Friday, October 26th, 1935

Radio and recovery

Lloyd heads out early to go to the big city in hopes of finding a new car, but instead comes home with a big surprise for Mary-- a new radio!

The next day she manages to get to the dinner table on her own for the first time since delivering lil baby David on the 14th. Paul, who had been gravely ill, finally goes back to school on Monday after being out for weeks and weeks.

Something different happens here in the diary, too. 1935 pages that were left blank become the pages that she records some 1944 happenings.

Flash forward 9 years. Paul is now a young man. He is getting ready to leave in the US Army. His marriage to Patsy is also recorded.

Monday, October 14th, 1935

6 1/2 pounds, and isn't he
"an awful sweet baby?"

Today is the day. Little David Arthur Benson was born at 12:50 pm, delivered by his father there at their Marion home. Can you imagine the excitement?

Mary reports that she suffered some and didn't have any medicine to help her along. Friends helped out, like Massie, Hellen, Florence and Mrs. Gilbert. Mrs. Bosh was surprised as were some of the other neighbors that the baby had come.

This is Mary's fourth and last child. Happy birthay, baby!

Tuesday, August 27th, 1935

Pickles, garters and prayer

Mary's mother is taken to Columbus for a gall bladder operation. Some money got wired to them to make things happen. Was it Florence? Who is Florence? Who is the old maid she doesn't like?

The 28th is Lloyd's birthday. He is 54. He got for his birthday new socks, a tie and a garter. Whoo-hoo. Then he worked on putting pickles up for winter.

The pickling continued the next day as well with Nellie and Massie. Word was also received that her mother, Lenora, would be operated on the next day. Frank, Ida and E. came around midnight to drive her to the hospital in Columbus. She says they had trouble. Today a drive from Marion to Columbus should only take about an hour, depending. She didn't arrive until 5:30 am!

The next day the operation took place. Mary cried and prayed and went without eating nearly all day. She stayed with her mother until about 8 pm.

Thursday, April 25th, 1935

Mary and grandma not well

Mary reports not being well at all on Thursday. You may recall that after arriving home from an extended visit to her mother's that word was received that grandma Slane was not well. Friday she took a bus over to visit grandma.

Other visitors come and go. The weather has improved and they spend some time porch sitting.

Mrs. Stone is mentioned, and it is presumed that this is the mother-in-law of Nellie Benson who married Henry Stone. Nellie you may recall is Lloyd's daughter from his previous marriage to Daisy Weaver. Who is Florence? Who is Mrs. Parks? Is Hazel connected to the Stone family?