About

This blog is mainly taken from my Great Grandfather's diary. In 2012 we are in the year 1915, after completing 1916 in 2010 and 1927 in 2011. 1915 is the year that my Great Uncle Norman was born. 1927 is the year that my Great Uncle Roger, was born. 1916 was the year that my grandmother, Annah Lee was born.

My Great-Grandfather's name was Bonnie Elmore and he worked as a clerk or secretary for the old Norfolk & Western Railroad, based in Roanoke, VA. Mary is his wife. Norman is their first born son. The Raines are Mary's parents. Skin is Bonnie's brother along with Jake.

Bonnie's work associates and friends are also mentioned quite a bit. Bonnie does a great job of blending everyday life in 1915 with the mention of some world and USA history as well. I do know from a quick glance ahead that 1915 is going to be quite different as Bonnie did not write quite as much.

After Bonnie's diary entry, I will occasionally make comments, maybe tell a little about life in 2012, possibly some current events, and some musing about the Christian faith.


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Baby Bill

On Wednesday, January 19, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Gen. R.E. Lee's birthday. Milder-Sunshine. Work dull in office. Capt. Rowan came in behind me. Dr. Burks talked to me on telephone. Went to his office to get statement of my account ($29.50). Got letter from Lena and Papa. Wrote to Clarence Fisher. Mary got up out of bed today. I carried Norman to Mrs. Raines at night. Harry went to "Battle Cry of Peace". Retired at 11 o'clock. Pretty night. Interesting that Grand-daddy did note that it was the birthday of Robert E. Lee. I know that in modern times we have Lee-Jackson day as well as Martin Luther King day but it hasn't always been like that and I figured it was just more of a political thing that we had both. But, I guess Robert E. Lee was pretty crucial in these parts and people did keep up with that sort of thing even in 1916. Of course, 1916 was not all that far removed from the civil war either. It was time to pay the doctor for the baby delivery services I think. Amazing that it was only $29.50. Rachel was a 20 some dollar baby, but believe it or not we had some pretty good insurance (HMO) back then. It would certainly not be like that today. In fact, Caleb cost us much more than Rachel did. I am a little confused by the letter from Lena and Papa. I don't know who this is. Is it Bonnie's father and someone else, or just a nickname for someone? Bonnie does make mention occasionally of Mama and Papa, I thought. Speaking of the difference in child birthing over the span of 90 some years, he mentions that Mary got out of bed today. Do you reckon she has been in bed since the 10th when Annah Lee was born? Again, that would never happen today. Sometimes they have you up in the same day. Bonnie's friend Harry went to see a movie called "A Battle Cry of Peace". I am guessing it was popular with WW I going on. I don't know if that is one Bonnie has seen recently or not. I just found some info on it. It was released in September of 1915 and it was a war movie where it sounds like some big American cities (New York, Washington) are devastated as the enemy invades. A couple of things spoke to me today from scripture. I read in Genesis about Joseph interpreting dreams and when he is approached by Pharaoh about it, he gives God the credit. How many things happen in our lives that we should do a better job of giving God the credit for? It would go a long way in providing a witness to some people who need it. Beyond that, He deserves the credit! Also read from Matthew 13 about the parable of the sower and the seed. A lot of attention is usually paid to the seed and the ground, but what about the sower? He spread the seed on ALL ground everywhere, in the hopes that some might spring up. I put some scripture out there yesterday by way of Twitter and Facebook and got no responses and then started to think that maybe I came across too strong. Then I read this today and remembered reading the other day "what is whispered in your ear...shout from the rooftops." How about that! I have been listening to scripture in my ears through my ipod and now God is telling me to shout it from the roof tops. How do you do that in today's world? Social media like Facebook and Twitter is a great start I think. I may want to rethink some strategy and find a creative way to do this so as not to be a jerk about it, relationships are still important, but I should not be afraid to do it at all. Plus, the blog is a way to do that too! I have more space here and can explain more of what I mean. I think that may have been the problem yesterday.
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