Diary of a Young Woman

In my effort to paint, clean, organize, and discard things to get the house ready to go on the market in support of our Coastal Craziness, I found some true keepers!  I thought you may want to join me as I walk down memory lane a bit through diaries, annuals and mementos of my younger self.  

The earliest record of my thoughts began in 1978 when I was a cute 12 year old making many entries throughout writing in colored pens and fat cursive letters.  (For the sake of others and not to embarrass them, all names are being replaced with "boy" or "girl".)

The first entry began...

January 1, 1978

Dear Diary,

A boy did ask me.  He asked me Fri. Dec. 16, 1977.  Ya know, I think I'm in love with him but I am going to talk to Mom about it.  Tonight everyone said I could do the robot better than girl and girl got mad.

Dee

I giggled when I read it and even typing it out now puts a smile on my face.  I still remember boy and the intensity of the crush I had on him.  

It's interesting to pull some things out of the diary entry that reveal who I was then and how that compares with who I am now:

• I love details:  why else would I feel compelled to record the date of when boy asked me
• I love easily:  as we will see throughout my diary! lol
• I'm a talker:  I reason things out with others who are important in my life and who I feel will give me sound reasoning.  (thanks, Momma!)
• I dance:  the Robot was the craze then and has come and gone but I still love to throw on some happy music and groove to the beat! 
• I'm competitive:  I love to be better, best, and bestest as shown even at a young age of 12.  yikes!
• I liked my nickname:  The only ones who still call me Dee now are my family and friends I had from this time.  At some point in middle school or early high school I took a stance of independence and threw the nickname away and insisted on being called by my full first name. 

... I wonder if my relationship with boy lasted and if my friendship with girl survived the Robot?  ;)

Top 11

Copernicus

Even though a Sussex Spaniel won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show, the Miniature Schnauzer made a nice showing.  And, considering the AKC's most registered dog breeds list just posted, I thought I would let you know that the Miniature Schnauzer remains in the Top 11...in the 11th spot.  To celebrate the breed and brag on my boys, here's a few pictures for the day.  ;) 

 Newton

Copernicus

Newton

Tired

One teenager. (driving, working, social Theatre Dude)

Two puppies.  (full of energy, needing lots of Mommy time and training)

One house. (cleaning, painting, arranging and soon to be on the market)

One hubby. (3 hours worth of time zone and 3,000 miles away)

One me.  (tired)

Stoplight

I tried my hand, well...my keyboard actually, at crafting a little fiction over at Pictures, Poetry & Prose.  The writing prompt was "Waiting at a stoplight..."

Enjoy!

***   ***   ***

Kara sat in her car while she waited for the traffic light to turn green despite the steady blaze of red that seemed to taunt her into more waiting.

"It's my turn", she said out loud. Even though no one else was listening.

Disgruntled at the long wait and determined to get on with her commute, Kara began to tap her fingers on the steering wheel.

"It's my turn", she said out loud. Even though no one else was listening.

Her heart began to pound harder and harder as her irritation bloomed into full blown anger. She couldn't fathom a reasonable explanation as to why the light was taking so long to turn green.

"It's my turn", she yelled out loud and pounded her balled up fists on the steering wheel. Even though no one else was listening.

A car pulled up on her left side and Kara turned to look. As she did, her eyes caught a glimpse of a young girl who was firmly buckled up in her car seat in the rear of the car. The little girl began to entice Kara with a game of peek-a-boo.

Kara's heart immediately melted. Of course she wanted to play with this sweet little girl who was all smiles. The mom in the front seat of the car smiled and waved and nodded in approval of the game. 

The tiny little girl dipped and tried to hide behind her hands with the grandest peek-a-boo gestures. 

"It's my turn", Kara said out loud. Even though the little girl couldn't hear her. And, reciprocated with a big smile and wide eyes that gave way to an even more animated peek-a-boo.

....and then, the light turned green.

Sad that the game ended so soon, Kara waved goodbye to the little girl as both cars began to accelerate.

She patted her belly, now protruding with 7 months worth of new baby, as she grinned and said, "It's my turn! It's my turn to be a mommy soon".

Freckles

I used to despise them; my freckles, that is.  They were the source of much angst in my middle school years as my peers found them to be funny and a source of pokes and jokes at my expense. As I looked in the mirror at my own reflection then, I saw the little sun-kissed spots that danced across my cheeks and determined them to be my arch nemesis.  I secretly ached and longed for a spot free, peaches & cream kind of facial landscape.

Then, as I emerged into my teenage years, I became friends with my face.  I no longer saw my freckles as detestable but I think I grew to ignore them.  I chose heavy makeup and concealer to daily deny that there was anything but a smooth, non-spotted face.

My 20's and early 30's were filled with family business and I gave way to being at peace with my freckles. I had accepted the fact that they were here to stay.  They loved living on me and so I decided to embrace them.  I chose to like my freckles.

Easing out of my 30's and into my 40's I suddenly became more aware of my skin and its quirkiness.  I looked around and concluded that women with freckles look younger than women without them.  I fell in love with my freckles!

My recent trip to the dermatologist gave me an even better boost as she exclaimed, "Your skin looks fantastic for your age!"  And then she began to talk about changing my skin care system and move towards using preventative aging products.  

Ha! And she said my skin looked good.  Hmmmph!

Ok, to make a long story short, I walked out of her office with a bag full of goodies all designed to plump up my skin and prevent it from sagging and to brighten my skin tone.  

Brighten = no more freckles.  (One of the products will fade my freckles a bit.)

I'm sad.  I mean, I've finally come to enjoy and revel in my freckles and now I paid for, and will use,  a product that will lessen their intensity and beauty.   

Isn't that just like life, though?  You come to a place of choice, acceptance & appreciation for something and then BAM! ... it changes.

Life.  What a change! ;)

***   ***   ***

And, in the midst of my day, I received a Lovely Blog award.  Laura Jayne was so lovely to send me this kind gift.  

I visit a lot of blogs and have chosen a few that I think are lovely and are deserving of the award as well.  Be lovely, would you, and check out these lovely sights? ;)

Aimee is a lovely, funny and gifted writer at New to Farm Life.

Angi is a lovely friend and blogger extraordinaire at Choice Central.

A new, I don't know her name but she's writes lovely and has a Miniature Schnauzer at Minnesota Transplant's Blog.

Lovely, aren't they?

What Would You Do?

I looked at the clock and hesitated.  It was very close to the time that Theatre Dude was supposed to come home from school and I wanted to see him and hear how his day went.  However, I really needed to take Copernicus for a walk because he's been stir-crazy without his brother around.  Newton has been out of commission for a few days, sadly, but recovering nicely from his recent neutering.  {{poor puppy}}

I texted Theatre Dude and told him I was headed out for a walk and would see him when I got back home.  He quickly let me know not to walk near the field in our subdivision because there was going to be a fight but that I didn't know the two boys involved.  He warned me, "Stay away from there, Momma.  I don't want you getting hurt."

After a few more exchanges, I grabbed the leash and fastened it onto a more than ready Miniature Schnauzer.  I totally forgot about the conversation with Theatre Dude, was immersed in music blaring from my iPod and noticed there were a lot of cars and teenagers up ahead at the open field.

Oh my goodness!!  I forgot about the fight!!

I kept walking because there was nothing else I could do.  I saw one boy had a football in his hand as he was crossing the street and thought to myself, "Oh, they're just playing football.  No biggie."

There were about 25 kids standing around.  And then it started.

Two boys.

Fists flying.

Punching.

Kicking.

One boy.

On top of the other.

Punching.

Harder.

One boy.

On the bottom.

Wiggled out from underneath.

Sprouted to his feet.

And punched.

And punched.

I wanted to run to the field.  I wanted to scream.  I wanted to do something.  But, I was paralyzed for a second.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  I quickly grabbed my cell phone and dialed 911.  A woman started to walk towards me from the intersecting street ahead and asked, "Are you calling the police?"  

I nodded.  I was already giving information to the 911 dispatcher. 

I watched the onlookers who cheered and laughed and captured the fight on video cameras and cell phones.  

Laughing.  Most of them were laughing.

Then, just as quickly as it started it was over.  All of the teenagers went scrambling to their cars.  The two boys that had just been annihilating each other put their arms around each other and one boy patted his chest.  It looked like they were saying, "Good fight".

I couldn't believe it even though I watched it.

Then, I saw her.  She was getting into a car, video camera in hand, laughing and full of energy.

Her name slipped out of my mouth in that mother-tone.  You know the tone, the one used specifically for serious business and oh-are-you-in-trouble face.  

She looked up at me, blushed and said, "Um, gotta go".

She disappointed me.  I didn't think she was capable of being where she was.

I felt nauseous the rest of my walk.  Furious at the violence that our culture keeps brewing and touting as cool.  Angry that I knew a few of those kids as well as their parents.

Ugh.

I called Theatre Dude and told him what happened.  He said this is normal.  He said this happens all the time.  I told him I called the police.  He didn't approve.  He said I should have avoided the area like he asked me to.

But, I'm a grown-up, I pleaded.  I couldn't just walk by and ignore what was happening.

Could you?  What would you do?

Stupid Human Trick

Having had the opportunity to be around a lot of middle-school and teenaged boys, I've been privileged to witness all sorts of Stupid Human Tricks.  I'll spare you the graphics and just let you know that I didn't have one.  Oh, I tried to twist my arm this way, make my stomach roller coaster sideways, bend my fingers to find a hidden joint beside the normal one, and well, you get the picture.  

Sadly, I must admit to you, I've been rather jealous at their ability to have a body trick that makes them unique.  I had nothing.

So, imagine my surprise when, at a mere 42 years old, I have found my own Stupid Human Trick!

I can yawn on command.

(Trick discovered while trying to get my ears to 

pop after my last airline flight.)

And, while it may not be the best of the tricks around, I'm happy that I have one.  Me...with a Stupid Human Trick.  It's so cool.  What's yours?  ;)