JULY 31

1939 Mon 9:45 My ambition reached its height this morning. Its depth this eve. I washed hair + clothes in back yd + ironed. K + D met Mr. Eide – Tonight it was another “Blue Evening”

1940 9:45 Heard Flagsted’s Lebistod – the aching beauty of the prelude + the morning desire of the accompaniment to Love’s Death – I felt silly – tired all day – washed my face + wrote to Eleanor – Such accomplishments – Oh God –

1941 Went to Boston this morning – very impressive experience (15 of us in Station Wagon!) – Saw Cambridge, Freedom Hall – Shaw was fun tonight. Latest news from Eleanor is her vac. Is next week – I hope that’s official –

1942 FRI I WAS CLEANING MY RED SHOES, WHEN THE PHONE Rang… “SURE, I’D LOVE TO”… GEE, I SHOULDN’T BE SO READILY ACQUIESCENT. LEONARD WAS CERTAINLY BEAUTIFUL… BEIGE + BROWN… I INHIBITED HIM – FOR A WHILE… WE MET John K. + LEE + THE LARSONS AT SOOKS. I HAD 3 GLASSES of BEER + SAW DAVID!

1943 SAT RATHER NGHA. PEARL + I PLANNED TO GO TO A MATINEE. SHE GOT STARTED ON AN ALL DAY PARTY; I TRIED TO SLEEP THIS AFT; AND COULDN’T. ELEANOR + I WENT TO Mr. Lucky AT RADIO CITY – A VULGAR PLACE. DON COSSACKS WERE RUINED BY ORCHESTRA. WE ATE hamburgers at H. Heaven by ST. PAT’S, WALKED HOME.

 

JULY 27

1939 10:30 Thurs I pulled a wood tick out of Rex’s eyelid. – He’s a very sweet dog. Went to a tea for Jean Perry – Saw Marsha V. B – Honestly more people are either married or engaged!!

1940 9:30 Sat And me without a date – (I actually would have turned Bill down – if he had called) I hope Hunk didn’t misunderstand me the other night – I want to go to the dance Monday! – I utterly loathed myself all day today – Diddled around all day with housework – Ate alla time.

1941 Sun Well I guess it really happened – I just re-read the letter (for the 20^th time) I’m sure I’ll have to go to New York now – maybe with Mina… We rehearsed + rehearsed for Too Many Girls (I feel fat – damn it!)

1942 MON LEONARD’S NAME WAS IN THE paper TO GO TOMORROW.. BUT CASE TOOK 5 of THE FELLAS UP TO VERMILION AND THEY WERE SWORN INTO THE ARMY ENLISTED RESERVE – Thank HEAVEN. THE DOPE DIDN’T LET ME KNOW UNTIL 10:30… BOB WAS HERE WHEN HE CAME… HE WAS ACTING UTTERLY IRRATIONALLY… I TRIED TO STAY ANNOYED; COULDN’T –

1943 TUES Heard Johnny Mercer… wrote Leonard. Hated Mrs. Stote today. LEONARD WRITES MORE RATIONALLY. HE IS CALMER NOW. THANK HEAVEN. HE HAS LEARNED MUCH. I FEEL AWFUL. SKETCHED PEARL + LOIS + SULLY + ME. 

JULY 24

1939 Who knows? Maybe I’ll end up a newspaper cartoonist (horrors!) I’ve got the opportunity to try it any how – I can’t get very enthusiastic. It seems like one more “have to”

1940 Wed I was absolutely prostrate Didn’t do a thing all day… except relax – Too warm to sleep, then went over to Sterns – beer, culture

1941 Now that it’s practically too late, I’m getting to know people. Beth Perry + I read verses together this aft. (Up at Hill top we had wanted to go swimming + a storm came up) Louise Woodruff revealed amazing insight + sensitivity coming back from Woods

1942 FRI Leonard’s BACK – AS ARROGANT AS EVER… HE WOULD HAVE KISSED ME IN BROAD DAYLIGHT ON THE FRONT PORCH – IN FRONT of THE neighbors + EVERYBODY. IF I HADN’T STOPPED HIM… IT MADE ME MAD WE HAD TO BE WITH A WHOLE PASSEL of FOLKS… WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN ALONE. WE WENT OUT TO school, THEN OVER TO EIDES’ – TO SEE THE CRUCIFIX –

1943 SAT OH AGONY, I WISH I COULD REPLACE THIS TOO TOO SOLID FLESH WITH A NEW SKIN. MY ANKLES ARE SWOLLEN AND PURPLE… MY LUNCHEON WAS A SUCCESS. I DID QUITE WELL (BETTER THAN I THOUGHT I COULD) I VERY MUCH LIKED SKIN of OUR TEETH; WE ATE AT A French RESTAURANT… I DIED… SULLY + PEARL went out.