May 13
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
May 13, 1998
GOOD DAY. Ash went off campus with us 2day. 1st I saw Eddie and then we had to hide from Ms. Hargens. Scary. Went 2 Wendy’s 4 dinner ’cause Becca is there 4 the week. Went 2 Née’s and Zach’s, etc. play at the school. Casey was there and very sweet. I wish I was attracted 2 him. Went 2 Courtney’s and got a shirt. Talked 2 Ash.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
May 13, 1997
Today was much better than yesterday. Sean’s acting quieter than usual. Hmmm… No Chris today, either. (Golf — dork.) He’ll be here tomorrow. Emily picked me and Zach up — took him home. Came home and did homework with baked potato. Took Lucy on a walk. Did more homework. Watched story. Took a nap. Mom came home and I was so bored! Ate dinner. Put note in Davises’ mailbox. Took a shower. Blowdried hair. Gonna roll it tomorrow.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
May 13, 1960
Slept pretty good last nite, Lo to work early. Drove her car down for Russel to see etc. Mrs. B. wanted me to come for coffee so did. Cleaned out some windows and sills. A little shaky so didn’t do too much. Later in P.M. Mrs. B. came over and sat in back yard.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
May 13, 1944
Beautiful, bright but hot day. No classes in the morn but I got up for breakfast anyway and practiced. At 10 Betty and I went to town and did some shopping. Then I paid for my diploma. We got more money out of the bank, went down to Wabash station and eventually got our tickets! I hurried back in time for lunch while Betty shopped some more. What a meal! It was hotter than blazes!! Found out from Mrs. Jones that the boy who called last night was another friend of Bubbles who wanted a date for the prom — so she gave him my name but when I wasn’t there she got another girl. He was going to send flowers, too!! Well, I’m just as glad. About 2 Betty and I went to town again. Stopped by dairy. Saw some cute soldiers! Back to hall and tried to study. Jane and Neen left about 3:30 to go home to a friend’s wedding. Took bath before dinner. Then M.J. took our pictures. I wore my spectators and felt very snazzy. I don’t understand M.J. She’s so changeful. Good dinner but I wasn’t in a very happy mood. Afterwards Jacq, Betty and I went for a walk. Beautiful evening but very warm. We looked for 4 leaf clovers. J. and I both found 2. Betty found 1. Back about 8. Betty went swimming and I went over to library. Passed a threshold of soldiers and they whistled and yelled. Jane would have said “Hi! fellas!” but I couldn’t get up my courage. Kids were walking over to the Sr. prom and soldiers were everywhere. I sort of wished I were going. Read good book on personality. Was just leaving about 4:15, all pepped up about reducing exercises, etc. when Betty came. We walked back together and she said there were a whole lot of extra men. There were some in the parlors, waiting hopefully. We decided to go out for a walk but didn’t get farther than the desk where Mrs. Abbott and Jacq caught us and talked us into getting dressed in case any more fellas came for dates. We flew around and Betty kept getting madder and madder — it’s so odd. Every time she feels she’s being forced to do something she gets all lit up! About 9:45 Mrs. A. came in with the news that “they” were here — 4 lieutenants! Well, I never was so scared in my life. Mary Jo loaned us each a flower for our hair and me an evening wrap and they all thought we looked glamorous. We finally issued forth to find the 4 officers in the parlors. Jacq and Julie B. already had theirs — both cute. Betty’s was quite short but just her size and mine was fine, too. Name — Jenkins! They had driven up in their car from Ft. Leonard Wood! Walked over to ballroom and talked. He’s from S. Carolina! I was still scared. We girls took our wraps downstairs and then met our little men again and danced. Jeepers! was it hot!! He was a jitterbug but fortunately or unfortunately — I couldn’t jitterbug. We sat out quite a few dances to cool off. The floor was crowded. We met Julie and her date quite often and the others, too. Went out on roof once and got some air. I felt so inferior beside Julie and Jacq and couldn’t think of a thing to say half the time. He was a very good dancer. We held hands, of course, but who didn’t. He wasn’t good-looking exactly but he had a cute smile. I just can’t hand a boy a line! We danced the last dance and then I got my wrap and we left about 12:10. Walked back with Julie and her date (hers was so cute — but glad I didn’t have him). Met Jacq and Betty and their dates outside the hall — where all the kids were saying goodnight to their dates. We thanked each other and took our leave — very undramatically. M.J. had gone to bed and Betty and I were dying to tell her about it. We met Mary Lou and Val and Jacq in the parlors and they all had a swell time. Joan, Betty P. and Connie were at the dance, too — our whole table. We finally got to bed about 1:30 and Betty was so excited she could hardly calm down. Hers was a graduate of Columbia Univ., had been to S. America and they carried on a very intellectual conversation but she said he reminded her of Mr. Berry — she couldn’t quite make him out. She and Jacq went to the car with their dates and Betty’s little man had a drink of some queer Mexican stuff. Very funny. What an evening! Of course, when Kath. and Mary and the other kids saw us with lieutenants, they just about dropped their teeth!
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
May 13, 1941
Nice, a bit warmer. Beta Club met in morning. I was elected treasurer for next year. Test in English. I missed one. Nashville Booster’s Club was served luncheon at school at 12:30. Got late start in typing class. Letter from Greta. Fingers wonderful in typing. Took optional test, made 94 (47-8). Had to spend part of study hall in Mrs. Geasland’s room because library chairs were in use in the gym. Rudolf Hess’s Saturday night flight to Scotland in papers today. Has everybody guessing. Isn’t it romantic?
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
May 13, 1888
Last night was a cold one for this time of the year. The thermometer stood only 1 degree above freezing this morning. Ma had a very bad sick headache this forenoon so she could not go to church. I took care of Una and Kate went to church. I have felt very lazy today. I am going to the evening meeting.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
May 13, 1887
This was a nice, hot quite warm day. I came over and got the pony this morning, and Kate, baby, and I went and made Geo. and Effie a visit, taking along a lot of things which ma sent to Effie. We stayed there and took dinner with them having a good time, as baby was real good all the time. Effie is going to be pretty well fixed, I think, and if she only gets over a hard cough which she now has we will be satisfied with her prospects in life. I came home this afternoon and put up a box of Hickory and Walnuts to ship up north. I am going to stay here all night. It turned cool this evening, but is fearful dry. I intend to go to Ann Arbor tomorrow.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
May 13, 1863
I did not sleep well last night as my teeth ached very badly all night & not much better this morning. They are very sore. I almost wish sometimes I had no teeth, they ache so much. I finished one little sock today. It looks very nice. The yarn is so very fine ’tis tedious. Nothing of interest going on. Harrie brought back his box of hams & butter that we started to him. They are very moldy. We have lettuce beautifully now.
*(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 13, 1862
I finished Willie’s dress. Mr. Henry started to Uncle Dillard Love’s this morning, will be gone about a week. Hanes out dropping peas today. Jinnie not well yet. She attended to Willie after dinner. We had heavy rain & thunder this evening. Atheline is improving very slow. The mail carrier says they are fighting at Corinth again. We have had a battle at Williamsburg Va., in which we were victorious. God help our course is my prayer.
*(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 13, 1669
Up, and to the office, where all the morning, it being a rainy foul day. But at noon comes my Lord Hinchingbroke, and Sidney, and Sir Charles Harbord, and Roger Pepys, and dined with me; and had a good dinner, and very merry; with us all the afternoon, it being a farewell to Sidney; and so in the evening they away, and I to my business at the Office and so to supper, and talk with my brother, 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.)