1942 – Daddy worked morning Tour. Marie is off today & we are packing Her things Marie went skating Tonight
1943 – Sat. Dad & Bud slept untill noon went to S.M got the car & Bud got his C. Book. Went To show at Pismo tonight Bud went To Bed
1944 – Dad went To work at 3 Oclock Beacher’s came by & went To Rig. Marie came by & we Took her home at midnight
1945 – I ironed some went up & got chicken Bud came & we took Marie home & went To show. Bud worked with Dad tonight
1946 – No entry
1942 – Washed today Marie & Dad worked Daddy is working morning tour we are going to half to move. No pipe
1943 – Boys went out at 12 last night worked till 12 noon went To Bed. will go Back out at 12 to night but Just has Reg 8 hrs tour.
1944 – Daddy slept till noon We went To Beach Came back by Beachers & ate at Pismo Came home by show
1945 – Washed today its a grand Day Dad asleep Bud has car in Taft Marie came by took Bus in to town
1946 – No entry
1942 –Today is Maries Birthday. Made Her a Birthday cake she & Dad worked today
1943 –19 yrs ago today my baby was Borned. we went into Town Dad Bud Marie & I ate at Burnetts. gave her nice slip and panties.
1944 – Daddy slept Marie worked had fried chicken & Her Birthday cake. Gave her ring To Match xmas pin (A Beautiful Day.)
1945 – Dad slept till 3 oclock Marie came out & had her Birthday Dinner. gave her $15.00 for slack suit Bud in Taft. A Beautiful Day.
1946 – No entry
January 7th is, indeed, my mother’s birthday. She was born in 1924 in Vinita, Oklahoma.
I’ve taken up a new challenge. I will blog about one of my ancestors every week this year. That will be 52 Weeks and 52 Ancestors. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. I think that each week I will feature an ancestor who’s birthday is in that week.
I’ll start with an easy one. My first subject will be my mother, Sylvia Marie Tennant Stevens Wolf Cruff who’s birthday is today, 7 January. She was born in 1924 in Vinita, OK.
This is her on the right along with her mother, Martha Marie Wright Tennant and my two girls, Pamela and Nicole Rasmussen. This picture was taken at the tea house at the Japanese Gardens in Portland, OR on the occasion of Pamela’s high school graduation. We were living in Portland at the time and my mother and grandmother had driven up with my step-father, Delbert Cruff. They were living in San Jose, CA and my grandmother lived not too far away in Grover City, CA.
1942 –Marie worked Daddy is asleep I washed some Today & ironed them Got Marie a sweater for Her Birthday
1943 –Dad & Bud slept this evening for awhile They have Tomorrow off * ironed today will go into Santa Maria tomorrow
1944 – Dad slept. I went got chicken & some sacks Dad Took Marie in No Mail. Sun Shiny but wet & cold at night
1945 – Sat. Bud took Me to Town Did shopping got Butain Tank 30.00 Bud went To Taft & Marie came by took Bus into Town
1946 – No entry
1942 –Marie worked today Daddy went out this morning & worked till 7. I was sure worried. He went out at 11: again
1943 –Tuesday. I washed today Boys go out Tonight & work 12 hrs. They laid Edgar to rest today So sorry for Nona & Lenard.
1944 – Dad sleeping. Marie Came by Daddy Took her To Town. Got letter from Mable Arlis is coming on furlough Sun Shiny
1945 – Dad off to work Bob still in Bed going in to Move Marie pretty Soon. Marie got moved & we came home and had dinner
1946 – No entry
1942 –Marie & Daddy was off Today Slept Late. Daddy & I went for a Drive up coast about 80 mi.
1943 –Monday & I washed this morning. Dad & Bud slept today Marie came & the boys went claming. Bud took Marie home.
1944 – I washed yesterday & Ironed Today Daddy slept. We went to Brown Tonight & they are sick with flu. Got letter Ma Tenant are all sick
1945 – Had my hair fixed Marie is moving to Mrs Millers. All went to Pismo to Legans. Came home She has been sick.
1946 – No entry
It was fun to read the last sentence of the 1942 entry. I have many fond memories of Grampa driving us “up the coast” on Sundays. I guess they never got tired of the scenery.
1942 –Daddy worked Maries Day off. Sun shining Bright Marie went To Little Theater I & Dad went To Bed early.
1943 –we got Back & Daddy & Bud worked last night morning tour are sleeping today I am sure tired.
1944 – Dad worked. Marie came by we Took her home Buddy & Josephine came to M??? last night & it sure did rain
1945 – Bud came home. went after Dad. Bud was here & Marie was here Nice to all be home. Daddy on Days now.
1946 – No entry
1942 –Today is sure sun shiny. Marie & Dad working. got letter from Bud He sent 25.00 Marie went To show Tonight.
1943 –Left Pismo at 8 oclock Took Billy through Greenfield got To Lenards at 1.00 oclock. Edgars funeral at 2 oclock. flowers & military funeral. Sad & very nice.
1944 – Sunday. Dad still days They are riggin up will go out Tomorrow Night Dad & I went To show tonight
1945 – I ironed today got it all Done. Dad got ride with Ray home They are sending a rig To Los Alamos. Marie came by & went into town.
1946 – No entry
Grama indicated in her 1943 entry that they “took Billy through Greenfield” on their way to the funeral in Taft. A quick check of Mapquest shows that the drive to Taft is 99 miles. Greenfield is not on the way. The drive to Taft through Greenfield is 165 miles which make it quite a bit out of their way. It is a 3 hour drive today, a lot longer then. I wonder who Billy was and why they needed to take him to Greenfield. It looks like they just made it in time for the funeral.
1942 – Today is a grand sun shine Day. Marie & Daddy working. I am working on Maries spread.
1943 – Dad & Bud worked. Bud went over to Taft tonight we will pick Marie up & go over tomorrow to Edgars Funeral.
1944 – Marie worked ½ day Daddy worked all day. Got letter from Bud He is Better got out of Hospital Dec 23
1945 – Wonderful Day Bud is home Just over to Taft for N Year Marie Home Too. Daddy & I took Taxi to show tonight. Hope we will Be as happy next year.
1946 – No entry
Grama’s final comment for 1945 was quite poignant. I can just imagine her happiness at having her whole family together. There is no mention of illness so they all must have been healthy. They must have been feeling fairly comfortable financially as well in order to have taken a taxi to go to the show. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Wandering Through My Roots 