OCTOBER 22

1939 11:30 Sun. Tomorrow, and I start my P. Teaching. I’ve been trying frantically to “be prepared” – I hope I am… I hope I’m not a flutter brain… If there’s anything I admire in a person it is serenity!

1940 GEE, I’M A SLUGGARD… LOOKS LIKE I’LL BE TEACHING BY DIVINE INSPIRATION AGAIN – WENT TO LOUSY (FORGIVE ME) TEACHERS BRIDGE CLUB. I AIN’T A FITTIN IN – WHEN I WAS DYING TO GO TO THE HIGH SCHOOL DANCE… YIMMINY I FELT GOOD – IT SOON WORE OFF AFTER ABOUT 20 HANDS OF BRIDGE… BOB + BRICK CAME IN AND TALKED TO ME AFTER SCHOOL. I’VE GOT TO WATCH OUT!

1941 Wed “Sophomore Soiree” – Chils + I enjoyed ourselves immensely – Dorm Dinner – I was late + slipped off the diet! – tsk tsk

1942 THURSDAY TOOK ELEANOR + NETTE TO LUNCH… WILMER and OLGA WERE OVER FOR PHEASANT… THE ADMIRER of TUES. NIGHT TURNED OUT TO BE A PUBLICITY DIRECTOR of MIAMI BILTMORE – HE THINKS I SHOULD BE A MODEL! – hm… OF COURSE, HE WANTED A DATE… I WROTE TO STAN TONIGHT… TOO BAD I DIDN’T MAKE IT TO NEW YORK SOONER… DID “DOWN WENT McClosky”

1943

SEPTEMBER 8

1939 Went down town – left “Molly” in S’s office. – No sweaters – bought slacks – ($5.95) - + spent $’s – Met Rose Doyle – went to a horrible movie.

1940 Sun I am not going to bed until I get fairly well organized for next week… Today was awful I guess I can blame Leonard for that. I’m sorry I couldn’t act more decent at home. Wilmer + Olga brought me back at about 6:00… I must accomplish.

1941 9:31 If I let Leonard down a week or 2 ago, he certainly let me down tonight. Gee, I needed somebody’s shoulder tonight. Bob + L + I were over to say G’bye. – It hit me a little hard.

1942 TUES Yeah, REPEAT PERFORMANCE… BUT I DIDN’T TELL HIM I WAS GOING TO MLPS TOMORROW, SO I GUESS I COULDN’T EXPECT HIM TO SAY G’BYE tonight… BOB H. IS IN PIERRE on A “CONSTRUCTION” JOB… HE SAID B’BYE TO us – ONE, too… NUTS, I DON’T CRAVE GOING…

1943 WED Another beautiful day. Gee, I could not love him any more. I don’t care if I do anything. I just must be with him.

AUGUST 16

1939 12:00 Lazy day – wrote about 3 words of my “ad” – (God, - I’ve got to finish that!) Went with Eleanor to Grace’s for a handkerchief shower for J.C.  We had onion soup this noon!

1940 I am just furious – I thought I had a date with Bill tonight… He did not call.. And I could have gone to the circus w/ Hunk – Wilmer got me up at 5:30 to watch it unload I cooked dinner tonight!

1941 Sat Eleanor + I smoothed up the house, started to play badminton with D.J., but we listed to records onaccounta rain. E + I were alone

1942 SUN [THANK God, I DIDN’T RELENT AND LET THAT soldier KISS ME]… I WAS NUMBED ALL DAY.. I COULDN’T SPEAK TO DAD. I’M SURE IT’S BEST if WE NEVER discuss IT… I WALKED OUT TO SCHOOL and STARTED TO WRITE A LETTER; MR. EIDE came OUT, SO WE TALKED… HE’S SWELL… VIRGINIA ASKED ME OVER TO HELP ENTERTAIN THE army.

1943 MON

JULY 26

1939 Half a year gone - + so much has happened! – Karl + Dorothy are here – They want to know when I’m coming to Chicago

1940 Fri Hell – Eleanor phoned from Chicago tonight she can’t come home for her vacation this week, after all – I feel worse about her being disappointed than at our being disappointed

+ And a lot more happened this year! I hope it won’t be too long  -

1941 1:00 Well kid, the wheels are turning. This morning I got a letter from Ren saying Dayton’s + Auggie had welcome on their doormats + this aft, a letter from Boston Store saying Mlle wired them I got a tie for 1^st! – Mike got home safely tonight. I’m happy, if a little confused

1942 SUN WE ALL WENT TO CHURCH TODAY… (I DIDN’T WEAR STOCKINGS, EITHER!) – WE HAD WILMER + OLGA OVER FOR DINNER… WE SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME SOLDIERS, too. I GOT SOME SHERBET. WENT OVER TO Shirlee’s AND SOLDIERS… Damn MISTER PAYNE DIDN’T EVEN call.

1943 MON I HIT THE JACKPOT- LETTERS FROM LEONARD (WHO PRACTICALLY GOT HIMSELF COURT MARSHALED) FROM ELEANOR, CLARA, LARRY + HERMAN (WHO SOLD AN ARTICLE TO Esquire) – I ANSWERED MR. EIDE and WE TODAY; Herman + LARRY, too. MY LEGS ARE A mess.

JULY 21

1939 Went on a lousy picnic out at Gitchemoaton- Everything was perfect except my mood. Phooey on all men!

(I found out after I got home some-one had called – Eleanor said it wasn’t Ray!)

1940 12:45 Sunday – a wash-out, if I ever saw one… Bill + I went swimming over at Drake – Too many people – water shy warm… Went to a foul show tonight (Safari) I had a feeling Bill was utterly mechanical

1941 Mon Feel slightly ill… But okay mentally, for once… Got through my lines ok at dress rehearsal – Afraid next week is going to be a dull one… Sewed eyes, drew a portrait of “Lady Bartock” for sets –

1942 TUES WILBER HAS GONE… DAMN… WOULD LIKE to HAVE SEEN HIM alone… BUT PEOPLE STARTED COMING OVER… SHIRLEE, first. THEN BOB H. and BILL THEN JOHN + WILBER. Mother MADE SOME COOKIES. WE WENT after ICE CREAM… HAAKENSON surprised ME, RILLY… ESPECIALLY AFTER our TRIP TO 2^nd ISLAND

1943 WED I’M DEAD… I WENT SWIMMING. THIS TIME WITH NOT SUCH DRASTIC RESULTS… DOTTIE and CONNIE ARE fun, RATHER. WILMER WROTE A SWEET LETTER. (WHO IS MR. PHILIPS?) … MRS. STOTE IRKED ME. BUT I WROTE THE DAMN THING OVER. SHE CAN’T BEAR TO MAKE A MISTAKE! BILL HAS GONE!

JULY 18

1939 Tuesday 9:00 I am completely tired out – I slept on the davenport after dinner. Ray came out to school this afternoon – He seemed very unhappy about something –

1940 2:00 Writing this by moonlight – I went to Lawrence Welk with Hunk tonight + thought about Leonard + Bill (I saw a gal in his car waiting for him when we drove past the garage before the dance – the louse – Hunk is so sweet to me… But scared

1941 Hell, one more day without sun + I will go home! At least I got my clothes washed today. Did a few sketches, had dinner with Jim Maxwell, (he took out Sally tonight!) talked with Mina, Donna wrote that Leonard quit at Coles!

1942 SAT 3:00 – PYROTECHNICS! – I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN HE’D BE THE JEALOUS TYPE… I TOLD HIM ABOUT LEONARD… HE WAS QUITE REVOLTING – IT WAS BROUGHT on BY HIS ASKING FOR A DATE for TOMORROW – WHEN I SAID IT WASN’T Ethical!

1943 SUN WE (AGNES + RUTH BACH) WENT TO RIVERSIDE CHURCH. I ENJOYED IT. I SHALL GO MORE OFTEN. HAD DINNER WITH GLADYS. [Fried chicken liver] + someone who had Wilmer in school! – We went to the Symphony… Brahms… Beautiful… I came home read. nap. that’s all.

JULY 12

1939 10:10 Worked 6 hrs today, walked 3 times (6 miles) + went swimming We go almost every noon – tonight, Mother + I have been talking about fixing over Wilmer’s old room for me- I hope I can do it

1940 Friday 10:30 – I was seriously unhappy this afternoon – mostly because I was tired, I guess. Bill + I went out to his folks house (to feed the dog!) – He wants an “all day” date for Sunday. I agreed, but I don’t know.

1941 2:15 Thank God that show’s over. – insects are buzzing in my ear. – a skunk lurks around our door-sill – we had a wild time getting home – I feel in character for my next part!

1942 SUN “MET” DAVID… (THAT WAS RILLY A SMOOTH PICK-UP, IF EVER I SAW ONE) – SHIRLEY, PEG + I WENT SWIMMING – MAYBE IT WAS MY RED SUIT. WE HAD SUPPER OVER AT PEG’S, THE CAME OVER + SAT IN OUR BACK YARD; JOHN K + J. de R. CAME OVER + STAYED and TALKED TO ME…

1943 MON Leonard wrote a dark, resentful letter, I hate his having to feel that way. Oh God, please let him have a chance… Had to come home this noon I felt so bad. Better, as the day wore on. We had steak.

JULY 9

1939 Sunday 11:00 – Eleanor + I went swimming about 1:00 – (I seem to be making no impression on D.Richards) tonight Nessa + Terry + I went to D.R.

1940 10:00 Well Mr. Clements explain your way out of this one! – I saw you out with another woman! – And I’m so heart-broken – Don’t you wish I were… I’d like a date w/ Hans. Played tennis w/ Donna

1941 Wed. Gee, I’m a heel – Didn’t even send Wilmer a wire – Well, I’m a pregnant menial in Geo. W. slept Here... tsk, tsk, hope I’m not typed! Our show went perfectly tonight – wonderful audience. I’m just as glad I’m not in Stage Door – Wish I could have one good part before I go home. – Gee, the moon’s perfect.

1942 THURS 12:30 WILBER and JOHN, DJ + I just BRUSHED off A PICNIC of BEER… I SHOULD DO THIS MORE OFTEN! Wonderful! – WILBER IS A SWEET KEED… IT WAS Bill’s BIRTHDAY… FRIED chicken + ANGEL-FOOD cake. I PUT MY HAIR OOP + BOUGHT THE Blue SHOES.