Two Noras: October 7, 1914 and October 7, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Wednesday, October 7, 1914

Mr. and Mrs. Lantz and their daughter and the baby were over this evening. I fixed by box for the social tomorrow night. Robert Schork and Clara Strahle got married. 

Nora Spitznogle: Thursday, October 7, 2021

Regular work day at Second Helpings. I walked down to Half Liter to see one of my favorite musicians perform. Nice evening of music and reflection and a few tears. 

There are several mentions of Lantz folks in the newspapers of the time. I'm not sure what the Grandma Nora connection is. 

The wedding is a little more interesting. When I read the first sentence I was taken aback that a priest officiated an outside of the church wedding. The second sentence answered that question. I tried to find out what ultimately happened to them to the newlyweds - I think there moved out of town, I only found random mentions in the paper, all around the deaths of their parents. 

I walked to Half Liter this evening to hear music. I was feeling particularly melancholy and missing Dad. 

I wrote this while I was there: 

Just 497 steps from my front door. Beautiful music, waving to cool people that I’m lucky enough to know, the hip young hostess complimented my shoes, my favorite Irish whiskey, a fire, and gravel.

The things that make me miss Dad are weird.

Gravel is one of them.

When I was a teenager I read some book where the daughter rode bikes with her dad. At this point in my teen angst I was convinced that my dad didn’t like me. He wasn’t like the other dads. He worked. A lot. Tool and Die Maker grabbing any overtime offered. And farming. And now I suspect just trying to hold it all together.

I insisted the he ride bikes with me. And only me. We dashed down the busy and no berm State Road 32 to County Road 400. A gravel road. We peddled maybe a mile and back, Dad grousing all the way, me with tears brimming behind my eyes, convinced that Dad hated me.

Turns out he had appendicitis*.

And he loved me. And each of his kids. And every one of his nieces and nephews.

And you.  

I'm not sure that he had appendicitis...maybe a pulled hustle or something.   

Two Noras: October 6, 1914 and October 6, 2021

Nora Bauer: Tuesday, October 6, 1914

Mamie and I went down to Uncle John's tonight. Uncle Frank and I played cards with Aunt Lizzie & Nora and we beat them five games. 

Nora Spitznogle: Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Early manager at work this morning - got to work at 6:30 AM dressed as a giant pea. It was a fun day. 

You may remember that Uncle Frank Bauer is married to Nora Doll. And that Uncle John is her papa's brother and Lizzie is her mama's sister. I sounds like Grandma Nora had a fun evening! 

Spirit week continues. Today's theme was peas and carrots...our colors and what we called the two teams when we split up during the beginning of the pandemic. I was on Team Peas, so of course I had a costume....

I drove to and from work with this on. I got lots of double takes!  

Two Noras: October 5, 1914 and October 5, 2021

Nora Bauer: Monday, October 5, 1914
Aunt Irma and the kids and Uncle John and Hildred went home today. Lena is going to stay a while yet. 

Nora Spitznogle: Tuesday, October 5, 2021
It's spirit week  - Tacky Tourist Day - I channeled Dad. Spoke with a financial advisor for the first time in my life.  

I'm so confused. I can't find and Irma/Erma that is connected to a John. It's making my brain hurt. Maybe it's just a coincidence that Grandma Nora mentioned them together. Putting it on the back burner. 

Our beloved outgoing-CEO is on vacation this week, her last day at Second Helpings was Friday. We've been joking that we're going to change all of the policies before the new CEO starts next week. Instead, we're having s spirit week. 

I think I did a good job, although I kept setting my camera down and forgetting it (just like real-life travel). In a nod to Dad's beloved Senior Citizens trips, I'm wearing a name tag with my bus number on it and socks with sandals. 

Two Noras: October 4, 1914 and October 4, 2021

Nora Bauer: Sunday, October 4, 2021

Was to 9 o'clock Mass this morning and then went out to Paul's house. We came in for services and then came home. Uncle Nick kept us laughing with his jokes. 

Nora Spitznogle: Monday, October 4, 2021

Exercised this morning (jogged around the house in my nightgown) before work. Spirit Week at Second Helpings- hat day. Bimonthly Monday evening dinner with Kassie and Schaun, new place time - delicious. 

It sounds like Grandma Nora had a lovely Sunday. Add figuring out where Paul's house was to my ever-growing list of things to research. 

Uncle Nick (her Dad's younger brother) would have been almost 45 years old. I would have enjoyed meeting Great-Uncle Nick, he seems like a fascinating guy. 

Nick outlived most of his siblings, living to be 84 years old, he died in 1954. That was the year that Dad graduated from high school - I wonder if he got to know him at all? 

I found the copyrights to "You're an Old Sweetheart" and "Why Not Stay in Indiana," but I couldn't find the music or words. Add that to my list....I guess it's time to start writing stuff down. 

Nothing exciting about my day - I had to stretch to match the 31 words that Grandman Nora used to describe hers. I am working on losing weight - the struggle is real. I try to jog around the house for at least 3000 steps in 30 minutes. 

Kassie and Schaun and I tried a new "fast casual" place - Bibibop Asian Grill. It was yummy and healthy. 

Two Noras: October 3, 1914 and October 3, 2021

Nora Bauer: Saturday, October 3, 1914

Was to church again this morning and also at church tonight. The missionary is a good speaker. He had a nice sermon this evening. 

Nora Spitznogle: Sunday, October 3, 2021

I had a deliciously lazy day. Slept until I woke up and puttered around the house. Played online Euchre with Beth, Ann, and Tim. 

I checked the Logansport newspapers, but couldn't find any mention of who the missionary was that visited Saint Joseph's that weekend. 

I had a lovely day at home, only changing out of my pajamas because of playing Euchre with my sisters and Ann's husband Tim and we could see each other. It was great to catch up - and Annie will be in town in a few weeks. She'll get us cracking on going through Dad's things. 

Two Noras: October 2, 1914 and October 2, 2021

Nora Bauer: Friday, October 2, 1914

Forty hour devotion started this morning. We went to 6 o'clock Mass. Went to services this evening. Paul came home with me. Was very pretty out tonight. 

Nora Spitznogle: Saturday, October 2, 2021

Worked at both Marigold and the Red Key Tavern today with a little nap in between. The Red Key wasn't too busy, great to see friends. 

That was a lot of church activities for Grandma Nora. I'm glad that she got to see her beau, Paul! 

Today was a lot of work activities for me. All good, though! 

Two Noras: October 1, 1914 and October 1, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Thursday, October 1, 1914

Was to singing class tonight then went to confession. Gertrude and I went down to the dressmakers. Aunt Irma and the kids Lena and Hildred came today. 

Nora Spitznogle: Friday, October 1, 2021

Worked today, a culinary job training class graduated - always a joyful event. Saw friends  play at Duke's Honky-Tonk this evening. They sounded great - not many people. 

Irma is (I think), Erma, married to Grandma Nora's paternal Uncle Nicholas. Erma's first name is actually Gertrude, but there were plenty of Gert's floating around. They were living in Indianapolis at the time....if I have the right person...I'm about 50/50 on this one. I wonder if Lena and Hildred are grandchildren to Erma and Nicholas? 

Graduations days at Second Helpings are always special. I ventured out to see music this evening. I understand people's caution at going out (I'm with 'em), but it's sad to see a sparse room. I made sure to tip the bartender extra generously.