Friday, July 31, 2015

Ellen Kearns: Diary 1948


1948 DIARY   Sunday Feb.22nd:Mrs.Kearns'birthday..She,Mr.Kearns,Connie and Gramma came over in U-Drive-It car. Had wonderful visit but they had to go back early due to treacherous weather. Brought baby's bassinette

Mar.28th:Navigating in 2nd gear.Ironed a few shirts and gave Don a haircut

Mar.29th: Went to Doctor's. "No further appointments". Paid gas bill,did a couple errands and bought a Toni Home Permanent Kit.Met Don in lounge at Brown and had cokes. Walked home

Mar.30th: Gave myself a Toni Home Permanent.Took all day. Played rubber of bridge,worked a few minutes on baby's blue knitted outfit so to bed. But no sleep as baby started on his way and 1:30 A.M.Wed.1948 baby was born:an infant son 6#11oz. in Providence Lying-In Hospital.Connie and Earl played stork. A handsome and wonderful little boy. Don wonderful and very pleased

"Pleasant dre-e-e-e-a-a- ms"pucker

April 1st: Gorgeous bouquet arrived from Miss Collins. Don called both grandparents who are more than thrilled. Mother still very sleepy and dopey

April 2nd: The Hospital like Waldorf-Astoria and the food wonderful.Doctor in every day

April 3rd:Don brought radio to hospital.Baby circumcised.Mother sat up. Aunts Connie K. and Nancy,Connie Noblet,Walter Jura all came to call. Flowers and candy from Don's trig class,flowers from Aunt Helen and many lovely gifts for baby

April 5th: Mother and Dad's birthday-beautiful day. Baby home from hospital.Nancy cut her Monday classes to stay over but took afternoon bus back to Springfield. Our taxi driver to be father in 2 weeks so very interested

April 6th: Nellie Knickerbocker in for a few minutes

April 9th:Made a little dress for the baby 'cuz all his clothes are oceans too big

April 11th:Mr.Kearns came over to see his grandson and brought him a lovely brush and comb set also Castile  soap and Q-Tips from Gramma

He approves

April 16th: Gave Don a haircut

April 17th: Don off early to Boston for B.U.Placement interview and also Teachers' Agency

A lovely day. Mrs. Knickerbocker came in around 5 o'clock

April 18th:Bob,Tom,Edie Peon,Mrs.Knickerbocker here for dinner and afternoon

April 20th: Thought baby had cold so took him in taxi to Dr.Whipple's.Everything clear

April 21st:Baby's first orange juice a la spoon.Rainy sort of day so put FX in front bedroom and opened all windows for his forst airing

April 22nd: Baby's first airing in carriage in yard for 1 hour.Louise Crocker came up and stayed for supper

April 23rd:Another beautiful day. Baby and mother in yard for 2 hours. Bought clams and made a chowder. Are putting in a shower stall. Houray!

April 24th: Don washed clothes and went downtown

A lovely day. Baby out in yard most of day. Made a few preparations for the morrow. Don, Connie and Earl to movies at Avon

April 25th:Sunday - Christened Francis X. with Gram, Mr. and Mrs.Kearns,Connie, Claire, Nancy,Daddy Mother,George and Shirley in attendence.
 Nancy's birthday cake

April 26th: A glorious day. Slept terribly late. Baby in yard most of day

April 27th: A nice day but nippy wind.Took baby with me to Dr.Houston and then to Brown. Met Don and classmate of his so home via Joe's Market

April 28th: Our shower finished at last. A cold day. Won a rubber of bridge,bought scrap book and percomorphum for baby. Nice letters from Mrs. Kearns and mother

April 29th: Baby had 2 hour airing. Cut Earl and Don's hair. Cut Earl's ear. A letter from superintendent of Schools at Sharon. Want Don to come up to see him

April 30th:Did washing in the morning

May 1st: Walter Jura came about noon.Ate and went to Fairhaven with him for the week at Mrs.' S  invitation. Baby had bad attack of colic. Shirley,Courtney and Lynall in to see the baby

May 2nd: Mr.Kearns and I went to Mass in New Bedford. A lovely day. Had coke and so home. Strawberry shortcake for dessert

um. Gramp and Gramma think "he" is grand. Went to town for gifts

May 3rd: Janet Swift Whiting down to see the baby. Nice visits with Gramp and Gramma

May 4th: Mrs. Briggs down to see baby. Had a nice visit. Bill and Kathleen to be home the 21st of May

May 6th:Shirley and Lynall Gifford came to visit for the afternoon. Her baby is very beautiful

May 7th: Alice, Ellen Winifred and George Sprague over to see the baby. Ellen has grown so

May 8th: Mrs.Kearns had doctor. Sick in bed with bronchitis. Walked to bridge and back for air. A brisk day

May 9th: Mass in Fairhaven. Lucious turkey dinner. Connie K and Jeannie took bus back to Providence with us and stayed for brief visit. Gifts for baby from Nellie,Connie and Earl, and big box from Blanche O'Brien

May 11th: Miss Collins, Don's supervisor up for supper and part of evening - a delightful person, so very charming and all

May 12th:Stayed in bed till 9.Louise Crocker came about 8 and spent morning with us

May 15th:Visited Dr.Lord "You are doing a good job with the baby." Weighs 11#1oz. now. Confession. A coolish day. Spent afternoon trying to get sooty clothes clean

May 16th: Miserable day. Attended Portugese church.Barbara Drew came and spent afternoon. Delicious steak dinner. Communion

.[FINIS baby FXK has just turned 47 years old and has turned out to be a splendid person,Mother and Dad admit tho perhaps with a little bit of prejudice
 ..]


Ellen Kearns
March l995



(The format of the following is as was written. Should we make a "cleaned up" version? Thanks, Frank) 

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