January 11, 1942

Sunny and warmer. No Sunday School class this morning. Bud and Erwina and family were here for dinner. We gals went skating after dinner. Ice is swell! Ferris called up; I wasn't here so dad made date for me. Went B.Y.P.U. with Donna. Ferris came and met some more of my family. We went to Mt. Pleasant to "Birth of the Blues" (Bing Crosby).

January 10, 1942

4 below zero again! Tried out my new skates on river and it was snowing and blowing!! So cold didn't stay long but skates work swell! Ferris called up long distance and said couldn't come over 'cause roads were blocked!! So . . . stayed home and wrote letters to "Georgie" and Clare.

January 9, 1942

The thermometer actually got up to 15 degrees above zero today!!! After work I bought me a pair of white figure ice-skates from money ($5) Clayton gave me for Christmas. Today is Patricia Knapp's 2nd birthday. Supposed to go to Sunday School party at Kenneth's but June and I stayed home and washed our hair. Laurine went. Gerald C. and O. Chapman came over but we didn't go with them.

January 8, 1942

Still zero & below! Tonite after work met June and we went on shopping spree!! Bought new wool dress, wine skirt and baby pink sweater. All came to $10.45. I went to Senior Choir practice after supper. Dan brought Eleanor, Miss Struble and me home. Brought me last!! Paul Ditts made us laugh at choir practice.

January 7, 1942

Hurray! Got all the statements in the mail at last! 6 degrees below zero this morning!!! I think I'm catching up on my work a little. Put $10 in bank so now I have $150. Bought some new hose. Read some stories, ate pretzels and so to bed. Today is Francis McClintic's 17th birthday. No letters written or received today.

January 6, 1942

Thermometer still around zero! I'm piled down with work* and it keeps heaping up! City is trading at Clayton's this month so that means more headaches. Wrote a letter to my "Yank", Johnny. Francis McClintic brought Laurine over her graduation picture. It's cute. Don C. brought mom back her plate but darn it! I didn't answer the door!

* - worked at a gas station after high school graduation

January 5, 1942

Four below zero this am! Today was Uncle Charlie's (Harrington) funeral. Ferris dropped in to see me on his way to Lansing (taking his brother back to college.) Lots and lots of work to do! Wrote letter to Jack Saunders thanking him for pretty xmas card.

January 4, 1942

Thermometer still near zero! Mrs. Fullerton sang in church. I sat beside Don up in choir this morning! Kenneth and Margaret Case were here for dinner. Wrote letter to one of my Yanks* - Bill. After B.Y.P. I went with Ferris to Crystal to see Erma Flansburg get married on roller skates. It was 11 o'clock by the time they got started. We pushed a fellow on way over. The wedding was lovely and had piece of the wedding cake.

* - military penpal during WWII

January 3, 1942

Six above zero this am! Spent afternoon washing my hair, cleaning and pressing my clothes. Listened to Hit Parade. "Chattanooga Choo Choo" is 1st (?). I have a date so wrote a letter to "Dotty". Donna came home last nite from New Jersey. She gave all us kids a pin as a souvenir.

January 2, 1942

Received that letter that Pvt. Johnny promised me. Got long awaited letter from "Georgie", too. Plenty of work today. Cold and windy and icy out today. Finished that novel and cleaned out some drawers that needed it badly. Wrote letter to Velma B. and Margaret S.

January 1, 1942

Thursday: Slept until ten this am to get over effects of last two pm's! Went to Nellie and Leland's for New Year's Dinner. Played "Hearts" and "Horse's Thief". June and I went to see "Tarzan's Secret Treasure". It sure was exciting. Walked home in rain. Mom and Dad went to Prof. Ditto's to congratulate them on 30 yrs of wedded life. They had an open house from 5 pm to 10 pm. Private Elton Ditto is home also. Started a book length novel, "Change of Heart" in Ladies Home Journal. And so to bed.

"Remember Pearl Harbor!"

"Buy Defense Stamps and Bonds!"