May 12
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
May 12, 1998
Didn’t see Sean all day. He said he wants 2 go 2 the movies this weekend, though. Went 2 Casey’s house for lunch. Took Zach 2 work, Crozier home, Kim and Carrie 2 work. Did homework. Went 2 grocery store. Took a nap. Ate and watched “Dawson’s Creek.” Love that show! Talked 2 Ashley.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
May 12, 1997
TOTALLY SHITTY DAY. Except for when Ashley told me that Sean really wants me back. Yep, it’s time for me to break a heart. (That’s awful.) Went over to Ashley’s after school. She didn’t have any softball! :) Zach, Crozier, and Sean were all over there. Mom picked me up at 5:00. Did all my homework at Ashley’s. Came home and slept. Got up and ate breakfast for dinner. I’ve felt fat and ugly all day. Talked to Kristina H. Tried 1,000 outfits for tomorrow. No Chris today.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
May 12, 1960
Up and cleaned up everything. Nice and bright but chilly. Lo picked me up at 10:20 for hair appt. Walked over to office at noon. Lo had car there. Had lunch and she to have her hair done. We planned to go to Elgin. Heard from Auntie Uncle W bad. Had an easy eve. meal. — Started out for once in day lite. As Lo stopped at Big [?] Rd. a woman driving made a left hand turn and ran into us. Ruined Lo’s car on her side. Could drive O.K. so continued after cops checked. Uncle W not good but knew us.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
May 12, 1944
Up at 6 and took a shower. Beautiful day. Felt so good. Tennis on the courts at 11. Good lunch. Studied and practiced in afternoon. At 4 Betty and I went to town and I bought a pair of very smart spectators. It was hot enough! We went to dairy for some orangeade. Back to hall and fooled around with J. and Mary Jo. To dinner. Then Joan, Betty and I went for a walk and didn’t get back til about 8:30. Mary Jo said a boy had called me. I couldn’t find Bubbles to see what it was all about. Then we 3 went over to the ballroom and had a snack and watched the kids jitterbug. It looks so much fun. Back about 9:30. Another evening shot! But it was too lovely to stay in and study. Read magazine stories in Jane’s room. Betty and I had a fuss about the lights and she went to bed mad. I hate it when we fight!
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
May 12, 1941
Nice, cool. A visiting Methodist minister spoke in chapel. Very interesting for a change. Clueny gone most of history class. We asked each other questions. Bunny asked me one. Took test in typing -- after school, coming home, Helen and I were talking about William.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
May 12, 1888
I plowed this forenoon and a part of the afternoon, the rest of the time I dragged. It made me feel very tired. Pa and ma went to Dexter this afternoon to do trading. It has turned cool and we are almost afraid of frost. Kate and Una came home this morning. I received a postal entirely in Volapiik from Mr. Harvey today. My knowledge of the language comes very slow. I am not at all adapted to such study.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
May 12, 1887
This is the first I have been able to write since the last day of Apr. as I came down with Diptheria that night and have been living all by myself since until yesterday, when I washed, changed my clothes and came forth again. Kate wrote some in here I see while I was sick. I came over and got Kate and baby and we visited at home until after dinner. Ma and I went to Dexter this afternoon. Ma was getting things for Effie, who has been married, and gone to housekeeping since I was taken sick. I have quite a number of folks that I knew at Dexter, and enjoyed talking with them. I came over tonight to begin helping Kate again. I am feeling much better each day now.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
May 12, 1863
No more news from the fight yet. I have worked a little on the babe’s stocking. I took the toothache after dinner, not very badly. The baby’s ear still runs, smells rather offensive. I hope it may not injure his hearing but I greatly fear it will. Willie still wheezes some. The other two little ones very well. Harrie has been to the mill today. Oh! how glad I would be to see him once again in health. I would ask Thy blessing on him this night & may that blessing be health if it is Thy holy will.
*(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
May 12, 1862
I began Willie a dress, one Sister Jane gave him last summer, purple calico. Did not finish it as I did not begin it till 12 o’clock. I attend to Willie. Jinnie is sick with headache. The others all well. Mr. Henry & I started to walk yesterday evening but he stopped to talk with some men & I came back. Hanes & I went to the mill this evening to meet Mr. Henry & Pinck. Mr. Henry carried Willie back, he walked nearly all the way there.
*(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 36, London
May 12, 1669
Up, and to Westminster Hall, where the term is, and this the first day of my being there, and here by chance met Roger Pepys, come to town the last night: I was glad to see him. After some talk with him and others, and among others Sir Charles Harbord and Sidney Montagu, the latter of whom is to set out to-morrow towards Flanders and Italy, I invited them to dine with me to-morrow, and so to Mrs. Martin’s lodging, who come to town last night, and there je did hazer her, she having been a month, I think, at Portsmouth with her husband, newly come home from the Streights. But, Lord! how silly the woman talks of her great entertainment there, and how all the gentry come to visit her, and that she believes her husband is worth 6 or 700l., which nevertheless I am glad of, but I doubt they will spend it a fast. Thence home, and after dinner my wife and I to the Duke of York’s playhouse, and there, in the side balcony, over against the musick, did hear, but not see, a new play, the first day acted, “The Roman Virgin,” an old play, and but ordinary, I thought; but the trouble of my eyes with the light of the candles did almost kill me. Thence to my Lord Sandwich’s, and there had a promise from Sidney to come and dine with me to-morrow; and so my wife and I home in our coach, and there find my brother John, as I looked for, come to town from Ellington, where, among other things, he tell me the first news that my [sister Jackson] is with child, and fat gone, which I know not whether it did more trouble or please me, having no great care for my friends to have children; though I love other people’s. So, glad to see him, we to supper, and so 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.)