April 18
Emily P., age 26, Pennsylvania
April 18, 2004
Winter and Spring had a ferocious battle for sovereignty over Philadelphia during the late-night hours of April 12. It had been irritatingly chilly and soakingly rainy all day. Mark and I met for Malaysian food before Death Cab was to take the stage at the Troc [ticket stub taped onto the page]. Upon stepping out of my cab, I was sprayed by a passing car, leaving most of the left side of the same leg uncomfortably drenched. I drank my tea while waiting for Mark, trying to banish the grumpiness that cold,wet denim can inspire.
Death Cab was good, though not remarkably so — not like last time. Mark was sick, with a throat too sore to admit more than a sip of beer. I can never enjoy myself if the person I’m with is uncomfortable; I give great sympathy.
We shuffled out of the Troc around 12:30, to discover that the seasons were duking it out blitzkrieg style. Winter was pissed and not willing to shove off without one last “fuck you” to the Cit of Brotherly Love. The rain had become a barrage of tiny bullets, transformed by the gale-force wind that whipped
(It snows in Spring here. Tiny, white petals carried from trees on the breeze.)
through the city. I tried blocking the rain with my umbrella. “Bitch, please,” Winter responded, violently blowing the umbrella inside-out. An inside-out umbrella strikes me as oddly grotesque. I righted it, closed it, and made my way with the others toward the “shelter” of a bus stop on Market Street. The wind threatened to knock me over, and I wondered how Pat’s tiny girlfriend wasn’t whisked away — a P.O.W. Cabs were hard to come by, and we stood shivering before a little graveyard of mangled umbrella carcasses for what seemed like a very long time indeed before Pat (our savior!) sprinted across the street and hailed a cab — I firmly believe it was the last in the city. The five of us piled in, cold, wet, and laughing in wonder at the apocalyptic weather that had set in while we were innocently digging Death Cab. My body hurt from the forcefulness of my shivering.
In the end, Spring appears to have won. The city has come alive, with no one wanting to miss anything — themselves (ourselves) becoming the very thing others don’t want to miss. It’ll be chilly and rainy again soon, and there seems to be a sense of urgency among the masses to enjoy the day while we have it. This is not a sense often experienced during Winter. I have to go now — I might be missing something.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
April 18, 1998
Took Jon home. Don’t like him. Took Courtney home. Napped. Went 2 mall. Chilled. Went 2 Glennaire. Courtney’s crying’ over Liam. Went 2 Ash’s and Sean, Travis, Thor and Andy came. Courtney and Liam came and it was ALL GOOD. Had so much fun w/ Sean. Miss him. Ash spent night. Watched “League Of Their Own.”
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
April 18, 1997
O.K. day at school. I was kind of worried that me and Mike’s fling was over. Poison ivy on my face! :( I hate this… Driver’s Ed. Came home and packed. Went to Renee’s at 6:00 ish. Gave each other make-overs, danced, talked to Mike and Zach on phone. Ashley came over. More assured about Mike and me, now. Dad picked me up at 12:00. Went to his house and went to bed.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 18, 1960
Up early — began working and decided to wash and a big one. A nice bright breezy day so everything dried nicely. Mrs. B. called for me to come over so went for coffee. She not herself yet. Lo shopped at A&P at noon at nite — at Piggly Wiggly. Stopped at Carrie’s.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
April 18, 1944
Another cloudy, cold day. I give up! No philosophy so at 11 I went to town and did some shopping. Cleaned brown and white shoes till they looked like new. Good lunch. During siesta Betty and I pretended we were having a big fight and Jane thought we were! I slept from 1:30 til about 2:15. Betty got all washed and dressed and ready to leave for bus station about 2:30 (going to St. Louis with history of art class to visit art museum) - I hid her suitcase under bed and we had last minute fuss - in fun. After she left I dressed and went down to city library. Read part of Moffatt’s translation of the Bible and Fosdick’s On Being a Real Person both for philosophy. Home about 6. To dinner and sat with usual kids but at different table. Afterwards went up to conservatory recital hall and practiced piece. Back to hall and spent evening studying. Mary Jo, Jane and Neen went to the show. To bed early. Missed Betty but it is rather peaceful! :)
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
April 18, 1941
Cloudy in morning. Nice, hot, very summery. In chapel they gave a skit from the play -- the tooth-pulling. It seemed to go over very well. We of the cast stayed and practiced till 10:30. Back just in time to join Latin class in hearing Mrs. Bunch review “There Shall Be No Night,” a play on the war. It was very good and made me vow not to waste my life. It was lovely at noon -- had rained a little but was clear and warmer. I just didn’t feel like studying in the afternoon. At 2:00 we of the cast were excused. Mary had sent word by Ernest that she wanted four tickets. Not knowing how to get in touch with Ernest and being too tired to figure it out, I walked over to Mary’s with the tickets. Saw her lovely apple trees in blossom. She was so sweet. Pie is too sick to come back here to school and isn’t coming back to Tennessee again -- climate doesn’t agree with him. Poor Mary! I nearly roasted going home and did -- Mother bawled me out when she found out where I’d been. I realized then how foolish I’d been but I was too tired to think of any other way of getting the tickets to Mary. I rested awhile and cooled off. Mom very angry and promised me a nice punishment.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
April 18, 1888
I finished putting out currant bushes this forenoon, had 1 doz. bushes and 31 cuttings. Kate and baby went over to father Queal’s this morning, Willie going along to wheel the cart. I went to Dexter this afternoon to get the mail, and expected my typewriter would be in the express office, but it was not. Stopped at father Queal’s to stay all night.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
April 18, 1887
We got up at 3:00 o’clock this morning, ate our breakfast and then I said good-bye to Mrs. Neill and Jessie, and Fred and I started for Frankfort. It was quite cool and frosty. We got to the boat in plenty time. I bought 2 [?] Water line, which Fred was going to take back for me. The lake was quite smooth, so I did not get sick in coming down to Manistee where I took the train. I had a bad affair with my satchel, which I had checked and they broke a can of maple syrup, which is all over the things in it. I am writing in the depot at Wayne Jr., not a good place.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
April 18, 1871
Cousin Jim took me to Bridgeport, reached Vinenness at 1 p. m. Missed connections and had to wait until 7 p. m. When I studied about this old French town, I little thought I would ever be stranded there six hours. When 7 p. m. came, I had walked around the town, sat on the bank of the Wabash, read all the love stories in Harpers Magazine, and embroidered a little. Spent the night in Terre Haut, and had another long wait at Green Castle, from 8-30 to 1 p. m. “What cant be cured must be endured.” I tried to wait patiently. There was timber near the depot, and the red wood or red bud was in bloom. I sat there and read and embroidered, so the time did not seem so long.
At LaFayette waited another two hours—and finily reached W. Glad to get back to Red Oak Shelter where I found several letters waiting for me.
Brother Philip wrote his address is Wichita Kans. He had spent the winter in Kans. and Indian Territory. He says he knows nothing about schools, but if I want to come west, I can take up Government Land, and after living on it six months, can prove up on it by paying $1 1/4 an acre for it. He took up a claim some time ago, and if I go—I can stay with him, his house is almost finished. I am only to take heavy strong clothing, and what ever I will want for a bed. The rout is via Quincy— Kansas City, Topeka, Emporia—There a stage runs to Wichita, where he will meet me, or 20 miles to Ninnescaw River, on the old Texas trail. If I decide to go, I shall do so at once. Brother says he would go with me, but his men are plowing with five teams, and another planting corn, so he cant leave now. I wonder what mother will say, when she hears I am going to Kansas.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
April 18, 1862
I had a letter from Mr. Henry today by Hendrix. The stillhouse company nearly all came back. The militia is not to go but a company leaves Asheville today made up out of the militia, mostly married men. The Night’s are determined not to go. Mail came this morning but nothing new going on. The yanks have taken Fort Paleski near Savannah Geo. We are nearly surrounded by the vandals. I did not work much today for I did not feel well. I mended up some old clothes & my hoop. Mary Taylor spent the evening here. She had nothing to say. She is a strange creature. Louise McKinnish has staid with me at night since Tuesday night. Mr. Henry sent his blankets home by Hendrix. He has been out on picket one night so he wrote me. Said he was not cold. I fear for his dear life & well as health but God that takes care of us at all times will, I feel, take care of him.
*(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
April 18, 1669
(Lord’s day). Up, and all the morning till 2 o’clock at my Office, with Gibson and Tom, about drawing up fair my discourse of the Administration of the Navy, and then, Mr. Spong being come to dine with me, I in to dinner, and then out to my Office again, to examine the fair draught; and so borrowing Sir J. Minnes’s coach, he going with Colonel Middleton, I to White Hall, where we all met and did sign it and then to my Lord Arlington’s, where the King, and the Duke of York, and Prince Rupert, as also Ormond and the two Secretaries, with my Lord Ashly and Sir T. Clifton was. And there, by and by, being called in, Mr. Williamson did read over our paper, which was in a letter to the Duke of York, bound up in a book with the Duke of York’s Book of Instructions. He read it well; and, after read, we were bid to withdraw, nothing being at all said to it. And by and by we were called in again, and nothing said to that business; but another begun, about the state of this year’s action, and our wants of money, as I had stated the same lately to our Treasurers; which I was bid, and did largely, and with great content, open. And having so done, we all withdrew, and left them to debate our supply of money; to which, being called in, and referred to attend on the Lords of the Treasury, we all departed. And I only staid in the House till the Council rose; and then to the Duke of York, who in the Duchess’s chamber come to me, and told me that the book was there left with my Lord Arlington, for any of the Lords to view that had a mind, and to prepare and present to the King what they had to say in writing, to any part of it, which is all we can desire, and so that rested. The Duke of York then went to other talk; and by and by comes the Prince of Tuscany to visit him, and the Duchess; and I find that he do still remain incognito, and so intends to do all the time he stays here, for avoiding trouble to the King and himself, and expence also to both. Thence I to White Hall Gate, thinking to have found Sir J. Minnes’s coach staying for me; but, not being there, and this being the first day of rain we have had many a day, the streets being as dusty as in summer, I forced to walk to my cozen Turner’s, and there find my wife newly gone home, which vexed me, and so I, having kissed and taken leave of Betty, who goes to Putney to school to-morrow, I walked through the rain to the Temple, and there, with much ado, got a coach, and so home, and there to supper, and Pelling comes to us, and after much talk, we parted, and 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.)