Welcome to Parallel Entries, a collection of diary and journal excerpts written by different people on the same date across the years. A perspective from which every life, no matter how ordinary or obscure, is worth remembering.
Scroll down to see entries written on today’s date.
We can never really know a person like we know ourselves. But diaries can get us a little bit closer to that sacred truth. They are a humble attempt at capturing a piece, if only the tiniest sliver, of the mundane magic of our miraculous existence. Also, they are time machines. And who isn’t fascinated by time travel?
While social media gives us endless access to the lives and thoughts of others, those lives and thoughts are edited with an audience in mind. We are saying, “This is how I want you to see me.” But in diaries and journals we say, “This is how I see myself.” Parallel Entries pays homage to the practice of trying to see oneself, to see what life is really made of.
If you’ve kept a diary or journal at some point, or if you’ve inherited someone else’s, please consider contributing to the site. It’s easy and free and you are welcome to use a pseudonym if you’re not comfortable sharing your real name. All entries need to have been written at least five years ago.
“It isn’t a bit nice to get someone’s diary and read it, is it? ‘Cause a diary is a private affair (or at least supposed to be). But it’s all right for my grandchildren to read it, of course, and me in my old age. That’s the only reason I faithfully keep one. ‘Cause it really is a lot of trouble.”
Today’s Entries
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
May 17, 1998
Went 2 Baby Bruce’s baptism. All of us, Kenny, etc. went to Wendy’s for lunch. Came home. Did homework. Went 2 see Leslie. Died [sic] hair red, but didn’t do much. Watched “Bridges of Madison County.”
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
May 17, 1997
Up at 10:00. Ate. Worked on Biology. Went and got haircut. Came home and ate lunch. Went to softball practice. Showered. Went to Crabtree with fam. Got shirt and dress. Steven and Bryan came and went to Applebee’s for dessert. Talked to Karen.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
May 17, 1960
70 years ago started for USA. Another cloudy day and has showered some. Screen men didn’t come as it rained. Mrs. B. came over, she not a bit good. Ironed after she went home and fixed cat food.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
May 17, 1944
Beautiful and hot. Tennis on courts. Last regular class. Think I’m improving. Good lunch. Jacq and I made arrangement to go to town at 3. I practiced at 2. Jacq came and we went down to Wabash. I read my philosophy book while Jacq got her ticket. Then we stopped at Blue Shop and she tried on a pin-stripe suit that’s marked down. She had a 4 o’clock class so we had to get back. I went up on the roof with Jane and Eleanor and attempted to get a tan — in my bathing suit. But didn’t get much more than hot. Came down and took a bath. At 5:30 Jacq and I went to town again and she tried on a suit at another shop but decided on the first one. Back about 6. Betty and I didn’t go to dinner. At last minute I decided to wear my white evening dress which needed pressing and mending. Grand rush but Betty and I made it to the recital hall by 7:30. Everyone looked so nice in formals. Betty, of course, being a guest, didn’t wear one — neither did Miss GS. I was first on the program with “Black Key Etude.” Got going too fast but it was better than usual. Program wasn’t very long. About 8:30 we started out for Miss GS’s apartment for the evening. She invited Betty to go, too, and after some persuasion Betty decided to go, even if she wasn’t dressed for the occasion. The apt. house isn’t far from campus — we went there last Spring. We listened to the radio, had cokes and cookies and good talk. Mary Ann is so funny. All the kids are swell. Charlene was there, too. About 10 the party broke up. Miss GS is such a nice hostess! We went in Jane’s room when we got back and talked to she, Mary Jo and Eleanor. I was suddenly not self-conscious — it was so much easier to talk to the kids. But I wasn’t entirely satisfied — I felt sort of “hard,” although that doesn’t adequately explain it. It’s so funny how things just come all at once! Everyone thought I looked very nice. We had a short house meeting at 10:30.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
May 17, 1941
Up early. Couldn’t sleep. Very warm. Before music lesson I took some butter to Clure’s. Mr. Tomilson was sitting by the radio, reading. It sprinkled on way down and looked like rain. We certainly need it. Home and helped Mom. My booklet, “I Believe in America” came. At 10:30 we picked up Mrs. Winslow, Julian, and then Marg. Louie.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
May 17, 1888
I did not do much today, as I had to be careful not to get cold in my mouth. I wrote a letter to Scott Williams this forenoon. He is not coming home from Chile this year as I expected, because he is in love with a girl there and don’t want to come away without her. I planted some melon seeds this afternoon, and as it rains this evening they may have a good time to start. The missionary society packed a barrel here this afternoon that is to go to some place in the north. Our furniture was brought up today.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
May 17, 1887
I have been very busy all day getting ready to start for Benzonia tomorrow. Pa is going to take me and my things to Plymouth where I will take a freight car and go to Manistee with the pony and drive from there. I went over to father Queal’s and got their “jogger,” so Will can drive Jimmie to Plymouth. I visited with John Williams a while at noon, but I have visited but few of my friends here this time. Henry and Nellie were over a while tonight. It has been sprinkling some today, but did not rain much of any. Kate and I packed a barrell [sic] full of cans and jars of fruit, butter, etc. I have my satchel nearly ready.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
May 17, 1863
Clear & windy. No preaching near today. Fannie will soon have dinner ready. Atheline has the baby. The other children downstairs. Harrie sitting in front piazza reading. Matt asleep in side room & I am upstairs in Harrie’s room writing. I expect to spend the evening in, reading my bible. I am reading in 1st Kings. I am also reading Josephus’ works on the Bible. I read one & then the other so as to keep them on the same subject. Dinner is nearly ready so I will stop for the present. I spent the evening in reading.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
May 17, 1862
I had the toothache very badly this morning for a while. It was 9 o’clock or after before I got the house cleaned. I went up to the garden & got some lettice for dinner, also some flowers for the vases. I eat a hearty dinner of onions & lettice & felt drowsy and headache all the evening. Did no work today. My head ached badly at night. Smith the tanner staid all night. Fannie ironed some this evening & made some ginger cakes for the children. I washed Zona & put her on clean clothes. Pinck took a long nap this evening.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 36, London
May 17, 1669
Up, and to several places doing business, and then home to dinner, and then my wife and I and brother John by coach to the King’s playhouse, and saw “The Spanish Curate” revived, which is a pretty good play, but my eyes troubled with seeing it, mightily. Thence carried them and Mr. Gibson, who met me at my Lord Brouncker’s with a fair copy of my petition, which I thought to shew the Duke of York this night, but could not, and therefore carried them to the Park, where they had never been, and so home to supper and to bed. Great the news now of the French taking St. Domingo, in Spaniola, from the Spaniards, which troubles us, that they should have it, and have the honour of taking it, when we could not.
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)