"Today is Tuesday. Mother said Jack and I could go to the show Saturday or Sunday. I wore my new brown dress to school today. Tomorrow in geography we are going to have questions. Today I sewed up a Jacket so I can wear it to school instead of my heavy coat. I went played out doors two hours this afternoon."
I'm impressed that a 10-year-old had the skills to sew a jacket!
"Today Jack and I went to Sunday School. When I got home I washed and dried a lot of dishes and mother gave me a nickel. I brought note-book paper for my note-book. Taylors are going to stay here tonight. tomorrow is Monday, we'll have to go to School. Today is My girlfreinds nephew birthday, he was two years old."
I'm not sure which church the family attended, if they attended other than the children going to Sunday School. Marie had probably been raised Episcopalian, as her mother Mary was a member of that church in Whitehall. Bryan had probably been raised Methodist, as that was his mother Lula's church.
Although Shirley doesn't say, I wonder if the girlfriend she mentions, whose nephew had a birthday, was Marie Server. Later on, she mentions visiting Marie's older sister, niece, and nephew.
Mother & Daddy went shopping down the [Muskegon] Heights. Mother got out at 3.30 P.M. from work. The snow house we had almost melted down to the ground. it came almost up to Jack's neck. Now it's up to about his knees. Mr. & Mrs. Taylor visited at our house today. They brought us some candy, apples, presents. They gave me a ball, ten jacks, and a handkerchief."
Since it was payday, Marie and Bryan went shopping. They probably also did shopping because the Taylors ended up staying for the weekend (see tomorrow's post).
"Jack and I put snow in some of the cracks in the snow house. Jack and I played cards. Billy popped corn. Joyce had a orange and gave Mother, Jack, and I a peice of it. She's very unselfish. Mother is working at the Amason. Today was pay-day. I hope daddy gets a job."
It was poignant that at 10 years old, Shirley knew when payday was, and that her wish was for her father to get employment.
"today Bob, Jack, and I built a snow house. We have every thing but the roof built. Jack, Bill, and I had a snow ball fight. Mother and daddy went to the show. Daddy and Jack and I took down our Christmas tree. Joyce wanted to scribble in this diary. Joyce went to bed tonigt at 9.30 P.M. instead of 8.30 P.M."
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| This photo of Bob Robbins was taken in the backyard of the Austin Street house, January 1936. It's possible that is the snow house behind him and to his right. |
