Dear Friend The time has come for me to ascend. I request your help in this matter. It will not be pleasant for either of us. If you are willing, please bring any amount of sheet music to wherever it is my shrine is set up at midnight on Friday night (Barring zombie attack, whereby let us convene after). If you do not wish to attend, I would appreciate the sheet music. If you can find none, and do not wish to come, I would appreciate encouragement. With Love Whom you call "Music Man" P.S. I am sorry for the lack of lyrics in this letter.

March 5, 1770 Dear Diary, Today I was stuck at home because the streets were starting to flood. But today things at home just got worse. My father got in a conflict with my mother and called her a few unpleasant names and slapped her then just left. When he left my mother said to me ,“ A tory hitting a colonist girl should be treason.” I thought of it then just let it go. Then the thought of the war being gone and freedom flowing through the world came to mind. But I guess that until the rebellion stops, that the war won’t stop. Then all of a sudden when my mom was making dinner I heard a kaboom that startled me so I looked out of the window but my mother grabbed me and took me to the seller. But news comes around fast. It has been only one hour, and they already called it the Boston Massacre. Oh yeah, what I ate today was for breakfast, I ate some strawberries, for lunch I ate some fresh baked bread from the bakery, and for dinner I had some fish that were caught by Father just today. My brothers sent a letter today talking about how the war had been and how it had become harder. The whole letter was boring. My brothers have been in the war for nine years. One thing they have never said to me is, “I love you.” Sincerely , Sally

May 5,1775 Dear Diary, Well, things are getting a little better. My brothers are home. But my mom, went to King George III’s side. So, now I’m on my own. My dad just left to go find food. I’ll be right back. Okay. I’m back. Dad brought food and it is the best food I’ve ever had! They got in a fight. Yes. Mom & Dad. My mom is back on my side. We left. We left the house. Just Mom and I. I’m so scared. Who is gonna take care of us? Is it going to be Mom and I forever? No house, no dad, no brothers, no food, and no love. What if things were normal for my family? What if I remembered what fun is? I can’t even go outside to run because of the war. -Sara Randlo

May 4, 1775 Dear Diary, Could life be worse? My brothers are dying and I can’t even see them. I’m scared. What do I do? I think I’m going to take my mom’s side. But, I don’t know. I want freedom!!! And King George the III, I can’t take it. “NO MORE WAR!” is what I want to say to him. Today, my dad went hunting. He brought us some delicious pork for lunch and bacon for breakfast. We also had green beans, which I dislike, and a thought I have is”WHY WAR”!? Why can’t it just be normal? I wanna cry! Dad I love you, but I’m leaving your side. -Sara Randlo

March 19,1774 Dear Thomas Gage, I want you to be the governor of Massachusetts, so you can take care of the protestors. You can help the British get more people to stop people from throwing boxes off the ship. I believe that you will be a good governor because you were a general in the French and Indian War. Your Loyal King, King George III

May 3, 1775 Dear Diary, Life is hard right now. My dad is VERY loyal to the king and my mom, not so much. I’m not sure what side to take. My three brothers are out fighting in the Continental Army. I haven’t seen them since I was a baby. And now, my family is torn apart. I really want to go to school and meet new people and make friends, thus, I’m too poor. So, that I can’t do. Another downer is I have to cook for the soldiers. We ate green beans as usual. They were disgusting (as usual). I wish we could have real food for once. There seemed to be like 100,000,000,000,00 green beans on my plate but really it was only 35 or something. I really just want to ask Mom, “Why do we always eat green beans?” Also, we just had even more green beans imported to us! -Sara Randlo

March 16,1770 Dear Diary, Today, Tom went to fight in the war. One of the rebels had shot Mother and she died. But, dad seemed so mad that he jumped right in front of their muskets and they shot Dad too. I was all on my own because Tom moved out. Then Tom moved in with my grandma and grandpa. They let him do anything he wants too. He could even kill somebody and they wouldn't care. Love, Jennifer Revere

12-15-70 Dear Derek the Diary, Today was a rough day. Mother and Father were fighting again in the tavern. I really don’t think I should have been listening. In the beginning of the fight it wasn't so bad it was about Harold and William going somewhere and then,blah blah because I could not hear anything else, but then Father shouted, “Janette, get a hold of yourself, our kids are not going in the war and fighting for the patriots side!” Then he slapped her. ”We need independence, freedom, a rebellion, and we need to protest! Our sons could be a part of that, isn't that what we want?” Mother said. I laid down in bed after that because Father almost saw me and I didn't want to get a spanking. Of course mom won the fight, like always, so William and Harold are going to war….I wonder what it would be like to kill someone.I fell asleep wondering if the patriots would fail or succeed.I lie awake in my bed when Prim, my little sister comes in and she comes up to me crying, “Are William and Harold going to war?!” “Yes” I said solemnly.Then mom came up and saw Prim crying and hugged her and said “I know this is hard but this is our life now.” Goodnight Derek the Diary, goodnight.

March,15 1770 Dear Diary, Last night Tom stayed in the tents and did not come back in until Dad left in the morning. When he came in he told Mom to make him a uniform but, mom said no. She said you have to make it yourself. Tom came to me and told me to make one. I told him I wasn’t going to do it. Then Tom threatened me. He said that he was going to cut me with a knife if I didn’t do it so I did it. But I told mom and he got in trouble and he went to the tents. Love, Jennifer Revere

Dear Diary, March 15, 1770 Today Father hit Mother with a bible because mom let Tom fight in the war.Then Tom went to the tavern and told everybody that he was going to the war everybody said “NO YOU WILL DIE THERE.” they said. Then Tom said he does not care because he wants liberty for his family. Then they were talking in the tavern all night they were talking so loud I couldn’t even sleep. I heard what they were saying but, I couldn’t really make it out. Love, Jennifer Revere

Éxodo del Mariel El éxodo del Mariel fue un movimiento en masa de cubanos, quienes partieron del Puerto de Mariel, en Cuba, hacia los Estados Unidos entre el 15 de abril y el 31 de octubre de 1980. El origen de este éxodo está en el asalto a la embajada del Perú por parte de un grupo de civiles cubanos a bordo de un autobús público. Su objetivo era entrar al recinto y solicitar asilo político. Durante el asalto, el custodio de la embajada, Pedro Ortiz, se autodispara con su arma reglamentaria cuando intentaba hacer uso de ella. Ortiz muere camino al hospital. En respuesta a eso, el presidente cubano Fidel Castro amenaza a la embajada del Perú (un país con el que mantenía relaciones tensas) con retirar la protección si no entregan a los asaltantes. La embajada se niega y les concede protección diplomática. Fidel cumple su amenaza y hace público que todo el que quiera asilarse en la embajada podrá hacerlo sin represalias. La respuesta de la población desborda las previsiones del gobierno cubano, y en solo unos días, más de diez mil cubanos se refugian en los jardines de la embajada. Ante esta situación, y necesitado de encontrar una salida a su error, Fidel Castro autoriza a que los exiliados en Miami que quieran recoger a sus familiares, atraquen sus embarcaciones en el puerto del Mariel, al oeste de La Habana, y se lleven a todo el que quieran , de ahí que se les conozca desde entonces como los “Marielitos”. El destino de la inmensa mayoría de los mismos fue Florida, en Estados Unidos. Según datos recopilados por la Dirección de Inmigración y Extranjería, más de 125 mil cubanos salieron por el puerto del Mariel, cifra que superó el éxodo de Camariocas del año 1965, en que salieron de la isla aproximadamente 30 mil ciudadanos, con igual destino. Sin embargo, debido a la ola migratoria, el gobierno le advirtió a los Estados Unidos que la mayoría de los disidentes eran indeseables que habían sido considerados como un "peligro para la sociedad". Esto fue considerado por la opinión pública como una ofensa, de la cual se le culpó al entonces presidente Jimmy Carter, siendo uno de los factores (aparte de la lenta recuperación económica) para su derrota en las elecciones de ese año.

December 16, 1773 Boston Dear King George III, I do not like that you closed the Boston Harbor! Here are some reasons why I want you to open up Boston Harbor again. First, the closing prevented supplies from entering the harbor, so us colonists can sell our goods such as clothing, dishes, sugar and flour. Next, Pennsylvania and New York colonists did not allow British tea ships to enter the large city ports and sent ships out into the harbors to block the tea ships. It wasn't our fault that other colonies stopped the tea ships. Finally, the blockade also prevents merchants, such as myself, from selling goods.This will cause my family and I to close our shop. As you can see, I really want you to open the Boston Harbor back up so us colonists can sell our goods again. Sincerely, Brooklyn Jackson

Dear Diary, 7-17-1776 When I woke up in the middle of the night, one of my brothers was gone so, I could not sleep that night. Then in the morning I heard Mother and Father fighting so my other brother ran in to my room to comfort me so I said, “I am scared” he responded “I know.” My brother did not come back that day but when he did it was to warn us. It is now 12:00 p.m. and, I can hear gunshots. The gun shots were coming from the British and the continental army shooting the Redcoats and, I ran to mother so she can comfort me. Mother started to sing. Then the shooting stopped after father peeked outside the redcoats were gone!!!!! Sincerely, Sofia

Dear Diary, July 16,1776 Today, Mother came home and said “Mrs. Bloodgood fired me because I am with the colonist so, with all the free time on my hands I am going to the store.” So when Mother was at the store Father was fighting again and he said, “You are not going to the army!” but my brother said yes he is. That Sincerely, Sofia

March 16,1770 Dear Diary, Today, Tom went to fight in the war. One of the rebels had shot Mother and she died. But, dad seemed so mad that he jumped right in front of their muskets and they shot Dad too. I was all on my own because Tom moved out. Then Tom moved in with my grandma and grandpa. They let him do anything he wants too. He could even kill somebody and they wouldn't care. Love, Jennifer Revere

March,15 1770 Dear Diary, Last night Tom stayed in the tents and did not come back in until Dad left in the morning. When he came in he told Mom to make him a uniform but, mom said no. She said you have to make it yourself. Tom came to me and told me to make one. I told him I wasn’t going to do it. Then Tom threatened me. He said that he was going to cut me with a knife if I didn’t do it so I did it. But I told mom and he got in trouble and he went to the tents. love, Jennifer Revere

         September 22, 1750 Dear Diary, So from what mother said, father is getting brought back because he found out the people that attacked him were the King’s guards. We found out that anyone who walks on that road gets attacked because the cowboys think the guards think they are going to see the King even if they are not. Mother’s brothers finally made it down and they went into my room that is supposedly now theirs… but I walked in there and they were sitting at the table I have in there. They were talking about burning the house down and taking all of our weapons and stealing all the money. I ran and told mother and she didn't believe me. My father and I have always hated mother’s side of the family.                      Love,                      Susey.

         September 21, 1750 Dear Diary, We just heard word from father, he got attacked by the people that were following him. He thinks that it was the cowboys, but we don't know yet. I just talked to mother and she said her brothers are on their way down. I'm really mad about that because they are not nice. They treat my mother really nicely, but they treat me like I’m in the army with them, but I'm not!! So anyways, I am in charge of making dinner tonight. Then mother out of the blue told me I have to give up my room for her brothers!! My life is horrible!!                      Susey

Dear Diary, July 15, 1776 Hello today I heard Father and my two brothers fighting and one said “I am leaving and never coming back, and I hope that the colonist will win. We will have freedom, independence, and no more taxation.” Then Father said, “Oh please you will never win because you are weak.” They never get along any way because Father is loyal to King George III, but Mother doesn't know that Father and my two brothers fight when she is not home. Father will never tell Mother that they fight and they won't either. Sincerely, Sofia

Dear Diary, March 15, 1770 Today Father hit Mother with a bible because mom let Tom fight in the war. Then Tom went to the tavern and told everybody that he was going to the war everybody said “NO YOU WILL DIE THERE.” they said. Then Tom said he does not care because he wants liberty for his family. Then they were talking in the tavern all night they were talking so loud I couldn’t even sleep. I heard what they were saying but, I couldn’t really make it out. Love, Jennifer Revere

         September 20, 1750 Dear Diary, So, today my father is leaving and he is wanting to go see and talk to the King. On top of father leaving, mother is talking her brothers into coming down for the week. I hate my uncles because they treat me like I’m a 2 year old and that makes me feel dumb. So my week is going to be horrible. Oh and did I mention, mother’s brothers are fighting in the Continental Army. So that makes them extra mean. Oh I just got a letter from father, it said he is almost there and he thinks that someone is following him. But I'm not too worried about that. I know that father can stand up for himself. But on the good side we are having stew tonight, and I LOVE mother’s stew!!                       Love,                     Susey.

Islas Malvinas 26/05/1982 Queridos papá y mamá: Please forgive me for not writing to you since last week, but communication is very bad in the islands. I was told that letters are sent nor received in the islands. But I will try. Yes, I received the telegram from the 18th. I still do not know when I will be able to go back home. The war is no longer to be finish. It is only starting. I imagine that I being here is not ideal, but I am safe. I must warn that it is certain that the ingleses are getting closer and closer, however in my puesto de combate, there have not been any visits, and expect that there won’t be any time soon. Lately I have been praying and asking the Virgen for us to have some peace and finally stop battling against the ingleses. As the days go by, homesickness, the desire of returning home to our normal routine increases. It does not matter anymore if we lose or win anymore. The Argentine soldiers are tired. Since the beginning, we did not had enough training nor preparation for the conditions of this war. In the end, we are just miserable men fighting for a piece of useless land that already belongs to Argentina. Here in las Islas Malvinas, the weather is rough and windy, the landscape is irregular and rocky. There is no trees, only small bushes to hide behind. All these factors make transportation and accommodation difficult. Anyways, I expect to arrive before than this letter does, but I will stop worrying about this. Well, nothing else. Hugs and kisses for both. I always have you in my thoughts. Los quiero mucho. Chau, José Luis

July, 4 -1776 Dear Family, I have seen a lot of amazing things over the last couple of years that I would like to tell you about. When they first recruited me, I wasn’t on the front line, but this battle I was. I got to see everything that happened except the person who shot first. When the Lobsterbacks showed up it, seemed like there was 1,000,000 of them, but we had a better fighting position. Right before the war started a commander from the 43rd Regiment came to get me to fight on the North Bridge. After we shot a couple volleys, the British retreated. We did not pursue the Redcoats because we didn't want to be tired for the battle at Boston. Some of the other minutemen were surrounding Boston or at Breed’s Hill, but I was at Bunker Hill. We demolished the British. I hope this letter comforts you and now you know what I have seen over the last couple of years. Sincerely, Jacob Snickers

April 9,1772, Dear Taden Graves, I am waiting till April 11,1772, for the five mile walk to Boston to ambush the Colonists, through the trees, swamp,and the cold weather, that is 21 degrees. Our guns and ammo are loaded and ready to fire. We have guns that can shoot as far as 20 miles. We have 8,000 guns and 500 pounds of gunpowder. I wondered if the Colonists were ready to fire? They have 13 canons. We have 15 cannot,but theirs have more power and can,shoot farther. Wars are scary when friends and family die in our eye sight.Camp is boring and tiring.I have to get the water for the GernaI. I have to walk a half a mile to get the water at a spring. But there's a valley with moist ground all day long no matter what the temperature is.There is about 7,000 men on the British side and 6,000 on the Colonists.I think most of the men are scared like me but their are brave soldier’s too. I’m a soldier and have a musket. When I see a soldier,I am not afraid to shoot him. Sincerely, Francis

                   April 20,1775 Dear family, I just wanted to tell you that I am alive and what has been going on since I left. The Battle of Lexington and Concord started on April 19, 1775, against 700 British troops. It seemed like there were thousands of them but, there were only 700. No more and no less. So far we are winning the battle. I actually just figured out that this all started three weeks after Patrick Henry delivered his famous words “Give me Liberty or Give me Death”. Not too long from now, we are going to be fighting the Revolutionary War. On the night of April 18, 1775, hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to nearby Concord in order to seize all of the guns and ammo. Paul Revere and other riders sounded the alarm. All of this started in 1764. On April 18,1775, Joseph Warren learned from a source inside the British high command that redcoat troops would march that night to Concord. Hope to see you soon.                        Sincerely,                      Paul Collins

                      April 20,1775 Dear My Love, Life in the British camp is harsh.we are low on food. We do not get as much pay as we do back in London.It seems like nobody likes the British in the colonies only a few colonies do. In the battle of concord and Lexington, I was one of the few soldiers that survived.The food here is not as good back home. All we get is fresh meat from cows we kill, bad soup, and rotten bread. During my first few days at the colonies I was at Boston working at a barber shop and I saw someone that looks just like you! I will be coming back in one month because I was shot in the arm.But I also bring you bad news. Your brother, John, was shot in the back during the retreat in the battle of concord and Lexington and his son is being held captive by the Patriots. After the battle of Concord and Lexington, I was promoted to general. When I get home I wish to continue our wedding plans and have time to be with Lydia. After this war is over I have plans for us to move to Georgia. It is a very nice place because I have been there.There are lots of room for her to play.And make friends. We could get nice jobs there like you could work at the barber shop and I could work at the shipyards. love your to be husband

Islas Malvinas 26/05/1982 Queridos papá y mamá: Please forgive me for not writing to you since last week, but communication is very bad in the islands. I was told that letters are sent nor received in the islands. But I will try. Yes, I received the telegram from the 18th. I still do not know when I will be able to go back home. The war is no longer to be finish. It is only starting. I imagine that I being here is not ideal, but I am safe. I must warn that it is certain that the ingleses are getting closer and closer, however in my puesto de combate, there have not been any visits, and expect that there won’t be any time soon. Lately I have been praying and asking the Virgen for us to have some peace and finally stop battling against the ingleses. As the days go by, homesickness, the desire of returning home to our normal routine increases. It does not matter anymore if we lose or win anymore. The Argentine soldiers are tired. Since the beginning, we did not had enough training nor preparation for the conditions of this war. In the end, we are just miserable men fighting for a piece of useless land that already belongs to Argentina. Here in las Islas Malvinas, the weather is rough and windy, the landscape is irregular and rocky. There is no trees, only small bushes to hide behind. All these factors make transportation and accommodation difficult. Anyways, I expect to arrive before than this letter does, but I will stop worrying about this. Well, nothing else. Hugs and kisses for both. I always have you in my thoughts. Los quiero mucho. Adiós, José Luis

Dear Jean, It is with deep regret and despair that I write this letter to you. We have lost the battle and the Japanese have now imprisoned us. I am now a prisoner of war along with all my friends and fellow soldiers. It is evident that the worst is yet to come. I am being treated with no respect but like a pig. I have to work all day until my bones get weak and my clothes get drowned in sweat. Life is no easy task and I feel like my body is just going to give up one day. The suffering I have witnessed everyday is disgusting. You could call it hell for all we know. My love, I only wish that I could return to your arms one day but it seems unlikely. I will keep hoping for the best. Your husband, Albert

Dear mom and dad, We stood no chance against the Japanese but fortunately when all hope seemed lost, the 2/19th A.I.B had arrived to fight through the strong enemy lines. The 2/19th provided us with a safely retreat path. Without them, we would still be stuck in battle and tasting death. We soon replenished our battalion with a vital addition of fresh and new 500 soldiers, but the Japanese forces were like a train determined to get to it's location and will run over anyone or anything that tries to get in it's path. Our attacks were futile and the predators had finally caught their prey. Hope now seemed like reaching for a needle in a haystack.

Dear Jean, I hope you are well and happy. I miss you so much and being far apart separated by miles of sea sometimes hits home. My battalion has finally landed after days of sea and no land. We have made our way to the Muar river and you could hear the deafening sounds of whizzing bullets. There is a smell of death in the air. The Indian brigade and the 2/4th Anti-Tank Regiment are helping us and we have managed to destroyed many of their tanks. Many our comrades have fallen as the Japanese are relentless and we have not been able to stop them. I wish that you did not have to here about this but I have injured my left leg from a bullet and I am forced to limp. So are the consequences of war, There is not a day that passes by that I don't think of you and I hope I will have the opportunity to see your face again, Albert