Finally, An End

Well, people, that's it. That is 1998 Rachel's summary of the year.

I don't know how to feel right now. Relieved? Exhausted? Mentally ill?

Anyway, thanks for putting up with me through all these old diary posts. If anything they were a good reminder to me that things are never, ever, ever as dramatic as you think they are when you're 12. Probably the same can be said for when you're 22, as well.

Also, it's really showed me how nice it is to not feel like I have to pump out something creative for several weeks. I either need to search for more diaries, or finally think of something interesting to say.

So, let's have share time.

...does anyone else shiver when they say something like "share time"?

Seriously, though. Let's just put it all out on the table. However, being that there is no physical table upon which to put "it", I'll ask you to simply leave a comment. So, what is one of the craziest things you ever wrote in your diary? Or, if you didn't have a diary, what is one of the craziest things you ever divulged in a game of Truth or Dare?

If you haven't figured it out, the only reason I'm asking this question is to feel better about my own diary.

Thanks.

December 26, 1998

Dear Journal,
Christmas was great! I got calligraphy pens and a new Ballet bag and a book from Beth (SECRET SANTA). It was awesome!

December 22, 1998

Dear Journal,
Nutcracker is over, I made a really nice friend, her name is Ariel. I miss being in the Nutcracker, I have a lot of time on my hands. I have been bored out of my whits. Hanukkah is over and the presents were great! I can't wait for Christmas, it's only three days away! I also can't wait until X-Mas eve! It will be at grandma's house. Our cousins are coming for Christmas. They will probably stay in our room like last time! That means the girls will want to be in our room playing with our stuff. We are doing "Secret Santa" for our sisters and brothers. I got Rose. I got her a Winnie The Pooh book that makes noise. Bye.

December 1, 1998

Dear Journal,
We have finished putting up the lights, in fact, we have finished putting up all of our decorations, even our tree! It is the biggest tree we have ever had. And the other night, after we put up the ornaments, it fell over. We had to use rope to hold it up, then we did the ornaments again. Oh, we also put grandma's old tree in our basement. It is not real. Today our Jr. High and Sr. High MAACS group is meeting at our house. It is usually pretty fun. I also have ballet tonight. And tap. I need new tap shoes really bad. My old ones don't fit and I have to wear Ballet shoes that are too big! I can't do any of the steps! Bye (for now)

November 22, 1998

Dear Diary,
My dad's grandmother died about a week ago, and Israel and Matt are going with Grandpa to Colorado for the funeral. The reason mom or dad are not going is because we have plans to go to Texas for Thanksgiving. They leave tomorrow morning. They come back Wednesday evening which is too late to go to Texas with us. It is too bad, but I can't do anything about it. Today, I went to church and after sunday school Me, Magen, and Heather baby-sat in the nursery. Then we had a potluck. Right after that I went to Nutcracker rehearsal a couple hours later we went to a birthday party for four of our cousins. Oh, yeah, I also helped dad put up part of the Christmas lights.

November, 1998

Dear Journal,
It is about 9:30 tonight. Tomorrow is Saturday and I am riding with the Smiths to a school vollyball game. Sue Smith, my friend, is in the Varsity team because she is tall and has a better serve. I have to wake up at seven o'clock in the morning (duh). We just got back from taking Dad to the airport. He is going to Rhode Island. I already miss him, I hope his flight goes well. On the way home, we stopped by the McDonald's with a big "Play Place" and stayed for a while. Then we all got McFlurries. Oh, yeah, at friday classes, we are working on a play called "To Kill A Mockingbird." I am stuck with Matt and Israel for a play! I have to go now and get some sleep, I have a big day tomorrow!

October, 1998

Dear Journal,
Tomorrow is friday classes. The Dennys are coming in a couple of weeks. I am very excited. I like to be with Ruth, Hannah, Sarah and Deborah. They are fun. I also have a Jewelry Badge workshop and hike for girl scouts. Nutcracker practice starts Sunday, I am an Angel. Bye.

September, 1998

Dear Journal,
Hi. Tomorrow is the carnival for Pioneer Clubs. It is my last one. Then I will be in youth group. Ballet starts on Thursday and Friday is the beginning of friday classes. I am in my brother's class, Matt. I don't really mind. I have to go!

September, 1998

Dear Journal,
Hi! It is Thursday and tomorrow we are going to Texas. I can't wait! And my cousin, Angela, is going to the football game. Grace is sick! I hope she gets better before tomorrow. We all do. I feel sorry for her, she gets sick quite often. Well, I should go pack. See ya! BYE


[note: Grace was not the little, sick, weakling I made her out to be]

August, 1998

Dear Journal,
Today was a Ballet. Oh, yesterday we did Nutcracker auditions, I think I did pretty well. And I went to Grandma's house three hours! I got a ring of grandma's, it looks like one my mom had once. I also got eight dollars. And Kristina's party was fun too. My present to her was a Veggie-Tales movie and a stationary kit. I have nothing else. Bye!!

August, 1998

Dear Journal,
It is not really September, I just felt like writing. Tomorrow, I have to audition for Nutcracker. My best friend, Magen will not be able to do The Nutcracker. She will be in Texas the day of the performance. Too bad. It is at 10 until 11. Then at 1 I am going to Grandma's house. They just got back from a cruise to Alaska! I'm going to help her clean out closets. After that I'm going to Kristina Fazel's birthday sleepover. I think it will be fun. It is very late right now, I can not sleep. Grace is sound asleep now. I wish I were. She always gets to sleep before I do. This will be my first audition on pointe. I am pretty scared. But, I had better get to sleep. Oh, by the way, Grace's 50's birthday party was great! She had fun. Bye!

August, 1998

Dear Journal,
Last night was a board meeting. Yuck. We spent all cleaning and I am not exaggerating. My mom says we might go see The Parent Trap. But she is not sure. Gotta go.

August 26, 1998

Dear Journal,
Today is Grace's birthday. We also had a Washburn Banquet. So, we went to the McDonald's in Lawrence. It has a big "Play-Place." Then we came home and watched a movie called "The Borrowers." It's late now, and I have to clean my room because our cousins are coming at 9am until Grace's B-Day Party at 7pm! I am really tired. Bye!

August, 1998

Dear Journal,
Last night mom sewed on the ribbon and elastic for my shoe. She was so busy she has to do the other one tonight. We also rented Blues Brothers 2000 last night. Oh, and dad went to Dallas until this Friday for Business. I miss him a lot. I also miss Magen. She is in Dallas with her cousins. I don't know when she gets back. I have to go...wait I forgot to say I won both rounds of the sword drill at Sunday School. Bye!

August, 1998

Dear Journal,
Wow! I just got back from getting my new pointe shoes! I also got a new leotard. It is beautiful. It has velvet at the top. I love it. Oh, I have decided to take tap again this year, it would be a waste of several years if I did not. I gotta go.

August, 1998

Dear Journal,
I got back from camp a couple days ago, and I want to go back. It was so much fun. Anne Denny was the activity director and she is funny. John made up a game called Titanic. You have to find three pieces of candy and get out into the life boat in time. The hard part is that you don't know where the candy is and there are barricades that means there is only one way into a room. Oh, and outside stairs you have to go down and inside stairs you go up. We also played the cookie game three times! That was fun, too. We had a sword drill and a chapel quiz time and I did really good. Not to brag, but it's the truth. People could tell you I was good except you're a diary! Ha! Ha! I have to go now. I will talk about camp more later. There is a lot to tell!

July, 1998

Dear Journal,
Tomorrow is Rex and Shawna's wedding. I don't really want to go...because it will be a long, hot drive to Tulsa. My mom said five hours! I have to wear my old dress, I only have one, and I can't get a new one, even for a "special" occasion like this. Ok, I'm going to admit that it's not going to be a as bad as I make it out to be. But I still think that it's going to be a long drive. With Beth getting motion sickness, Rose crying, and Joel just being a pain in the butt, I don't think I'll like it much. But there is one car ride I am looking forward to, camp. Yes, I don't mind going on a long ride, as long as we are going somewhere I like. Speaking of that, my uncle in Texas bought us 3 oldest kids and dad football tickets to the Baylor vs. KSU game!

[note: ok, I feel like there are SO many things I need to apologize for in this post. Shawna, sorry I put "special" in quotation marks. I was 12...and we didn't have A/C in our van in the summer...that's my excuse. Joel, I really don't think you're a pain in the butt anymore. ;)]

July, 1998

Dear Journal,
My uncle Larry and aunt Maxine visited for the last time. I'm going to miss them. They are so cool! I wish they could stay longer. Well, that's all!

[note: I'm not sure why I said "the last time" as it's definitely not the last we saw of them]

July, 1998

Dear Journal,
Today has been exciting. Right after breakfast, Grace and I started cleaning our room. We cleaned until really late in the afternoon, and then, when it was all done, Grace and I took down the bunk beds. Then, Matt helped us get our new beds into our room. (They aren't really new, they're the boys old ones). Then, Matt helped us get our new dresser into our room. (The dresser is not really new either, my grandma gave it to us. It is new to us though.) My mom is painting Beth, Joel and Rose's room blue, with puffy white clouds and a tree that says "SANDERS" on it. You know, like in Winnie the Pooh. I have to go, but not before I tell you the most horrible news, the McDonalds are coming to spend the 4th with us. These are my dad's friends, the nightmare friends, the friends that kill! No, I am not exaggerating. And I might have to give up my beautiful bedroom for the parents!

June, 1998

Dear Journal,
I just went with dad and mom to Godzilla! It was fun! I have to go.