July 30
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 30, 1997
Awesome! Me and Ashley were bored until about 2:00 and that’s when Chris came over! (He was with the same friend, Zach.) They chilled at Ashley’s for a bit and then we went to Bond Park and chilled. They came back to Ashley’s. Me and Chris were on the couch and he put his head near me. Then I told him about the guy at Further Fest and he asked for a kiss on the cheek. :) Gave him a massage and left him wanting more. He put his feet in my lap and I tried to push him off at first. When they left we hugged and he tried to take me with. Dad picked me up.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 30, 1960
Baked pie for eve. Expect folks. Started meat. Hendricks came, after they left, Dorothy Tallman came. Folks were bringing Wilbur down, she taking him to Mundeline. Hendricks came back wanted Pink and Marian to come to open house at R. Andrews. We went to cabin just to eat, there until dark home to visit.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 30, 1944
Up about 8:15. Cloudy. To Sunday school at 9:45. Sat with Kimmie and Pan. Pop acted as superintendent in Mr. Ahler’s absence. We 3 went in Miss Mellie’s class. Not many there. We left right after the lesson because the Christian church starts at 10:45. Stopped by Youngs’ and then on down to Christian church. Dr. Bell’s last Sunday and the church was almost full. We were a little late. Dr. Bell gave quite a long sermon. Various people were wiping their eyes and blowing their noses. Over a little after 12. Saw Miss Staples. Met Mary. She looked so sweet and pretty. Horace there, too. They’re having Dr. Bell and family for dinner. Talked outside with Kimmie and Betsy and others. Mary wanted me to come down this afternoon and go swimming with them but I told her I couldn’t today. Still cloudy and looked very much like rain. Dr. Bell is a wonderful man — he’s been here 20 years and 8 months. The church will certainly miss him. Walked up to Kimmie’s and Pan’s and on home. Passed Grace Smith and Ruth Jean Irwin and we talked a minute. The latter has peroxided her hair and wears it Veronica Lake style. Total effect very corny. Good dinner at 1. Then dishes. It cleared and the sun came out. Hot. Pop went down to the office. Mum persuaded me to lie down with her and sleep. I day-dreamed (about Ashley, ashamed to say!) and had a wonderful time. Drifted off to sleep and dreamed that Betty Jeane came back for another visit; a man climbed up a ladder and peeked in my bedroom window; I was in a church with only my slip on and — Mum woke me at 4:30. I got up, feeling like a dishrag, and made sandwiches while Mum tended to other aspects of the supper. We were all prepared by 5. Cloudy again. I dressed and had just gotten the chairs set up in the back yard when it started to rain. A mad rush getting them in again with Mum lamenting “Oh, what a shame!” At which point Kimmie and Kay arrived followed a few minutes later by Betsy and then Pan. The latter 2 had been playing tennis and were worn out. It stopped raining as suddenly as it had started so we carried the chairs out again. Kim helped Mum and I serve. Had luscious picnic supper and stuffed to capacity. Mum came out and read us some limericks. Pan and Betsy put on a show for us and I, at any rate, nearly died laughing. Pop was supposed to be asleep but I don’t see how he could have slept through that! About 6:30 we went in. We repaired our damaged make-up and Kay and Betsy left for Christian Education, profuse in their thanks and compliments on the supper. Pan, Kim and I followed and went down to their house. I looked at magazines. About 7:30 we went down to Methodist Church. Early for a change. Not as many there as usual. Very threatening outside. Lovely breeze. Mr. Briggs gave a short sermon in Mr. Brewster’s absence. Out about 8:30. Talked to Betty Bowman — til Wolf Jack Brown whisked her away. Margaret and Roby came out and we kidded with them. Mrs. Geasland, too. Finally parted after Roby and I nearly beat each other up. One minute it was lightning“ing” and thundering and the next minute the moon was out. Went up to Youngs’. Mrs. and Mr.’s visiting sister were sitting out on the porch. I was introduced. We 3 went in and Mrs. Young suggested watermelon so Kim, Pan and I sat at the kitchen table and feasted. We kidded and had ever so much fun. I came suddenly alive again and loved everybody. When I told them about Rochester, Pan said she was glad I wasn’t going way out to Washington. After stuffing ourselves to the high water (melon) mark, we adjourned to the living room where Pan accompanied Kim and I in a rendition of “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.” Then Pan and I did the conga and tried to teach Kimmie — she did it like a wooden doll! :) Left about 9:30 and they walked home with me. Pan brought up the subject of Ashley so I told them about Arabia and what happened that last Saturday night. Moon shining and rain all gone by. Said ’night. They’re both so sweet! Did stack of dishes and to bed. Oh yes, Pop brought a letter from Little Betty this afternoon. She is back home now after an eventful visit in California. She wrote Mum, too, but Mum wouldn’t read it. I read it and it was a very nice thank-you letter. I guess she didn’t intend to write before getting home. Although I’m definitely not going to Washington now, I felt much better and all is forgiven and forgotten. Nice letter from Carlyle thanking Mum for the little gift she sent their baby Rita. Felt good.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 30, 1887
We went to the pines yesterday afternoon and camped out for the night but the mosquitos [sic] bit so that I did not sleep but very little. It was a hot day and night too. Fred and I hunted a long ways for berries, but found very poor picking. We came home this afternoon. I went up town and got the mail.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
July 30, 1871
Have not written for some time, as I am nearly out of paper. We had a terrible storm last night, and this morning it just poured down. The roof leaked for the first time. I slept very little and am nodding now. The house looks very untidy, only one side leaked which was fortunate.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
July 30, 1862
I sewed some on Fannie’s dress. Took Willie to ride on Jent (Hutsell mare). She is very lazy. I had to whip all the time. I only went on top of the hill towards Quinn’s. It looked very much like rain & did rain soon after I got back. I had promised to ride Zona when I came back but she was not at the house & when she came it was raining. She was very angry about it, cried a good deal. Willie’s bowels bad all day. Mr. Henry went to the carding machine today, took Pinck. It was dark when they got back.
*(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
July 30, 1667
Up, and by water to White Hall. There met with Mr. May, who was giving directions about making a close way for people to go dry from the gate up into the House, to prevent their going through the galleries; which will be very good. I staid and talked with him about the state of the King’s Offices in general, and how ill he is served, and do still find him an excellent person, and so back to the office. So close at my office all the afternoon till evening, and then out with my wife to the New Exchange, and so back again.
*(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.)