Jell-o

The Home computer was in high demand last night as church newsletters and bulletins had to be done, so I missed posting last night and I will try to make up for it tonight. On Thursday, December 28, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Rain-Cloudy. Arose at 7:30 a.m. Made a fire. Got to office at 8:45. Walked over with Miss Shoffner. Poor correspondence. Took dictation from and wrote for Mr. Wiltsee. Aunt Annah went to visit Mrs. Seymour. I shaved after supper. Played with Norman. Ate gelatine. Wrote second time for diaries. Henry Hilton Greider died at hospital. On Friday, December 29, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Sunny-Pretty. Arose at 7:20. Made a fire. No mail much. Got to work 8:40. Wrote for Mr. Wiltsee. Mary and Mrs. Raines took Norman up street and had his hair cut. "Shriners" parade. Pulaski and Shawnee men in office. Mr. Raines gave me pine. Mary and I ate supper up there and I cut up pine. Turned colder at night. Sounds like Grand-daddy is having a hard time getting his diaries in for 1917, which brings me to a reminder that come January 1, we start over with January 1, 1916 as I do not have any other diaries at this time. I think he also had some of what we call today Jell-O. I don't know what he meant when he said poor correspondence. Was there not much to do, or did he perform the task poorly? I am guessing there wasn't much to do. Like today, there just isn't much work between the holidays. Norman finally got his hair cut as the weather cleared up. Bonnie mentions a Shriner's parade. I wonder if they had clowns and little race cars and a funny little car that flips up on it's front wheels when it stops quick? I love those guys. I don't know what kind of pine Bonnie got but he cut it up and there were visitors in the office today. Our family will be going to South Carolina tomorrow to visit the Allens. So, I don't know how much posting will get done, but I will make a stab at it. Have a safe and Happy New Year and leave the fireworks to the professionals!

New Pictures

I finally got some new pictures posted. Actually, very old pictures but new to us. Hopefully this will help put some faces to some names that are mentioned frequently by Bonnie. Also, Bonnie mentioned Teeny the other day, I think the Christmas Day post. Teeny was Bonnie's sister and her real name was Christina. I remember my grand-mother, Annah Lee taking care of Christina when she lived at Morningside Manor in Roanoke.

The Hague

On Wednesday, December 27, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cloudy-Damp. Arose at 7:30. Made a fire.Got to office at 8:45. The office force came at 9:00. Wrote Philip Oyler. Rains in afternoon. Not much work. Mary & Mrs. Raines planned to have Norman's hair cut but rain prevented. I wrote Roy Miller a letter today. Germany reserved accommodations at "The Hague" tribunal for her peace representatives to settle the war. This is one of Grand-daddy's entries that includes some World History, which I find rather fascinating. It also forces me to go back and read some, which this occasion did. Bonnie mentions Germany preparing for peace, but I thought that I remembered that the war lasted a lot longer and indeed it did. This German suggestion of a peace conference apparently came after President Woodrow Wilson had written a "peace note" to those fighting in the war. The problem was that Germany was not committed to reparations and so the war continued. Interesting that rain prevented Norman from getting a hair cut. I guess, it was just harder to get around by walking and street car and so the rain made it only harder, thus the women stayed home with the 2 small children. To come back to modern day time and include the faith portion of this blog, I want to tell you a little story about a conversation that my wife had with a hair dresser the other day. The stylist was telling Beth that she and her family had been to a local church, where she indicated that they were members and possibly regular attenders, but she said that every time they went the people were so nice to them and always treated them like it was their first time there. The stylist also went on to say that going to church made her feel so good for the rest of the week. This just brought up so many questions for me. Is it a good thing to go to a church multiple times and yet have the people there always treat you like it is first your time there? Are you going as much as you think you are? Or are the people at that church just not doing a good job of keeping up with prospects and members? After a while I would want people to treat me like I belonged there, I think. And then, I am glad that going to church makes you feel good, it should, but is that really why we go? I am still constantly amazed at how shallow some people's faith is and how little they know about scripture etc. Now, even as a seminary trained pastor I do not pretend to be a great Bible scholar, but I am so thankful for the Christian upbringing that I had for the Bible knowledge that I do have. Also, these kinds of encounters and others like them that I have had recently do serve as a reminder that people are spiritually seeking and that there are open doors out there to be able to share your faith, even to church goers, who may need to grow in their faith! God has placed us in certain places to be on mission for Him. Always be ready to give a defense of the Gospel. Ok, I should stop or this may turn into a sermon. By the way, I got an ipod for Christmas (let's see what that looks like 90 some years from now) and I am excited about the devotional possibilities of podcasts on itunes!

Back to work

On Tuesday December 26, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Mild-Pleasant. Arose at 7:30. I made a fire. Got to office at 9 .m. Mr. Raitt here. Indexed and filed. Gave Capt. Rowan a neck tie. Mr. Schick gave Mr. Raitt and me a cigar. Mr. Schick in a friendly humor. Mr. Bruner in. Also Mr. Burleson. I shaved after supper and read paper. Took a bath at 12 o'clock and retired. Raining. Well, Bonnie went back to work after what he described as a dull day yesterday. There was still some gift giving going on and people seemed to be in a good mood. Not a whole of interest in this entry. Bonnie did seem to stay up late. Today is Saturday in 2009 and we are also getting back to more of a routine but also still enjoying the holiday too. We are going to the theater tonight to see a movie. I think the kids will see one movie and the adults another.

Egg Nog and Grape Wine

On Christmas Day, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Minnie Sullivan and Pete Kitterman married. Cool-Clear. Oysters at breakfast. Christmas Day. Arose at 8:00. Made a fire. Rolled Norman to Grandpa's. Met Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton-Gave Mr. Raines a box of cigars. Mr. Raines took Norman for a car ride. We ate dinner with Mrs. Raines and I went to "American". Teeny, Jess, & Luther went too. Aunt Duck and Uncle Frank up at Loam's. Mama, Papa, Teeny and I ate Loam's. We drank egg nog and grape wine. Dull Day. Wow a wedding on Christmas Day and surprise, surprise, oysters for breakfast on a special occasion. Sounds like it was a pretty eventful day even though Bonnie thinks it was dull. He still got to go see a movie at the American and they had egg nog and grape wine, what more could you ask for. I am guessing that the car ride Norman and Mr. Raines took was on a street car. It has rained all day Christmas Day in 2009. We arose about 6 a.m. Mom spent the night with us. After a great breakfast of sausage egg casserole and orange biscuits, we have been mainly trying to figure out new technology gifts and just slumbering around. Good day really. I will take a little dullness every now and then.

Where's Jake?

On Christmas Eve 1916, Bonnie wrote: Cold-Sleet. Arose at 9 a.m. Shaved. Mr and Mrs. Raines and Harry ate dinner with us. Ethel Wade came over. I went to office. Also to station to meet Jake but he failed to come. Ate supper over home. Papa and I went to First Baptist Church. Fine sermon. Small crowd. Eunice Epperly gave papa a humidor of smoking tobacco. I continue to be amazed at how similar the weather was in 1916 to 2009. They are calling for sleet and freezing rain here over night and into the morning. I wonder what happened to brother Jake that he didn't show up at the train station? Bonnie may have to use that annual pass to go and look for him. Did Jake come back from Selma with Bonnie? I thought he did. In looking back, on the 21st it says that Jake came to the station with Bonnie but it does not say he went home with him. Maybe Jake is still in Selma. I liked seeing that Bonnie and his Dad went to church. There hasn't been much mention of church so far. They went to First Baptist on Christmas Eve and apparently were impressed with the sermon but not the crowd. I wonder who the pastor was in 1916? I know that Bonnie loved his cigars and apparently his Dad did too and the gift from Eunice Epperly was greatly appreciated I am sure. Back to the 22nd and 23rd. I wonder what was the heart trouble that Grand-daddy was having? I believe he was only in his 20's when this was written and he lived to be in his 90's so it must not have been too bad, but we will shall see what Dr. Burks comes up with. Bonnie also apparently wrote a letter to Effie thanking her for her hospitality while he was in Selma. How cool to read that Norma got a rocking a horse and Granny got a high chair. Bonnie got up earlier and stayed up later on the 22nd and 23rd then slept in on Christmas Eve. The gift giving and receiving continued on the 23rd with Bonnie getting a swell pair of gloves from one of his bosses. I got some swell gifts too at work. Some tools and a gift certificate to Buffalo Wild Wings. Bonnie returned the favor with a tie and bought Norman a book too and some candy for someone named Teeny as well as gingham goods. I just think all of this is very fascinating and really put me in the Christmas spirit when I read it last night. I was a little taken aback to read about the specimen being delivered to McGee's which I am guessing is a drug store that may have also served as a lab. I did tell you though that Dr. Burks was going to get to the bottom of this heart thing didn't I? Sounds like a great Christmas. Preparations are in high gear here and the excitement level is running high! Merry Christmas!

Rocking Horses, High Chairs, and Gingham goods

Missed yesterday and really tired tonight, so I will just be posting what Bonnie wrote for the past 2 days and then making commentary later. On Friday December 22, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Windy-Cloudy.. Arose at 7:10 a.m. Mary made a fire. I got to office at 8:30, ahead of other fellows. Got up my mail. Rec'd annual pass for year 1917. My heart acting irregularly and causing me much trouble. Wrote a letter to Effie. Mr. and Mrs. Raines gave Norman a rocking horse and Annah Lee a high chair. Mrs Raines came down after supper. Retired at 11 p.m. On Saturday, December 23, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cool-Clear. Arose at 7:10 a.m. Got to work at 8:30. No correspondence. Went to Roke. Ry. & E. Co. to pay bill for Mr. Raitt. Capt. Rowan gave me a pair of swell gloves. Swept snow. Took urine specimen to Mc Gee's for Dr. Burks. Bought Capt. Rowan a tie and Norman a book. Went home. Took Teeny a box of candy and gingham goods. Mama, Papa and Teeny went town. Talked Red McDermott. On boy do we have things to talk about!