Author: David Haldeman

Tuesday, February 11, 1947
Wally went to Florence’s after work to play ping pong. I had cleaned up planning to go over home when he came to play so it was more than a little disconerting to find why he didn’t get home until 4:30. Kathy was in on the scene that followed so I suppose Mother will soon have an account of it.

Mrs. Uncapher had called saying she was going to Florida & would I like the nicotiana plant that she has had in her window since fall. So during a lull in the battling we went & got it.

Ray called about 9 inviting us out tomorrow night. I told him I was tired sharing my husband & that coincidentally we couldn’t all be just friends & enjoy the things we like to do together so on the chance of saving my marriage I was willing to not see him anymore. And that I was tired of Wally throwing up to me that I loved a man who had thrown me over. That I had lost my self respect & love or like & would try this way of getting it back.

Monday, February 10, 1947
Mornings don’t seem to amount to anything. If Wally doesn’t wake me I sleep usually until 9. Breakfast & getting the kids dressed takes until 10. Then writing in diary – making beds & hallway picking up with time out to put David on potty – re-tie Kathy’s shoelaces etc. and it’s 11 or 11:30. Looks like I should get up earlier!

Washed in afternoon. Had spent some of that unaccounted for time up there on fern books. Made a list of the common names of the Ohio ferns in the back of the book.

David is trying so hard to talk – “Music-radio” – “Dance with daddy” – “Cheerios” – “round ‘n ’round” – “mouse ran down” – “Barbra” (Kathy’s imaginary playmate).

Over to mother’s in evening for a little ping pong. Daddy got a few small seed orders ready & I wrote them out for him.

Home for popcorn & the Sunday papers.
Got up to 26 today – warmest since last Monday.

Sunday, February 9, 1947
Took David to Sunday School with Kathy & I but he wouldn’t stay when I left to teach a Junior class. But he was perfect in the class with me.

After Sunday School checked all the ferns found in Ohio in my Wherry Fern book. There are 48 Ohio ferns – 30 of them being general & the other 18 found from one to 21 counties. So that limits what I have to learn. I already knew about 10 so 20 more doesn’t seem too much.

To the George Stafford for a very good dinner. David took a nap but Kathy & Roger weren’t so docile. Although the temp was about 8 we took a ride out around Claridon & down to 7 Mile Hill. Took them home & we came home.

Romines & Mother & Daddy over in evening. Conversation mostly about our trip Friday. Ray back to his usual self apparently!

Saturday, February 8, 1947
Wally watched kids while I went uptown on a shopping spree. Bought venetian blind for the nursery. 30×64 – $5.89. Should have gotten it 3 or 4 inches wider but it looks very well. Got me a brown suede jacket like I’ve always wanted. It was $10 – down from $15. And a flat, small, black plastic purse for $1 + 20% luxery tax of course. Then stopped for groceries to the tune of $8.

Mary came over here & took her bath – accompanied by the kids. David undressed himself so she gave him one too. Then out to Romines for the inevitable table tennis. I’m beginning to get fed up with it. Probably because I’m no good.

Home about 12.

Friday, February 7, 1947
Garden Club – to Columbus to see Thomas

Took Wally to work – Temp about 12. Ray called at 9 to say we were going – took kids to Mother & met Ray at 10. At Wally’s request he had tried to call last night and our phone didn’t ring. He blamed me & thought I refused to answer. So we had a very tense ride to Columbus. Mary met us at Baker Hall – we ate in cafeteria there & then to Museum. Looked at the bird exhibits & then to Edward S. Thomas office. He wasn’t in so went to Botany & Zoology building. Jones not in but Mary showed me how to find plants in the Herbarium & took Ray to meet Knell – curator of Entomology. Both of us reveled in what we found – took Mary to Philosophy class at 3 & back to museum – Met Thomas & he personally showed us the Lepidotera Collection. Mostly collected by his brother. He is as interesting to talk to as he is to read. I went back to Herbarium with Mary & met Jones who kept talking so was late in picking Ray up. Oh me. Back home about 6:45 – Ate at mother’s. Mary brought me home & I stayed until Wally came home from bowling. Florence outdid herself in feeding him.

Thursday, February 6, 1947
David put 2 words together on his own. It started snowing after Wally got home from the bank so he wanted to go for a ride. Stopped at Library & then to Union Bakery for some fried rolls. We were all eating them & after David finished his first one he set up a holler. I said “What do you want, David?” & he pointed to the rolls & said “Want some.”

Went over home after supper to play ping pong. Daddy went to Dr. while we were there. Swelling is gone from his knee & they think it is cracked. Have taken several X-Rays but they didn’t turn out. He has been working though.

While bathing kids Flo called to see if we were going to Columbus tomorrow what with the cold & snow. I said I was leaving it up to Ray. Then she asked to talk to Wally – who had been shoveling snow – & invited him to supper tomorrow night.

Wednesday, February 5, 1947
Romines here.
Washed my hair – finished ironing & folding clothes. Cleaned house & was ready when Ray & Flo came about 7:45. Over home to play ping pong. Daddy popped corn for us. Then since Kathy had made jello for us we came over here & ate it. Got the kids to bed. Wally & Flo danced but Ray said his legs were given out. ‘Course playing ping pong is different.

Tuesday, February 4, 1947
Called meetin gof Official Board
Got up to 10 durin gday but down to 2 at bedtime. Just enough snow to shatter your nerves when you walk on it in the cold.

Ironed but didn’t get finished. Had the kids ready when Wally came. Left David at Mother’s & took Kathy to see “Song of the South”. She really took it all in. Uncle Remus & his stories of Brer Rabbit – Technicolor combined with animated cartoon. I enjoyed it myself.

Mother had supper ready when we got back at 5:40 – Wally took me for 2 games of Table Tennis in a chilly basement. Then home with the kids – Left them with Delores & I went to Official Board Meeting at church – routine matters only. Wally played poker.

Mrs. Danner called about Garden Club Friday. I had forgotten about it when we planned to go to Columbus to see Thomas & get Mary Friday. Talked to Ray & he was still planning on going so I left it that way.

Monday, February 3, 1947
V.C. Cards – Emily Slatz
7:00-8:00 46 wind rising westerly
8:00-8:30 45 still rising
8:30-9:00 46 blowing hard now
9:30 45
10:00 44
10:30 43 still blowing getting more northerly
11:00 41
11:30 42
Washed in afternoon again. Weather reports all day warn of coming cold wave. -83 in the Yukon – lowest ever recorded – But it was in the high forties all day.

To Emily Stoats for Circle – only 7 there – and Geneva’s conduct of a business meeting is a crime. I read a little book as the program as Lora couldn’t get there.

Sonny* has been gone for nearly a week. Daddy has driven all over & they had an ad in the paper. Dog catcher has seen nothing of him. He was over 13 years old.

[*Ray & Ivaloo Hemmerly dog]

Sunday, February 2, 1947
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