Another year has passed....a quick fly through 2022

 I cannot believe that a full year has gone by! 

Not much has changed in my life - I have the same jobs and am hanging out with the same people. 

The year started out a little scary - Aaron's insulin was not at my house - and he wound up in the hospital overnight. I've learned what blood test numbers are acceptable and to not listen to anyone who tries to convince you that they are fine....

His Aunt Nancy Jane died in June and we went to Glassglow for the funeral. I am so happy that we visited her on New Year's Eve. 

I was thrilled to write a few pieces for Indianapolis Monthly this year. It's exciting to see my writing in a glossy magazine. 

Cruisers! 

I took a cruise with some of my 1961 Weight Watchers friends - we meet on the WW site and are all born in the same year - in April. It was great to be on the water, breathing ocean air, and laughing with friends. 

With Janet at the Red Key Tavern

My godmother, Janet, came to Indianapolis in May, on her sabbatical from her Maryknoll duties in Tanzania. We had fun exploring downtown and walking around the house she lived in as a teenager and introducing her to the Red Key. 

I visited Aaron in Austin in May and had a delightful time soaking in the sunshine, walking, and visiting friends and Cousin Sheila. 

I got COVID-19 in July - I thought I was going to dodge it forever. Luckily it was a mild case, although not having the sense of taste or smell made it difficult for State Fair baking. 

I got to ride in the parade! 

That's one ugly lamp - and will be hard to top. 

I entered a photo of Grandma Nora with Paul and their children. 

I attended all 21 days of the Indiana State Fair and once again brought home the blue ribbon for having the Ugliest Lamp in the State. 

One of of my godchildren, Mallory, got married in October. I enjoyed hosting a shower for her in my backyard in September. 

My siblings and Mom at Cousin Bailey's wedding, with a cameo by my always fun cousin, Franz. 

I attended an obnoxious amount of concerts and have the tee-shirts to prove it. I was lucky enough to attend three weddings and celebrate holidays with family and friends. 

Mom was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in November and had a hysterectomy shortly after. She's doing well and it's been great to spend more time with her. 

I ended 2022 the same way I ended 2021 - at the Red Key Tavern, only this time I was the waitress. 

I missed reading Grandma Nora's journals each day, so I'm going to skip ahead to 1918, the year before Nora and Paul married. 

See you soon! 

Two Noras: December 31, 1914 and December 31, 2021

Nora Bauer: Thursday, December 31, 1914

There was not much left of the building today and it is still burning. Paul just called up and said we would go to the dance. I got my towel finished. 

Nora Spitznogle: Friday, December 31, 2021

Aaron and I visited his aunt and cousin in Glasglow, we had a wonderful visit! Even though we had the hotel room for the night, we decided to head to Indianapolis.  

The fire was a doozy! Can you imagine how much material a lumber mill would have had to burn? Once again, I wish I could see Grandma Nora's towel - and it makes me wonder if some of the embroidered things that Dad and Rosemary had were made by Nora....

How fun to go to a dance to ring in 1915! I hope they had a grand time! 

Aaron realized that his insulin wasn't in his suitcase, hopefully it's at my house. He convinced me that there was no reason to call his doctor for another supply. 

Glassglow is about an hour and a half drive from Lousiville. We had a fun time with Aaron's Aunt Nancy Jane, cousin Heather, and their friends. Nancy Jane fixed a lovely good luck meal of corned beef, cabbage, and black eyed peas. 

Aaron played his guitar - we all swooned a little. We had great fun looking at old photos and hearing stories from back in the day. 

On the way back to Louisville I asked Aaron if he would mind if we grabbed our bags from the sketchy hotel and skedaddled back to Indianapolis. He was happy to do so and we arrived at the Red Key in time for the countdown and cheap champagne. I was happy to be close to home and it was a grand way to start the new year! 

Two Noras: December 30, 1914 and December 30, 2021

Nora Bauer: Wednesday, December 30, 1914

Was pretty cold today. Went to singing class tonight. Was working on my towel when we heard that Uhl's Mill was on fire and we hurried down to see it. It was terrible. 

Nora Spitznogle: Thursday, December 30, 2021

I took today off of work. Aaron and I drove to Louisville to see one of our favorite bands, The Rain Chorus, play for their annual holiday reunion. It was a lovely time. 

From my limited understanding of the geography of Logansport, I think the mill was pretty close to where Grandma Nora and her family lived. Here is a little history of the mill if you're interested: http://incass-inmiami.org/cass/news/mills.html

Again, I'm sad that I didn't get to see any of Nora's fancy work - or at least I didn't know that it was hers. 

Aaron and I made it to Louisville (about two hours away). We had to laugh the hotel was super sketchy - it was a place that most folks rent by the week and the receptionist was also the security guard. We had dinner at a Cracker Barrel - I was delighted to find PEZ ornaments.  

The show was great, although not well-attended. COVID is still raging and people are playing it safe.

Here's a little snippet of their music over the years. 

When we got back to the hotel we met some of the folks that were living there - very nice, but I worry about them and their future. 

Two Noras: December 29, 1914 and December 29, 2021

Nora Bauer: Tuesday, December 29, 1914

Rained today and is snowing now and getting colder. Paul changed[? charged?] my plates today. We went over to Aunt Lizzie's tonight. Anna had her club. 

Nora Spitznogle: Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Worked today - I'm off the next two days, woo hoo! Aaron arrived. he had dinner delivered then we walked to the Red Key for drinks. 

What the heck did Paul do to Nora's plates? I assume that it has to do with the dishes she's been collecting? 

I wore my Purdue gear to work in honor of the football team participating in the Music Bowl in Nashville. J.R. and his family are at the game and having fun. 

Aaron arrived around 8:00 and had one of his favorite pizzas delivered. We walked over to the Red Key for a drink after dinner. It's always great to see him. 

Two Noras: December 28, 1914 and December 28, 2021

Nora Bauer: Monday, December 28, 1914

Was much warmer out today and the snow melted quite a bit. Started to learn how to crochet tonight. Got along real good. 

Nora Spitznogle: Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Worked at Second Helpings today, the usual mix of meetings and such. At home worked on catching up on writing, laundry, and cleaning. 

Is there no end to Grandma Nora's fancy work talents? 

Busy, but nothing exciting at work. Everyone is sick of wearing masks, and I'm exhausted from enforcing our work mask mandate. The COVID transmission rate is high in our county right now, so we're continuing to mask up. 

I didn't learn any new crafts today. I should learn how to keep up on housework and not panic clean when I'm expecting company. 

Two Noras: December 27, 1914 and December 27, 2021

Nora Bauer: Sunday, December 27, 1914

Was to 10 o'clock Mass and to Vespers this afternoon. Mabel & Will, Helen and her friend were over this evening. We had a little ride in Jim's sleigh. 

Nora Spitznogle: Monday, December 27, 2021

Back at work at Second Helpings today. It is warm and rainy today. Spent the evening catching up on writing and cleaning. I feel like I'm always behind! 

You may remember Grandma Nora's friends, Mabel and Will, from their wedding. Still no clue about the embarrassment part. It seems like Nora, Mabel, Will, and Helen are all in the same friend group. Who is Jim? Helen's friend? At any rate, I love the idea of Nora having a sleigh ride. 

Not much to write about my day, busy at work trying to make up for the holiday off and getting ahead since I'm taking Friday off. The temperature was in the 60s - no sleigh rides here!  

Two Noras: December 26, 1914 and December 26, 2021

Nora Bauer: Saturday, December 26, 1914

Did not do much work today. Went to bed early tonight. 

Nora Spitznogle: Sunday, December 26, 2021

Puttered and napped today. Enjoyed Winterlights at Art Museum this evening. 

One of the big mysteries for me in transcribing Grandma Nora's journal this year is trying to figure out what her work schedule was. I realized that the work week in 1914 was very different than now. Henry Ford wouldn't send shock waves through the manufacturing industry with his 40 hour work week commitment until 1926, although in 1914 he instituted the eight hour work day. 

Although Nora worked in a office, she was part of the construction world, which at that time worked from dawn to dusk, seven days a week. Remember those times that she was paying the workers on Saturdays? That said, I don't know whether she was speaking of work at the office or work at home - and we know that she wasn't afraid to take her fancy work into the office. 

This article (click here) is chockful of information about what working life and cost of living expenses were like for this era. 

I was having a bit of a gloomy day - post holiday blues I think - and puttered around the house organizing things like the silverware drawer in the kitchen and my silver chest, in both cases I dumped everything on the floor and started over.

I was so glad that I'd had the thought to purchase a Winterlights ticket for myself for this evening. I loved walking through the grounds of Newfields and Lilly Mansion. The mansion was decorated beautifully, although the kitchen is my favorite thing to marvel over. 

Walking through the beautiful grounds gave me a chance to reset my feelings and be ready to launch into the last week of this year!