April 10, 1912

RMS Titanic

Dear Diary,

In all the hubbub yesterday I completely forgot to mention who I am. My name is Rose Dewitt Bukater. I'm 17 and the daughter of Ruth and George. My father died last year. I don't really miss him. He was mean to both me and my mother. Usually I wouldn't mind someone treating her like dirt, but it's because of him that she is the way she is. But I'm not one to dwell in the past.

Today was the most hectic day from start to finish. Trudy woke me early, around 6:30. I usually rise between 7:00 and 7:30, which is still and hour or two before everyone else. After washing my face, I dressed in a long and slimming black dress, low cut, something I figured would annoy my mother considerably. Then I left the hotel room and walked down to the dining room for some breakfast. Mother made a comment about me being late, saying our meal was supposed to begin ad 7:00 and instead they had to wait for me. Well, for God's sake, it was only 3 minutes past! Time continued to pass, and everything was loaded onto Cal's motorcars (I actually prefer a horse-drawn carriage) when Cal suddenly announced that I must change at once. "You can not wear that dress. I will not allow it!" he said sternly.

"And why not?" I said annoyed, thinking it was because it was so revealing and he didn't want other men looking at me that way.

"It's black, and it's sailing day. That's bad luck it is," he laughed and Mother did as well. I rolled my eyes and stomped up the stairs and changed into a white and black striped dress suit (that no one could find the least bit inappropriate) but took my merry time doing it. When I finally emerged, also mother placed an enormous purple hat upon my head. I say, if there's anything wrong with that ship, it won't matter. I can just use this stupid and asinine hat as a lifeboat! It could probably hold Mother, Cal, myself, all of our things, and still have room for more! Ok, I exaggerate, but that hat was so big I could hardly hold my head up!

Since I took so much time dressing (I enjoyed that too much for sanity) we had to rush. We got to the docks only 5 minutes before they closed the gates! On some level I wish we had missed it, but actually it's a beautiful ship. I pretended to be unimpressed, which REALLY seemed to annoy Mother. I told Cal it didn't look any bigger than the Mauritania (which we traveled on not too long ago) but Cal said it was 100 feel longer. Then he turned to Mother and said, "Your daughter is far too difficult to impress, Ruth." Well I assure you, he is wrong. It doesn't take that much to impress me. Anyone can inherit wealth and a good name. All I need to impress me is someone who does something good with it. Or with their life.

As we boarded the enormous ship (so big that it could take up as much room as an entire town, no jest) Cal said the first thing that ever showed he knew what was going on in my head. He said, "I pulled every string I could to get us on the grandest ship in history, and here you are acting as if you are being led to your execution!" He is right. Still, I can not begin to express the beauty of Titanic. She is just enormous! And from the inside is just as good (if not better) than the hotel we were staying at.

After the departure (which was actually quite exhilarating) Mother suggested that we get settled in at our suite. It really is very nice, but nothing I haven't seen before. I have my own room, and Mother "ordered" me to take a nap. Since there is a door connected to the main hallway, I locked the other (that connects the suite itself) and escaped to the boat deck. I honestly love the sea. It makes me feel so free when I stare at it. Perhaps that's silly. I don't know…

Tonight we had dinner in the first class dining saloon. I dressed in an outfit with a large flower at the waist. I felt father stupid in it, though numerous people complimented me. We dined with John Jacob Astor (the richest man on the ship) and his wife Madelyn. She's my age and in the family way. Entertaining and annoying at the same time. We also ate with Mr. and Mrs. Straus, a nice older couple. I've known them for a while, as my father was friends with their son. Mrs. Straus treats me like her granddaughter. There were others at our table, rich and narrow-minded. I wanted so badly to make a comment here and there but Mother warned me to watch my tongue.

Tonight we also stopped at Cherbourg, France to pick up a few hundred other passengers. A woman named Margaret Brown came aboard. Molly is her nickname. She is so well humored. She wasn't always rich. Her husband struck gold or something. Mother calls her "new money." Mother said it as if it was and insult, but I find her more interesting than anyone I've talked to. Ah, I fear I have written too much. It's late and I'm tired. I plan on rising very early and taking a stroll on the boat deck alone, and I want to be well rested. Until tomorrow, then.

Your friend,

Rose