Day 4: Day in the life of the 1800's

Topic: You wake up today and you are in the late 1800s. Your life is completely devoid of all of the technological comforts that we hold dear. No cell phones, no laptops, no Facebook, no television. What is your day like? Do you actually make it through the day without committing suicide?

Well, when I think late 1800's i think of the Oklahoma land run of 1889. It took place in Guthrie, OK, where I am from. So, growing up in guthrie every April we have an 89er's day parade. It's ingrained in my mind by this point.

Which brings me to my day in the life.

I'm 28. I married a man 12 years my senior. Henry, my father selected him for me. We had our first child, Jasper, just after I turned 17. Oscar, our second child, came 3 years later. Emma, just 2 years after.

We are headed to stake our claim on some land. I'm thin. My clothes are always some shade of brown. My hair always in braids. I ride in a wagon or on a horse most days. I cook raw meat over an open fire every day for my family.

My freckles are getting darker and darker with age. I suppose it has something to do with how much I've been in the sun since the start of our journey.

My husband is nice. He treats me well. Never hurts me or the children. I don't love him. Never have. He owns my body, but Jesse, his brother, he owns my heart. I've always loved Jesse. Since as long as I can remember.

Some nights, Henry drinks himself to sleep. Those are the nights I cherish. Jesse comes to me. Occasionally, we hold each other tenderly, as he strokes my hair. Most times, we can't help but ravage and devour each other. Rip each others clothes off. Play out the most unbelievable of fantasies.

Then I wake up to another long day of traveling and taking care of my family.


Wiki: "Unlike Rome, the city of Guthrie was built in a day. To be strictly accurate in the matter, it might be said that it was built in an afternoon. At twelve o'clock on Monday, April 22d [sic], the resident population of Guthrie was nothing; before sundown it was at least ten thousand. In that time streets had been laid out, town lots staked off, and steps taken toward the formation of a municipal government."