Tuesday, November 13, 1962

Woke up just as it was getting light - We went to the restroom & cleaned up - when we stopped in Richmond we went to the diner & ate breakfast. Met a nice woman with a little girl & boy - visited with her until we got off. Rode the bus to Norfolk - got in at 11:15 - Hank was there to meet us - I inquired about the damaged suitcases. Got home about 11:45 - Talked awhile then Hank had to go to work - Billy didn't even come in the house - he went straight to Jimmy's. I unpacked the box - changed clothes - called Ruby - called Sears about the washer - Went to Ruby's to get Billy - had coffee there - came home & ate lunch about 2:15 - Catherine called - laid down & put Billy to sleep - got up & done dishes - unpacked everything & put it away. Got supper - Hank got home about 4:45 - gave Billy a bath - I took a shower. Talked & watched tv tonight.

Monday, November 12, 1962

We were awake quite awhile before we got to Chicago - got there at 7:15 - went in the restroom & changed Billy - then we ate breakfast in the depot restaurant. Left at 8:55 - Billy was real good - I read to him a lot - we ate the lunch Mom sent - & ate fruit in between - got to Cinn. at 4:30 - left at 6:20. In the depot in Cinn. I had quite a time keeping up with Billy - he went in the Men's Restroom once - crawled into a locker. I got him a hot dog there - I didn't eat anything there. We ate our supper after we got on the train - Billy settled down about 8:00 & slept all night - woke up about 7:15 - we each had a seat so I got a good nights sleep too.

Sunday, November 11, 1962

Up at 6:30
Hank called this morning. He had met 2 trains last night. I gave Billy a bath & I took a shower. Finished packing - washed out some things by hand. Mom got a cooked dinner - chicken & noodles. Maurell & Mary came this P.M. - Stayed for supper. They left about 8:00 - we got ready - packed a lunch - Went to Clarence's - had coffee there - left about 10:30 & went to the depot - Clarence went too - almost didn't get my bags checked in time to catch the train - the depot agent was really a slow one. Hardly had time to tell them goodbye - Billy sat up & looked out the window until we got to Cedar Falls - then he laid down & went to sleep - I slept off & on but was so uncomfortable that I didn't get much sleep - we only had one seat. Left Parkersburg at 11:08 P.M. - got to Chicago at 7:15 A.M.

Saturday, November 10, 1962

Didn't do much today. Mom washed her hair this morning while I done dishes - then I set it for her. I packed most of my stuff - done a hand-washing - This afternoon Billy took a nap - after coffee we went to Grundy - Mom got some groceries. Went to Maurell's for supper - Mary had a real nice supper - Mom cleaned pheasants after supper. We stayed until 11:45.

Friday, November 9, 1962

Up at 7:00 - we had waffles for breakfast - Billy got up after we ate. Pat called this morning - said Roger called last night & she is going to leave next Friday. I took a shower this morning. Dad went to the doctor - he opened his boil up. After lunch we went to P-burg - the car broke down at Hwy 14 - Dad got a ride to town on a tractor - Chuck Norris came out & pushed us to town - Issy came to the station & picked Mom, Billy & I up - we went to Issy's - Dad came shortly after - we had coffee - Billy stayed with Issy - Mom went for a treatment - Dad & I went to the depot - I got my ticket - will leave Sun. night at 11:00 - get home Tues. at 11:15 A.M. Mom & I went to the dime store & Trey's - got Billy a hooded sweatshirt - Went back to Issy's & got Billy - Came home - had waffles & sausage for supper - Called Marion & cancelled res. - called Pat - Maurell came for a few minutes. Stayed home tonight.

Thursday, November 8, 1962

Mom cleaned the downstairs this A.M. - I done the kitchen & bath. Freda came at coffee time - stayed until noon. I made a rice pudding. We went to Grundy this afternoon. I cashed a check for $50.00 to go back on - Went to Sadie & Fenton's for coffee - Tonight we went to Maurell's - just as we passed Tessau's we seen a car drive in so we turned around & chased it - it was Maurell & Mary - we caught up with them at Morrison highway - they went on home - Clarence said I could get a train from P-burg - he called the depot agent - didn't make any definite arrangements though.
Home about 11:00.
16° tonight.

Mailed letter to Hank.

Tuesday, November 6, 1962

Up at 7:20 - Billy & I ate - Mom was already up. They picked corn here all day today - Carol came up too. Her & Wally were here for coffee this A.M. - for dinner & for lunch - Gladys came up for lunch too - Wally was here for supper. Maurell came for a few minutes before supper - him & Mary came tonight - Stayed until 10:00. Carol, Mom, Billy & I went to the field this afternoon.
Betty Petersen called today.

Letter from Hank.

Monday, November 5, 1962

Up at 6:00 - We washed this morning - I hung clothes out. Went to Carol's for coffee - Finished washing when we got home & done some handwashing. Billy took a nap after lunch - Mom & I got clothes in. Went to Reinbeck - Mom got 2 puzzles for Billy & I got shoelaces for him - Went to see Mrs. Buhrman - had coffee there - Came home & got supper - Went to Ruby & Otto's tonight.

Called Pat today -
Mailed a letter to Hank.

Sunday, November 4, 1962

Up at 8:30 - Billy & I ate - Mom & Dad had eaten. I took a shower - gave Billy a bath. Had chicken & noodles for dinner. Billy took a short nap. Clarence's came about 2:30 - Stayed until 5:45 - We were here alone tonight - watched tv. I called Hank about 9:00 - He said we could come home anytime we wanted to. Wrote him a letter tonight.

Saturday, November 3, 1962

Up at 7:30 - Mom was asleep in Dad's bed. Billy & I ate breakfast. Aunt Freda called & invited us over for coffee. Elsie was there - Mom & I were really on pins & needles - Stopped at the store - I got some Bufferin - Came home & ate lunch - I laid down & got Billy to sleep - then I cleaned the house - Mom & I hulled the popcorn - had coffee - then Billy, Mom & I went outside for awhile - Maurell & Mary came tonight - Stayed until 11:00 - Mom popped corn - Done dishes after Maurell's left. Mom & I worked crossword puzzle in bed.

No mail

Friday, November 2, 1962

Mom baked cookies this A.M. After the Mail Man came Billy & I went to Swede's & spent the day. Steve & Billy played all day. After lunch we went downtown - then to Verla's - then we went to Betty Collings - went back to Issy's & she made coffee for the men working on the lawn - Swede was home then. I left about 4:30 - Took a grease gun by Joe Noel's for Swede - Dad wasn't home yet. Mom worked hard all day. After supper we went to Maurell's to see how he was - He got hurt today at Wally's. Home about 9:45.

No mail

Thursday, November 1, 1962

Didn't do much of anything this A.M. - Mom didn't feel good. This afternoon we went to Betty Petersen's - really had a nice visit with Betty & Alvin. She had such a nice lunch. Alvin was so friendly. Maurell's came after supper - then Wally & Lu Ann came - after church Carol & Mike came.

No mail

October 31, 1962

Up at 7:40 - Mom was up - I got breakfast for Billy & I. Mary & Laurie were here for coffee - then they left. Mom fixed the register in my room to keep mice out - I cleaned the upstairs. Ate lunch - then went to P-burg - Mom had a treatment at 3:00 - Billy & I stayed at Issy's - Clarence was there. Left at 4:15 - went to Grundy & I got 2 pr. of shoes at the Bootery - Stopped at Royal Blue - Stopped at Carol's for eggs - Home at 5:40 - got supper & done dishes. Gladys & Buster came up for awhile - left at 8:30 - rolled the top of my hair. Wrote in diary.

Letter from Hank

Tuesday, October 30, 1962

Up at 7:00 - Mom canned pears & shelled pop corn - I done the ironing. Mary & Laurie came this A.M. - after lunch we went to Mary's & she cut & rolled my hair. Before going Mom found mouse manure in her bed so we were worked up about that - Got home late - got supper & done dishes - tore Mom's & my bed apart looking for mice - didn't find anything. I called Hank tonight - he said we could probably come home in a few days. Mom & I sat up real late - we were afraid to go to bed but finally did.

Called Hank tonight.

Monday, October 29, 1962

Up at 8:00 - Mom was asleep in Dad's bed - She had been up & laid down again. Billy had messed his pants before I got up. Mom washed this morning. I done dishes - We went to the Post Office - mailed a letter to Hank & got air mail stamps - Stopped at the store. I went over the downstairs after lunch - I didn't put Billy down for a nap - we went back to the Post Office - Mom mailed 2 pkgs. back to Sears - Stopped at Gladys's & had coffee. Home at 5:20 - Got clothes in & put away - Mom got supper. I called Aunt Freda this afternoon. Watched tv tonight - Called Betty Petersen but she wasn't home. Called Hank but didn't get any answer - Called at 8:30 & at 9:30. Dad didn't feel good tonight. Billy went to bed at 8:00.

Letter to Hank.

Sunday, October 28, 1962

Gave Billy a bath this AM. & I took a shower. Stayed home all day. I wrote to Hank this afternoon - Maurell's came about 3:00 - had coffee & they stayed for supper - had chicken. I made a Lemon Cheese Pie. Gladys, Bernita & kids stopped for a few minutes. Mary & I went to their place to get Kotex - Billy went along. Maurell showed his pictures tonight - They left about 10:30. Finished Hank's letter after they left.

Saturday, October 27, 1962

Went to Maurell's this A.M. for coffee - Men were picking corn there. Stayed until about noon. Stopped at Carol's on the way home - Mom, Billy & I were alone for lunch. Billy took a nap - then we went to Gladys's & had coffee - went to Reinbeck - Stopped at Tina's & got our suitcases - got groceries & bakery bread. Maurell's came. It was late when we got to bed.

Friday, October 26, 1962

Woke up at 6:45 - Changed trains at 7:30 in Cincinnati - ate breakfast after changing - ate lunch in coach - Got to Chicago about 2:00 - took a limousine to the other depot - left about 3:00 - didn't eat supper on the train - got to Marion at 6:45 - Didn't see Mom & Dad at first - they were farther down the track - Tina came also. Mom, Dad, Billy & I stopped at an A&W Drive In & ate supper - Billy slept on the way home. Got here at 10:00 - Maurell & Mary came shortly after - we had coffee. Really tired tonight. Billy was good today but sure worn out tonight.

Thursday, October 25, 1962

Up at 6:30 - felt terrible this A.M. Had a headache & cried all the time because I didn't want to leave Hank. Pat called & we decided to take the train. I packed this morning. Ruby called - Her & Jimmy left at 8:45 for North Carolina. I called Gladys & also Catherine - Hank came home with money for the trip ($110.00) Then he had to go back - said he would be back about 1:00. Dowling's came at 12:15 - We left about 1:00. Hank took us to the depot. Roger & Pat were there. We left at 2:05 by bus - went to Newport News - got the train at 3:05. Billy was good but it was a long hard trip. Ate supper on the train. Didn't get much rest & neither did the kids. I was up & down all night & cold all night. Each of the kids had a seat to sleep on & Pat & I sat up.

Wednesday, October 24, 1962

Pat called this morning & said she might go to Iowa with the kids. I cleaned the house today - Midge came this morning. Hank came home at noon & got suitcases down - he said he thought Billy & I should go home tonight or tomorrow. After lunch I washed my hair - done some ironing - finished cleaning. I was terribly upset & cried a lot. Ruby came over - Pat & Roger came tonight & we decided to leave tomorrow - decided to drive Roger's car. They stayed until after 11:00 - then I called Mom & Dad - talked to Dad - washed dishes & went to bed. Cried a long time before I could go to sleep.