"It's great to be back again and more sure than ever."
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Of what were you thinking when Alice met you and had to ask you to smile. She said you "looked so serious."
"And I'll be waiting for you, too." * Virginia has a squiggly line drawn across the page, over the text, annotated with "The shadow of my hand and 'our' ring on my finger." KITCHEN WEIGHTS AND MEASURES - IV 8 salt spoons . . . . . 1 teaspoon 1 cup shelled almonds . . . . . . 1/4 poud 3 teaspoons . . . . . . 1 tablespoon 1/4 pound cornstarch . . . . . . . 1 cup 4 tablespoons . . . . .1/4 cup You say you will have to do some deep thinking between last evening and Friday. Our feelings are keenest when we are in our "teens." Our discussions last evening were worthwhile. I feel that I am ten years old to day than I was a few days ago in my lighthearted play at the seashore. I smiled for you yesterday, you could not smile for me. We have so much to live for, so much to smile for - yes, and so much to be sorry for. Let's let bygones be bygones - and smile, smile, smile awhile today.
I wondered how I would treat you when you came tonight to dinner. I always find it easiest to be myself. I cannot fake a mood, coolness, when my heart is aching for you. If that poem would separate us I pray God that I never see it. You are an idealist posing as a practical man. Idealism is what the world needs more of. Why are our feelings always so mutual even when we are apart. For several days I didn’t touch your ring to my lips and you took mine off – destroyed the letters and papers I had given you. Oh God, why? With each other we are unhappy. You destroyed your own poem, my papers and letters, you stopped wearing my ring – all because you love me. Why did you ask me if I love you? Were you in doubt, John? May he always come back to me!
KITCHEN WEIGHTS AND MEASURES – III 16 ounces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 pound 4 tablespoons flour . . . 1 ounce 2 tablespoons butter, sugar, salt . . 1 ounce 16 tablespoons . . . . . . 1 cup 60 drops . . . . . . . . . . . 1 teaspoon Dawn. Four-thirty (3:30 standard time). The earth was covered with blackness. Here and there a bright star twinkled. Day began to break. Slowly, so slowly the sun rose from the ocean. Brighter and higher into the heavens it crept as we sped our way homeward. Day at its height – and I so tired lie down to rest – slowly slowly the sun crept down again into its bed behind the trees. How like a lifetime each day can seem. No word from you.
Labor Day at Ocean City. Crowds of people I know from Germantown. The show last evening was wonderful – but the morning after the night before “quarter to four” – such hours. The day is perfect – so is the beach, the water. The moon shining across the ocean in a silver beam – a date – everything for a perfect evening but I am lonely, so lonely without you, John. I wish you had been with me when I met Eva (?) I am so proud of you. Walt is too. I think he understands? Yes, you caught me writing J.A.W.* in the sand. Why did I?
*John Arnold Wilson KITCHEN WEIGHTS AND MEASURES - II 2 cups granulated sugar . . . . . 1 pound 2-2/3 cups brown sugar . . . . . 1 pound 3 cups cornmeal . . . . . . . . . . . 1 pound 2 cups solid meat . . . . . . . . . . 1 pound 2-2/3 cup powdered sugar . . . . . . 1 pound I know this is a bit of heaven. The broad beach, the clear, cool salt air, that ocean - as calm as a lake - singing to me of you. The couples together, the boys with their harmonizing - oh so many boys and girls - and so much fun. The midnight's show as wonderful. Walt - another evening I will always remember. How glad I am that you are here, too. But somehow - The boating was heavenly. Oh so, Walt, you will take me to Europe on our honeymoon. So many boys have told me that, why do I take you seriously, John?
I enjoyed my trip down last night. The long ride from Philly to Ocean City was delightful. When I left Germantown, I I made up my mind I would do my best to forget you but how could I when Mr. Kendy asked me if I saw "My Maryland" and "Student Prince" - his favorite. It is impossible to think of that after without thinking of you. And Walt! I am glad you came. Walt. We had such fun together at the movies, too.
KITCHEN WEIGHTS AND MEASURES - I 4 large tablespoonful . .. . . . . . . 1/2 gill 1 tablespoonful . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/2 oz. 1 teacup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 gill 1 large wine glass . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ozs. 1 common steel tumbler . . . . . . 1/2 pint 8 quarts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 peck 2 cups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 pint 4 cups of flour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 pound 2 pints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 quart 2 cups of solid butter . . . . . . . . .1 pound 4 quarts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 gallon (afternoon) - Why did you call? I admire you for telling me that you will have another date while I am away and still it was cruel of you - knowing that I am going away. There is on use cheating in my diary. I am drying bravely to keep up - to make myself think that I don't care - but I do care. If only I didn't! Your voice was not natural on teh phone; you sounded as though you were asleep. Oh, John, what has caused the sudden change in you? I am miserable but the world and you shall never know it!! I will do my best to forget you while I am at the shore. So there will "be somebody else filling my place with you tonight, Sweetheart."
"Wishin,' waitin' - heart just breakin'.
Sweetheart how I miss you. My soul on fire, my one desire With burning lips to kiss you." I want you, sweetheart - mine! Do I have to wait until next Wednesday to hear from you? Perhaps you will never come back - Oh, you will - I know you will, John! You will always come back to me. PHRASES OFTEN MET - XX: totum (Lat.) - the whole. verbatim - word for word. vis-a-vis - face to face. vive la France (Fr.) - long live France. voila (Fr.) - behold there. vox populi (Lat.) - the popular voice. |
ContextThis is the journal of Virginia Lee Scott, my grandmother, written when she was seventeen and first dating my grandfather, John Arnold Wilson. It's a dairy published by Media Drug Stores and includes space for two entries per day, with facts about the era printed at the bottom, which I have included in italics. Following, 1928, is the journal of John Arnold Wilson, my grandfather, at age nineteen and in love with my grandmother, followed by my grandmother's journal in 1931. Archives
April 2018
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