July 9
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 9, 1997
Up at 10:00. Watched half of Rosie and walked to work (11:00). Stayed till close with Kevin. Eddie picked me up. Came home and showered. Watched taped story. Dad came at 5:30. Picked up Renee. We all went to Em and Cap’s new place. (Sandra and Becca out of town.) We ate pizza there. Dad took us to “Michael’s” and we got doodle art. Went to Goodberries. Watched “Cable Guy” and “Risky Business.” Worked on doodle art for 5 hours. Watched some of “SNL.” Went to bed around 2:00.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
July 9, 1996
Volleyball camp. Took a nap with Bryan. Went to pool with Shannon at 4:30. Before that watched Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure with Bryan. Went to swim meet with Shannon, Bryan, and Courtney. Alex came later. :) Me, Bryan, and him walked home and watched Mrs. Doubtfire. Made out. I really like him, but no going out.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 9, 1960
Just a little cloudy, woke up early but to sleep again. Lo went early brot steaks and rolls home. Worked out side picking up. Later made donuts and peach pie also pound cake. In the P.M. Mrs. Spillard and friend from Elgin called. Hadn’t seen her in years. Of course it rained but Lo put grill under a tree and got along fine with steaks. All enjoyed them.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 9, 1944
Nice hot day. Up about 9:30. Wore Easter dress, freshly washed and ironed. Mum went to Episcopal Church about 10:45 and I left for the Presbyterian a few minutes later. Saw young man at Mother Lane’s whom she was telling me about the other night. He doesn’t smoke or drink and is quite a book worm. He looked nice. Church hadn’t started. I sat with Kimmie and Pan and Mrs. Young. Quite a few people there. A.B. Long, Jr. sat in front of us — he’s married, I think. Mr. Reed gave a pretty good sermon. Out about 12:15. George permitted me to walk up to Tarwater’s with he and Josephine Rutherford. She’s almost 3 years older but so little and youngish she seems about G.’s age. We kidded. George informed me that Mr. ? (Ashley) is going to get him 16 or 26 (?) lbs. of that gunpowder mixture. I gave a faint shriek. G. ragged me about my “screeching.” We had dinner about 1. Then dishes. It was getting cloudy. About 2:30 I left for Kimmie’s. Passed George and we exchanged a few words of sarcasm. Pan and I sat out in the swing and talked. Then Kim came out and we listened to the Phil Harmonic Symphony. Read paper — found out that the Donald and Mc? killed in the train wreck were not the same ones that we met. There’s so much tragedy these days — the circus fire, the trapped miners, train wrecks and the war. Heard special announcement that the Americans had taken Saipan. We cheered. Betsy came and we 4 walked to town about 3:30. Went to Acme and got some stuff. Pan and Betsy went over to Chases and K. joined Kimmie and I. We had orangeade at the Acme and had awful time getting Kim to let us pay for ours. Then Kim. and I left and walked down to Elma’s. More men whistled. Kimmie got regusted! We visited with Mrs. Harmon on the front porch till Elma got dressed. Then we 3 talked. Doyle brought us lime drinks. Elma told us all about her trip to the west and her experiences as a war wife in Nevada and California. She really had a time of it!! Kimmie and I were worn out by the time she finished! We left about 6. I went home and had a little supper but felt a little sickish — the heat and the lime drink, I guess. Awfully hot and close. Still looked like rain. Went by for Kimmie about 6:45 and we went up to Presby. church for Christian Education. Kidded with Martin and Josephine outside. George was inside picking out a march with a brain child. Soon Mr. Reed came, followed by the Stevens girls, Bobbie Jo and Marilyn. Ella appeared next. We all went in and I was drafted into playing the hymns. Then we took a vote on continuing meeting for the summer and making plans for next Sunday. George sat behind me and kept leaning over and making remarks about Papa Reed. I nearly died. Kimmie, little Nancy Speed, the brain child, and I were put on the committee for the picnic. George has it all arranged for us to go out to Bowman’s and swim. Then we retired to the back room for the meeting. Mr. Reed led and I had difficulty refraining from asking him what he was talking about a good deal of the time. Little Wally Speed came in all dressed in a white suit — he looked so cute — chubby and brown and he said “Hi, Mr. Reed!” right “in medias res.” Then he and George got chummy and just about disrupted the meeting. Mrs. Reed came and removed the little fellow — he must be about 3. After the meeting Kimmie and I left — the others stayed for church, I guess. We walked down to the Methodist Church and entered just as the choir was rendering a special selection. Mr. and Mrs. Harris were there. Pan was sitting behind us with some other girls. Mr. Brewster gave an excellent sermon on the problems we have right here in America that need solving. He quoted someone as saying that America, like France, was too tired to save herself — moral, mental, and physical weariness. Well, I am not going to be too tired and I’m not afraid to voice my opinion to anyone when it comes to the question of “saving America” and bringing about a lasting peace. Not that I know much about all the complex problems but I’m trying to learn. After service K. and I stood outside and waited for Margaret and Roby. Pan went to spend the night with Betsy. Different people came over and talked. Tonight marks Marg.’s first anniversary of being organist and Mr. Brewster announced it. She and Roby came out soon and we stood around and talked. Planned to go to show Tuesday night. Little Kenny Brewster was running around. Nancy Wallace came up to me and was so friendly I nearly dropped my teeth. She had a bad sunburned back. Mrs. Hudson joined us and kidded me about how fat I was getting — they love to kid me, Diary, but I’m not fat!! And I’ve lost a half inch around my waist since I started exercising. Tried to get Marg. and Roby to come up to Kimmie’s but they have to go to bed early. They’re both so sweet. Mrs. Geasland greeted us and told me about the trip with Betty. Kim and I walked down to Christian Church but everyone had gone. Back up to her house. Her parents were at the Marshes’ playing bridge so we had the house to ourselves. Kimmie literally forced a huge piece of watermelon on me and then a glass of grape juice. You can imagine how I felt when I had consumed both. Then we played a record and K. walked up to Tarwater’s with me. A lovely night but still hot. Maybe it will rain yet. To bed about 11.
Marcy S., age 17, Ontario
July 9, 1941
Nice day. Mary and I carried water from lake for hair. Mom washed our hair outside. Mr. Dawkes came over and caught me clad in bra and shorts. Mary washed hair that way, too. Then we sat in sun and dried. [In margin she wrote “slick the front,” in quotes.] Mary sat with her bra on and back to sun. Got rather bad sunburn. Curled hair. In afternoon we borrowed Peruk’s[?] canoe and went out in channel. Such a mess. Yelled to Mary till she got mad. Dropped one cushion in water coming back. Got home one and a half hours late for dinner. Had dinner. Beautiful sunshine. At night Mary and I went to store for ice cream. Brought Mom one. Played few games, but to bed early.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
July 9, 1888
It has been a cloudy day, and we could not draw much hay, 1 load toward evening was all. Willie moved down a lot of grass. I spent the most of the forenoon in picking cherries. Mr. Butler called this afternoon with a couple of ladies. Vida and I went to Dexter this afternoon, taking up eggs and getting sugar. I took a box of strawberries to the editor of the Leader. The Dr. thinks my ear will get well.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 9, 1887
It threatened to rain this morning, but finally cleared away, and has been a bright day, cooler than the previus [sic] ones this week. I spent the day in shingling on the barn. It will keep Jimmie dry now, I think. It don’t pay to build board roofs; they are bound to leak. I have accomplished about half I wished to do this week, but I can’t do any more now. I went over to Fred’s and got more shingle this forenoon. It took more than I thought for. We have plenty of strawberries to eat yet, but, they are getting thin and it takes longer to pick a mess than formerly.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
July 9, 1863
I finished Hanes’ pants & began Jim’s. Did but little to them. Mr. Henry gathered rasberries yesterday evening for pies today. W. Shields & another man of Columbia were here today. They did not stay for dinner & I was not sorry as we had not prepared for them. We had a very nice dinner, vegetables &c. Cherries will soon be gone. Nothing from our forces. They are in Penselvania. No news of Vicksburg.
*(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 9, 1862
Mrs. Cook & Tom Cook staid all night & till 11 o’clock. The bees swarmed today, a large swarm. Mr. Cook hived them. Mrs. Cook helped me sew some. I finished Charlie’s. Made Hanes’ & Pea’s. Atheline helped some after dinner. I finished Lonzo’s after supper as Harrie Deaver came late in the evening. Mr. Henry went to Asheville this evening, will wait for the mail. He will be late getting 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 9, 1667
Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning, and after noon to the office again till night, mighty busy getting Mr. Fist to come and help me, my own clerks all busy, and so in the evening to ease my eyes, and with my wife and Deb. and Betty Turner, by coach to Unthanke’s and back again, and then 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.)