February 1969

As I continue to write/type Dena's diaries, I realize that to an unfamiliar reader, a lot of her words don't make sense. In fact, much of it doesn't make sense to me either. However, I am so enjoying seeing into the life of my grandmother; a woman who cared deeply about her faith, her husband, the kindergarten children she taught each year, and who took the time to do simple things like sewing a dress for me or cooking pumpkin bread on a day that she said to be "taking it easy". This process is giving me a whole new appreciation for the life she led, the love she gave to those around her, and the words she left behind.

February 1, 1969

Flu, sick

February 2, 1969

sick sick

February 3, 1969

Snow and I'm in with sunshine, beautiful but cold. Snow still on north lawn. Wilson topped trees, Dale busy in office, I have right side pain.

February 4, 1969

Sicker, flu, slept all day

Sick, sicker, went to dr. for difference medicine

February 5, 1969

Both in with flu, sunny out, pretty; Dale has cold in chest and cough and backache, up and down trying to get strength

February 7, 1969

Out of school the week with flu, Dale better and stayed home, too.

February 8, 1969

Went to Dr Crippin, backache, legs, Dale to dr got shot; both are sick

February 9, 1969

Sun shining both feel better, had good meal; chicken, peas, rolls, set in sunshine. Some guy ran through tulip bed last night.

February 10, 1969

Beautiful sunshine, both went to work; Frank called, ok, Lisa asleep, coming March 10

February 11, 1969

Beautiful day, did valentines for school, Sandy earache, vexed at substitute teacher's mess on ABC play?!

February 12, 1969

Beautiful day, out of system at Collins, Halfway board nice, hopeful

February 13, 1969

Feel better, Dale weak and cough, Miss Early talked to Halfway, looks favorable

February 14, 1969

Clean room at school, Did heart tree ready for party. Had good night rest, Dale still weak

February 15, 1969

Went to Springfield, Velma, Nellie, and I; Darren out, nice party. Miss Early & hall bath gave encouragement on Halfway

February 16, 1969

Felix for cornbeef and cabbage, white coconut cake, delicious meal all "pigs"; looks like snow

February 17, 1969

4 inches of snow pm, beautiful sunshine, both feeling better, went to Springfield, got lizard, shapes, and cloth

February 18, 1969

Still have snow but sun beautiful; flowers in living room in full bloom, beauties; cleaned kitchen and house, sewed, did school jobs, wrote Fairplay

February 19, 1969

Snow on North and shade, rested in pm, no prayer meeting for us; 2-4 Nellie, Velma and I at Blanche; sewed, cut out white, red, & blue; school jobs

February 20,1969

Cloudy, achievement test to kindergarten

February 21, 1969

Rainy, started late at school, Dale in noon meeting, sewed all evening, did Lisa's 2 in green and fuscia, and my red outfit

February 22, 1969

Took it easy, baked pumpkin bread; school items, rainy and cloudy, no Harrison letter from Fairplay

February 23, 1969

Early church and sunday school, rested, cloudy & rainy, took pretty pottery plants to church

February 24, 1969

Worked on school art all evening; train for foods, laundry and house cleaning; rainy and cloudy, put pussy willows in water, 5 stalks of Amaryllis in bloom

February 25, 1969

Dale and men to Columbia, I did school until 11pm, prayer meeting

February 26, 1969

Cloudy, windy, cold; Dale home; I went to prayer meeting; Darren can't shake off headache

February 27, 1969

Cold, cloudy, rainy, Darren wouldn't walk plank and balance-jump, I said No-sit by wall, he said "sometimes I can't hear good"

February 28, 1969

Wayne and Darren out with Flu; colder, pretty snow flakes, Franks sent papa's pants; cut and sewed Lisa's tan and yellow jersey dress.