Mary celebrates her father's 86th birthday

Mary made me chuckle when she tells of it raining and she had just washed the car. That is living in the Pacific Northwest. Sam is looking for a new car. It is cold. Mary sees a movie with her mother this week. Mary does not like eating her breakfast in a cold kitchen. Mary's dad turns 86 years old.

Friday, Feb. 6, 1948

Today I got up early and Sam rode to Bremerton with me. He got off there to go to the bank and later to go to Tacoma to see about another car. Just got to Associate Conductress meeting behind Floss Bush but next time I'll catch an earlier ferry. Too much rush-rush. We had as our guest Laura Douglas, our Grand Worthy Matron. So we found out plenty and it was all very interesting. But our lunch was so poor. We were disgusted especially when Douglas was there - of all times. They are having a meeting Sunday on our work for "Advance" Night so I'll stay for that. Did some shopping and then drove out to Mother's. The rain came and I'd got the car washed but it was clean for a while. We played rummy and went to bed early.

Saturday, Feb. 7, 1948

Arose early and about 10 we drove up to Conway. No one was at home so we took some cherry signs and left. A bitterly cold wind was blowing and we were glad to leave. Left a note. Then near Everett we ate lunch and arrived at Betty Dickson's about 1. We stayed over an hour and had a nice visit. But she looks bad. Only weighs 98 pounds. Back to the house and fixed the furnace then over to Malmo's where I bought two Yellow Transparent and one Red Astrakhan Apple. John dug out some evergreens for me when I got home so my car was full of stuff. We played rummy in the evening and had a lot of fun. John seems to enjoy the game. But we all got sleepy early as we had been out in the air so we called it a day.

Sunday, Feb. 8, 1948

Today arose fairly late and ate breakfast in that cold kitchen. Can't see why they do not heat it from the furnace. My mother and I went to the Liberty to see "King of Thieves" and it was very good. We ate ice cream later then I took her up to where she got her car and I drove to West Seattle. Found the Temple all right and Arletta was the first one there. We sat and talked a while and then in came the rest by two's and three's. Almost six so we really got a lot done. Floss Bush surely has a lot of patience and she needs it. Caught the 6:45 ferry and stopped at Eunice's on way home. Sam was up reading so told me all about the car deal. To bed late. Tired.

Monday, Feb. 9, 1948

Arose early so Sam could go to Seattle with Emmett. Then he forgot I was going to use the phone booth across the street so ran all over Belfair trying to find me so he could get the ferry ticket. I called the Sun about our Chapter meeting Thursday. Called Alma Nelson and I will call on her Tuesday after Line Officers. Sent get-well cards to Dorothy Long and Sarah Brinker. To Officer's Club at Nadean Clark's and we had a nice time. Little or no business so we just visited. The girls served chocolate upside down cake and it was delicious. Took Lois, Hazel West and Marie over and Lovey came home with us. To bed late. Very cold out.

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 1948

Today I put on my black suit and went in to Line Officers. Rode with Cleoma and Marie. We picked up Lovey at her home. She is off this week on account of her cold. Very noisy meeting at Line Officers and all but three were there. Not a very secret place to talk so we could not do much. Went downtown and got my watch then over to Alma Nelson's. She helped me with my conductress's work. Then over to Irvin's and picked up my mother and took her out to Aunt Polly's at Union where we ate a lovely dinner. Back to Walker's on my way home and got my jersey dress which is so lovely. Think I'll enjoy it a great deal. Home and went to bed early as I was so tired. Very cold out and clear as a bell. Aunt Polly had made a lovely cake so we all ate a piece of it. Very good!

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1948

Today had my hair done at Wychoff's and then up to Belfair where Emmett, Bill Cady and Swan Truedson all gave me gifts for Dad. He is 86 years old today. Sam was up at the store when I got there so came home when I did, no car. Annie came down with a gift for Dad and visited a while. Very cold out and very sunny so Mama should get her grafting all done. Perfect weather for it. Mailed letters to Dorthy Casebeer, Helen Bickle and Laurice. Cleaned up the desk too. I am cooking corned beef for dinner and Skene's are coming over. Hope it is good. Nichols gave it to us. We had a very nice dinner and Henry came in just as we were finishing. The corned beef was delicious and oh how the folks enjoyed it! Edith brought Papa a lovely cake and so I served peaches and cream with it. To bed early. Very cold out. Freezing.

Thursday, Feb. 12, 1948

Arose early and went to Wychoff's at 10 to get my hair re-combed. It surely looks nice. Then stopped at Mrs. Manns Sr. on my way home. She showed me all the things she was making. Then gave me a quilt top for our club. Very cold out but sun is shining just the same. To Eunice's early as Sam wanted to go to Tacoma and tried to catch a bus from the Y. Eunice and I did the shopping and then set up Chapter. We put on some colored satin chair covers we found in a box and they did look nice. Only Marie thought they should come off cause Cleora did not like them so off they came. Practiced for "step-up" night and only made a few errors. Then we went and ate a lovely dinner at Eunice's. Chapter was short only 30 minutes and we went to Port Orchard, all of us. They had a nice addendum and lovely refreshments. Sat by Ruby. She is fine. Home late. Rode over to Duffield's. Lovely was in Seattle when Bud had an operation on his nose so Eunice sat in the South again.

■ Clydene Hostetler is a longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary filmmaker of "Hidden in Plain Sight." She has been researching Mary Theler's life for the past 13 years. She can be emailed at [email protected]