November 29
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
November 29, 1997
Worked from 7-12. Zach and Joe came 2 see me! (Joe :) ) Em came and we took them 2 Sol’s. Then we had Thanksgiving again! Good 2 see everyone — Katie. (No Rachael.) At night, me, Katie, and Sandra went 2 Wellspring and book store. Got X-mas presents.
Marcy S., age 47, North Carolina
November 29, 1971
Lord, if I could only relax and enjoy life. Pickett signed his letter “we wish you happiness and laughter and peace.” And that’s what I wish for my family and for myself. But there’s always (nearly) this holding back inside me, this feeling that happiness is not for me. Or if it comes on rare occasions, it won’t last. And it’s not a superficial happiness I want — everything going along smoothly, no problems — it’s the deep joy and peace of experiencing God’s love and acceptance and presence.
It’s as if I’m forever saying “no” to life, to love, to happiness and peace, to good feelings and good things.
Is it because I really enjoy being miserable and lonely and unhappy? Maybe so. But that’s just as much of a prison as being miserable because of deeply ingrained feelings of unworthiness, etc.
Both of my parents had a good sense of humor and I remember many happy times when I was a child. But they were also grimly serious about the evils of drinking and “too much” social life, and that it wasn’t right to enjoy extra comforts when some people are starving or homeless.
I think I feel that it’s somehow wrong to be happy or to enjoy life when there’s so much suffering in the world. Even though this isn’t logical because my being miserable is only adding to the suffering, not alleviating it.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
November 29, 1938
Didn’t practice. Went to school. Chapel in our room. Usual classes. Home for dinner. Gave George the ticket Mother bought for the show this afternoon. Back to school. Mary isn’t going to the show either. I went with her to the lunch room in the old building. Usual classes. They made some of us girls go into the other Freshman room instead of the library. We’re to go there every day. I sit near Mary and across the aisle from Elma’s dear Arthur. [In upper margin: “P.S. I took my poster to school today.”] Then English class and library study hall. Mary and I sat at the same table with some Sophomore girls. One was Virginia Robinson. I was working real hard on an Algebra problem and I finally got it. I was so happy I clapped my hands out loud and said “Oh-hhhh.” Miss Davis just looked at me. I had forgotten where I was. Mary and Sophomore girls and I nearly died laughing. After school I talked to Mary awhile and then went home. I helped Mother with the Red Cross work she is doing for Mrs. Stevens. Then I practiced and studied. Daddy came. After supper and the dishes I got ready for bed and at 8:00 I listened to the radio for a few mins. Then I played some war songs and then read till 9:00. To bed.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
November 29, 1887
Mrs. Bilderback came and did the washing this forenoon. I studied drawing etc., as I had marked out to do each forenoon long ago. Began another week’s teaching at the College this afternoon. Kate’s thumb seems to be worse tonight and I am afraid there is no stopping the felon from coming. I expect she will have a fearful time of it. Not quite as cold tonight as last. It was just 10o about this morning.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
November 29, 1871
This morning I went up town before train time. Stoped at a shop and bought some curos. The shop keeper told me much about Indians there. Many of them are farming ct. He called my attention to one who was passing, who he said was Chief Big Foot. He had on many coats and the out side one was a linen duster. As the ground was covered with snow, he was a sight.
I have wondered since—if the shop keeper knew I was a “tenderfoot,” and was stuffing me. When I reached Topeka, I had my trunk rechecked. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
November 29, 1862
Jinnie washed out my room this morning. Fannie put the fat on to render up as Tena will be ironing & fixing the thread for the children’s dresses. It is a very pretty deep purple. Fannie then mixed wool. Mrs. Jamison & Betsey spent the day here today. I finished Jim’s shirt today. Some one took the mill key out of the door yesterday. I went to the mill & got Boyd to put on another lock, a very good one. Cool & cloudy today. I made the children another pair cloth shoes last Tuesday, Zona & Willie as Pinck has boots. His toe is nearly well.
*(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
November 29, 1667
Waked about seven o’clock this morning with a noise I supposed I heard, near our chamber, of knocking, which, by and by, increased: and I, more awake, could, distinguish it better. I then waked my wife, and both of us wondered at it, and lay so a great while, while that increased, and at last heard it plainer, knocking, as if it were breaking down a window for people to get out; and then removing of stools and chairs; and plainly, by and by, going up and down our stairs. We lay, both of us, afeard; yet I would have rose, but my wife would not let me. Besides, I could not do it without making noise; and we did both conclude that thieves were in the house, but wondered what our people did, whom we thought either killed, or afeard, as we were. Thus we lay till the clock struck eight, and high day. At last, I removed my gown and slippers safely to the other side of the bed over my wife: and there safely rose, and put on my gown and breeches, and then, with a firebrand in my hand, safely opened the door, and saw nor heard any thing. Then (with fear, I confess) went to the maid’s chamber-door, and all quiet and safe. Called Jane up, and went down safely, and opened my chamber door, where all well. Then more freely about, and to the kitchen, where the cook-maid up, and all safe. So up again, and when Jane come, and we demanded whether she heard no noise, she said, “yes, and was afeard,” but rose with the other maid, and found nothing; but heard a noise in the great stack of chimnies that goes from Sir J. Minnes through our house; and so we sent, and their chimnies have been swept this morning, and the noise was that, and nothing else. It is one of the most extraordinary accidents in my life, and gives ground to think of Don Quixote’s adventures how people may be surprised, and the more from an accident last night, that our young gibb-cat1 did leap down our stairs from top to bottom, at two leaps, and frighted us, that we could not tell well whether it was the cat or a spirit, and do sometimes think this morning that the house might be haunted. Glad to have this so well over, and indeed really glad in my mind, for I was much afeard, I dressed myself and to the office both forenoon and afternoon, mighty hard putting papers and things in order to my extraordinary satisfaction, and consulting my clerks in many things, who are infinite helps to my memory and reasons of things, and so being weary, and my eyes akeing, having overwrought them to-day reading so much shorthand, I home and there to supper, it being late, and to bed. This morning Sir W. Pen and I did walk together a good while, and he tells me that the Houses are not likely to agree after their free conference yesterday, and he fears what may follow.
*(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.)