March 1941, End

Mar. 29
Sat - Got up & moped all day. Did bake two pies for tomorrow - for company. -- Got word that dear uncle Carl Rudolph passed away today. It just makes me heartsick
We loved him so much.

Mar. 30
Sun - Joes dad & Mary here. Had ham loaf - pea salad - scalloped potatoes - green beans & peach pie. After dinner we went to the park & old mill. Made ice cream in the evening, & played cards.

Mar. 31
Mon - Had mom & Snooky for dinner, to help eat up leftovers. Feel awful. Went down to moms for the evening. Joe didn't come & I walked the floor. At 2:20 Snooky & I walked up home & found him in bed. Had been since 11:30 Grrrrrrr!
Rev. Strawmeyer called to see how I was.

Now I'm curious about Carl Rudolph since this is the first I've heard about him outside of being a name in the family tree.

Joe was not Mr. Sensitive and that is an understatement.

March 1941, Week 4

Mar. 22
Sat - Snooky was here this morning. Went out to Helens, with the aunts & mom this afternoon. Was awfully sick tonite. No one realizes how awfully sick I am, not even Joe.

Mar. 23
Sun - I didn't feel like S.S or church. Joe took me out riding along Sugar Creek, and it seemed spring-like. Oh, if I could only feel like myself once more!

Mar. 24
Mon - Snooky is going to stay here for a while. Walked down to moms this afternoon. Have tootache tonite. I feel like Hell

Mar. 25
Tues - Snooky & I walked out to Helens & I took a bath. Believe I feel a tiny bit better, but my tooth hurt. Was awake nearly all nite with this filled tooth hurting. Just suffered awful

Mar. 26
Wed - Joe took me to the dentist at C'Ville. He took an ex-ray. Told me what to use, hot salt water. We went to Ladoga & out to Marys; I used it & got relief. We stayed for supper.

Mar. 27
Thur - My sick stomach came back on me today
Letter from aunt Nena - Snooky came and did my work. Helen Parks came by for  me to go to the show, but I didnt feel like going. Snooky stayed all nite.

Mar. 28
Fri - Mildred & Mom & Helen came in a few minutes this evening. I feel worse than ever. Had to miss the Sunday School party tonite. Joe went & I guess they had a good time.

C'Ville is Crawfordsville. 

I can't help identifying with Mamie's feelings about being sick. People are so wrapped up in their lives that they simply don't notice others sufferings.

March 1941, Week 3

Mar. 15
Sat - Mildred Maxwell cam in before we had breakfast. Richardsons here this afternoon
Joe went to get me some medicine today, and Dr. Humphreys thinks I may be pregnant. Joe is tickled pink.
Snowed a wet snow last nite.

Mar. 16
Sun -Laid around sick all day and not a soul came in. Mrs Brown came over to see why the water was frozen up. It turned cold. Joe won $5.00 on a basketball lottery.

Mar. 17
Mon - 6° this a.m. Joe styed home with me until afternoon because I felt so tough
Helen was here this afternoon, & stopped again tonite. Joe was out to McClaskeys tonite.

Mar. 18
Tues - Still cold. I went out to Helens & stayed today. Joe & Mr. Wolf didn't get back until 11:00 tonite from Inp'lis. Snooky stayed with me until 10:00 o'clock tonite.

Mar. 19
Wed - A nice day, but I've been so sick. Snooky was here this afternoon & Edna Leach. -- Mom & Snooky were here tonite. Joe got in about 8:30

Mar. 20
Thurs - Went to Ladoga to Joes dad. Aunt Minnie (from Ky) & Raleigh were there & Lillian & Bob. Felt sqeamish. Went to Dr Gross after dinner. I guess I am pregnant. I'm just simply petrified; I'm so scared. Fraid I wont come thru.

Mar. 21
Fri - Snooky was here & worked, this a.m. I walked out to Helens with them this p.m. to keep from being alone. Feel terrible. Aunt Vyda & Florence came tonite. How I wish I could feel better.

Inp'lis has to be short for Indianapolis.

It's interesting to read about the pregnancy and Mamie's fears. Of course it had a happy ending with my father's birth in November, but the terror over things going wrong is palpable in the March 20th entry. Feeling that ill had to raise worries.

March 1941, Week 2

Mar. 8
Sat - Was sick most of the nite & today
Joe was home for dinner. Did bake two pies today.

Mar. 9
Sun - Joe & I went to Sunday School this a.m. Wnt up to Walter & Ednas & Paul & Helens after dinner. Went to church tonite. Found out that Helen W. & Lucile P, had both been here while we were gone this afternoon.

Mar. 10
Mon - Warm & rainy. Joe was in town all day. Mildred & Gwennie were here a few minutes this afternoon. I guess Mom & Snooky went home with them -- Wished for someone to come in tonite, but none did. Got my studio couch today.

Mar. 11
Tues - Snow & blizzard although not so cold. Washed some hand washing --- Putchy came home this morning since Mom wasn't home to let him in --- he caught a big rat in the cob bin -- Helen spent the evening here.

Mar. 12
Wed - I mopped the kitchen, ironed, & swept and dusted. Made a trip to town this evening -- Joe didnt get home till 9:37 I laid on the new daveno & ate candy & read Rachel Fields "All this, and heaven, too"

Mar. 13
Thurs- Cleaned up the house. Helen Parks was here this afternoon. Putchy found his way home again tonite -- Have felt bad all week. Joe didn't get home until after eleven tonite.

Mar. 14
Fri - Robins are thick outside -- a lovely day
Feel sickish - Joe stayed home until noon -- Came home early tonite and we went to the show and saw 'One night in the tropics".

"All This, and Heaven Too" by Rachel Field was a best selling historical romance published in 1938. It was based on a real murder case in France involving a love triangle between a governess, her employer, and his wife.

"One Night in the Tropics" was a comedy musical that also happened to be the movie debut of the famous Abbott and Costello comic duo. It was also the first time the immortal "Who's on First?" skit was put on film.

March 1941, Week 1

Mar. 1
Sat - Went out home & found Putchy. Worked all day. Made two trips to town. Was simply worn out today Joe is Better of the measles, but hasn't any pep.

Mar. 2
Sun - Mrs Brown came home
I went to S.S. this a.m. Joe & I went for a little walk. Helen & Ab came in just as we were eating. Walter & Edna came out & we played euchre. Joe still feels tough from the measles

Mar. 3
Mon - I washed curtains. Got a pitiful letter from Jess, telling about an air raid. Sent me a gift. --- We went up to Helen & Pauls tonite.

Mar. 4
Tues - Went out to Helens & washed this a.m. Came home & cleaned the house up. -- Helen & I saw "The Invisible Woman" tonite with Virginia Bruce, John Howard & John Barrymore Charles Ruggles

Mar. 5
Wed - Ironed this am. Joe here for dinner. Mildred M. was here most of the afternoon - Joe home for supper. Helen asked me to go to White Church tonite but I didn't go.

Mar. 6
THUR - Helen Parks came down & asked Joe & I to a surprise on Joe P. tomorrow nite - Helen & Ab got their new Buick --. Joe came home early & we saw "Northwest Mounted Police" with Gary Cooper & Madelyn Carroll.

Mar. 7
Fri - Cleaned up the house thoroughly. Didn't get thru until afternoon. Went to Joe Parks surprise party tonite & had fun. Helen & Paul, Mildred & Wendy, & Joe & I -- Got home shortly after midnite.

Given the long hours people worked back then, it surprises me how often they stayed up late. Of course, they weren't farmers, but still...

Jess was Jess Redfield, Mamie's penpal near Manchester, England. At the time, Germany was still bombing cities. This is the first mention of World War II in the diaries and I have an undated newspaper clipping from a scrapbook that may be a reprint of this specific letter. It is a grim account and I'll be posting it after this entry.

"The Invisible Woman" was a science fiction comedy. I had never heard of it until now and wonder if it inspired Stan Lee when he created the Fantastic Four over twenty years later.

"Northwest Mounted Police" was a Western despite being set in Canada during the Riel Rebellion of 1895.