January 23, 1965
I sat for the O's until 1 AM, received $2.50. I called H and we talked for 1 1/2 hours. I get so lonely during babysitting. I got out my history book, but was so drowsy I could hardly keep my eyes open. I did go tobogganing this afternoon. We got a surprise blizzard - 12-16 inches, plus sleet! If we miss school Monday, we'll have to make up the exams and I'll flunk my Geometry and Biology exams - I didn't bring my books home.
January 23, 2023
Sophomore year was Modern European History. The teacher was fine, but I had almost no interest in the class. The one moment I remember was the day I stared at the small black and white portrait of Voltaire in our text book and tried to imagine him being alive. I couldn’t. Nor could I conjure up an interest in the various dates and events we were supposed to memorize.
Ten years later I would be pursuing a degree in the history of textiles and fashion, relearning all of the facts that put me to sleep in high school. By 1976 I was teaching. It turned out that learning about how people dressed was the key that unlocked history for me. Since then, I branched out to learn as much as I could about daily life in the past, especially for ordinary, un-famous people.
It did snow! Maybe my grumpy negativity the day before was just an attempt to cast a spell on the weather. I did get to go tobogganing. Someone in our party hit a snow-covered stump, resulting in a bit of a head injury, but it wasn’t me. Or it was me and I have forgotten.