August 2
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 2, 1997
Up at 9:00. Showered Chris's kisses off me and used Pantene (his shampoo). Went on 5-mile hike and parked beside Buick (his car). On hike, saw tiny piece of paper that said "Camel Lights" (his cigs). Went to hippie store and then dinner. Parked beside Buick. Came out and Buick was gone, but another Buick was there! Freaky... :)
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 2, 1960
Called for hair appointment. Couldn’t get it until Wednesday. Cleaned up stairs and got my rugs down etc. Had a little nap. Think heat upset me. Bess came stayed real late. We took her home and out to eat a bit and fed cats. Mrs. B. on porch when we came. Lo picked Carrie up and took us to Era’s. Hottest place I’d been. Came home quite early.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 2, 1944
Bright, beautiful day with great banks of white castle-clouds. Typed deposition all morn. Still feeling a little depressed. Met Pan coming back at noon and she walked down to band practice with me. She said to be sure to come up to park after work and play tennis. I said I’d stop by and watch them. More depositions. Fingers got very tired. Mum was at Red Cross next door. I poked my head in when I was leaving at 5. Mrs. Hairsten was there. Gorgeous afternoon but hot again. Went to P.O. and had them open our box. Oodles of business mail for Pop. An announcement from Washington informing me that I’ve been accepted as a junior. Also short letter from Rochester and application blanks. Not much hope ’cause dorms are full for coming year but I’ll not give up yet. Felt very important carrying all that mail. Stopped by Kimmie’s and wanted her to go up to tennis courts but she wasn’t cleaned up. Told her about latest developments on college front. Made plans for tonight. Just as I was leaving I saw Mum coming up the hill so I waited and we walked home together. Glorious afternoon! Decided not to stop at park because some boys were there and I looked a mess. Read Aunt Nellie’s letter. She and Harriett went to Jack’s wedding but she didn’t tell us any of the interesting little details. These people! George and Betty Bowman were behind us as we neared home. I practiced and took a bath. Hot again. Pop came and we had supper. There were the most beautiful cloud formations in the east. Great billowy white banks against the blue of the evening sky. About 7:30 I left for Red Cross. It was one evening in a million. Those clouds and the lovely, tinted evening sky, and a certain oak tree bark of Marney’s which is turning already lifted me to the heights. Only one life to live and it must be lived to the very fullest and best! Stopped by for Kimmie and we went down to the Red Cross rooms. Mrs. Massey and Miss Ivy were there. Soon Kay and 2 other ladies came. Kay was very talkative. She confessed later that it was because she was nervous — about going to Stephens. That’s about all we talked about. She wants to go and yet she doesn’t. Kimmie made 150 — I 145 and Kay about 75. We helped Mrs. Massey tie them. Left about 9:30. Mrs. Massey, Kay and Kimmie walked up to Tarwaters with me. It was the most beautiful summer’s night I ever remember here. The moon was so bright and the clouds so dark and the stars glittered like diamonds as they peeked between the sky islands. It was too perfect to go in so I sat out in the yard and curled my hair. Saw the moon enveloped in a majestic dark cloud — the rim was actually gold. It was so beautiful I felt as if my soul wanted to burst forth and soar up and up till it was among the clouds, too. The clouds over Helen’s house were puffy white things and the night sky was grayish between but the stars were polished bright. It reminded me somehow of the “old war days” and I was out of this world for minutes. A night I shall never forget. Ever.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 2, 1887
Got up at 4 o’clock this morning so as to get an early start for the burnt pine region out east about 10 miles. Mr. Morrow and Dee went out with their rig and I took mine. We got off about 5:30 and reached the end of the pine region in about 3 hours. We got a few blackberries there and then came back a little and went south to Turtle Lake where we camped for dinner, and fed and watered our horses. The hot, dry weather has so spoiled the berries that we got but few. Dee and I took a good swim in the lake. It was very hot out there and I suffered some with a headache. We got home about 6 tonight. It thunders over on lake Michigan, but I fear it won’t rain here.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
August 2, 1871
Yesterday washed, cloudy so put clothes on the grass to bleach. This a. m. rinsed— starched, and hung them up to dry. Ironed them as fast as they dried. Mrs. Rose [Ross] lends me her irons. Baked two loaves and a pan of yeast biscuits, made some medacine for Philip, by boiling some roots, stewed plums for supper, mended, went up the river on this side, and picked 3 qts. of plums. There are many green ones yet, and we have been using them six weeks. Wish they would last another six. This was my busy day. We have had corn some time, and the mellons are ripe.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
August 2, 1862
My teeth & jaw pained me very badly all night. I slept but little from 1 o’clock. They ached on till after dinner & got easy before night. Louise McKinnish stays here tonight. Her mother is not at home. I finished Jinnie’s dress before dinner & took a nap before dinner. A. B. Jones sent & borrowed 6 lbs. sugar this evening. I knit some after dinner. Willie’s bowels very loose today. Mr. Henry cut his gum of eye tooth Thursday.
*(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 35, London
August 2, 1668
(Lord’s day). Up and at home all the morning, hanging, and removing of some pictures, in my study and house. At noon Pelling dined with me. After dinner, I and Tom, my boy, by water up to Putney, and there heard a sermon, and many fine people in the church. Thence walked to Barne Elmes, and there, and going and coming, did make the boy read to me several things, being now-a-days unable to read myself anything, for above two lines together, but my eyes grow weary. Home about night, and so to supper and then 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.)