Mary's Diary — K. C. Catalfamo

I mentioned that night at West Clarksville today. The one [when] Leigh & I held hands.

I mentioned that night at West Clarksville today. The one [where] Leigh & I held hands.

Mary's DiaryKelly CatalfamoJanuary 12, 1941Leigh, Lucile, Wayne, West Clarkesville, Church, Mrs. Aller, Linford, Uncle DudComment

Footnotes #1: Watch Nights, Birthday Paddling, & Jack Sprat

Mary's diary is fascinating, but 1941 was long enough ago that some things get lost in translation. This is the first of several posts that will explore some of the outdated or unclear parts of Mary's experience

FootnotesKelly CatalfamoJanuary 11, 1941Play, Leigh, Harriet, Church, Grange, Farming, FeminismComment

I wonder if I'll ever feel this way again.

Oh heck! I’m ready to fly with a rare mixture of happiness and vexation. I wish —— oh skip it! I think that ———— oh skip that too!

Mary's DiaryKelly CatalfamoJanuary 5, 1941Romance, Leigh, Church, Harriet, Gerald, Uncle Dud, Floyd, Mary Low, Helen, All mixed up, Pop-corn Comment

He put his arm around Alice too!!!!

So I entered 1941 kneeling in prayer of Thanksgiving beside Leigh, shook hands with him a moment after (not just an ordinary handshake) and wished him a Happy new year. Then I rode home on his lap. He put his arm around Alice too!!!! But he drew me down close, had my hand and laid my face against his. It was rather thrilling. But not as much as last Sun. night when he came in. When he left I'm sure he nearly kissed me, I could feel it. But mother was in the next room.

Mary's DiaryKelly CatalfamoJanuary 1, 1941Leigh, Alice, Holiday, Lucile, Wayne, Church, Romance, Helen, Francis, Gerald, Kiss, Letters, Poetry, West Clarkesville, Riding in cars with boys, Tired, Happy, MotherComment