When we were in Ohio this summer, I unearthed my childhood/adolescent diaries from the basement, and proceeded to spend a lot of time cringing and guffawing wildly as I read choice passages aloud. There are more than a few sad parts; I was a pretty intense kid, with strong emotions, thin skin, and a tendency to be made fun of by fellow classmates. As I was laughing about the journals on FB, my friend JWD reminded me to be gentle with the girl who wrote this stuff. It was good advice. I would have been mortified had I known that my adult self would go back and join the crowd of cruel teasers. And yet... there's also something sort of redemptive about being able to laugh about some of this stuff. I have such a soft spot in my heart for the kid I was: obsessed with Jesus, boys, finding myself, and becoming a better person (which I cleared failed to do when I called Marie a "snobby zombie" after a sibling spat).
Without further adieu,
43things, eat your heart out:
(circa 1993)Personally, I'm impressed with my mathematical approach to self-improvement. (Too bad I can't do math well enough to double-check my numbers.) Apparently I struggled the most with "get out of Mar. & Eliz's shadows" and "Make least one person aware of Christianity." But according to my records, I did manage to stop caring about popularity and become a better friend to myself. And I found out why boys are jerks! (Wish I'd written that one down for future reference...)
(circa 1993)
whoa, nelly, I am über-impressed with your spreadsheet approach to self-improvement. And no, I am not being facetious.
ReplyDeleteThough I do have to ask what in the world you were doing to Carmen for it to make the list... you were being mean to my smelly, slobbery, ill-behaved, slightly dim, sweet puppy??
I generally like to think, or at least hope, that the little girls we were can find comfort in the women we have become. Good to see you at GA -- wish we could have chatted more.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't actively mean to Carmen, but I remember thinking I didn't spend enough time playing with her, etc. And the poor dog hardly ever got walked...
ReplyDeleteBeg pardon! I do believe she was walked on many occasions by M and I!
ReplyDeletecarmen was the WORST leash dog ever. i remember once she knocked a small child down and i was mortified. and thanks SO MUCH for sharing the "snobby zombie" thing. no really. :p
ReplyDeletethis is so precious, K.
ReplyDeletemy particular favorite is "Learn how to do hair so it looks good"
Wasn't that on everybody's list? :) I worked on schwoopy bangs and side wings forever!
ohmygosh. that chart is hilarious. you should be uniquely proud :) ...if that is such a thing.
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing! What was the timeline for such a spread sheet? There are 13 columns. ??? You are sweet to think of the dog and to get out of your sisters' shadows. More so, you were aware and accountable for being a disciple! Just AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteI am interested in why the next entry suggests that Elizabeth hates you.
Helen, I was 12, and a little sister. 'Nuff said.
ReplyDelete:)
:)
ReplyDeleteThis is darling. I'm so glad it was rediscovered and I love that you wanted to be a better friend to yourself- aren't we so hard on ourselves?
ReplyDeletei am both rejoicing and wincing over your find - thinking of what my old journals would say, but jealous that you have yours. what a neat discovery!
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