A few years ago my wife and I took a cross-country road trip and along the way stopped at a small town, where we took in some breakfast and then poked our head into a couple of antique stores. (Oh, if only we had a U-Haul; there was gorgeous, rustic furniture selling for a couple hundred bucks that would have fetched a couple thousand in New York).
Instead, I found a diary. It’s really a fascinating thing, mostly because of how minimal and not-introspective it is. You need to see how each day gets its own page though the woman never filled more
than three lines to sum up her day. You need to see how light the
pencil is on the page. Best, how many blank pages there are—between April and July are countless blank pages, as if she continued to turn a page for every day even though she wrote nothing, The whole thing is a whisper. It begins mundane enough but somehow the entries as a whole really resonate.
Below I’ve transcribed the entire contents of the diary. In the rare event that someone is self-googling, I've removed the (very few) instances in which someone was named by first and last name. There are three main participants—the diarist, who apparently owns a shop probably not unlike the one where I found the diary; her husband John, a construction worker of some sort; and Ed, who appears to be their adult son, based on the fact that he lives on his own yet seems to switch from day to day working for the diarist or for John.
April 13
John worked on Alice’s house in Big Springs. Wind blew terrible—went to Maundy Thursday Seder supper. I worked all day at the mall.
April 14
I closed the store at 2pm. John still working in Big Springs. Went to Assembly church & sang in the cantata for Easter. It was very nice.
April 15 (Saturday)
Store open all day. John & I sat in the Hot Tub for an hour, had dinner & collapsed in bed. We are both very busy & working a lot.
April 16 (Easter Sunday)
Went to church. John & I both sang in the choir. Visited with Ben S----. Birdie was working. Had Easter dinner w/ Heidi and Ryan. Ed came out and all the Fraizers were there & Rosie & Kenny. Suzie called from Arkansas.
April 17 (Mon.)
Started snowing & raining after spring like weather. Sat in the Hot Tub & let it snow.
April 18 (Tues.)
We have 10 in of snow on everything today, no wind—very wet—the trees are heavy laden. Ed working for me til noon—then he & john going to Big Springs this afternoon. Damon K---- passed away last night.
April 19
It snowed in the morning. John & Ed worked on Alice house. I had the day off. Just cleaned the house etc. No choir tonite. Sat in the Hot Tub while it snowed.
April 20
Got my hair done. Met Ed & John at Grandma Max for lunch. Got in the Hot Tub.
April 21
Ed & I worked in the mall. He got really sick w/ the flu. He, John & I went to Harold F------'s birthday dinner at their house.
April 22 (Sat.)
Evelyn & I worked today. Ed feels a little better. John went to Big Springs. Nothing eventful.
April 23 (Sun.)
Went to church. Had dinner w/ the Fraizers.
April 24 (Mon.)
Worked. Choir practice. Came home & Bathroom floor in basement is flooded. Sprinkler on west side must leak. I fell off front steps. Ouch!!
April 25 (Tues.)
Worked. John very quiet—Rain—Pam & Ed stopped by after supper.
April 26 (Wed.)
Had my nails done and took the day off. Just a lazy day. Washed clothes. Ed came over for Tacos.
April 27 (Thurs)
Ed & I spent the day in Haxton. Gave a bid on Damon K----’s collection and went to Kurtzer later & picked up a bird bath & and a treadmill & candles. Very interesting day. They seemed to be very nice people. John got a lot done in Big Springs. We are both very tired.
April 28 (Fri)
Ed & I worked today at the mall. John in Big Springs. DR coming to visit Carl & Ed went to pick them up. Beautiful day today. Warm.
July 30
I sold the mall to Peggy L-----. She’ll take over Aug. 1st. She bought only the business none of the inventory.
July 31
My last payroll & then I’m done. It’s been good to me but a lot of work. Right now I’m not sorry to see it go. Maybe later.
August 1
I am a working girl! I will work one or 2 days a week.
September 12
Sold my mutual fund today from I.D.S. Didn’t make much money on it so will use it to help pay off my van or my house. Don’t know which yet. It’s only 9500.oo.
September 13
Trying to get ready for an auction. John & I are going to have a sale Oct. 14. Lots of work. He’s still working on Alice’s house. Maybe she’ll be in by end of month.
September 14
Had my hair done. Went to mall, took Diane B. to lunch. Ed flipped today about Carl’s property, says he’s go to Calif. Never seen him so confused. What a mess.
September 15
Ed left this morn for Texas, Calif. & Ariz. Hope he can get it straight what’s going on. I worked today. So glad I’m out of that mall. John and I went to Rondevouz dance tonite. What a wonderful husband I have. He’s unbelievably good to me—I’m very lucky.
September 16
It’s a beautiful fall morn. Sun shining and 66˚. John left for Big Springs. I’m taking him lunch. No we went to lunch & then I came home.
September 17
Sun—went to church—took a nap & spent a very leisurely day. Ed left for Calif. & we haven’t heard from him.
September 18
Didn’t do much all day.
September 19
Tues. Worked today. John & I fed Ed’s birds tonite. Sorry to say he know doubt is drinking again. Jack Daniels in the frig & he was supposed to be home today & didn’t make it. I dread what is ahead.
this already sounds like a record. you need to turn the whole diary text into lyrics and make a record... it's great....
Posted by: sroden | May 19, 2007 at 09:04 AM
I thought you'd like this one.
I pull this diary out every once in a while and get so jealous of the writing. I wish I could write with this much economy.
Posted by: pgwp | May 19, 2007 at 11:31 AM