December 9
Mark S., age 59, Pennsylvania
December 9, 2012
Up ~9:15 after talk in bed with Janet; talk in den with Emily and Mark, Josh and Mark D. and Janet; played with Marielle and watched her play while watching NFL pre-game show; printed boarding passes with Janet; tweaked Fantasy Football line-up; stretched with Janet; made movie with iPhone of Janet and Marielle playing with tunnel I gave Marielle; more playing on floor with Janet and Marielle; lunch = chili, “football food” that Mark Miller and Josh got from store this morning; iPhone Hearts; TV football (several games, including Steelers vs. Chargers and Skins vs. Ravens); beer with Janet; packed; “bye” to Marielle, Josh, and Mark x 2 ~2:20 => Emily took us to train station at Melrose => “bye” to Em; huddled (cold, dreary, drizzly day) ~15 with Janet til train came => train to airport (diary; started Spades game with Janet; opened mail) => to airport ~3:25 => security; Janet got latte and I got wine on concourse => started game of Spades at Vino Vallo => to gate as they calling for us (last to board) => flew to RDU (Spades => I won, going 10 for 200 on last hand; started New York Times crossword) => *to Ute’s apartment near SAS for first time with Janet for dinner party with Ute, Tom Stammely, Frauke, and Chris; admired view of pool from balcony of apartment => talked to Frauke and Chris while they smoked cigarettes (checked football scores on iPhone) => dinner with everyone (delicious, hardy soup T.S. made); wine, talk; dessert = cake Ute made for Janet’s and Tom’s birthday (his tomorrow (#68?)); played Mao-Mao => I won x 2; “bye” to Ute, Tom, Frauke and Chris => took Tom to T.H. => home with Janet ~10:30; unpacked => to bed with Janet; end of TV football = Packers > Lions in snow in Green Bay; checked Fantasy scores; “cuddled” => to sleep.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
December 9, 1997
Good, busy day. Told Karen I have a crush on Hooks. Damn, it’s official and I hate that. Went 2 Renée’s with Renée and Zach. Mom and Em came. We all went 2 “SteinMarts” and shopped. Got Eddie’s X-mas present at “Office Max.” Did homework and ate. No guitar ’cause of so much homework.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
December 9, 1960
Wind bad again. Went to Carrie’s after doing some work. Mrs. B. wanted me to come in when I went to Carrie’s. Mae P. came in P.M. While at coffee Mrs. Elfer came, she had tea. After getting home from cabin Lo made batch of fruit cookies.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
December 9, 1938
Practiced. Dully, dreary, rainy day. Decided not to go to movies tonight because Daddy wants to hear Anthony Eden speak on the radio. Nancy not at school because she was sick. All the more dull. She talks so much that I miss her. No chapel. Usual classes. Algebra for once. Home for dinner. Back. Usual classes. Read in last period. Home after school. Worked on the story I’m trying to write. Then sewed and practiced and read. Helped Mother around suppertime and at 7:00 listened to Little Theater. Good. Daddy home. Then heard George Burns and Gracie Allen. Funny. Then read and washed dishes. At 8:30 heard Death Valley. Sad but ended right. Then to bed. Got in about 10:00. Daddy and Mother listened to Anthony Eden. Talk very good.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
December 9, 1887
Mrs. Bilderback came and did the washing today. I worked on copying the constitution into the secretary book for the College Literary Society this forenoon, but I am dissatisfied with my writing. I think sometimes that I ought not to pretend to do any nice writing. Have been trying to practice penmanship this evening, but do not make much headway.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
December 9, 1862
Mrs. Jamison came today & fixed the cloth in. I sent Hanes to Asheville today to get some alum, got none. I wanted to dye them madder red for the children’s dresses. I will now have to have some other colour as alum is not to be had. I had to try the new wheel last night, spun over a cut I think. I got a letter from Mr. Henry saying he would be at home the last of this week. I hope he may for I want him to get through with his hogs soon. He was on his way to Greenville. I made Willie an unbleached selicia today. Hanes brought the mail. I got a letter from Lou & one from Sister Frank. They were both very well. Some other letters came to soldier’s wives. I know they are glad to hear from their husbands.
*(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
December 9, 1667
All the morning busy at the office, doing very considerable business, and thither comes Sir G. Carteret to talk with me; who seems to think himself safe as to his particular, but do doubt what will become of the whole kingdom, things being so broke in pieces. He tells me that the King himself did the other day very particularly tell the whole story of my Lord Sandwich’s not following the Dutch ships, with which he is charged; and shews the reasons of it to be the only good course he could have taken, and do discourse it very knowingly. This I am glad of, though, as the King is now, his favour, for aught I see, serves very little in stead at this day, but rather is an argument against a man; and the King do not concern himself to relieve or justify any body, but is wholly negligent of everybody’s concernment. This morning I was troubled with my Lord Hinchingbroke’s sending to borrow 200l. of me; but I did answer that I had none, nor could borrow any; for I am resolved I will not be undone for any body, though I would do much for my Lord Sandwich — for it is to answer a bill of exchange of his, and I perceive he hath made use of all other means in the world to do it, but I am resolved to serve him, but not ruin myself, as it may be to part with so much of the little I have by me to keep if I should by any turn of times lose the rest. At noon I to the ’Change, and there did a little business, and among other things called at Cade’s, the stationer, where he tells me how my Lord Gerard is troubled for several things in the House of Commons, and in one wherein himself is concerned; and, it seems, this Lord is a very proud and wicked man, and the Parliament is likely to order him. Then home to dinner, and then a little abroad, thinking to have gone to the other end of the town, but it being almost night I would not, but home again, and there to my chamber, and all alone did there draw up my answer to Sir Rob. Brookes’s letter, and when I had done it went down to my clerks at the office for their opinion which at this time serves me to very good purpose, they having many things in their heads which I had not in the businesses of the office now in dispute. Having done with this, then I home and to supper very late, and to bed. My [wife] being yet very ill of her looseness, by which she is forced to lie from me to-night in the girl’s chamber.
*(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.)