Author: David Haldeman

Friday, February 21, 1947
Blizzard in east but only light snow here.
Ruth* called before 9 saying Grandpa Kehrwecker had died about 8:20. He had a stroke over a week ago & had been sick even before that.

Cleaned all day but still didn’t get done. Elton came to clean out sink drain & brought Alma & as they were leaving Ray called to say Flo’s toe was so bad she couldn’t walk so they wouldn’t be going to Hocking Co. tomorrow with us. I thought probably we wouldn’t because of Grandpa K. but Wally said we were going!

Mary home about 7 – Daddy & Wally went to Masonic dinner. Mary & Mother came over here. Edit Keeler brought her ferns – pressed & prints & we had a grand time going through them but couldn’t identify the one her borther sent from [illegible]

Ray called late saying he would go with us tomorrow at Flo’s insistence.

[*Ruth Kehrwecker Haldeman Ruhlman, Walter Haldeman’s mother]

Thursday, February 20, 1947 Temp 20
Wrote a villanelle today – Rather fun – also some short verses.

Wally had called Flo last night & so I was afraid for our reception especially after the kurt [sic] conversation with Ray yesterday about the peat – he didn’t want any in no uncertain words. So Wally called Flo & told her everything I had said & gave it all intonations I hadn’t meant so I was certainly embarrassed by the time we got there.

But Ray was lonely. He was enthused over letter from Smart in Ireland in response to his which he wrote after I showed him an ad in Nature Magazine. Also had a letter from Steve Dewhurst saying he had had 84 rejection slips in one week without a single acceptance! But Ray thinks it’s not a paying proposition & turned down Flo’s offer to type consistently for him. She surely is doing everything she can think of to keep him happy. Then figured cost of Easter corsages. Played ping pong, lunch, home. Kathy went out with us. Flo stubbed toe against wall playing.

Wednesday, February 19, 1947
Temp 12 at 8 AM, 45 at 4, 20 at 11.
Helen & Charlie Forrey just left – Wally taking them home – after an enjoyable evening. Chuck has been home about 5 weeks after nearly a year in Korea. So conversation was mostly Army but did get off into a little verse & some records. Served him burgers. Must include them in future gatherings.

Took Wally to work this AM – left kids at Mother’s at 9 & spent 4 hours & $10 getting a cold wave at Rizzo’s. So my hair is pretty short again. After a quick sandwich up to Troop camping committee meeting at Scout office. This committee sounds interesting – but I don’t like their idea of putting sheep to pasture in the woods to keep weeds down. Must visit this soon to see conditions. Played ping pong when we picked kids up about 4:00.

Elton Kates came just before supper. I fixed a few more little things. His bill for other plumbing was only $10.

Tuesday, February 18, 1947
Blue Boy wanted out after supper as usual so I let him out the front door. Was hardly back on the davenport until I heard a thud on the porch. Went out & Blue Boy was lying there with his back crippled. Wally brought him in and he died in about 5 minutes. The kids naturally saw all his final writhings and it was pretty hard for Kathy – me too.

Don’t know what happened unless a car hit him and threw him up or inconcievally some person did the same. Evidently his back was broken. Wally bured him across the street. We had had him since October 1944 & he had gotten very large and fluffy with a bick neck ruff. An even disposition & his only bad habit was sharpening his claws on the living room suit [sic]. Was glad he had had the trimmings from the steak just before he went out.

Played ping pong after walk & then went to see train wreck at 5 points east of town*. 21 freight cards piled up when a wheel went bad. No one hurt.

Wally played poker. I went to bed at 12. He got in at 3.0

[*Erie & NCY railroad crossing at state route 98 near then US 30S]

Monday, February 17, 1947
Temp about 34
Burroughs Club. GS
Completely worn out this morning. Finished the Sunday papers – brought diary up to date & watched kids play.

Washed after lunch still feeling lazy. Wally said off the $500 note we had gotten in May to buy sweeper, radio, paint house, fix car, etc. It’s wonderful what a raise can do.

Burroughs Club at Stull’s on St. James. Program on mushrooms not too well given. Edith Keeler was talking about Cedar Swamp in Champaign County & Clifty Falls State Park in So. Indiana – two places I must see this spring. I know there just won’t be enough days!

Wally says no new carpet. It would cost over $200 – probably $250 & he thinks it can last the three years until we can build. The whole center is threadbare & I’m getting ashamed to have anyone but close friends come in.

Sunday, February 16, 1947 (Snowed during night, salt, sticky kind Temp about 34)
Mrs. Clay Smith called at 8 asking me to take her Sunday School class this morning so Wally got up & changed the tire. Took David too and he ended up in the class with me as usual. Over home for a little ping pong before going up to Ruhlman’s for dinner. Then up to Lowell’s* about 3. Alice has been having troubles with her heart etc. & didn’t look very well. Had pigs, rabbits & cats in to show us. They are still building & it’s pretty much of a mess. Norman showed us some more stones he has collected & I promised to take him down to see Ed. S. Thomas next summer & told him to study up in the meantime. Home about 6 – David had gone to sleep sitting up in his car chain. Flo called while we were eating asking us our for ping pong. I was dead tired but after a 15 minute nap felt better & went out & enjoyed myself. Played doubles mostly & then Ray showed me the boxes of moths he has been working over. Home at 10 & to bed pretty promptly.

[*Lowell Haldeman, Walt Haldeman’s brother who lived in Bucyrus. Norman was his son]

Saturday, February 15, 1947
Ray Romine Birthday
Cleaned & rearranged the nursery which took all morning so rest of house didn’t get much done. WHen Wally came home he started balancing the checking acct’s & when he finally did told me he had a $35 a month rainse – retroactive to Jan. 1. Makes him $310 per month but with income tax & social security out leaves about $230.

Had been murky all day but we continued our plans to go skating at Mansfield. Wally drove Romine’s car because we had a flat tire when we went out to use ours. Rink was big but pretty crowded & it took me a little time to get back the technique. Gave Ray the cacti garden I had planted for him. & he seemed pleased. Then we had our long deferred talk. He is through with women & especially me. He offered no explanation for his moody spells but called mine emotionally immature. Says women are ruled by their emotions – didn’t worry him in the least when I said “Let’s call if all off” – cause he knew I’d be back & if I weren’t it was probably better. That any emotion he had felt for me had been burnt out by this & he knew I’d soon precipitate another upset!

In bed I recounted everything I could remember of happening from July 23 to Aug. 12. [illegible] he was bored but I found out what really happened in Chicago & it didn’t agree with version Ray gave.

Friday, February 14, 1947
Washed bed clothes – all of them. Hung one line out & filled ones in basement. Those outside get dry – a half sunny day. Later walked over to Mother’s to get her valentine. Had been quite thrilled at those in the mail. While she was gone Mrs. Harris (Jayse Blair) called asking Kathy down for a little party after school. So when she got home from Mother’s got her ready for that. She incidently had a grand time. Home about 5:30.
Wally bowled & when he got home I called Ray – Having taken one step towards getting this all straightened out that I might as well finish it. Bernard Brooks had called suggesting printing some of Ray’s poems so told him about that & invited them up tomorrow night. But Ray suggested we go skating at Mansfield- something Flo dotes on. OK with Wally so we planned it. Ray was much friendlier & so I felt better.

Thursday, February 13, 1947
Finished potting anohter cacti. The sun room is pretty full.

Was ready to go uptown when Wally got home at 3:20. Got each other a record $2.19 rack for a valentine\. (Sears) & 4 records at Albers. They surely have good ones.

Decided to see “Till the Clouds Roll By” – story of Jerome Kern. Told Wally to call Flo to see if she wanted to go with us as I knew she wanted to see it & Ray didn’t. She said yes but thought Ray would go too. Met them at the theater. Wally wouldn’t stay for the second feature & that’s what Sandy wanted to see so we left them there. Stopped over home for ping pong. Wally popped corn & since I thought Ray had beat me half way at the movie I called him. Flo was very difficult – answered the phone with “yes” – refused to answer my questions & generally made me feel miserable. I told him I didn’t like the bargain I had made [illegible] there were some things in him I didn’t like the ones I did over [illegible] them so much I was nothing to overlook the had ones & hoped he could do the same for me. No answer so I finally gave up with not a shred of pride left.

Wednesday, February 12, 1947
Wally went to Columbus with the bank group.

Fixed my red corduroy skirt & got a dress for Kathy pretty well made. The twin print that I have material for me too. Mother & daddy over about 5. Brought the Hummel cacti & they are certainly swell. Never need worry about a shipment from there.

Had supper for Wally ready at 6. He wasn’t home yet at 6:45 so we ate. He got home about 7:30. Had gone to a Burlesque show I learned from his conversation with Flo a little later. It was quite a long one. I listened to part of it & she said they would have to change their way of life. It had gottne to be a habit Wednesday & Saturday night. But Wally had nothing to say about the rest of the conversation. Me went around some more without getting anyplace. I suggested having several people up without getting any response. Finally went down & potted about 50 cacti & felt guilty that Ray wasn’t enjoying it with me. In bed Wally asked for forgivenss for all the things mean he had said & I told hiim he should go on seeing Flo if that’s what it took to make him happy.