Lou Chritton's Diary, January 21 - February 3, 1946

My great-grandmother, Dicey Louisa "Lou" (Hogue) Chritton, began keeping a diary on the first of January, 1946. She was 70 years old. The diary was a pocket "five year diary" with each page marked with five small slots to be filled in on the same date each year for five years. This is an excerpt from her diary.

During this period Lou is living with her son-in-law and daughter, Leamon and Ora "Mae" Moot, in Wichita.

Monday, January 21, 1946: 
Mae and I went to town today. I got 2 pr shoes. It was pretty cold out. I was glad to get home.

Tuesday, January 22, 1946:
I cut out a dress for Mae today. I wonder how it will fit. It took all afternoon to cut it. Ha Ha.


Wednesday, January 23, 1946:
We had fried chicken for supper. Leamon and I just about had a fight over the backs. He ate all the rest. I wanted the back. Ha ha.

Thursday, January 24, 1946:
I made Mae a dress today. Now I am going to fry chicken for supper. Mae went to town today.

Friday, January 25, 1946:
I made light bread today and cut out three dresses for Mae. We are having company tonight. Ora.

Saturday, January 26, 1946:
I sewed today. Made a slip for Mae and cut out another one.

Sunday, January 27, 1946:
Mae is cooking a roast. It is smelling pretty good. I am just chewing my gum. Ha ha.

Monday, January 28, 1946: 
I did up the work and read most of the day. I get lonely sometimes when Mae is away.

Tuesday, January 29, 1946:
I wrote letters today and I took a nap in the afternoon. And I made meatloaf for supper.

Wednesday, January 30, 1946:
I crocheyed today. The wind blew pretty hard. It made me have the blues.

Thursday, January 31, 1946:
Mae has been home today. We have talked and I have crocheyed all day long. She went to town.

Friday, February 1, 1946:
I finished my embroidery piece and my doily today. Now I want to jump on something else.

Saturday, February 2, 1946:
I didn't [do] much of anything today, just sit around most of the day. Took a nap in the evening.

Sunday, February 3, 1946:
Mae and I washed our heads and set around the rest of the day. Then in the evening we played cards.

In the news:

• The United Steel Workers of America went on strike.
• The USS Brevard rescued 4,296 Japanese civilians from the ship Enoshima Maru as it sank near Shanghai.
• General Douglas MacArthur recommended that the Japanese emperor be put on trial for war crimes.
• President Truman ordered the Department of Agriculture to seize 133 meatpacking plants affected by a nationwide labor walkout.
• The Roosevelt dime was introduced, replacing the Mercury dime.