Two Diaries: December 1954 (Diane's) and December 1971 (Ruth's)

When this picture was taken in 1954, Mom (Ruth Kellogg) and I were getting into her car, most likely going to church, clad in those high heels.
The car?  Maybe another Packard?  We are parked in front of 1210 N. Euclid, Oak Park where we lived for about 25 years.

I thought it would be interesting to compare my diary entry from Dec. 7, 1954 to my mother's on the same date in 1971.  It turns out that I said very little about Pearl Harbor Day, the beginning of World War II in 1941 - and my mother said nothing at all.  Perhaps we commemorate events more after 50 or 75 years have passed.  However, you can see the way our lives were going at 18 and 65 and what we were focused on.

Diane's Diary - Dec. 7, 1954 - I was in college at the University of Illinois, partway through my freshman year and very involved in my sorority, AOII, where I lived on Mathews St.  I was still writing to my high school boyfriend at this point, who was a senior in high school.

"I really got tired & depressed today, 2 hours of Illio creamed me...Pearl Harbor was 13 years ago...Nancy Klopfenstein was pinned to Terry tonight.  He's going in the service; I'm happy for them!  Got A on that term paper sentence outline I slaved over at Thanksgiving.  Have got a million things to do - that dance chairmanship will involve making table decorations & place cards.  Gotta work.  Wrote Morey at end of phone duty.  Wish he were here.  Wish I had his pin..."

Ruth's Diary - Dec. 7, 1971 - Ruth and John had moved to Clearwater FL where they knew some couples who'd been at First Baptist in Oak Park.  Ruth was 65 and John 72 at this point.
They seemed to enjoy life in Florida & develop more friends in their building, Horizon House. 
This was a retiree building (55 and older), so they were among the younger set.  In 1971 they
went to a lot of parties in December and also a funeral of a friend, Mildred Johnson, who died suddenly on December 16.  Beth was my brother's first wife.

"I 'm tired!  So tired that John decided to MAKE the supper all by himself.  I was re-making one of the 2 ties I had finished for him.  He wore  it once and wanted a heavier inner facing, which we bought on Sunday.  I hate "doing something over."  It's done.  Also got out the Xmas decorations.  All of this after we played 3 sets of tennis in afternoon with Jean & Ray Boehne!  I got into tub but was still exhausted, but had to get that tie done and ready to straighten house for awhile, I hope.  All necessary Xmas work done - next Xmas dinner which is undecided.  I talked to Beth, who will decide how we will do it - eat there or out."