February 20
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
February 20, 1998
Sarah C. took me & Kim to work, but we chilled at my house for a bit. Sarah took me home, too. Showered. Dad came. Blow dried at his house. Had dinner. He took me to basketball game. Fun. Justin Hooks is so great. Hmmm… Dad picked me up and we rented & watched “The Game.” It was good.
Laura M., age 14, Colorado
February 20, 1997
Woke up at 8:00! :) Dad and Wayne went to A-basin while it snowed buckets, so me, Karen, Ashley, and Becca went shopping. Got an adorable bear for Sean :( —> I want it. Watched “Phenomenon.” I love that! Little girls went skiing. I played in the snow. Made burritos for dinner. Talked to Mom. Watched “Friends.” (So GOOD.) “Single Guy.” “Seinfeld.” Played cards.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 20, 1960
Up quite early, cold, Lo to have bake sale. She stayed down to eat with Lily. Helen and Doc not eating with us. Helen’s cough so bad. Lo came home before 3:00 and we two went to Edith Bohen’s for tea. Her sister and a friend were out for week end. Stayed about 2 hours. Home to change and go out to feed. Came home after 7:30. Listened to Lawrence Welk. Hugh brot oil.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 20, 1944
Bright and cold. Warmer in afternoon. Betty and I had slight blow-up in morn. Tut, tut! Listened to Burrall broadcast - Mrs. Curtis Bok spoke. She was teacher of the class before Mr. Weaver. Excellent. While Betty took a bath I listened to music and thought about what Mrs. Bok had said - about Lord’s Prayer, etc. To church at 12. Rev. Blanchard’s sermon very good. Saw Mr. Berry. Dinner at 1. Yummy! Afterwards Mary, Kath., and I went to Missouri to see Margaret O’Brien and James Craig in “Lost Angel.” (Betty had to study.) It was so sweet! I dripped all over the place much to the amusement of Mary and Kath. Walked back thru town. Sky so blue and lovely! Letter from Mum. Cleaned room. We all went to supper at 6. Real good. Listened to One Man’s Family at 7:30. Then wrote letters and thought again.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
February 20, 1941
Bright, cold. History test. Fine jumble. Made 96 on last test. Test in typing. Mary Louie and I both made 36-6. In gay mood at noon. Back to school with Mary Scarbrough. Borrowed five cents from Helen and gave it to Ella to get me some typing paper. Fine rush at last minute. I typed after school. I’m still in love -- help! Left at 4:30. Walked up hill with J.C. Dunn. At night, George came over to escape terrors of women’s DAR meeting at his house. Read in bedroom. He gave me some gum and got me tickled imitating Earl proposing to me. George has a “German haircut.” I like it. Read three stories for English. All lovely. Especially the one about Barbie and Moo. Also the war one. Made me feel so strange. I don’t want Mary to come back to school -- everything has changed now -- can never be the same. Feel as if I had gone away and left a part of myself behind. Called Pan -- she can go to Knoxville.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 20, 1888
It rained about all of last night and the roads were so soft I saw very few teams out today. It turned into snow during the forenoon and stormed considerable this afternoon. Kate did the washing this forenoon. I studied bookkeeping some today enough to finish a set I began work on some time ago. Gave the cellar an airing and a fumigating with sulphur. Kate thinks Una has begun to cut a tooth sure she made her thimble strike it. I wrote 2 dozen cards for Mr. and Mrs. Waters this evening.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 20, 1887
I got up this morning and built fires. It was 2 degrees[below] zero at that time but grew warmer soon and has been a very pleasant day. I went to church and sung in the choir this forenoon in the place of their regular tenor singer who was absent today. I did not stay to Sunday school but came home with Fred. Grace and Charlie came down to dinner. We had fish that Fred got in Frankfort yesterday, it tasted good. I have been reading a good deal from Longfellow’s works, today. I began a letter to my Kate this afternoon and evening. I am afraid it will be a long time before I shall see her.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Columbus T., age 31, North Carolina
February 20, 1874
Began a little cloudy but soon became a bright pleasant day. Dreamed I was in Paris. Had much talk with sister concerning “Mollie dear” and home matters. Heard a few pieces from her on the piano, vizt “Lone rock by the Sea” and “Pass under the Rod.” Good old pieces.
Walked with Dr. and Bertha to Mr Farrar’s store to weigh. Bertha weighed 39 lbs and Dr. W and I each weighed 156 — more than I have since 1865.
Met Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Pitman a lady 70 years old. Sewing machine man called with one of Wheelers and Wilsons. Price $90. Swapped with Julia allowing her $30 for her old machine a 2d handed one for which she paid $35.
The Dr. is fonder of talking on Scripture subjects than any thing else. Had our usual comparison of ideas on Lertinity [?], church differences &c.
*(Worthy of Record: The Civil War and Reconstruction Diaries of Columbus Lafayette Turner, Ed. Kenrick N. Simpson, courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina.)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
February 20, 1863
I finished the last apron today, faced it around with yellow brilliante. I read all the papers. I received a letter from Sister Ell yesterday. She is doing finely with her little twin boys. Mr. Henry started this morning to attend the slaughtering of the hogs & is then going down after Matt as she has promised to come & spend some time with us. Mr. Henry will have to hire a buggy as he went horse back. He thinks he will be back in a week or two.
*(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
February 20, 1862
I got up with headache this morning & suffered all day with it. Mrs. Fanning came & got some filling this evening, black. Caladona Jones was here a short time this evening, wanted to get some flour & brought a letter to the office. Louise McKinnish came this evening after an egg or two to make salve to go to her little sister’s eye. I sewed a little this morning on one of Willie’s aprons but my head pained so badly I had to lay down. I got two tubs & a pig pen from Matt Cook today for which I gave one dollar & thirty-five cents & a comb for Pinck at 10 cts. but I can’t find the comb since. This evening Zona would have me to lay my head in her little lap for her to rub & comb & I have not seen the comb since. The mail came along tonight, it was due here last Monday but Vic has been sick.
*(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
February 20, 1668
Up, and to the office a while, and thence to White Hall by coach with Mr. Batelier with me, whom I took up in the street. I thence by water to Westminster Hall, and there with Lord Brouncker, Sir T. Harvy, Sir J. Minnes, did wait all the morning to speak to members about our business, thinking our business of tickets would come before the House to-day, but we did alter our minds about the petition to the House, sending in the paper to them. But the truth is we were in a great hurry, but it fell out that they were most of the morning upon the business of not prosecuting the first victory; which they have voted one of the greatest miscarriages of the whole war, though they cannot lay the fault anywhere yet, because Harman is not come home. This kept them all the morning, which I was glad of. So down to the Hall, where my wife by agreement stayed for me at Mrs. Michell’s, and there was Mercer and the girl, and I took them to Wilkinson’s the cook’s in King Street (where I find the master of the house hath been dead for some time), and there dined, and thence by one o’clock to the King’s house: a new play, “The Duke of Lerma,” of Sir Robert Howard’s: where the King and Court was; and Knepp and Nell spoke the prologue most excellently, especially Knepp, who spoke beyond any creature I ever, heard. The play designed to reproach our King with his mistresses, that I was troubled for it, and expected it should be interrupted; but it ended all well, which salved all. The play a well-writ and good play, only its design I did not like of reproaching the King, but altogether a very good and most serious play. Thence home, and there a little to the office, and so home to supper, where Mercer with us, and sang, and then 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.)