Ball Game -
1940 (IN RETROSPECT) - OH, EXQUISITE RELIEF... WINDOW LOOKED SWELL... WISH THEY'D REALIZE I CAN DO SOMETHING. CERTAINLY GLAD TO GET OUT OF 7TH PERIOD ENG! -
1941 JUST ABOUT PERFECT [EXCEPT WE DIDN'T GET TO REALLY TALK] I WON'T EVEN HAVE TO DREAM TONIGHT * HE SEEMS TO THINK HE ISN'T ALL I BELIEVE HIM TO BE - BUT GEE HE CAN'T DISILLUSION ME BY REMOTE CONTROL! I S'POSE I SHOULD BE MORE CAGEY + FEMININE BUT CAN'T - WITH LEONARD -
1942 SUN. DARLING - SORT OF AN "ANNIVERSARY" ... AND A LOVELY PRESENT - TO HEAR YOU SAY 'I LOVE YOU' - YOU HAD EVEN WANTED TO GO TO church WITH ME THIS MORNING - TO THE cathedral... I LOVE YOU SO MUCH - NOT VIOLENTLY, LIKE LAST NIGHT, BUT JUST QUIETLY and SURELY [JOHN + HE CAME OVER TONIGHT AND WE MADE + addressed CHRISTMAS CARDS]
1943