Mary's Memoirs

Mary was quite a social person. She loved to talk with people, and I always love how she mentions "it was a good chat." I remember when people came over to our house they would go outside with Mom and look at all the flowers. People do not seem to do that as often these days. I wonder what two new dances Mary learned?

Monday, May 8, 1950

Very warm out but just as I took all my work outside it began to blow so I did part of it and took the rest inside. Sam came home with all my parcels but one. So I put away and worked on my Mother's Day cards. A card from Dolores Moore says she has us down for Oct. 12 so now we can plan. I'm so glad. Also, a letter from Blanche Hackett. Says she wants to come home by the end of May. She is better and we are all so thankful. Tonight, Sam and I wrapped 23 papers with my picture and installation news in it for mailing. Got all my Mother's Day cards out also. To bed early. Very cold out. Sam mowed most of the lawn tonight.

Tuesday, May 9, 1950

Up early and ate then went with Cordelia Morrison, Alice Pope and Ruth Small to town. Did some shopping and up to First Baptist Church where the meeting was to be held. There was a good crowd out and we elected Eunice de Long President, unanimous ballot. Eunice was dumfounded when elected but she will make a good president as she has had some experience. Home and planted everything Ruth Small gave me also some I bought. Had venison and baked potatoes. Very good. Shortcake too. Sam is mowing the lawn. To Elinor Chapter with Mitchells and Eleanor Arcutt. They had a short meeting and Helen had a clever program arranged which I may use in part. She asked me to give the "farewell" and I was more frightened than I was at my own chapter. Home early. We had a lovely time. Helen is going to the convention Wednesday of postmasters.

Wednesday, May 10, 1950

Today I ironed a couple pieces before breakfast and cleaned some clothes in cleaner. Just as I was through eating here came Marie Higgins, Maimee Gould and Jimmy Giroch. We looked at the gifts and my flowers and I gave them some rockery plants. To Gorst and had my hair done and paid all my bills at the post office. Home and finished the ironing and put all away. Sat out in the sun by the bulkhead and went over my meeting. To Betty Fischler's for dinner. She had chicken a la king and it was delicious. We sat around and talked and had lots of fun. Home early and to bed. Watered my garden over by the rose garden. Wore my shrimp pink denim dress to Betty's. It surely feels good on.

Thursday, May 11, 1950

Today was very warm and I was outside quite a lot. Slept late and had my hair combed out at Gorst then called on Eunice Duffield. Gave Rosie a wedding present for her daughter who married George Wardell. Then home. Cleaned up all my papers, wrote cards, a letter to Blanche and put all the things for my meeting in the car. Sam did not return so I suppose he will come in tonight. Watered the garden some more. To Chapter early and everything went off very well. The balloting took quite awhile but we were through before 10:20 so everyone went up to eat pie. We had a very good time. Took Erma Harper home as she caught a ride down. She had a flat tire. She is going to the reception so I shall try to get a carload. To bed at 12. It was a good meeting. Glad it went off so well. The decorations were dogwood and lilacs. Upstairs was decorated with pink flowering cherry.

Friday, May 12, 1950

Slept until 9 and then after that I just dozed so got up about 10. Very dark out but the barometer is still going up. Today I left about noon and called on Alice Duckwiler, but she could have no company so talked to the family. Then called at Arlene Lasher home where I found the daughter. Denny was asleep and Orlow away, so I visited with her. Then to Maimee Gould's to Lorena Bryan's but she was out but Bryan Sr. gave us coffee, so we had a nice visit there. He's quite a fellow! To Maimee Hanberg's and she gave me some invitations for my scrapbook. Left Maimee Gould off downtown and out to June Casebeer's where we had a nice chat. She is fine. Can get around on her walking chair. Home and found Ray Culbertson here. So, he and Sam went up to look at church property. Very lovely out all day and extremely mild and calm now.

Saturday, May 13, 1950

Arose early and ate. Then to Gorst and had my hair combed. To the temple where most of the group came early. We had a nice practice and I feel that they understand what we are trying to do. Practiced the memorial too, and it went off very well. Then I went to meet my Mother and John but only Mother came. He thought he wasn't asked so poor fellow missed the fun we had planned. Home and put the chicken on to roast and looked at flowers. It is very nice out but not so warm as Friday. The dinner was lovely and just as we were half-done Carl Ainsworth and Mary came along to borrow a tarp. They are going out to Twin Lakes to camp. Hope it doesn't rain. To the dance club where we had a wonderful time. There was a good crowd and we all enjoyed ourselves. The tables were decorated with maypoles and flowers and a regular Dutch lunch was served. Tried two new dances and they are fun. Sam and Earl Wilder working on the pipeline as they cleaned up the raspberry patch.

Sunday, May 14, 1950

This was a warm sunny day too and so we ate a late breakfast of hotcakes and ham. Then we drove up to Stickles Marsh and dug out some wild violets and a pretty blue flower. It was so lovely there. We met Carl Ainsworth's on their way home. They said they had a wonderful time. Gave Alice Pope the blue material for addendum dress on our way. Then home and went swimming. It wasn't too warm, yet it wasn't cold either, but it certainly made us hungry. Had venison steak for dinner. Very good and had strawberry shortcake too. Took Mama into the ferry and we made very good connections. She had 2 quarts of oysters and plants and all kinds of stuff. To Ingrid Emery's and she looks very good. Home and Sam talked to Eddie Fischler on the phone. They said something about lunch and so we took our leftover chicken and went down. Had a good time and got home at 11:30. Very cold out.

■ Clydene Hostetler was a longtime Belfair resident and historian. She now resides on a classic wooden boat on the Columbia River. She has been researching Mary Theler's life for the past 17 years. She can be emailed at [email protected].