Saturday, April 15, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Raked lawn & planted onions today. Tonite Linda & Vern & Levi & I went to M-60 Drive In tonite. Had fun. Got in at 1:30."

Friday, April 14, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had Geometry test today. Levi ask me to go to the show with him!"

Thursday, April 13, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Practiced for fashion show today. Nancy picked us & Linda up a & we went to the Fashion Show. I saw Mrs. Wardwell thru the window of the cafeteria, some kind of teachers meeting."

Wednesday, April 12, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Crazy day today. Linda & I stayed to help decorate the stage for Fashion Show."

Tuesday, April 11, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Are getting ready for Fashion Show Thur. nite. Got A- on Gen. Bus. Quiz. Guess thats all."

Monday, April 10, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Back to school - Got C on History Quiz took Thur."

Sunday, April 9, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to Momie & Daudy for dinner today. They came home from Fla. Thurs. Went to Amos H. to see their new boy tonite. Hank took us."

Saturday, April 8, 1961

"Dear Diary,
A busy Sat. but didn't get too much done. Est went to babysit for Elenor Schrader. Gone all day & nite. I ironed, raked, planted, baked, & washed dishes. Guess thats all."

Friday, April 7, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to school as usual. Went to Jr. play tonite with Linda. Had fun."

Thursday, April 6, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had assembly today at 11: for baseball & track boys. Had History quiz -4. Got Gen. Bus. tests (B+). Went to Lahrkes to babysit for 2 hrs tonite."

Wednesday, April 5, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Didn't do anything important today. Alma Marie & Mandy were here this aft. They went to the dentist. Bobbie, Jake & Anna Mae brought them home. Had a letter from Ruth Ann."

Tuesday, April 4, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Back to school! Sort of a dull day. Tonite I raked a little. Called Barb from phone booth."

Monday, April 3, 1961

"Dear Diary,
No school today. Ruth went home today. Si's were here today. They're gonna rent our house. Wrote to Mary Lou tonite."

Sunday, April 2, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Another dull Sun. Except for Ruthie & Sue & Rudy came up & Sue & I went to Nottawa for ice cream. Buddy, Jr. & Robt. were at the store. Robt. ask me if I would go out with Bud. I refused. Rudy's & Est, & Ruth, & I went up to Levis but they weren't home so Ruth come back home with us."

Saturday, April 1, 1961

"Dear Diary,
It was a beautiful day. Cold & snowy! Est & I took Nellie & went up to Levi's & got Ruthie for the week end."

Good Friday, March 31, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Mom, Dad & boys went to church today & I sat home alone all day. Est come home tonite."

Thursday, March 30, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Last day of school for this week. Est went to Rays overnite. Marvin Schlabach went to Arizona yesterday or Tue. He'll be gone 2 weeks."

Wednesday, March 29, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Finished Esther's lavender dress tonite. Guess that's all."

Tuesday, March 28, 1961

"Dear Diary,
To school & tonite we went to Augs for ice cream."

Monday, March 27, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Chapman told me all her crap again. Est & I walked down to Ev's tonite & she took us to Nottawa for can lids - we're canning beef. Got B's on History & Gen. Bus. tests."

Sunday, March 26, 1961

"Dear Diary,
What I thought was going to be a dull day turned out fairly well. Ann B. Clara Sue, Sarah B. & Est & I went gaddin around. Went to Centreville then come back past Sherms. Him, Neil, Harley, & Fred Y. & 2 other boys chased us up to Levis. Went to Clara Sue's & I went to the show with her & Ann."

Saturday, March 25, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Beautiful spring day. I washed windows outside & Est & I raked lawn this aft."

Friday, March 24, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had two big tests today. History & Gen. Bus. Tonite us kids all went down to Dan's. Had fun as Marv S. was there, naturally."

Thursday, March 23, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had a very exciting day or nite. Sarah, Est, Vern, Levi & I all went to see "Ben Hur." We went to the Steak House for pop afterward. Got to bed at 12:30."

Wednesday, March 22, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to school as usual. Est & I went down to Si's tonite to sell beef. Otherwise nothing important."

Tuesday, March 21, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Today was dress up day at school. Girls wore dresses & heels or flats & boys wore suits. Everybody looked real "'cool.'"

Monday, March 20, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had a hectic nite. Est was mad cause I finished my blue Cupioni but I didn't get hers done."

Sunday, March 19, 1961

"Dear Diary,
We had church today - in Henry's house. Rays picked Clara up tonite."

Saturday, March 18, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Worked like crazy. About 5:30 Est & I took Nellie & went after Alma Marie. She stayed all nite."

Friday, March 17, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Ironed when I come home from school."

Thursday, March 16, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Just another common day."

Wednesday, March 15, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Wrote to Ruth Ann & otherwise it was just a usual day."

Tuesday, March 14, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to our game tonite. We lost to Lawton 67-76 - they cheated like crazy. Ends our basketball season."

Monday, March 13, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to school. Ate popcorn in homec sixth hr. Chuck S & Jack B were down there & I fed Jack popcorn."

Sunday, March 12, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Set home this forenoon. Amos S's came down this aft. Est & I walked to Dans for a chat this aft. Come home - done chores - & TB come before I was ready. We went to singin at Ezra Bs. Had fun."

Saturday, March 11, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Worked at home. Washed woodwork in kitchen & etc. Set home tonite & TB didn't show up like I thought he mite. Played Burr Oak & won. Got district class D trophy."

Friday, March 10, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Another pep meeting - play Mendon. Went to game. Won for 19th win."

Thursday, March 9, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Didn't do much cept tell Hosking off cause he give me a B & I done st. A work. (class altered*)" (*illegible)

Wednesday, March 8, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had pep assembly today. Got port cards. Made honor roll. Won basketball game 4 18th st. win. Got A on History Quiz."

Tuesday, March 7, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to school. Messed around."

Monday, March 6, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Back to school. Got an A on Geometry test. Had only A for six weeks out of our class. Ruth Ann's birthday & didn't even send her a card or anything."

Sunday, March 5, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to church at Petes early this morning. Ruth Ann & Al was home. M.S. was in church but didn't come to the singin. I come home from the singin with T.B. Jr. Y. came along. Got in at 12. Had fun."

Saturday, March 4, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Worked around house today. Tried to make Annie a skirt. Made pizza & ice cream for supper."

Friday, March 3, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Another week of school gone. End of six weeks. Band kids were gone on trip all day. Made ice cream for supper. Annie came. Had hot dogs also."

Thursday, March 2, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had Geom. test today. Pretty hard. Sewed on my blue dress."

Wednesday, March 1, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Done nothing again. Had a whole cake for 5 girls on the bus. Joan brought it. Had a History test got 100%. Heard from Ruth Ann."

Tuesday, February 28, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Didn't do much of anything today. Mom went to the doc's."

Monday, February 27, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Didn't do much today. Worked on my blue dress 5th hour. I made Esther a skirt tonite."

Sunday, February 26, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Us kids piled on the cutter this morn and went over to Petes. Ruth Ann was supposed to be home but guess the weather was too bad. Mom & Dad also came for dinner. Tonite Levi's, Bills, & Rays were here for ice cream. Sue & Rudy also stuck in. Had a good talk with Sue."

Saturday, February 25, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Didn't do anything exciting today except watch people get stuck. Snowed & blowed the whole day. Mary Lou & Vern stopped in today."

Friday, February 24, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to school today as usual. Tonite we all went to Open House at the new school house. Had fun."

Thursday, February 23, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Got scared of a man who set out in the hall today. Played soft ball with bro. Marv tonite. Real nice weather. Wrote to Ruth Ann."

Wednesday, February 22, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Drug thru another day & thats all."

Tuesday, February 21, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had a good day at school. Pep meeting. Went to game at K-Christian. We beat for our 6th st. win. 64-53 Got home at 11:30."

Monday, February 20, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Back to school! Had fun. Chapman & I planned something but Mom changed my plans. (for Sat. night) Boo hoo!

Sunday, February 19, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Thought Ruth Ann came home so Dad took us girls over to Petes early this morn. She wasn't there! Came home, dressed & went to church. Went to singin at Bill Bontragers with Marvin S. Didn't turn out like I hoped. There's a question on my mind????????"

Saturday, February 18, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Ironed some more. It rained some more too. Got a letter from Ruth Ann. Annie came on 6:30 bus."

Friday, February 17, 1961

"Dear Diary,
No school today. Rained all day. I ironed & made a top of a dress."

Thursday, February 16, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Last Day of school for this week! Had a Gen. Bus. quiz today. Boys went to Dan's. Mom wouldn't let us girls go!"

Wednesday, February 15, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Got the Geometry tests back. Got highest in the class. First time this year. Est & I went over to Hazels & watched a few shows tonite."

Tuesday, February 14, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Got an A on that Gen. Bus. test. Had a Geometry test. Wrote to Ruth Ann."

Monday, February 13, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Drug myself out this morn. for a dull day at school. Real nice & warm today. Made ice cream today."

Sunday, February 12, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Got up at 8:30. Pearl Louise & Anna Mae got up early & watched milk. Set the table too. Us girls ate a blueberry pie for breakfast. Had pizza for dinner. Tonite Rachel Wickey & kids were here. Linda was here this aft. Harley & Jake played for us tonite when they picked up Rachel."

Saturday, February 11, 1961

"Dear Diary,
What a day! Bobbie, Judy, & Anna Mae come about 8:30. We worked & messed around. Alma Marie & Pearl Louise also came all night. Lydia N. & her bro's came for supper. Petes were also here & Rays came after supper. Rays kids stayed till about 12 o'clock."

Friday, February 10, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had a pep meeting tonite. Brightened the day. Mary Lou & Vern were here for popcorn & played cards till 10:30 or 11. Heard from Ruth Ann."

Thursday, February 9, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Finished that Gen. Bus. test today & messed around. Guess that's all."

Wednesday, February 8, 1961

"Dear Diary,

Didn't do anything worthwhile today. Had a General Bus. test & got mad at Hoskings. Made ice cream tonite. George came & ate some."

Tuesday, February 7, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Didn't do anything special today. Just went to school & messed around."

Monday, February 6, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went back to school. Had Geometry & History tests - 2 B's. Tonite Est & I & Vern & Melly went up to Levi's & played Rook till 8:30. Come home & Dan's kids were here so we took them home & stayed there till 10:30. Marv was there & he asked me to go with him to the singin in 2 wks. I accepted. Natch!"

Sunday, February 5, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to church & played Touring & Rook. Marv S. helped me play Touring. Went to singin at Sam B's tonite with Alvin W. Wrote to Ruth Ann when I got home."

Saturday, February 4, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Cooked dinner for Vern S. & Ed Yoder today. They hauled posts. Est went babysitting at Larke's & I ironed. I also babysat tonite. Clara Sue came over awhile. Heard from Ruth Ann."

Friday, February 3, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Another school week over with. Us kids walked to Dan's tonite. Watched TV & Marvin Schlabach."

Thursday, February 2, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to school & guess not much else."

Wednesday, February 1, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Alma Marie & Linda Fair stayed here all night. Linda & I washed our heads. Had fun."

Tuesday, January 31, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to school but it was dull & boring today. Didn't do much."

Monday, January 30, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Drug my tired self to school today. Walked up town. Nancy C, Rose S., Vern B., & Harley followed our bus tonite. Was we mad! Dad & Mom were both at Joe Y's. Dad was pall bearer. Mom helped at the house. She didn't come home till late with Verns. Us kids made ice cream & Vern stayed for a dish."

Sunday, January 29, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Today Rudy's, Vern's & Levi's were here for dinner. Had 2 tables of Rook a going. Tuffy's came a while this evening."

Saturday, January 28, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Done the usual cleaning & settin' around. Est & Ruthie went to Christy & Edith's place to babysit. Dad went to set up at Joe Yoders. The boys went to Mann's so I went over too. About 10 Alvin, W.B. & Harvey S. come. We played cards till 3:30 AM. Then I couldn't sleep when I got to bed!"

Friday, January 27, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had a lot of fun in school today. Talked to Levi quite a bit in 6th hr. Jack Bungart set in the hall and talked a while. Ironed again tonite. Finished it."

Thursday, January 26, 1961

"Dear Diary,
I ironed tonite when I got home from school. Old Joe Yoder died this morning."

Wednesday, January 25, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Got laid off again. Besides that nothing of any importance happened today."

Tuesday, January 24, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Today was pretty exciting. I got to go to 6th hr study hall & Mrs. R. is the teacher, she let me be hall monitor. Tonite Fred, Marv, & I went to Erv's to babysit. Or help Marvin Schlabach babysit. "Nice!"
P.S. Levi wasn't in school today.

Monday, January 23, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went back to the good ole schooltoday. Got exams back.
Eng - B
Geometry - B+ (3rd highest in class)
Gen. Bus. - A
Home Ec. - B
Vo. Guid. - A
History - D+
Got a letter from Ruth Ann."

Sunday, January 22, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Once again we didn't go to church. Raymonds come over tonite & Levi & Mary B. brought Rube Troyers (future in-laws) over & they stayed all night. Est went home with Rays."

Saturday, January 21, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Didn't feel too good today. Went babysitting this afternoon and also tonite for Donna. Guess that's all."

Friday, January 20, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Today we sure didn't do much. Us girls didn't have school. Mary Lou & Vern were here for dinner then we all went to Josies to watch the inauguration. Tonite we went to Dans for supper. Of course Marvin Schlabach was there! Walked down & back. 10 degrees above zero."

Thursday, January 19, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Suffered thru 4 semester tests and 1 study hall. None of the tests were too hard. Went babysitting. Today Nancy W. told Levi in Gen. Bus. class to walk me to Home Ec. So he did."

Wednesday, January 18, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had 2 semester exams today. Vo. Guide (?) & History. Got the other four tomorrow. I called Nance & Linda tonite. Walked up town."

Tuesday, January 17, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Didn't do anything special today. Walked up town this noon. Sold 8 milk pad dolls."

Monday, January 16, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Today I had a big Geometry test. Wonder how I come out? Est went to Petes tonite as soon as she got home from school to make a milk pad doll. Dad went & got her & brought her down here to Lahrkes & she finished it down here."

Sunday, January 15, 1961

"Dear Diary,
This morning Rays dropped Est & Clara Sue & I off at Petes. We were there till 6:30. Had a lot of fun. Hershberger was also there. Truman was supposed to pick me up tonite but he never showed up. Darn! He'd better have a pretty good excuse. Lizabeth and Alvin stopped in tonight & Alvin wanted me to go to the singin with him & course I didn't go. So he asked me for in two weeks...last night. Good night."

Saturday, January 14, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Today Mom & Dad went to the dentist. Clara Sue & I worked at the housework & I got a big dinner as home project - good luck. Tonite Boob's & kids came. Boob's wanted to play Rook. Fred Yoder & a bunch of alkies drove thru the yard. Ruth Ann & Al, ______ H. & Evelyn Yoder & Loyd Y. & Jr. Miller (driver) come & I had Loyd. We went to Pete's & played Dirty 2, Donkey, & 7-Up."

Friday, January 13, 1961

"Dear Diary,

Went to school, had a pep meeting. Mrs. Lahrke told us she was laid off again. Mary Lou & Vern were here for supper & ice cream tonite. Ray's also stopped in. Est went to Benedict's all night so Clara Sue stayed here with me. We went down to Dan's to get Fred & Marv. A good excuse to see Marvin S."

Thursday, January 12, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Had that awful history test. Probably flunked it. Rec'd a letter from Ruth Ann today. Today was the cherry pie contest & Mrs. Rambow went deaf. Hope it's nothing serious. We get ad. algebra next year."

Wednesday, January 11, 1961

"Dear Diary,
The usual school & babysitting. Mr. Massey & Mr. Whisler got into a pretty heaty discussion about ad, algebra & trig today in front of geometry class. Tonite Jo & Linda F. went over to Nancy W's house to study for a history test. Got a circle letter & also one from Alma Marie."

Tuesday, January 10, 1961

"Dear Diary,

Went to school as usual & also babysitting. Got a letter from Katie Swartz from Berne."

Monday, January 9, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to school, had a Gen Bus Test. Started baby sitting tonight. Wrote to Ruth Ann."

Sunday, January 8, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Done my chores early this morn & wasn't quite done when Rudy & Ruthie come for eggs. Est & I went home with them. Bills, Triggers & Jous (sp?) Schlabachs were also there for supper. Sue & Rudy are there with their new baby.

P.S. Marvin & Harvey also were there for supper. Mary Lou & Vern brought us girls home."

Saturday, January 7, 1961

"Dear Diary,

Today I washed kitchen floor, windows & woodwork, & I ironed this afternoon. Hank was supposed to pick us girls up & take us to the faculty ball game tonight but he never showed up. Mrs. Lahrke come & told us she's goin back to work Mon & we had to go back to work."

Friday, January 6, 1961

"Dear Diary,

Went to school for the last time this week & Mr. Massey was there which makes it a better day. Nancy, Linda, Connie & I walked up town. Tonight Hank, Est & I went to Pete Stauffers. Elsie then drove her car to her brother Christ's & Hank followed her & brought her back."

Thursday, January 5, 1961

"Dear Diary,

The usual day at school. Josie stopped in tonite & left me my necklace. I left it at Sam's Monday. Done my homework."

Wednesday, January 4, 1961

"Dear Diary,

Today I worked in the new cafeteria 'cause Aunt Josie is sick. Then I walked up to the post office and just about froze my ears off. Too tired to do my homework tonight."

Tuesday, January 3, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Back to school. Mr. Massey wasn't there, sick. Done homework & started letter to Ruth Ann. Also started on a diet. Ruth Ann & I are racing."

Monday, January 2, 1961

"Dear Diary,
Went to Sam & Clara's for dinner today. Levi & Lulu were also there. They told us about Ida Sue's newborn daughter. (Dec. 30)"

This Is My Personal
Diary

Jo Schwartz
RR #3 Sturgis
Michigan

Sunday, January 1, 1961
"Dear Diary,
Just reviving from a slumber party today. It was at Jake's. All 8 girls present. I went to bed at 5 AM & got up at 12 PM. I went to the singing at Samuel's with Truman. Got in at 12 AM."

A blog of my mother's diary from 1961 - 2001

Here's something Bobby (who enjoys listening to me read these documents aloud) actually suggested to me and at first I thought, "that will take way too long - why even start?" After thinking about it a little I decided that starting the blog would be what takes the longest; the rest will be easy. I can post 1 diary entry per day and not get hung up about it if I miss a day...which, you know I will. This is something that I ran past Dad and my siblings and everyone was for it but of course there will be a sentence here and there that would best be left unwritten. I will signify such times with a dash or some "..." between phrases.

I've had this large tub of diaries since her passing but kept them put away in a closet until this past fall when I longed to ask her some questions and remembered I could possibly refer to her writings for some answers. I've enjoyed reading this so much that I felt guilty keeping all this to myself. I began to share things on FB with cousins when Mom would write something about them and because the response was so favorable, I decided Bobby's idea was a good one.

I hope you think it's a good idea too. I'd LOVE to receive comments, especially if something you've read triggers an old memory and you can add to what I've copied down in this blog.

I hope you enjoy Remnants of Virtue!