“How much a stranger is my friend, to me. The more familiar I profess to be, the more bewildered I become.” March 11, 1932

Grandma may have written this as I can’t easily identify it and she sometimes puts her words in quotation marks, too.

Butchered three hogs this week. Our “lazy” days are almost over! We will be busy now with spring work. March 4, 1932

It seems to me that “waiting” could be done better, staying young before school than growing old after school.

Received a letter from Pall Audor in Hungary. He is a military student and next year will be an “officers” in the army.

Down to Aunt Daisy’s to “farewell” grandpa, who is going to California. Maxine still at Teacher’s Convention.

Going to California… Many years later, it would be Grandma’s turn.

Went down to Ruby Shaw’s to get news notes and really wasn’t scared! Duane and Dale are cute.

I love the names in Grandma’s times - Ruby Shaw, Ivan Dale, Alma Mariamne. I wonder what news notes were and why she would have been scared. Anyone know?

Have decided to go to the University of West Virginia. My pocket book has not yet been convinced however.

This is exciting! I assume Grandma means as a student, but I haven’t heard anything else about college up to now.

Also, I’m adding “feminist” as a tag, although I don’t know how Grandma would feel about that. I feel good about it though.

But then you shouldn’t complain, diary. I’m actually surprised I’ve kept you going this long. It’s a good start though. Luck to you.

Dear diary, guess I’ll have to start a fire to get something to put in you. Nothing exciting happening more, I guess.

I remember this feeling, too. You’re sixteen and you want stories to tell!

I also sense some disappointment here. I think maybe grandma was feeling low since the excitement of the essay contest had died down. She may have wanted it to lead somewhere more, like to a journalism job.

It can be tough when something awesome happens and then a few weeks later it’s life as usual, especially if that life involves a lot of farm chores.

I do not write in my diary every day. I’ve found I can pick out the most important dates if I sum up a week at a time.

Grandma’s confession! I assumed she was being diligent about daily entries up to this point.

When I started a diary at nine, I thought that it was a rule to write every day and I felt guilty if I didn’t, as though the pages would be disappointed somehow. It took me years to get comfortable with writing when I felt like it. I wonder if anyone feels that way about their tumblr? Like if it becomes a task at some point, rather than a fun thing.

This also goes to show that diaries that are too designed - like for a four-line entry every day rather than a blank page - are not a good match for most.

Have started Buddy Springer on the way of the “philatelist.” There’s two of them there things now.  - October 4, 1931

Guide Rock is rather sleepy on Saturday nights, it seems. Isn’t a great deal of sparkle in the old burg. - October 3, 1931

My silver cup is this month’s bright star. And my telegram from Hazel. “And I shall see the stars.” - Memoranda, end of September, 1931

I love the opportunity for reflection that comes at the end of a month in this diary. Here grandma is looking back on the silver cup she was awarded for writing the winning “Know Nebraska Contest” essay given by W.B. Zimmerman. I haven’t found the essay, but I do have the cup.

Here is a photo of the cup and more about the sweet congratulatory telegram she got from Hazel.

I am wondering what my last column shall have for this day. Will I know myself in 1935? - September 30, 1931

This is awesome. Grandma is referring to the way the diary pages are designed. Each page has an entry for that day in the years 1931 - 1935. Here is her first… She was dedicated, for the whole diary is full of entries from all five years.

I love that longing to know oneself that is especially true when you’re sixteen.

Dannie’s just as old as I am now. Have decided I’m going to see her some of these years. - September 29, 1931

I don’t know who Dannie is, but I hope they were reunited at some point.