June 8 Wednesday – Clara Clemens’ 24th birthday. Sam’s notebook entry of June 11 describes the family’s collective ignoring of such events since the death of Susy:

June 11, ’98. Clara’s birthday 3 days ago. Not a reference to it has been made by any member of the family in my hearing; no presents, no congratulations, no celebrations. Up to a year & nine months ago all our birth-days, from the beginnings of the family life were annually celebrated with loving preparations followed by a joyous & jovial outpouring of thanksgivings. The birthdays were milestones on the march of happiness. Then Susy died. All anniversaries, of whatever sort, perished with her. As we pass them now, they are only gravestones. We cannot keep from seeing them as we go by, but we can keep silent about them, & look the other way and put them out of memory as they sink out of sight behind us [NB 40 TS 25].