DIY History | Transcribe | Iowa Women’s Lives: Letters and Diaries | Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

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Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

Page 002

Of course the illness and death of my father made an indelible impression upon my youthful mind.  For I so vividly remember the room, the bed, the surroundings and the terrifying hemorrhaging at the deathbed.  The peculiar odor of decomposition and decay that creeps so silently out of hospital rooms and lingers all mingled with antiseptics in hospital corridors.  I remember so well him saying to me - a bare-legged, pig-tailed small girl - when I happened to be alone with him for just a moment "Eve you won't have a papa very long anymore.  The great sadness and quietness perturbed me and I cried bitterly much touched by the coming overwhelming disaster, yet not realizing the untold                significance of mysteries of the universe.  
I recall especially too, our weekly trekings to church with our mother.  We filed down the long center aisle my mother leading her head high chin up with all the steps following in logical sequence.  I could not understand her strutting motherly pride and I was desperately chagrined at the row without actually knowing why.  But even then I thought is some kind of a disgrace to belong to such a large family, and to publicly flaunt us was almost more than I could bear.

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Of course the illness and death of my father made an indelible impression upon my youthful mind. For I so vividly remember the room, the bed, the surroundings and the terrifying hemorrhaging at the deathbed. The peculiar odor of decomposition and decay that creeps so silently out of hospital rooms and lingers all mingled with antiseptics in hospital corridors. I remember so well him saying to me - a bare-legged, pig-tailed small girl - when I happened to be alone with him for just a moment "Eve you won't have a papa very long anymore. The great sadness and quietness perturbed me and I cried bitterly much touched by the coming overwhelming disaster, yet not realizing the untold significance of mysteries of the universe. I recall especially too, our weekly trekings to church with our mother. We filed down the long center aisle my mother leading her head high chin up with all the steps following in logical sequence. I could not understand her strutting motherly pride and I was desperately chagrined at the row without actually knowing why. But even then I thought is some kind of a disgrace to belong to such a large family, and to publicly flaunt us was almost more than I could bear.