Author: David Haldeman

Sunday January 9 1938
Woe is me- cramps & how. Woke with them but did survive. In bed or lying down most of day. FInally got all data together to send to Sears Roebuck for estimate.
Carl Macken here in P.M. Such a solicitous kid-
Read a good part of “Madame Curie” and I think I have it rough sometimes-. She did 3 peoples work every day.- The slow realization of discovery impressed me.
Listened to radio programs & to bed with hot water bottle- early.

Saturday January 8 1938
Washed rust woolen dress looks nice-gave up in disgust in trying to cut out house coat. Cold worse today & throat much better after the swabbing the Doctor gave it last night.
Got estimate from Avenue Lumber Co.- including lumber- basement- chimney- $940- oh me –
Ache all over tonight- Had hot lemonade & to bed about 10:00- Wally suggested movie but I didn’t feel like it.

Friday January 7 1938
Darn Stanley! Felt so rotten today with sore throat- made a mistake on a decimal- he caustically remarked that I could look up the information in the future and he would figure it out. Why I started crying I don’t know- just hurt I guess & then when he said he admired my conscientiousness I cried more-
Home on bus- Walt took me to Doctor for a shot (he went to investigate a water softener- no luck) Home for a quiet evening- to bed early.

Thursday January 6 1938
Ticklish throat & start of a cold- Bought box of 4-way Cold Tablets- seemed to stop the cold.
Bridge lesson at Mrs. Miller’s & then to Margaret & Eleanor Ferguson’s home to practice. It’s getting to be fun now that we understand it a little better.

Wednesday January 5 1938
Stopped in at Lazarus for 2 white slips- want to keep them till after I’m married. $1.59 – Pretty too- cleaned out the bottom drawer of desk to keep things like that in it.
Figured Traffic Department savings today. Total $8,262.39. Not bad for 6 months.
Dashed over to mail letter to Walt tonight. Saw a chimney burning out but didn’t tell the people- hope no sparks ignite. Listened to “One Man’s Family” & Eddie Cantor. Sewed carpet rags- played a few bridge hands & so to bed.

Tuesday January 4 1938
Depression – depression.
Ed Doersom laid off today. He & Laura over tonight with their woes and those of the other 11,000,000 out of work.
Cleaned my room tonight. That much pysical [sic] labor wears me out. Hope I can build up some reserve energy by June.
Wrote to Wally- Bath & to bed- too tired to even read.
While at Lazarus for lunch today found a counter of 5 cent patterns- So indulged myself in 4. Hope it wasn’t money wasted.

Monday January 3 1938
Up at 5:15 & down on bus at 6:15. Had time to walk over from Broad & Third. Stanley took me up when D said I would like a pecan roll & sent Ed over after one. -Good.
Made new notebooks for 1938 & filed some old gasoline data. Express settlement sheet in box.
Was so hungry tonight – ate two helpings of everything. Washed my hair and was it dirty. Maybe that’s the reason I gained 1 ¾ lbs when the doctor weighed me Friday (112 ¾)
Reviewed bridge lesson & laid out and played a few hands. Surely get rusty when you don’t think about if for a while.

Sunday January 2 1938
Terrible time at Sunday School trying to cut a six sided snow flake. (Year ago today that I went to Primary Dept. to teach)
Lazy Wally didn’t get up until BBB brought Mary & I home from Sunday School. Mother & Daddy went to Uncle Roy’s for the day.
After ham & eggs for dinner went to Rosina’s. Saw her hope chest stuff & Fireside stuff. Then over to Burtch’s. Mary & Bob home. Detroit shops closed & Bob looking for work here.
Mary & Walt went to BY but I stayed home & typed letter for daddy, typed my bridge lessons & slept.

Saturday January 1 1938
Almost wrote ‘37 – an old failing of mine.
Rosina Starner & Bertha Tower were here this morning. Left over from last night’s quiet party. BBB & Carl Macken were the rest of it.
Walt worked till 4:45 but dadd was off. We figured the bill of materials for our house. Daddy took it to Townsend- carpenter for OK & a copy of bill to Avenue Lumber Co.
Spent New Year’s night undecorating the Christmas Tree. Walt had bought a lot of baubles & we’re putting ours away separately.

Wednesday December 31 1930
Wilda went home this morning. Went up town with daddy at noon. Came back Past Tody & Jeannette’s & asked them over for this evening. Also Pauline & Irene & Bob Ebert. Played cards, served popcorn & Jello.