August 31
Mark S., age 44, South Carolina
August 31, 1997
Sandra woke me up at 6 A.M. to tell me re death of Princess Diana in MVA in Paris after being chased by photographers. :( Back to sleep til ~8:00. Talk in bed with Sandra. Watched news reports on Princess Diana’s death. Breakfast with Sandra at the South Beach Deli; two-handed Spades. To Westin Resort for American Academy of Pediatrics conference; diary, medical journal poolside at break. Filled out conference evaluation questionnaire during lectures; left Westin ~1:00 => met Sandra at Truffles in Sea Pines for lunch; Spades. To grocery store in Harbor Town with Sandra; to Sea Pines Tennis Center; newspaper in bathroom at Harbor Town Golf Links clubhouse. Tennis with Sandra => hit for ~45 minutes, then played sets (3-6, 4-6). To Truffles to get bike => biked back to condo at South Beach solo. Phone to Rebecca at Mortons’. Walked over to South Seaport Cafe for supper; talked to kayak guide re alligators. Walked back to condo with Sandra, then out on beach with Sandra. TV tennis (Spirlea > Coetzer in U.S. Open) while playing Spades => cut Sandra’s lead from ~400 to ~160. Sandra to bed. Medical journal while watching TV football (Redskins > Panthers in season opener). Diary. Watched Sports Center. Office bills. Newspaper.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 31, 1997
Went 2 work from 8-close. Showered. Called Chris and he pissed me off. He said he felt bad and I said, “Really? You can do that, Chris?!” I told him not 2 come over. An hour later he calls and says he wants 2 come over. So did Gerard and Ryan. Ate dinner. Courtney picked me up. :) Stopped by Liam’s. Chilled at her house. She told me her and Liam…
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 31, 1960
Very hot. Usual round of work plus ironing. Helen stopped in just before noon with beautiful red roses from funeral.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 31, 1944
It rained hard in early morn and was still sprinkling when I went home about 7. So I put a bath towel over my head and went barefoot, carrying my red satin slippers and alarm clock. Good thing it was only 7 a.m.!! Ironed a dress. Mum and Pop got up. About 9 Kimmie came and we set out for school. Still raining a little. We waited in the hall till the 9:30 bell to change classes rang. Then we found Mrs. Geasland and spent the next hour visiting her American history class. It’s kindergarten stuff compared with the English history I had last year. But Mrs. Geasland is so sweet and wonderful. They’re awfully crowded this year — need more rooms and more teachers. Mrs. G. had time to talk with us. I told her that I was sure I wanted to be a teacher. Oh! I’d give anything almost to be back in school — as a student but the only way I can ever go back is as a teacher now. Saw Martin and exchanged greetings. After class we looked up Mrs. Bunch and saw Mrs. McCluen. Wanted to see Miss Lucy but she had a library full — George being one of the inmates. So we left about 10:45 and walked to town. The sun and blue sky had struggled through and were chasing away the dark clouds. Went to bank and Mrs. Young cashed my check. Then Kim and I went to Hamilton’s to look at dresses, etc. There was the prettiest coat but the price tag — $83.40 (?) made me turn and run. Then on up to Dress Shop to look at more dresses. Found a cute lavender one but didn’t try it on. Went up by Kimmie’s. Pan came home from school. Then Kim walked home with me to get her comb. Mum put me to work and when Pop came we had a good dinner. He brought a very interesting letter from Betty Laft. She’s going to work in Chicago this year instead of going back to finish at the “U.” of Minnesota. She hated the sorority house she was in. Hmm! Well, I never had much desire to live in one. I was busy most of the afternoon, ironing, dusting, etc. Mum and I discussed my wardrobe and what I’d have to get at Knoxville. I have over $100 saved and have made $150 this summer!! Kim called and wanted me to come down but I was too busy. In late afternoon it clouded up and rained a bit. I phoned Clure and asked her to bring the lavender dress home for me to try on. I went over in Reed’s back yard once after a shower and it has all grown up. The grass is so deep. Have not felt free lately. Couldn’t even recapture feeling there. But then it isn’t something fleeting. Played piano before supper. “Pomp and Circumstance” brought George over for a minute and then Clure came with the dress. They both departed and I tried on the dress. It fitted very nicely and I decided to keep it as a semi-good dress. Could hear George whistling “P. & C.” I took a bath and sang. Saw Ashley in the bathroom. Good supper about 6:45. Pop came. Cloudy and looked like rain again. Dishes and dressed. Went over to Clure’s and paid her for the dress. Light in Ashley’s room. George had gone to band practice. Just as I was leaving Mother Lane came and brought us a lovely bouquet of flowers. We walked up to her house together. Stopped by Mrs. Julian’s and paid her for the garage rent. Then on down to Kimmie’s. She was all done at the table, stuffing herself with the last sweet morsels. Pan was at band practice but Mr. and Mrs. Young were home. Kim and I played Mozart till exhausted and then refreshed with fruit juice. About 9:30 I left and she walked up to Marshes’ with me. On home. Light in Ashley’s room. I just knew he was packing ’cause tomorrow is September 1st. Got my things and started for Walkers’. Sprinkling. I wonder just why Ashley didn’t ask me for a date. He dated Ona, a year younger. And June Smalley, who was in my class. Was I too childish or unfriendly or uninteresting or what? I’d just like to know. Well, I don’t want to have a line — I just want to be strictly honest and sincere. Well, with the summer goes Ashley — he did make it more interesting but I guess it’s just as well he didn’t like me enough. I wonder if I shall ever attract men. To bed right away ’cause I didn’t have to curl my hair.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 31, 1887
Practiced writing again this forenoon and then worked so much this afternoon that I lost more than I gained in steadiness of nerve for writing. Kate has been cleaning plums today. We had a bushel, I think on the one tree. This afternoon I went to work and put up the eaves troughs on the front side of the house and made connections all around with the cistern. Grace Fitts was here visiting Kate and doing sewing on the machine. It has turned much warmer. I had a bad pain in my side this afternoon.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
August 31, 1862
Cloudy this morning. We need rain very badly. There was rain on the mountains yesterday evening but we got none. This will be a long, long day to me. I expect to spend it on reading. I hope Mr. Henry will be here before another Sunday. I shall look for him the last of this week. We have had several watermelons. We have two nice ones I want to save till Mr. Henry, Dora and them comes. They are not pulled yet.
*(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 35, London
August 31, 1668
Up, and to my office, there to set my journal for all the last week, and so by water to Westminster to the Exchequer, and thence to the Swan, and there drank and did baiser la fille there, and so to the New Exchange and paid for some things, and so to Hercules Pillars, and there dined all alone, while I sent my shoe to have the heel fastened at Wotton’s, and thence to White Hall to the Treasury chamber, where did a little business, and thence to the Duke of York’s playhouse and there met my wife and Deb. and Mary Mercer and Batelier, where also W. Hewer was, and saw “Hamlet,” which we have not seen this year before, or more; and mightily pleased with it; but, above all, with Betterton, the best part I believe, that ever man acted. Thence to the Fayre, and saw “Polichinelle,” and so home, and after a little supper to bed. This night lay the first night in Deb.’s chamber, which is now hung with that that hung our great chamber, and is now a very handsome room. This day Mrs. Batelier did give my wife a mighty pretty Spaniel bitch [Flora], which she values mightily, and is pretty; but as a new comer, I cannot be fond of her.
*(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.)