date stamp: 7 p.m. gmt, june 17, 2009

The date stamp initiative is part of a year-long project to capture 2009 in words and images from all parts of the world. To catch up on past date stamps, click here.

She was born in 1936 on the east coast of the United States into the large family of an Episcopalian minister and his wife (a tiny but tough woman who could press her hands flat to the floor while bending at the waist and who lived by the belief that cold showers in the morning set the day to rights) on the heels of The Great Depression, with the shadow of the Second World War looming large.

In her day, she would send her sons into wars and political hot spots and teach her growing family how to conserve in a drought, would make a dollar stretch for nine children on an officer's salary, somehow managing to give each of these children a private school education. In a marriage that has lasted 48 years, she would follow her husband from base to base, criss-crossing the country and even leaving land for more exotic places (like Guam and Hawaii), only to then wait for his return from months-long tours of duty.

An artist, she fulfilled a life-long desire to learn how to dance by taking up ballet lessons at the age of 45, even as she carpooled several of her daughters to their own dance classes. Today, at the age of 73, she will get on a plane to watch two of her granddaughters dance on the stage, scheduled in and around other trips that again see her criss-crossing the country to be with her other sons and daughters, and their children.

There is more, of course, much more — too much to recollect here. But for all that is left out, there is one thing to be said for certain: that each of these 73 years was lived day by day, hour by hour, always with a prayer on her lips and the desire to do good.

What better way to celebrate that life in progress than by taking a snapshot of what the world looked like on June 17, 2009, at 7 p.m. GMT. One moment in time to celebrate a world of moments and a legacy of memories.

Happy Birthday, Sara Jean Kernan Lockwood. This date stamp's for you.

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London, England
GMT
(7 p.m., local time)


I'm in relaxation mode right now. This is my current needlepoint project - a carpet for a dolls' house. I fitted out my own twelve room mini-mansion some time ago, but there were still so many patterns I wanted to try out, so I've continued making rugs and carpets to sell at craft fairs.

No one else in the family can understand why I find such close work "fun", but there is something calming in seeing a carpet take shape stitch by stitch, inch by inch. Meditation in canvas and stranded cotton.

— Kathryn Radmall

Screenwriter

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Manchester, England
GMT
(7 p.m., local time)

Note: Peter Spencer took these photos while on holiday just north of London.



Somewhere near Milton Keynes on a summer's evening.

— Peter Spencer
Screenwriter

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Raleigh, North Carolina
United States
GMT - 5
(2 p.m. local time)

Mike Scherer was also on vacation for this date stamp, reporting in from Manistee, Michigan.


Do guy-birds ogle the females as they work on their tans? Do they fantasize about ‘making it’ with their favorite chick?

Do girl-birds scope out the guys on the sly -- score them on a scale from one to ten -- then giggle amongst themselves?

Did any of this posturing and preening and posing result in any long-term relationships?

Shrug.

All I know: this beach has gone to the birds.

Happy 73rd Sara Lockwood!

— Michael Scherer
Screenwriter

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Louisville, Kentucky
United States
GMT - 5
(2 p.m. local time)

It seems almost no one stayed put for this date stamp. Here's Jeanne Hammond's report from South Bend, Indiana.

Today I am on different turf: the campus of Notre Dame, with a dear friend, Sister Anthony Wargel. We toured the Administration building, viewed the oil paint portraits of university presidents past and wondered what it was like in this quad two weeks ago, when the convocation ceremony drew journalists and protesters to an otherwise peaceful campus. University President Jenkins and President Barack Obama in cordial company, as some students and alumni protested President Obama’s receiving an honorary degree. On what grounds do we etch our stands? How do we divine truth? What do we value in this life? Questions for Catholic university men and women of steady heart. Questions for all of us.

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Westlake Village, California
United States
GMT - 8
(11 a.m. local time)

Julia snapped this picture for Grandma, selecting her subject as an honest admission of what life in Southern California looks like on pretty much any given day.

At least from this dog's perspective.

And as far as she's concerned (the dog, that is), there's no better way to spend a birthday than belly-up in the sunshine.

— Pamela Schott
Author, Screenwriter

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Tikrit, Iraq
GMT + 3
(10 p.m. local time)

We got socked with a heavy sandstorm last night. We literally had sand drifts inside the building last night, it was so bad. People got lost walking home. One van of our guys, coming back just from dinner, had to put two people out into the storm with their flash lights, just to make sure the van stayed on the road -- you couldn't tell where it was.

— Art La Flamme
Blogger/Army Serviceman

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Elsewhere in the world:

Australian Station
Antarctica
GMT + 4
(11 p.m. local time)

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Abbey Road
London, England
United Kingdom
GMT
(7 p.m. local time)

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Venice
Grand Canal
Italy

GMT +1
(7 p.m. local time)

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Paris, France
GMT + 1
(8 p.m. local time)