July 8
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 8, 1997
We were up by 9:00. All we did was watch T.V. — Rosie and “Scream” again. Liam came over. Took a nap. Mom came around 4:00. Came home and watched story. Good. Took a shower. Was bored as hell until dinner. Talked to Renée some, Dad some. Watched “Mad About You.” Talked to Sean. (He called me.) Had to go to Courtney’s to get my saline. Came home and stressed over all my zits. Upsets me. Did laundry. Sleep…
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
July 8, 1996
Good Day. Had volleyball camp from 9-12 with Shannon. Had lunch. Went to Alex’s with Shannon and Bryan. He kissed me in the kitchen and did a whole lot more in his bedroom. At dark he came over and we played Man Hunt. Made out in woods. He’s a good kisser. Now we’re dating. I don’t wanna go out. He’s so sweet.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 8, 1960
Felt some better so cleaned up stairs pretty well. Then Mrs. B. came for coffee. I hadn’t gotten over the hall as yet. Later I vacuumed hall, living room and dining room. After lunch did dust. Feel so much better that it all looks cleaner again. Had a little rest in the chair. Out to cabin stayed a while. Hoping it won’t rain Saturday as we’re planning steak grilled out of doors.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 8, 1944
Cloudy in morn but cleared about noon. Warmer. Busy in morn. Check for $10. Stopped by Kimmie’s and Pan’s at noon — got off early. Kimmie got back yesterday from Cincy. We fooled around and Pan was so affectionate and I felt ever so much at ease with them. It was wonderful!! Walked up hill with Marilyn Reed. They’re leaving Monday or Tuesday. Just before dinner a big project car stopped at Clure’s and Ashley drove away in it. I had the awful thought that maybe he was leaving for good and and my stomach had butterflies. I felt so silly and took myself in firm hand after lunch. It would be better if he would leave — I do the silliest things when I have a crush on someone!! Gave myself facial in afternoon, slept and ironed. Hot again. Early supper. About 6:15 I set out for Mrs. Jim Tarwater’s. Left some cake for Mrs. Winslow. Lovely late afternoon but oh I wish it would rain! Mr. and Mrs. Jim were just getting baby Penelope to bed — age 3 months. I sat in living room and read the evening paper. On the front page was the latest about that tragic troop train wreck near Jellico. Some of the names of the dead were listed. One was a Donald somebody and another a H. Mc. Somebody. It struck me that Don and Mc might have been on that train and I felt suddenly sick. Mr. Jim came in and we talked. The baby lifted up her voice but the bottle soon quieted her and they left about 7:15 for Oak Ridge. I should have heard from Jim this week and I’m worried about him. Then the train wreck. Just a tiny little bit of the feeling that people who are close to tragedy have come to me and I wanted to cry. Looked at magazines till about 9:30. Then wrote Jim — my patriotic duty as Betty Brainerd calls it! There was a knock at the door and Kimmie appeared on the scene. I gave her a chocolate and we talked. Pretty music on radio. Showed her Jim’s picture and she thought he was funny-looking!! The drip! A few minutes later laughter and loud giggles hailed the approach of Pan, Betsy and Ann Ray. I showed them through the downstairs and waited for Penelope to wake up and howl. They left about 10 without anything disastrous having occurred. They were sweet. I called Mum and then read a digest of a book, by Col. Stoopnagle and nearly died! The time went so fast — about 12 Mr. and Mrs. Jim returned and were overjoyed to learn that their off-spring had given me no trouble. Mrs. Jim wanted to give me $1.50 but I’d only take $1.00 cause I really didn’t do anything. Mr. Jim drove me home. Entered house just as clock struck 12. To bed. Pop said “These Watkinses” when I told them about the $1.00.
Marcy S., age 17, Ontario
July 8, 1941
Beautiful day. Windy, cool. Mr. Dawkes came over and invited us for a boat ride in the afternoon. We had dinner about 3:00 and left with him at 4:00. Oh, yes, in the morning, Mary led Mr. Dawkes to think that I have millions of boyfriends and he teased me all afternoon. It was sorta fun, pretending. He took us out to Whitefish. We would have gone out in the open lake, he said, but it was too windy. The water was so clear and blue and out beyond the islands were the whitecaps. We landed on this side of Whitefish and walked through the woods to the other side of the island. The pine needles covered the path and it wound through a fairy land. When we came out on the other side, the waves were dashing against the rocks, and the sun made them sparkle like diamonds. We walked along the shore, picking up fishermen’s floats, and examining peculiar rocks, which Mr. Dawkes told us about. He kept saying something about my boyfriends and then I told him something about Lester, so he teased Mary awhile. We had fun, walking and slipping on the rocks. The surf roared in our ears. We went over on the little strip of land, harboring one house, and then back around to the boat. There was a summer cottage and a dock nearby. While Mr. Dawkes pumped the gas in the engine (we had an awful time getting started from the dock) I relieved myself behind some bushes. Mary had to, too, but didn’t have time.
We all piled in and set out for home. Mr. Dawkes let me steer while he and Mary sat up in the middle. I sang “Red Sails in the Sunset,” which was almost drowned by the noise of the motor -- thank goodness! I could hear Mr. Dawkes and Mary talking, but couldn’t understand what they said. Mary kept turning around and laughing, and once she looked at me almost pityingly.
When we got back to the dock Mr. Dawkes asked us to go for his mail as well as ours. It was about 6:00. On the way to the post I asked Mary what she and Mr. Dawkes had been talking about. She laughed and I began guessing, knowing it concerned me. She told me it wasn’t anything about Prof or any other boys. And then she said that Mr. Dawkes had said something about me that she had considered an insult. Was I mad? but I didn’t show it then. I begged her to tell me and she said, as usual, after she has aroused your curiosity, to forget it. But I couldn’t forget it. She asked if I would if she’d tell me one thing and I promised. Then we reached the mail and there was none. Mrs. Dawkes had gotten theirs. Mary was quite worried but I wasn’t sympathetic then.
She told me that Mr. Dawkes had said that my singing and the engine were a duet. Now that was mean! I still kept begging her to tell me what the “insult” was and she said it wouldn’t be fair to me or to Mr. Dawkes to tell me. I was just boiling! She said it deliberately to hurt me! She looked and sounded and acted so superior and said that if anyone had said that about her, she would certainly have taken it as an insult. She then, when all the harm was done, said she was sorry, and I blew up and said, “You’re not sorry! You’re always doing things like this, apologizing, and then going right ahead and doing them again. I don’t call that being sorry!” Oh, Diary, just then I despised Mary!
Got back to cottage. I went in. Presently couldn’t find Mary. Hunted for her. Mother in house. Found her sitting on car running board, crying. Couldn’t comfort her -- ’cause didn’t feel like it. Went for walk on shore. Felt like committing suicide. Met Margery and Janet coming back. They saw Mary had been crying. Beautiful moon. Back to cottage. Played games in dining room. To bed.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
July 8, 1888
It was a cool morning, but grew warmer this afternoon. It sprinkled a little in the morning, and has been cloudy all day. I stayed at home and cared for Una while Kate went to church. Mr. Butler was here at dinner, but went right home. Kate and I drove over to father Queal’s this afternoon. We took Una along. Am going to the meeting this evening.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 8, 1887
I expected I might have to work for Fred today but he got Mr. Olsen, so I did not have to go. I began shingling the barn. I am rather slow at it however. Kate had such a bad toothache, that we drove up to the dentists, so is now in town, and had it pulled this afternoon. We got the mail also. Kate got a letter from home. It has been an awful hot day, but a good breeze has blown so we could stand it. It looked so much like rain tonight that I tried to fix things so some water could go into the cistern, if it did rain, but I hear I have not go it in good shape. I am pretty tired tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
July 8, 1863
I made Charlie’s pants today & began Hanes’. I made the pies for dinner of rasberries. The hands are cutting wheat. It is very fine. We have rain nearly every day. The June apples are ripening fast.
*(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
July 8, 1862
Mrs. George Jones spent the day here, also Mrs. Tom Cook. I made George’s pants & sewed some on Charlie’s. Very warm today. We heard today that David Moon was killed in a later engagement. Jim Welch passed through Asheville last night. He has a finger shot off.
*(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 8, 1667
Betimes by water to Sir W. Coventry, and there discoursed of several things; and I find him much concerned in the present enquiries now on foot of the Commissioners of Accounts, though he reckons himself and the rest very safe, but vexed to see us liable to these troubles, in things wherein we have laboured to do best. Thence, he being to go out of town to-morrow, to drink Banbury waters, I to the Duke of York, to attend him about business of the Office; and find him mighty free to me, and how he is concerned to mend things in the Navy himself, and not leave it to other people. So home to dinner; and then with my wife to Cooper’s, and there saw her sit; and he do do extraordinary things indeed. So to White Hall; and there by and by the Duke of York comes to the Robe-chamber, and spent with us three hours till night, in hearing the business of the Master-Attendants of Chatham, and the Store-keeper of Woolwich; and resolves to displace them all; so hot he is of giving proofs of his justice at this time, that it is their great fate now, to come to be questioned at such a time as this. Thence I to Unthanke’s, and took my wife and Deb. home, and to supper and 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.)