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 15, North Carolina
November 18, 1997
Busy, BUSY, BUSY. Good day at school. Have a B in Science and English. Sandra picked me up. Worked with Meri and John. Came home and did homework. Had guitar lesson. Evan’s cool. Ate breakfast 4 dinner — good. Did more homework with “Mad About You.” Sean’s still cool. I love him.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
November 18, 1938
Cloudy and warm but looks as if it might clear. Got up at usual time and studied a half hour. Had chapel and pep meeting. Mary was nearly late. Usual classes. Mr. Ballard out most of Algebra class. Home for dinner. Quite warm. Back to school. Finished up English (very long lesson) in study period. Didn’t have Eng. class but had to hand papers in. Read in last period. Got out about 2:15. Nancy Wallace gave me her English book to take to her house for her. Mary and I watched the Drill Team come out. First though, we went to Nancy’s and left her book. Quite cloudy and the wind was getting up. Mary and I parted. Nearly blew away. Walked up the hill with a friendly little boy (or rather blew up). Got home just as the storm broke. Too bad for ball game. Last game of year. Harriman plays Kingston. [In upper margin: “Harriman won 6-2.”] I practiced from 15 to 3:00 till 15 to 4:00. Then I dressed for rain and started for the library. Asked George but he couldn’t go with me. Ruined my suede shoes. Got “Blue Castle” by L.M. Montgomery. Grace and Jean spoke to me at library about C.E. book. When I got home I changed my shoes and socks and studied my expression and read. Dried dishes. Mother took Allan, who is sick again, some pudding. Ate supper. Daddy came. He had to go to Mason’s Meeting. I read, did the dishes and to bed. Daddy home about midnight. Thunderstorm at night.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
November 18, 1887
I measured the wood cut and went over and paid Mr. Olson for doing the work then I made roads to it so I can draw it out as soon as I get time. Received a postal card from ma tonight and Kate had a letter from Nellie. I received my Nov. Art Journal and a sample copy of the Western Penman. They have set me crazy about penmanship. Kate is not feeling well lately and I wish we could live nearer home. The worst wind I about ever saw is raging tonight, so I did not go to Literary Society.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
November 18, 1862
I wrote a short note to Mr. Henry by Mull this morning. I have made the other pair of soldier’s pants today, got done before night & knit on Mr. Henry’s comfort. I sold 8 lbs. of butter today for four dollars. Two horse drivers stay here tonight. Boyd has not come back yet. I wish he would finish the loom, he began it last week. Nothing new going on. Rumor says France Starnes is dead. Poor fellow, he was very loath to go. I fear a great many will die this winter. Oh God who art never out of hearing, grant I pray Thee, grant us an honorable peace is the prayer of one that offers it up nightly.
*(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 34, London
November 18, 1667
Up, and all the morning at my office till 3 after noon with Mr. Hater about perfecting my little pocket market book of the office, till my eyes were ready to fall out of my head, and then home to dinner, glad that I had done so much, and so abroad to White Hall, to the Commissioners of the Treasury, and there did a little business with them, and so home, leaving multitudes of solicitors at their door, of one sort or other, complaining for want of such despatch as they had in my Lord Treasurer’s time, when I believe more business was despatched, but it was in his manner to the King’s wrong. Among others here was Gresham College coming about getting a grant of Chelsey College for their Society, which the King, it seems, hath given them his right in; but they met with some other pretences, I think; to it, besides the King’s.
Thence took up my wife, whom I had left at her tailor’s, and home, and there, to save my eyes, got my wife at home to read again, as last night, in the same book, till W. Batelier come and spent the evening talking with us, and supped with us, and so to bed.
*(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.)