So are the Days of Our Lives
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives,” said the booming voice as a giant hourglass appeared on the TV screen.
That famous line visually adorned 70s television sets in the background of my childhood days. I didn’t understand the significance of the flowing sand at the time. The 70s were carefree years with my only sense of time, the ringing of the church bells. And the only time I paid attention to the church bells was at noon and six o’clock, our designated meal times to be at home. Bedtime was easier to gauge as we simply needed to be home by dark, with no clock necessary.
Although there was a proverbial hourglass slowly churning out sand particles throughout my idyllic childhood, I was oblivious to anything other than enjoying my days.
In 1977 I was gifted a diary titled “The Days of My Life”. It was a beautiful padded Hallmark diary with thick cream pages. My aunt, Kathy, had just begun her freshman year in college and as a Hallmark Gold Star Member, she frequently mailed me cards and letters from Hallmark stationery. Coming back on a weekend visit, she surprised me with this gift of my first diary. I remember feeling so grown-up with this diary adorning a picture of a pretty teenage girl on the cover. This was the beginning of a series of diaries and journals I sporadically kept throughout my life.
Cleaning out childhood boxes during my most recent move, and after vowing not to store a box that hadn’t been thoroughly sorted, I discovered this diary. With the contents of this box untouched since the diary was originally packed (likely in the early 80s) the words in this diary had remained unread, a time capsule of sorts.
Some memories I remember. Others I have no recollection of. But all were fun to read with reminders of the simplicity of life as a child in the 70s.
My mom has also kept a journal in the form of daily calendar entries. She has done this for 59 years. She begins each year with a fresh new calendar with flip pages for each month awaiting her future entry. At the close of each day, Mom carefully documented in her very small cursive handwriting the happenings of that day. As she and I now sort through family history, we have found these entries valuable tools in validating both dates and our recollections.
I thought it would be a fun exercise to take my diary entries from 1977 and compare my thoughts on the day with what my mom captured as important on her daily calendar. I was nine years old when I kept this 1977 diary. Mom was a busy stay-at-home mom and was in her early 30s during this time period. With each entry below, I have captured exactly what Mom and I wrote (no spell check on for my many writing errors) and then have followed these entries with my thoughts today on those past entries.
Also of note is that Mom was super diligent in maintaining her daily calendar over those 59 years with only one short break in entries over that time period. As for me and my diaries, I would start strong for the first few daily entries and then lose steam…
March 11, 1977 (Friday)
Sandy Wagner (age 9) Diary Entry:
I was awoke by the wistle. I sprang from my bed to see what happened. It was about 7:25. I went down stairs wondering. I ate, I was almost dressed when the phone rang. I went to answer it, it was Bev she was crying. I couldn’t understand what she said, finaley I made out what she said, “Wendal had a hearatce in his sleep!!” I was shatcked. Mom called Dad and told him. I went to school. At 12:30 I went to church with the school. Then we went to ther play. It was pouring out ever since I got up, so grandpa gave us a ride home. I got Mrs. Lorges mail. Fr. Birdsaw told her the whole story about Wendell. I watched T.V., ate supper, and went to bed. BY!
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
Kathy home. CCD/Paid. Rain
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
Such drama as a 9-year-old! I think I started this diary after my grandpa, Doc Pick, told me I would be a writer someday. This was after I shared a book I wrote for homework called “Reggie”. Grandpa encouraged me and thought it was very good. He must have motivated me as it seems like I’m writing with the conviction that my work (this diary) would be read one day. I guess it did ultimately happen… I’ve never been that great at fiction so a memoir was a better style for me.
“Sprang from my be to see what happened…” Almost plagiary from the Christmas story.
And, wow, did I ever need a spell checker? Of note is that I wrote ‘shacked’ in careful cursive and later added a ‘t’ to the middle. Shatcked = shocked? Exactly.
For the record, I don’t remember anyone giving us a ride home from school when it was raining, ever! I am guessing this was my other grandpa, Gib Wagner, as my paternal grandparent lived up the street from our grade school and my maternal grandparents lived on a farm outside of town.
March 12, 1977 (Saturday)
Sandy Wagner (age 9) Diary Entry:
I woke up, there was only one sound, the birds huming. I checked if there was anyone else awake. No, no one awake. I tiptoed down the stairs. Then I turned on the T.V. softly. Later that morning, Bev and Joey came. We played in the house a little bit then we played outside. I ate a delicious peaceful meal. Rich, Matt, Tommy, Stevie, Jeff, Bev, and I went to the pasture and in the pasture there is a tree, in the tree is a treehouse. Matt, Tommy, and Jeff picked on Rich. But him, Bev and I got away. I went to get paint for Mom and Ded. We ate a good meal. Then Mom and dad painted the living room once. Then we (Matt, Mark my brothers and I) squdaded up to bed. See you.
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
Painted in eve
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
If I didn’t know better I would have thought I took the Joyce Carol Oates Masterclass on writing with the use of so many descriptive adjectives (ie: the meal was both delicious and peaceful although no idea what it was).
Also of note: I was a tattletale. I called out by name who picked on Rich.
The painting was obviously a big deal for my family. I am glad I contributed by picking up the paint. And then we “squdaded” up to bed? Skedaddled?
March 13, 1977 (Sunday)
Sandy Wagner (age 9) Diary Entry:
Dear Diary,
I woke up at 7:30, went to 8:00 Mass. Then Matt, Mark, and I went to the little league breakfast. Mark had 3 pancakes and 4 sausages, Matt had 4 pancakes and 6 sausgues, and I had 2 pancakes and 3 sausages. Then I went home and played. We ate at 12:13, we had hamburgers. After dinner I went bowling with Bev and the gals. I bowled 56 in the first game and 47 in the second. I went home played basketball, and went to the park with Bev, Rich, Steven, Matt, Mark and I went to the park. then I went home and ate supper.
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
Church. Jim work at Lions pancake breakfast-kids went. Kathy & Marie here in p.m. Painted.
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
DYING laughing over my reporting of the exact food intake at the pancake breakfast. I got so excited over my investigative reporting that I started spelling sausage wrong.
Such exactness on when we ate lunch. 12:13. We called the noon meal dinner when I was a child. Dinner today was supper in the 70s.
Rich, Bev, Steven, and Joey were the VanDam kids who lived a block from us. The Wagner kids and VanDam kids were inseparable in the 70s.
Mom noted my Aunt Kathy and Grandma Marie Wagner came to our house to visit. Our kids’ park play must have gone until dark (typical for us) as I have no reference to seeing our house guests.
I am still a bad bowler.
March 14, 1977 (Monday)
Sandy Wagner (age 9) Diary Entry:
I got dressed went to school and came home again. Today was Wenals furnall. It was a beautiful sight, soldiers marched two by two into the church while the many, many, many people fowlowed. After that I came home. I watched T.V. for a bit. then all the sounden mom goes, “did you get Mrs. Lorges mail.” I jumped with excitement looking at the clock, it was to late the post office was closed. I had tears in my eyes that just wouldn’t go down. There was sorrow in my heart and sadness all over. Well I got over it. Went to bed. I am still pretty sad.
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
To farm in a.m. & eve. Anderson-taxes. Painted in eve.
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
To give context, Mrs. Lorge was our neighbor. She lived across the street from us and was elderly and homebound. She paid me to pick up her mail from the post office each day. She was also VERY crabby. My high drama on forgetting to get her mail was probably as much out of fear as regret. At least ‘I got over it’ after the immense sorrow in my heart.
Ok, I was (am) a bad speller, but my phonetic writing was definitely on point. I am very thankful for spell check as I write this today.
April 18, 1977 (Monday)
Sandy Wagner (age 9) Diary Entry:
I woke up at 7:15. The first thing I saw was the book “Helan Kellars teacher”. I read about a chapter. Then I heard Mother call up the stairs “Mark, Matt, Sandy time to get up” So up I went, then down the stairs. I got dressed and played jump rope. I went to school. When I came home, I ate a lunch, and while getting Mrs. Lorges mail I bought 2 books at the library. I ran to Ruhlands house to tell them that Brenda won first place in the drawing and Russ won second.
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
Dr. Marty. Went to Director of Admissions-Westmar. Jim & & to farm; Jim & Mark in eve.
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
Ruhland’s lived across the street from us. Russ was in my grade and Brenda, two years younger. I spent a ton of time playing with them in their backyard. The library was a half a block from our homes and we frequented it. We were involved in all of the contests and signed out the max books allowed. My note on ‘buying’ books was probably from the old book sale stack that was always displayed at the library entryway.
It is interesting how Mom’s entry was so different from my day. Small town living involved a lot of ‘divide and conquer’. Since we walked or rode bikes to most of our destinations, we each found our own fun.
May 18, 1977 (Wednesday)
Sandy Wagner (age 9) Diary Entry:
Mom woke us up by saying “Rise and shine”. I got up and ate breakfast. Then I got on my blue skateboard and played with Russ and Brenda Ruhland. Then I went to school it was the last day. I very happy about it.
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
Joan home. Church in eve. Last day of school. Boys overnite Wagners. Jim lector - church in eve. Drove to LeMars & farm. Rain.
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
I will always remember Mom’s voices waking us up with a “Rise and shine” greeting up the stairs. I can hear it right now. I also woke up my own sons this way.
I also loved that blue skateboard. It was a great way to get around a small town. Not sure why we would go to church on a Wed night. Holy day of obligation? The last days of school were THE BEST.
June 4, 1977 (Saturday)
Sandy Wagner (age 9) Diary Entry:
The birds beautiful voice woke me up! I began a book I already started called “Ginnies babysitting business’ I would just love to babysit so very much. I got up and ate breakfast. A while after my best friend Beverly came over to my house and we played dolls at 2:00. We went to the swiming pool. We had a ball. I fell asleep. When I awoke, I ate, went to the swimming and came home at 8:00. By.
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
Pool opened. Jim shingled at Garvin's. Jim & I to Jerry Harpenau's. Mike Harte died in trailer house fire. Stopped at Garvin's.
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
I always loved making money. I don’t remember being motivated by Ginnie’s babysitting business. I started my own babysitting business soon after this.
Oh, how we loved the swimming pool! Swim all afternoon. Go home. Take a nap. Eat. And then go back for the evening hours.
July 28, 1977 (Thursday)
Sandy Wagner (age 9) Diary Entry:
When I woke up I just wanted to lay in bed all day. but I got up. Later: Amy & Brandie came down to play so I played. I ate dinner then I played with little Brian. Amy helped me clean my room then I ate, then Richard stayed over night with Matt. By.
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
Swimming lessons. Mark-farm. Cleaned Mrs. Lorge. Rich Van Dam overnite. Papered at Barbara's in eve.
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
I never called Bev and Rich Van Dam ‘Beverly’ and ‘Richard’ but for some reason that’s how I refer to them in my diary. No clue who little Brian was and lastly, I still like to lay in bed when I wake up.
August 23, 1977 (Tuesday)
Sandy Wagner (age 9) Diary Entry:
Dear Diary.
Today my brothers awoke me at about 9:00am. I was’t hungary so I didn’t eat. All I wanted to do is to read a book called “In a Blue Velvet Dress”. A half an hour later I was done with my book. It was just Fantastic. I was just going to go to Beverly's when all of the sudden I had to Babysit my cousins, Kelly, 6, and Beth, 2, I left there at 3:30 then I played with Bev. By By Diary. Sandy Wagner
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
Dr. Marty, To Barbara's. Painted at Guy's & Sandy's. Sandy-Grandma Wagner's.
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
It appears this was the day of my first babysitting gig, albeit unpaid but good experience, I’m sure. My love for reading and blowing through books as stayed through time. Note that I have an Aunt Sandy (married to my Uncle Guy) thus reference to Guy & Sandy by my mom. I spent a lot of time at their farm house at this age.
Why did I not note in my diary that I visited Grandma Wagner? I will go with the fact that I stopped there alot so not a novelty.
Mom’s further reflection on her entry: About painting-Guy & Sandy lived on a farm north of Remsen before they were married & later moved in a mobile home on the farm.The walls were deep purple when Guy & Sandy moved there.
August 24, 1977 (Wednesday)
Sandy Wagner (age 9) Diary Entry:
I awoke at 8:30. I was expecting a phone call to babysit.
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
Sandy-Grandma Gib's house. To Mrs. Lorge's birthday party. Matt overnite at Steve Weinreich. Jim & I delivered CCD buttons
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
I have suddenly become short of words. I started out this diary with a bang and appear to be losing steam. Apparently, I went to my Grandma’s and to a birthday party. I felt the only things of note were when I woke up and a phone call I wanted.
Steve Weinreich was a sweet boy and my brother Matt’s friend. He died in a motorcycle accident a few years later. It was the first death of someone I was close to that I experienced in my youth.
Mom’s further reflection on her entry: I had a Job interview the next day at Mid Sioux-GOT JOB. (Sandy - My mom was a stay-at-home mom until this point. I had no clue how our days would have a different feel with a working mom).
Friday October 21, 1977 (Friday)
Sandy Wagner (I am now age 10) Diary Entry:
Today at school we had a movie about the facts of Life, periods, and that stuff.
Mary Wagner (Sandy’s Mom) Calendar Entry:
Rich overnite. Matt to Gilbert Schroeder's.
Sandy - Upon Further Reflection (2023):
I get the birds and the bees talk at school and it gets one sentence in my diary, ‘and that stuff’. Mom doesn’t even acknowledge it. In her defense, my memory was coming home with a pamphlet given to me to accompany the movie we watched (girls in one room and boys in another). After school my brothers, knowing my class had gotten the movie, chased me around the house teasingly trying to take the pamphlet away from me. I hid it from them in our humungous wood record player. I never said a word about it to my mom.
Within two days, my mom started working and I was well-versed in sex and periods. The sands in the hourglass started to move faster. My brothers and I were turning into teenagers. Our mom was starting the working chapter of her life. Our lives were moving on to a new chapter and we hadn’t a clue how quickly this time would fly by…
