Two Noras: December 16, 1914 and December 16, 2021

Nora Bauer: Wednesday, December 16, 1914

Worked on my pillow this evening. It is nearly finished. 

Nora Spitznogle: Thursday, December 16, 2021

Doctor's appointment this morning, blood pressure still high. Storm coming. 

Oh how I would love to see some of Grandma Nora's fancy work. 

My blood pressure is high...and so was Grandma Nora's. And she died of a stroke, so I'm taking it seriously. 

That said, it was a crazy morning of several work calls in the 20 minutes I was in the doctor's office, which I swear added to my stress. Anyway, I walked out of there miffed -- at my BP, 20 extra pounds, and the fact that I can't seem to disconnect from work - even at 7:30 in the morning. 

I see a nurse practitioner, who I love. I left with a plan - upping my BP medicine, work on exercise and losing weight, and my mental health. I've been tightly wound since the pandemic started and toss in Dad's death and it's been a rough couple of years. 

Off to work I went - a big storm is predicted for tomorrow so we worked on getting extra meals out this afternoon. 

Two Noras: December 15, 1914 and December 15, 2021

Nora Bauer: Tuesday, December 15, 1914

Still cold today. River frozen over. 

Nora Spitznogle: Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Work, funeral, card writing at Farm. 

Another cold day in Logansport. I wonder which one of the rivers was frozen over? Grandma Nora lives just a block from the Wabash River. 

Worked this morning. Went to the funeral of our long-time and first volunteer, Leo Scott, this morning. Leo was such a sweet man and reminded me of Dad. 

Leo was buried at the famous Crown Hill Cemetery. It was a cold day here too, but happy to see Leo off in the beautiful setting. 

Dad always said that he wanted us give every one of his nieces and nephews a $100 bill at his funeral. We kids all loved the idea, but I was worried about the logistics - and I'm glad we didn't try to pull it off and could be present during the service. 

We had some nice photos of Dad from last Christmas and Annie put together the card. Beth navigated the banking and getting the money and I had the addresses. Beth and I had fun assembling the cards and thinking about each cousin as we addressed them. 

I'm so glad we were able to pull it off. 

Two Noras: December 14, 1914 and December 14, 2021

Nora Bauer: Monday, December 14, 1914

Was very cold out this morning. 

Nora Spitznogle: Tuesday, December 14, 2022

Worked late tonight, homeless camp fire. 

I wonder if the cold was the story of the day for Grandma Nora, or if she was catching up on her journal and that's all she could remember. I know that I'm guilty of that...

It was a long work day for me. The real excitement was this evening when a pallet at a homeless camp on the other side of fence caught on fire. 

No one was hurt and I got the adrenaline rush from calling 911 and using the fire extinguisher. The fire truck got there within minutes. 

My co-worker Patty and I were so hyped up that we went to the Red Key for a drink after. It was fun to hang out with her outside of the office. We've worked together for a decade and haven't done anything outside of work events.

Two Noras: December 13, 1914 and December 13, 2021

Nora Bauer: Sunday, December 13, 1914

Was snowing again today. Aunt Kate was over for dinner. Was up to Vespers. Went up town with Loretta & Helen (?). Then they came over. 

Nora Spitznogle: Monday, December 13, 2021

Worked today, the usual mix of meetings, emails, and such. Two small blow molds that I purchased on eBay arrived. Nice quiet evening at home. 

I wonder how Aunt Kate is doing? It's been seven months since her husband, Grandma Nora's uncle died. 

I can't quite make out who went uptown with Nora and Loretta. According to her accounting of her cash the only money she spent today was 11 cents for the collection and $2.50 for her board - it looks like she paid that every other week. At this point she was making a salary of $11 dollars a week. 

I've become a little obsessed with the smaller, table top ones. How cute are these church choir and carolers? 

Two Noras: December 12, 1914 and December 12, 2021

Nora Bauer: Saturday, December 12, 1914

Was up town this afternoon and also this evening. Did some Christmas shopping tonight. 

Nora Spitznogle: Sunday, December 12, 2021

Mass this morning, cousin cookie baking, Kokomo with Kassie, birthday drinks and dinner after. 

Grandma Nora recorded the amount of money she spent on gifts that day. I wonder what she bought for her sisters? 

She spent quite a lot - $4.25 - on the presents for her sisters, Mamie and Anna. She also purchased a box, ribbon, and glue, picked up a gift for Lena, and donated to "Orphans N.C." I wonder what the N.C. stands for? 

I had such a fun day! I started with Mass at St. Joan of Arc. 

Cousin Diane - daughter of Joseph, who was Grandma Nora's second youngest child, invited me for a cookie decorating party. 

Have I mentioned the order and years of Nora and Paul's children yet? I guess it's about time! 

Eleanor Pauline 1920 - 1991

Louise Agatha 1921 - 1921

Paul Cletus 1923 - 2008

Gertrude Mary 1923 - 2013

Lucille Barbara 1925 - 1942

Felix Michael 1927 - 1942

Bernadine Elizabeth 1928 - 2004

Joan Beatrice 1930 - 1995

Joseph Victor 1932 - 1998

John Spitznogle 1936 - 2021

The cookie party was fun and it was fun to see kiddos in action. 

After the cookie party, Kassie and I drove Kokomo. I wanted to visit my friend Doug David's family antique shop. Mrs. David has quite the collection of blow mold figures and I'm thinking that it would be fun to decorate the porch seasonally with vintage blow molds. 

Wild Ostrich Antiques is chockfull of fabulous things. I purchased a fabulous Dracula blow mold - Halloween on the porch will be fun! 

Today is Kassie's birthday - we met her friend, Tracey, for drinks and dinner. How did my age group get to be 60? 

Two Noras: December 11, 1914 and December 11, 2021

Nora Bauer: Friday, December 11, 1914

Was up town this morning and saw Anna Willy. Paul called me up this evening. 

Nora Spitznogle: Saturday, December 11, 2021

Spent the day puttering around the house. Waitressed at the Red Key Tavern evening. 

Anna Willy married a Chris Spitznogle the next year - I haven't been able to track him down. I'm sure that Grandma Nora was happy to hear from her beau, Paul. 

Nothing exciting about my day. 

Two Noras: December 10, 1914 and December 10, 2021

Nora Bauer: Thursday, December 10, 1914

Still snowed a little today. Was up town this morning saw Ruth Yeakley. Went to singing class tonight. 

Nora Spitznogle: Friday, December 10, 2021

Jury duty, spent six hours waiting to learn that I wasn't picked. Second Helpings holiday party this afternoon.

When looking for a connection between Grandma Nora and Ruth Yeakley I found that Ruth died three years after Nora, also of a stroke. Ruth married Charles Rush earlier in 1914. 

I was called for jury duty today. It was a long "hurry up and wait" process only to not get chosen. 

Luckily I was released just in time to attend the Second Helpings holiday party at Sun King Brewery. The party was fun and it was great to get to know some coworkers better. 

Sun King reminds me of Dad. He was there when the first produced cans of beer and was a faithful Sunlight drinker. 

I stopped at the Red Key on the way home - it was fun to catch up with people that I don't see too often.