Gram's Journal Project - October 1 through October 7, 1972

My Grandma died in the Spring of 2002.  All of my adult life I knew that she had kept a journal, but just what was in it was somewhat of a mystery.  It sat on the counter but I would never open it and on the few occasions when it was left open, I would read her entries.  They were mostly to do with the weather.

Weather and the tracking of it, for some reason, is of great importance to my family.  My parents keep a weather journal as well.  I don't really get it. 

Anyway, after Gram passed away, my Mom read some of the journals and then they went to my Aunt.  This summer my Aunt brought them back when she came to visit and I took them.  I asked my Aunt how she liked reading them and she said they were depressing.  So, I steeled myself and got busy reading.  What I found was not at all depressing, but I haven't made it to 2000 yet, when my grandpa died, or the few years leading up to his death where his mind left him and he often didn't know who we were or where he was.

So, here is my project.  I'm going to share her journal entries, minus the weather unless it's super interesting and maybe my thoughts along the way.  Reading these books has inspired me to write my own and I've included as much detail about each day as possible as you will see that she does not and in the cases where she does add detail, much is left to the imagination.  My comments will be in blue.

Sunday, October 1, 1972
Duck Season open.  5 ducks.  Jim and Pa in creek. 
Blue Jays, Juncos, nuthatches.
Beautiful day.
Jim is my Dad.  Pa is my Grandpa.  Everyone called him Pa and my Gram went by Ma.

Monday, October 2, 1972
Pa hunting by Bauers.  3 ducks.
Bauers were neighbors.

Tuesday, October 3, 1972
Warm sunny day.

Wednesday, October 4, 1972
Beautiful day.  Got a washer and dryer. 
Pa caught a 6# walleye.
You will see that catching fish and looking at the wildlife around their northern Minnesota home were a major pastime.  They lived just outside of Cohasset, MN on the Mississippi River.

Thursday, October 5, 1972
Drizzle type rain starting at noon, ending about 10 p.m.

Friday, October 6, 1972
Pa hunting the river downstream.  No ducks.

Saturday, October 7, 1972
Lovely day.

Trust me, they will get more interesting.  I'm not sure what made her start on this date.  I don't know whether she had ever journaled previously.  I find myself calling my Mom frequently to ask who someone is or why something happened or why do you think she said this?

J