My first years… from Eileen's Diary - Highlights of August (second half only), 1940

My first years…  from Eileen's Diary
Highlights of August (second half only), 1940

These are highlights from the diary of my mother, twenty-one year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.

[Rather than posting each mundane entry, I've chosen items of interest to me, as I knew my family (or didn't). Also, significant events Mom noted, as seen by me, looking back. Comments at the end.]

Month of August (second half only) highlights:

Fri. Aug 16 - Billy doesn’t feel very good. He ate too much watermelon.
Sun. Aug 18 - [Birthday note: Dad & Bussy]
Sun shone again. Fried a chicken, made 2 apple pies & went in to folks for dinner. Ida Marie, Leo, Karen there. Ate, roller skated, sat our in front yard & watched kids on horses & motorcycles.
Tues. Aug 27 - Washed. But couldn’t get them dry. Rained a little bit. Busy getting ready to go. Ironed 3 shirts, washed & ironed 2 dresses at nite. Went in town & got Pete’s pants & my skirt from Cleaners.
Wed. Aug 28 - {Birthday note: Louise N.]
Dad bro’t Mom & Bussy out. Cloudy. Mom hung up clothes. Pete had to help Jersey have a calf. Made us late leaving about 11:00. Got to Jean’s & Bob’s at 2:00. Went down town & ate and then went out to the Fair. Saw several exhibit blogs. in pm. Ate supper with Rippey’s, Thomas’s, Eyestomes (sic) on grounds.  Went to car & rested awhile & then went to Griff Williams Dance. Dandy orchestra. Stayed for all of it. Slept on sleeping porch at Jeans.
Thurs. Aug 29 - Nice day. Ate breakfast at Jean’s & then went to see Pearl, Ida & Gladys. To Jean’s for dinner. Bob came home. Went & saw Frances & then went out to the Fair. Stood with Elmer, Verle, Arnold & watched the man selling Hum-a-Tunes. Walked around awhile. Ate at church place. Went to Louis Armstrong Dance. Really swell. The grandest drummer. To Jean’s & got our clothes & then came home. Stopped at Adel & Guthrie for coffee. Home at 3:00.


My comments:
I haven’t cared for watermelon ever since…  ;-)
Going to the State Fair, but Dad had to take time help a cow have a calf. Farmer to the core!!!
Thought her detailed listing of getting clothes ready was fascinating…
Made family visits while in Des Moines… to Fair in afternoon and evening.
Interesting how many other Coon Rapids folks they spent time with there.
Note: Think that is likely “Seastroms” - she apparently didn’t know them well, yet…
Louis Armstrong!! ;-)
Three plus hour trip each way, it appears… About half that, or less, now, with newer cars and roads… ;-)



Families are Forever!  ;-)