My first years…
from Eileen's Diary
Highlights of February (2nd part), 1941
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.]
NOTE: I’ve skipped the first six weeks of 1941. Cold, snowy, everyone had colds… pretty normal stuff. Two things going on in the background, not really any details, but I know what was happening:
1. Pop’s estate was being discussed among Dad’s siblings… what to do… again, no details, but a ‘lot of talking’ - you can feel the tension - that did come to a conclusion, but I don’t know when… perhaps will say, later. AND
2. Pete, Eileen and Billy moved on February 28, as rental farmers often did (March 1 changeover). Not mentioned until Feb 26!! But, they had been doing so much work on house, and barn, I thought maybe was later, but no… so, a lot on this in the next couple of postings.
Month of February (2nd part) highlights:
Sun. Feb. 16 - … Max, Orrin, Gary, Judy here for dinner. Max bro’t beefsteak. Put Billy to bed after dinner. Folks stayed with him. Went up home to talk things over. Had quite a time.
Mon. Feb 17 - … Toots came while we were eating. They talked quite awhile….
Tues. Feb. 18 - …Pete chores and went to Carroll (Cooney). [Think this was the attorney handling the estate.] …
Thurs. Feb. 20 - Greenwald died - pneumonia. … Gathered eggs. Got 30. Made cherry pie, pancakes for supper. Sewed Billy’s sleeper up, put him to bed and did dishes.
Sat. Feb. 21 - … Billy & I went to Linette Cretsinger’s shower at Albert Carpenter’s. Large shower.
Sun. Feb. 23 - …Mom & Bussy came out in P.M. Dad went to Greenwald funeral. He was pall bearer. Buss & Pete went hunting, got 2 pheasants, we cleaned them & had them for supper. We kids went to “Strike Up The Band.” Folks stayed with Billy. …
Wed. Feb. 26 - Did up usual work. Just had spuds & eggs, pineapple for dinner. Pete put on a load of oats. He, Billy & I went over to Anderson’s. Saw the whole house. Some things about it are nice and other things aren’t. Home at 2:30. Put Billy to bed. Pete took over another load of oats. Sorted things out in living room. Made a spice cake. Billy has another tooth. 17.
Thurs. Feb. 27 - Awfully cold. Ate, cleaned up & went to Club at Freyda Thomas’. Left Billy at Mom’s. Mom & Buzz came home with me. Carrie called & said they were moving tomorrow. So we worked hard. till 10:00. Took folks home. To bed at 11:00.
Fri. Feb. 28 - Quite cold. Really busy. Took Billy in to folks. Took Norma to help. LVene, Lillian, Max helped me. Loaded before dinner. Ate, & unloaded. Surely were in a mess but we got here any way. Folks came out & brought Billy. We all slept fine.
My comments:
Will continue in new house next week, of course. They had moved. Oh, my!! Decision had obviously been made before the 26th, but not a mention… she hadn’t seen the house till them. On 27th, apparently prior renters had moved out… they moved right in… P.S. no electricity, we learn in a day or two.
She seemed amazed that they “all slept fine” that first night… exhausted, of course, likely accounts for that. Quite an experience. Much more to come. This place was over on the county line, three or four miles east, couple of miles north of the place they lived the first two years.
Billy had 17 teeth, now, if I read that right. Got 30 eggs. Another important stat! What a life! ;-)
Families are Forever! ;-)
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