January 6

From my first crush to our last dog.

1965

This afternoon I went in to see Mr. W. about my book report outline and V was there! I like him! He's so smart and cute and so tall and -- um, um! I like him!

I had 3 tests today: History (BAD), English (GOOD) and Biology (BAD). I've got to start paying attention!

Ah! Vince talked to me! I hope he likes me! If I only knew how to be popular like other girls. I WISH I DID!

Comment 2006

I wish I had a 1964 nickel for every exclamation point in my diary. I'd be rich today.

Mr. W. was a much-feared teacher, a sarcastic wit who could be brilliant and flattering but then put you down in front of the whole class for the sake of a laugh. I heard that he later found another line of work. Good move.

I have googled V recently and he's a physician doing cell research, specializing in leukemia. When I noticed him he was a transfer student from a prep school.(Rumor had it he had been kicked out, which gave him an especially attractive badboy image.)

It makes me cringe to think how desperate I was for love and acceptance. So much of my high school years were spent on the social margins.

Comment 2023

I didn’t go to a high school reunion until 1997. I attended again in 2007 and 2017 (probably our last, since the powerhouse organizer in our class died in 2018). Every ten years I learned something new. At my thirtieth, I realized that almost all of my friends were Catholic. There we were, sitting at a big round table at dinner, and they were reminiscing about the nuns in elementary school. I also learned in 1997 that high school was absolutely not “the best time in our lives”, except for a few very unhappy people. In 2007, I learned that the “hoods” — the gear heads who rebuilt and raced cars — turned out to be extremely interesting people. I also learned that a few of them had crushes on me (!!!!!) but figured I was out of their league because my Dad was a newspaper editor.

At my fiftieth, I realized that I hadn’t really known any of them, even my best friend. But how could I? When you come right down to it, how could I have really known them when I was just getting to know myself?  We all had secrets: fears we’d never admit, stories we wouldn’t share. The popular kids, the nerds, the bookworms, the jocks. We were all just trying to fit in, and thinking everyone else had it all figured out.

Note: As you can see, this two-layer cake has grown! I first tried this exercise in 2006 and kept it up for several months. So for a while you will hear from 1965 me, 2006 me and present me. 

1982

Playing with taxes and business expenses. We have not been itemizing and I usually don’t save receipts. Stupid! Now I find that there are some expenses I could deduct without itemizing and still take the standard deduction. This year it wouldn’t help much to itemize, but by next year, it probably will. So it’s time to start saving receipts!! I think I will go into work bright and early today and leave early this afternoon. I’m a bit tired and by then I could use a nap. We are going to the basketball game this evening, so I’ve got to leave time for making dinner.

I got a book yesterday on writer’s block. Hope it works.

1993

Hmmmm. I am getting somewhat used to being home alone. What with my office in boxes and both kids in school, I don’t have much choice. But it is strange to be solitary. I do miss the personal contact, though not the interruptions.  Yesterday I saw the Star Trek exhibit and the Native American exhibit. It was an absolutely lovely day and both museums were pretty empty. (Yay, January!) I had lunch at Pika Pita at Union Station (WHY did they leave College Park????) and coffee and an outstanding chocolate chip cookie at the National Gallery. (By the waterfall, of course!) But the whole time I was wishing someone was there to talk to!  

1997

Today I’m supposed to look for “abundance” in my own life. This should be a challenge, since I am facing an abundance of meetings today at the College Park Scholars retreat. Let’s see how that goes!

2004

Today’s question is more complicated. If I have everything I need to do what I need to do, why do I spend 2-3 hours a day playing computer games watching makeover TV?

There are several possible answers. First, I may be ready to “play” after a certain amount of exertion. I have known for years that an 8-hour work day is arbitrary. If I wrote for even one hour a day, I would accomplish an excellent output. Of course, behind that one hour is another 2 or 3 hours of thought and planing. I also have discreet tasks - - calls, emails, meals, errands -  that must be accomplished each day. They are never finished. So how much *work* should I be doing each day? The question isn’t whether 2-4 hours of leisure - spent doing whatever “frivolous” thing I desire - is too much, but 

1) am I getting enough work done each day and 2) am I content with my choice of leisure activities?

1998

What a morning! I woke to Kiddo 1 standing by my bed, telling me we had both overslept. So I hopped into my clothes, swearing under my breath, and hurried downstairs. I somehow managed o get coffee e and toast for both of us and Kiddo was ready in time to get to school at 8:20.  Amazing!

No more midnight sessions of Crash Bandicoot. I knew when it crept past 11 that I was in trouble, but I just kept pushing the “play again” button. From Atari to Crash Bandicoot, I’ve been addicted to computer games/video games for over 20 years. (And in my pre-digital days, it was Hearts, darts, and badminton.) I have to admire my own dogged determination, but comes a time when “one more time” is sheer stupidity. At least I finally beat the evil polar bear.

2016

Tough week, sad day. We had to say goodbye to Cunningham, our 15-year-old beagle. Thirteen years of love and goofiness. AKA “Needy Boy”.

Comment 2024

Last year on this day I started adding a 2023 comment. Not another layer yet, just more icing. Also OTD in 2021, I watched an armed group of “tourists” storm the U.S. Capitol on live TV. I was horrified, but apparently some Americans were cheering for more feces on the wall. And still are.