A Cranford idea

Last night I finished watching Cranford, a PBS Masterpiece Classic production. Set in the 1840s in a small village in England, the story of the town's people and their problems had quickly engaged me two weeks ago when it began. For any who have missed it, the episodes may be viewed online. (Thank you, PBS.)

But an idea was broached in this last episode that intrigued me. Miss Matty, played by Judy Dench, is telling her friend about something her father had encouraged. He had his children keep a two-column diary. On one side each morning they were to write what they hoped or thought would happen that day and on the other, what actually did.

What an idea! How many of us look back upon our day and critique it so? I more often look back upon it for what I wished to accomplish and did not, but that's not the same thing. This is a list of happenings.

I think I shall try it, listing what I hope will happen: having lunch with friends, winning high in bridge--or at least having good cards--, starting my next book...

I like it already!