Diary of a Girl
I can't get enough of biographies or documentaries. I am fascinated with the lives of others. I have several diaries in my collection dating anywhere from the turn of the century to the 1980's. It's easy to get involved reading some of them. After I am done, I feel like I know the person. To me, they are historically important. They provide a glimpse into the lives of everyday people. The same themes are carried out in each like love, hate, fear, desire, etc. I guess blogs are the diaries of our day. I wonder if some sociologist out there is collecting personal blogs off the net? At least with a handwritten diary, it has a chance of surviving, but on the computer, it can all go kaput in a matter of seconds. If you keep a blog, you might want to consider saving it to disc. Maybe the junk hunters of the year 2050 will be buying diary discs at estate sales. Like mine for instance!
But for now, here is the old fashioned paper kind. I found this small notebook in a box of ephemera at an estate sale. It's a diary kept by a girl named Mallory. She writes about the emotional highs and lows of being a teenager. The three girls pictured are either her friends or enemies, depending on her mood. Mary is the wild one, Mari-Alice is the smart one, and Cathy, poor Cathy is just a mess. You'll just have to tune in to see. Here is her first entry. I'll post a little of her drama everyday along with my regular entries.
Jan 23
Today is Friday. We had a Sc. test on Astronomy. It was pretty easy. I had a doctors appointment so I didn't study with Mary. I wouldn't have anyway. I would make up some excuse - anything. So now I'll tell you the whole story - even how I met Mary, bicycle rides, Rick, camp, Ellen, Mike, everthing. As mama would say - "You got the money, honey, - I got the time." But first I'll have to find a better place to write my bed is awful let me think. I am sitting upstairs in Gray's corner at his little desk. It's warm up here but I don't mind I have - peace & quiet, good light, privicy, I am relativly comfortable. I will begin story. now.
posted by swapatorium @ 10:09 AM
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Oooh, intriguing. She's writing to be read, isn't she, rather than just as a personal memo.
Keep going with this, Im so interested it reminds me of me, born in 1963, now a 42 year old mom of four,one almost eighteen housewife in Colorado. I think back and remember my LIddle Kiddle collection and my Easy bake Oven and Susie Homemaker dishwasher, and yes my diary. That somehow ended in the hands of my mean big sister and got passed on to my brother to use againstme, so I never got to finish writing all my secret dorky thoughts and traumas of the early seventies. Oh I truly miss those times. So I want to keep reading this diary!!!!
I am the same way with travel scrapbooks. I have collected a few and enjoy what people save from a trip.
Interesting. I also remember being a teenager and putting together pictures, ticket stubs, and many other little things I thought was so important to me. Now looking back I remember all the emotions and tears of those years...keep it going.
I love that she bought her books and cards at the Browse-a-bit store. One of those little calendars fell out of a book I picked up recently. 1972. I would have kept it if it were from the Browse-a-bit and not from Mary's Hallmark Store.
I'm glad you all like it. I too remember keeping a diary for a very short time in my life. I grew up with two pesky brothers who were always getting into my business. I was always afraid they would bust the lock and read it. I think I still have it. I'm sure it's ridiculous.
On another note, I know there are diaries/journals kept by men, but is it more of a pastime for girls? I have never found a diary written by a boy.
Vespabelle, I didn't even notice the name on the card!
Oh God...this reminds me of my old diary from 1985 when I was a freshman in hs. I was constantly bitching about my supposed "best friend" Crystal and how I should stop hanging out with her. Uuuuuh...bad memory, but thanks for the post. I want to see more even though it makes me feel icky.
This is a fantastic find! What a window into the past.
I love this...as an avid people watcher, This is an insight that is very interesting to me! Wouldn't it be strange if the author were to read Swapatorium and find her diary online!!
Can't wait to see what happens. OMG, this could be it's own blog! (Like you need more...)
This is very cool and exciting you rarely geta glimpse into the mind of kids
I still have my diary, and when I wrote in it, I imagined an audience reading it... wonder if that's why I'm a writer now??? Hmmm... Anyway, this totally sounds like something I'd do...
What a great find! I like her style of writing and can't wait to hear the "whole story" as she put it! Thanks for posting it-Jeff
This is FANTASTIC!
By the way, I do print out my blog each month and keep it in a binder. I only print the things that I think will be interesting to my children in 20 years. I hope they'll have fun reading it someday!
Hi I was just wondering where do you get all these handwritten journals?
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