July 21
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 21, 1997
Up at 10:00. Watched "Rosie" and "90210." Went to work from 12:00-close. Courtney stopped by with Sarah Johnson, and Renée stopped by with her new haircut. It looks awesome. Finished by 5:00. Came home and showered. Ate dinner. Watched T.V. and colored Doodle Art. Dad and Sandra went to rental house and I watched Becca. Phish is tomorrow…
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 21, 1960
Did extra cleaning in dining room. Called Mrs. B. She glad to come over. Read her letter. Pretty hot in P.M. Mrs. B. going to Circle at Wonder Lake. Geo. got trucker to take ponies to Thompson’s for their boys. Took Reimer’s pony to Schusteef.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 21, 1944
A perfectly beautiful bright blue morn and I felt fine again. Stomach and head all better! Quite cool. Up at 6:15 and practiced my pieces for the last time. Began to get butterflies. Didn’t have a speck of work all morn till just before 12. Mr. H. was in conference most of the morn. About 11:30 Pop poked his head in to tell me where the car was. Mr. H., not knowing who it was, asked, “What was his trouble?” :) Well, I didn’t get off till right at 12 and Pop’s car was nowhere to be seen. With fire in my eyes I started up to Kimmie’s to freshen up and met Kay. And then Pop appeared, having been home to see if I’d missed him and walked. I hopped in and we just about broke the speed limit rushing home and back. The men had already started eating but Worthington came forth and ushered me to a seat. I wasn’t a bit hungry but had to eat a little. Mrs. Smalley and some of the others were so mad at the Democrats whom, they felt, didn’t give the Republicans credit for anything. Then they got off on the war and Dr. Yeargan declared that Tokyo and Berlin should be burnt to the ground. Ice cream for dessert to cool our fevered spirits. Short business meeting with Mr. Cole presiding. Then Sgt. Jack Strunk gave a short talk on his experiences at Guadalcanal, etc. Then Worthington was called up to introduce me and I rose to the occasion and rendered “Aeolian” and Arensky’s Etude and Indian Love Call. They went off pretty good and the men were generous with their applause. There were a lot there. Then the meeting adjourned and I headed for the door, only to be halted every few steps by handshakes and compliments. All of which I took bravely and finally made my escape with Worthington’s hearty thanks ringing in my ears. Whew! Back to office about 1:15. Mr. H. returned a few minutes later. I typed the papers he gave me before lunch and then read L.M.A. Very good. Then Frank Johnson came in again and after a lengthy conference with Mr. H. asked me to type a letter for him. For which small service I received 25 cents, with instructions to think of him when I’m drinking cokes with the money! Mum was next door at Red Cross and poked her head in at 4 as she was leaving. I was busy off and on. It was a gorgeous afternoon. Can enjoy a day like this after the rain. Just before 5 Mr. H. dictated a lengthy divorce bill and really wanted it typed before tomorrow. I said I didn’t mind staying so I plugged away and finished up at 6. He thanked me profusely. I went to P.O. and mailed some letters. Then Mrs. Hickman (former Mrs. Walters) accosted me from her car and I stood and talked about 10 minutes and got on famously, not being a bit self-conscious or feeling at all inferior, etc! The sky was a deep blue and the sun shining on the green green trees and a heavenly breeze and my satisfaction with the Hickman-Watkins conversation — I felt wonderful. And I certainly appreciated my good health today. Home about 6:20 to find Mum standing on her left ear. I took a bath and then Pop drove me down to the Christian Church. In the alley back of it I found Miss Walker, Kay, Kimmie and Mary Lou and another woman of huge proportions standing watch over a great kettle of red dye and muslin curtains. I was given a warm welcome and then Kim. and I went over to Hills’ to get pickles for Miss W. Some men with long trucks warned us to look out for cars. Miss W. and the others soon followed after and Miss W. had a hurried wiener and had to leave. We went around to the back yard and found Betsy covered from head to toe with green paint — the back steps had a good coat of it, too. She actually had the stuff in her hair and while Betsy moaned, her grandmother went at it with turpentine! Kay lit the outdoor fire place while Kim. took a swing and Mary Lou and I see-sawed. She has a way of giving you a bump that sends you a couple of feet into the air. I thought I’d just keep going once. It was so funny — they just about died laughing. As for me, the victim, I was so tickled I couldn’t even make an effort at keeping my seat. Little Rusty (age 3 and seven eighths) came over and watched us in great glee. I gave up my seat to Kim. and took over the swing. We decided to go to the show afterwards and so I went in and called Mum. She went to ask Pop but he was too absorbed in the Democratic convention to take much interest in what his daughter did so Mum gave her consent. We were ready to eat by then. Had wieners and all the trimmings. Rusty feasted with us and was so cute. We had fun kidding each other. Water and cookies completed the repast. It was lovely in the back yard there and the evening sky was streaked with sunset pink. We all trooped up to Miss Ivy’s kindergarten upstairs and reverted to childhood for a few minutes. About 8:15 we left and Kay went home with Mary Lou and I with Kimmie. Soon M.L. and K. came down and Kim., M.L. and I went down to the Princess. K. had seen the show so didn’t go. We sat near the front — it was pretty full and saw Dick Parnell and Linda Darnell in “It Happened Tomorrow.” Odd but cute and funny. Out about 10:30 and it was too cool for comfort. Left Kim. at her house and I walked up to Mary Lou’s with her. We had fun. She said she heard us passing (my laugh) Tuesday night and was going to yell at us but thought better of it. She said she’d know me anywhere on account of my laugh. At Mary’s the other night Kay said I had the cutest laugh — so musical! :) On home to find Mum keeping the home fires burning (they would have warmed things up considerably!) while Pop was at the ball game. He returned soon after and I retired to bed. A brilliant starlit night. And there was a lovely new moon just over the mountain where the cross used to be as we went down to the show. With a tiny bright star at its tip. Ashley appeared in the bathroom a little later and washed his hair. He looked so boyish and sweet that I just loved him! This has been a good day.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 21, 1887
Been at the store all day. Kate and Jessie came up town about 11 o’clock and stayed to dinner at Mr. Case’s; I took my dinner there too. It has been cloudy most of the day. I feel real tired tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
July 21, 1862
Mr. Moore & Harkins came this morning & divided the salt. I have been very unwell all day indeed. I have not been well for a month. Willie’s bowels are bad off. He is so fretful I can’t do anything scarcely. I cut Hanes two aprons today. Sewed a little on one. Mail brought no news. Mr. Henry made his return today. P. O. business.
*(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 21, 1667
Up, and to St. James’s, but lost labour, the Duke abroad. So home to the office, where all the morning, and so to dinner, and then all the afternoon at the office, only went to my plate-maker’s, and there spent an hour about contriving my little plates,1 for my books of the King’s four Yards. At night walked in the garden, and supped and to bed, my eyes bad.
*(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.)