January 21
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
January 21, 1997
Today at school was good. For a while I thought Sean was neglecting me, but he wasn’t. Tim said I looked good!! :) Went to Renée’s after school. Came home, did homework. Talked to Karen. Ate dinner. Talked to Sean and he said I was a good kisser! (He MEANT it.) I love him… Talked to Dad.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
January 21, 1944
Beautiful, mild day. Good breakfast. Practiced at 8. Test in shorthand - 197 words. Fun in dancing class at 10. Went to see Mr. Baltzer at 11 - he asked me all about Kay. Guess she’s coming! Practiced then til noon. Lunch with Mary and Betty. Read stories during siesta and had Eng. Lit. Class at 2. Mr. Miller is quite a scholar! Back to room and read til 3:30 when Mary, Betty and I went down to Hall and saw Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman in “For Whom the Bell Tolls” in technicolor. Magnificent is the word - we dripped all over the place. Not Mary tho. Not out til 6:30. What a picture!!! I can’t put into words what happened to me when I sat there and saw and thought and experienced. I saw clearly the future - my whole life, past and present and future. My destiny, I guess. I have only to face it now - it’s all cleared up, all the questions are answered - except one maybe and that will come later. It isn’t imagination - it’s real. I saw it and felt it. Sunset gorgeous as we walked home. Talked about “world situation” and got boiling mad about politics, etc. We’ve got to do something!! Letter and cornbread from Mum. Divided latter up. At 7:30 went to cinema lab and saw “Birth of the Blues” with Bing Crosby. [In upper margin] Hair looked so nice - parted in the middle.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
January 21, 1887
It was cold again this morning, the thermometer being down to 0. I got up and fed Fred’s colts before daylight and then went to studying Bookkeeping. It was a clear and sunshiny day, which is the first one I have seen since I came up. It warmed up a good deal and appears like storming tonight. The Bookkeeping works came on the stage tonight, so I can begin teaching that by next week Tuesday. I shall deliver the books tomorrow. I called at Mr. Waters after school tonight and learned that Fred was to be home tonight, so I shall see him tomorrow. I was up town tonight, and opened the books and found them all right.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
January 21, 1862
Atheline in the house today. I finished Uncle Sam’s coat & cut Charlie one. Willie fretful, his bowels no better. I took a nap in the arm chair this evening & my head got better. Warm weather. It seems like Spring. I sent Sister Martha Arthur & Jinnie a pan of butter by Harrie. He leaves Asheville tomorrow. Poor fellow. I never expect to see him again. He has gone to Columbia to renew his shattered health.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)