1919 and 1925

My paternal grandmother, Nora, was a great recorder of daily events. I have her daily notes from 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1945, 1945, and 1949. 

In 2021, I recorded her daily events and described my day in the same amount of words. I took four years off from the project and realized that I really missed hearing about Nora's day and researching her life. 

Nora Bauer would have been 24 at the start of 1919 and dating Paul Spitznogle, also 24, who was serving in France in WWI. 

Nora was the fourth of six children of Felix Bauer (saloon owner) and Barbara Rosfeld Bauer (homemaker). She was still living in her family home, although she did contribute $10 a month ($182 in today's money) to her room and board. She was working as the bookkeeper for Barnes Construction, a prominent firm in Logansport, Indiana, making $32 a month ($584 today). 

I will do my best to transcribe her notes, with an occasional [bracket] to when I cannot decipher something. 

I am 63 years-old at the start of 2025 and living in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood of Indianapolis, Indiana and working for a nonprofit agency. 

Two Noras: March 4, 1014 and March 4, 2021

Nora Bauer: Wednesday, March 4, 1914

Lizzie came home from Iowa this noon and I saw her after church tonight. Saw Mrs. Spitz this noon. 

Nora Spitznogle: Thursday, March 4, 2021

Another busy day of interviewing potential students. I put on my painting nightgown when I got home, but got a reprieve. 

A quick search of the 1914 newspapers didn't show any mention of Nora Bauer and Lizzie together. I haven't jumped into her Aunt Lizzie's family tree - maybe Lizzie was a cousin? Two Lizzies in one house? I'm guessing Lizzie was a friend - hopefully she'll pop up again. 

I'm hoping that Grandma Nora gets a little thrill in seeing her future mother-in-law...or is she nervous around her? 

Most of my work day was consumed with interviewing potential students. I love love love the opportunity that our culinary students get at Second Helpings. Not only do they learn culinary skills but we wrap them with other services and work on building their confidence. After hearing some of their stories - teenage pregnancies, incarceration, generational poverty....it makes an unpainted wall seem insignificant. 

That said, I have a newfound determination to finish painting the damn room. I got home and changed into my painting nightgown - don't ask me why I chose a nightgown as my painting attire, but that's where we are - when I got a call from Schaun. 

He asked me to meet his brother-in-law Gary at Schaun's house for a delivery. Gary has purchased a cool motor scooter that is temporarily being housed in Schaun's garage. I misunderstood the timing, so I had a few hours to myself. I navigated Schaun's alarm with out incident and enjoyed watching Netflix without feeling the need to multitask. 

Back home to change back into my nightgown - for sleeping this time.