I have been lucky to have visited a few countries but on my bucket list is Italy. I have heard how beautiful it is and the food is amazing. I love that everyone walks everywhere, and comfy shoes are mandatory on the old cobblestones.
I hope to get there in the next few years, I seem to miss the opportunities that come up so I may need to make my own plans but I will get there one day.
After that I would like to visit a Scandinavian country, this is an area where I have not been and I hear wonderful things about it.
8th Grade: Tonight was the 8th grade dance it was a blast. Everyone look nice
Oh, I’m glad that I enjoyed it. I didn’t have a lot of friends but I loved a dance I guess. I wore a dress of my cousin’s, it was very plain. My mom dropped me off and I think she was glad that I went. I often think of those times as tough but maybe they were good some days.
June 15
We had a going away – surprise party for [sister]! She was surprised
My family was big into surprise parties. My sister was doing an exchange program for the summer and my family had a big party with questionably-appropriate cultural items from the country she was visiting. (More to come on that).
I could talk endlessly about running. Races I have done, goals I have, gels, shoes, whatever. I’m comfortable talking about running and love when I meet people who run.
I have had people tell me that they are training for a 5k and say that it’s not much. I enthusiastically listen to them, ask questions and encourage. I explain that it’s a cult and I welcome anyone who will join. I’m sure this is true of other sports, hobbies, whatever.
Because I have years of running and many races under my belt I feel confident talking about running. I’m no expert nor am I capable of coaching but I know what I need to do to succeed and stay healthy.
I have spent hours talking to people about their races and I am interested in what got them started. Similarly, I feel like there are a lot of things to talk about when running with someone. If it can’t get resolved in a 2 hour run it ain’t getting resolved.
Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?
And it was.
I got Richard Scarry’s Best Storybook Ever for my birthday one year. I loved being read to and eventually reading it on my own. My favorite story was the one about a little bear who is on his father’s shoulders and the dad can’t find him. It took me longer than I care to admit to realize that the dad knew when the child was.
The stories were cute and taught me new words and categories of things. I still picture the calendar part at the end, showing pictures of the months.
I have given this book as a gift and currently sitting on my table to give at a baby shower. I got so nostalgic looking at it; they haven’t changed a thing, the little bear is still on the dad’s shoulders. I look forward to reading it to my new niece, hoping that she will get the same enjoyment.
I used to volunteer as a reader to a little child at her school. Once a week I would read to her. We read together for 4 years, 1-4th grades. It was an amazing experience and it is said that so much is gained from reading to a child, even up to 4th grade. Looking at this book I know this to be true.
I still have this book somewhere, it looks exactly the same except that it is pink and a bit worn.
5th grade me is back and she’s got not much to say.
May 30th
We went to a party at [friend’s]. It was really fun. A-
If it is the people that I am thinking of it was fun. They lived on a big farm and there was a lot to do. We would walk everywhere and play in the field. I don’t think the family had kids my age but they had friends who did. That was when I would just make friends because there were kids my age. Not bad for an introvert
May 31st
We didn’t have any school today because of Memorial Day. I’m getting stuff ready for the toy sale. A-
Yes, I would have a toy sale each year. My mom often had garage sales and I would put toys out and get some scratch. On years that she didn’t have a garage sale I had a toy sale. I had makeshift signs. I don’t know if I sold much- my sweet neighbor bought stuff. It’s weird to think that I would do this without my parents being home. That’s some Gen X/ latchkey kid stuff right there. Though I was a weird kid even for my generation. I do wish I had that entrepreneurial spirit now. I try to sell stuff online and it’s a bust.
Well that concludes May. Also that concludes 5th grade. The toy sale tuckered me out and I didn’t write again until I started 6th grade. 5th grade was a tough year so I’m giving little me a pass.
While I don’t go to church and I don’t really affiliate with an organized religion I do have faith and beliefs. I pray and am thankful for what I have.
I’m intrigued by religion. I grew up Catholic and live in a predominantly Catholic area. I like learning about different religions and I’m fascinated by the people who are active in their religion, not just the church. I never experienced that with my religion. I’m not searching for it either, it just seems interesting to me. Another way of living.
I also love visiting churches when I travel. They are beautiful with so much history. I also love listening to choirs and will pop in a Christmas choir cd (yes a cd), it’s beautiful.
I do miss the idea of going to church with my family, especially my cousins. I think that being dragged to church each Sunday (that was what it felt like to my teenage self) was a positive experience. It wasn’t necessarily the church part but that whatever I was doing I had to go to church. Our family would be together. It was a ritual. I learned to sacrifice my time.
One thing I do practice is Lent. I feel good about giving up something or adding a task for the greater good. I also still feel guilty having meat on Friday during Lent.
I’m happy with my choices now and I think that I am a good human and that’s what counts.
7th Grade: [friends’ brother] committed suicide today. He was 18. It is so sad. I’m so depressed.
Ugh, that was tough. I remember being told and I called my friends to discuss. Such a terrible loss and it’s so hard to explain to kids that things will get better. I still think of this guy and what a tragedy it was.
May 3
7th: [friends] were really sad today
I didn’t know if other kids should be told. Some knew. I remember trying to keep it lightheaded and real for them. I was dealing with my own grief and had some understanding.
May 4
7th: mom got in an accident in front of wake
Yeah, that happened. It was awful, ‘nuff said
May 5
7th: [funeral] mass really depressing.
There is so much more to say but a funeral of a child, someone whose parents are still alive, is just awful.
I do wish that I wrote more about this. I remember how awful it all was; the death and the accident (so much more to that). It was a low day in a year with the lowest days. I recently saw a movie where a child was losing a parent, I wanted to hug that child so much. Childhood tragedy is tough and thinking about it as an adult I am so sad for that little girl. I have been tasked with writing a letter to her and I will soon.
Next time will be less tragic and 5th grade me is back.
I’m a follower. Really I march to the beat of my own drum.
I’m a manager and I like mentoring people but I’m a better worker bee. I’m not the person to take charge nor do I have a desire to be an influencer but I’ll step up when needed.
When I lead I try to lead by example. Being a good worker or just being a good human being. As I manager I want others to respect me and feel comfortable asking questions and challenging me.
It stresses me out thinking about being a CEO or President of the United States. I’m good doing my job and being a upstanding citizen (most of the time).
Blueberries 🫐 I never ate them until I was late 30s. I’ve made up for los5 time. I prefer organic wild blueberries, I can eat them by the pint. I’ll put them cereal and pancakes. I have them frozen for smoothies. I tried to grow them a few years ago with little success.
Strawberries 🍓 They took a back seat to blueberries but I still love them. Great with yogurt or cool whip for a light dessert
Watermelon 🍉 but I have to eat it right away, I think it goes bad easily. My dog loves it as well
Apples 🍎 I always loved them and will eat with almond butter as a snack. I’ll baked them with nuts and oatmeal sometimes for breakfast, drizzled with maple syrup- yum
Clementines This is another one that I have to eat fairly quickly as they get dry. I love how small, tasty and easy to peel they are. Oranges seem so big to me after eating clementines
I’m not a fan of bananas, I can’t stand the smell and dislike anything with the. I wish I liked them as they are so portable.
9th grade: [Great Aunt] died. I’m glad because she was in a coma but I love her so much. She was like a grandmother to me. This year has had so many disasters.
Oh such sweet perspective little me. I hope that one day a great niece or nephew will mourn my loss and think of me as a grandmother-type.
April 20
9th: [Cousin’s] wedding. It was so cool. I think the family likes [mom’s boyfriend]. I do. A teacher at my old school died. I guess he was gay. How gross.
Okay, this one hurt. Why did I write that? Did I really feel that way about homosexuality? It was certainly not as accepted (yes, there is so much more that is needed) but with the rise of MTV it seemed like it was part of the culture. Regardless, it bothers me that I thought that way. I don’t remember who the teacher was. To me it shows that we as a society need to talk to kids about diversity, inclusion and acceptance. My parents didn’t allow racial slurs but we weren’t taught to speak up for others.
The wedding was my first wedding and it was fun. I remember we went to Burger King between the ceremony and reception because we weren’t sure when we would eat. I also remember dancing, a lot.
Introverted runner and other stuff 