Wednesday, 15 February 1989 10:52 P

Today there was a donut sale, popcorn, nachos, AND ice cream; and I still don’t have change! After babysitting at the Peterson’s I got about 1/2 hour at home before I went to Barbara’s to babysit Sarah. I was there ’til 10:30. I could hear Mom yelling before I even set foot in the house. Apparently, Susie has 25 late assignments. She stays in for recess, and some boys are always picking on her. And the dumb teacher didn’t even tell Mom until today! She didn’t even know about the boys bothering her. St. Bart’s isn’t worth the money put into it. I pray Susie gets an attitude change, but I know how extremely difficult that can be in her position w/the understanding of a 9-yr-old.

Friday, 20 January 1989

The last day of 1st semester of the ‘88 – ‘89 school year. I’m in 2nd period – English, with Miss Casey. She’s giving us our grades for 2nd quarter. We took the finals yesterday but the Scan-Tron machine didn’t work. I just found out I got an A! I thought I’d be lucky if I pulled a B! I hope all my teachers are that generous. Angie kept cutting on Joey this morning so finally I got sick of it & said, “Oh, shut up, you Fat Mouth!” Fat Mouth?! She stormed outside to wait for the bus. Would you believe I forgave her for last night? I’m a little upset at myself because I realize no matter what she does, I’m always going to forgive her and it doesn’t make a bit of difference to her. She probably just forgets she ever did anything & isn’t in the least remorseful. And I bet she’ll hold a grudge for weeks because I called her “Fat Mouth.” We have a Pep Assembly today, so that’ll be interesting. I told Debbie last night about something I did in 7th grade and she told Mom. Mom almost scolded me! For something I did 4 years ago! This is what I did: Setting – 7th grade classroom, St. Bart’s grade school. My teacher was Mrs. Green. We had a big project we were supposed to do, worth tons of points. I didn’t do it. A couple days after it was due, Mrs. Green asked me if I handed it in. I said yes. She said she doesn’t know where it could be. So she checked her desk while I checked mine. When we couldn’t find it (obviously) she decided to give me the points anyway, because, after all, it wasn’t my fault it got lost!

This is 3rd hour Chemistry. I’m getting better at it, ever since I got an A first semester.

This is 4th hour Algebra II. I don’t belong here; it’s too easy for me. Which reminds me; I have to see my counselor about a summer math course.

 

15 January 1989 11:21 P

I had to wash my phy ed clothes by hand tonight. We haven’t been to the laundromat in days (more like weeks). After church today I walked Susie around so she could sell her Brownie cookies. Then we all went to see Grandma at the nursing home. She was pretty tired & I don’t think she talked at all. Dale, Nancy, George, Jenny, and Trudy all came down, despite school & work tomorrow. We left around 4:30 & went to the Lerners. Mom went in for “a few minutes.” After 1/2 hour, Susie went in. A little later, Joey & Angie followed. I sat in the car complaining about things until I cried. At 1/4 to 6:00, we finally left & went to St. Bart’s, where they were having a Volunteer Appreciation Festival in the basement. There were hotdogs, nachos, & ice cream, & some name tag drawings. We won 4 prizes! What Luck! I cheered up.

9 January 1989 10:20 P

I finished my story, but I missed the bus going home because of it. I put it in the basket but I don’t think the teacher will see it until morning. Luckily, Susie had a Brownies meeting at St. Bart’s so I walked there. It was freezing and I didn’t have a hat, scarf, or mittens; only my coat. But it was a great walk and I praised Jesus as I walked on, smiling and marveling at the beauty of winter. The sky had every pastel color possible in it and there were clumps of small pine trees which contrasted the snow on it. Everything was so soft and defined. And tons of people saw my article & complimented me.

Wednesday, 21 December 1988, 10:37 PM

Dear Notepad,

As you can tell by the date, four more days until Christmas. Actually, three days and 1½ hours. And I have school tomorrow. I’m up to 9 L.M. Montgomery books and I renewed 3 from the public library. There’s a new one in the stores called Story Girl that looks real good. And there are 3 others that I know of that I haven’t checked out of the library yet. I see lost futures when I think of the talents I might have had as a kid but wasted. Art classes and Writing practice, Choir and Advanced Math courses. These were wasted and ruined in St. Bart’s. I got Sarah a 3-piece outfit: A yellow sweatshirt (with a pattern), a pair of jeans with rolled-up cuffs that match the pattern on the sweatshirt, and a jean jacket-vest (no sleaves). I also got Sarah a box of 8 large crayons for beginners. I got some small gifts for everyone else except the guys. I haven’t found anything for them yet. News flash: ¡Sarah’s getting hair! We sold 3 of McKensie’s puppies for $20.00 and gave the last one to Francis for Christmas. Not long after the 5 were born, one froze outside after it managed to climb out of the doghouse and couldn’t get back in. Her name (after she died) was Fern. I called her that because after we buried her between Bear and King, I put large ferns on her grave and decided every time I visit her in the warm months, I’d bring her a fern. Of the four left there were 3 boys and 1 girl. Susie’s was the girl and she was Tanya. She was brown (sort of light) and medium size. Angie’s was Bernard. He was one of the last to go. He got his name from his face, which looked like a St. Bernard’s. He was very big and was white, black, and brown. Mine was Gilbert (from Anne of Green Gables); he was the littlest and had diff. shades of brown on him (all shades were dirty brown) and he was a little darker than Tanya. Francis got Casey. We were all a little glad to see him go. He was a lot like Joey (probably because he was Joey’s dog). He was always getting into trouble. He broke our basement door and opened 2 of the presents under the Christmas tree (both were mine). He would go to the bathroom where ever he pleased and he would scratch and bite when you played with him. I must get to bed now (¡2 more days of school!). Until I write again: ¡Adiós!

¡Chiao!

¡Hasta luego!

¡Hasta pronto!

¡Hasta la vista!

¡Fue un placer!

‘Bye!

 

Friday, 2 December 1988

Dear Notepad,

Inspired by Emily Byrd Starr, I have decided to write to you. She didn’t write to her Notepad, but she did write. I am now 17. The day after Thanksgiving (November 24) we drew names for Christmas. I drew Sarah. She is the sweetest, most intelligent baby there could be. Yesterday Barbara and Sheila took Sarah & James out in their strollers for an hour walk. I was taking McKensie for a walk when I met them and we walked together. Just the way Sarah waved her mitted fingers at McKensie and said “Hi!” made me think of her as a genius. After a ways, I went back home with McKensie while they continued on. I thought it was scandalously cold. Sure enough, when they returned Sarah’s hands & cheeks were ice cold. Barbara sat on the couch with Sarah on her lap and a blanket wrapped around both for a few minutes. Then she had to go next door to her house to get chicken or something to put in our oven since they only have a microwave. I took her place on the couch (she asked me to, I did not steal it) and oh, did it feel nice to be able to comfort and protect a sad but sweet baby. Just imagine how I’ll feel when I begin to have my own kids! But I’m afraid this may cause me to be a terribly lenient mother. Hopefully I will learn how to discipline otherwise in the university when (and if) I go in a couple of years. I had to add the “and if” because it’s not up to me to decide my future, it’s up to Jesus. I definitely want to go, but any number of things may come up. Anyway, other things have happened lately. About a week ago I stepped on a nail. This was during Thanksgiving vacation and we were having a bonfire outside. A little earlier that night Jarrett went to pick up Jeff from work. We got a phone call from Jarrett the same minute I stepped on the nail. He was caught speeding. Worse yet, he has a suspended license here (he lives in Minnesota so he never thought of it). They arrested him and Mom, Jack, and Jeff bailed him out for around $500.00. My foot is still in the healing process & Jack and Jarrett went home Sunday while everyone (but me) was at church. They always leave then, probably so they don’t have to say good-bye. I stayed home because Mom wanted me to soak my foot for a couple of hours. I didn’t mind because it gave me a chance to read the Bible chapter from the night before that I missed because Aunt Gladys was sleeping in my room. I also read part of Emily of New Moon by Lucy Maud Montgomery. She is my favorite author right now. I’ve read 7 of her books so far: the first 6 from the Anne of Green Gables series and 1 from the Emily series (the book mentioned above). I have 5 more checked out from the library right now. Also happening recently was the theft of shop items (chainsaws, tool box, etc.) from our garage & Barbara & Bob’s kitchen. If you recall a certain letter to “Dear Jack” in which a lot is said about a Mr. Mike, we believed the items were stolen by a man who knew Mike and was just as bad if not worse. My mom trusted him like she trusted Mike. Tonight we found out that not only was it truly him, but that he had repainted & sold them. My mom put some sort of ad in the paper about our missing items and a man called and said Francis sold it (a chainsaw) to him. He says that if the police come in an unmarked car in ordinary clothing, he will tell them all sorts of goodies about Francis. He never gave us a number; all we know is his first name is Larry and he owns some store or bar or something. It’s now Saturday, so I better go to bed before I’ll never wake up.

Most Sincerely,

Jolie

P.S. Ever since I got straight A’s 1st quarter, I’ve been working hard to keep every single A. Some classes I’m not so sure, but in Math (Algebra II), I’m sure to get well over 100% (I’m still mad at St. Bart’s).

 

Sunday, 15 May 1988

This time I was a little nervous. It was Friday the 13th. After we drove, he told me to go in and get Father Bill and my Mom, so we could discuss my driving outside. I thought for sure that I failed because I sat for hours (it seemed) at some of the corners waiting for the cars to pass. Afterwards, I drove Mom, Angie, and Ashley Ozmet to Kosy Kitchen by Shopko & back. (We ate while we were there.)

Wednesday, 4 May 1988

Susie had her 1st Communion on Sunday, May 1st. She got about $10.00. Her, Joey, Angie, Debbie, & I are all chipping in to get Mom new drinking glasses (glass) for Mother’s Day. Angie’s birthday is May 13th. She’ll be 14. I’m taking my 2nd driving test that day, too. It’s Friday the 13th! My 1st test was April 28th, I think. Anyway, it was a friday. I failed for stupid reasons. Like hand signals, which way to turn wheels on hill parking, not looking both ways while crossing railroad tracks. I was mad because I couldn’t do parallel parking, which I’m ordinarily great at. That & V-turning which I never practiced with Father Bill, mainly because he’s never heard of them.

4 January 1988

First day back at school after vacation. Bummer. I have to be careful. I’ve got over $45 in my purse. I should be getting my licence soon. All I have to do is take the test. But I’m going to drive around with Father Bill for a while first. First semester is almost over with. Only a week or 2 more. I got lots of shirts & sweaters for Christmas. No pants. I got a winding watch, too, which should last me a long, LONG time. I love it. Gladys got me a warm tiger blanket & a battery-operated clock radio so I can use it while traveling and out in the gravel pit. I haven’t been in the gravel pit for months now. I think I’ll go sledding out there after sch Shoot! I forgot. I have to babysit after school. Oh well. I’ll get out there eventually. Sophomore study halls are boring. Can’t eat, talk, anything. Oh well. There’s no one to talk to anyway. I would say everyone at my table is a druggie, but if they see this I’m going to be bothered all year. If I don’t start exercizing soon, I’m going to fail phy. ed. next semester. And my legs are as white as a ghost’s. Oh well. There’s nothing I can do about them. I’ll live it down eventually. I’m gonna hate swimming. I’ve never had training or lessons or anything – and I’m a total weakling. Next hour is Spanish. Then lunch.

 

23 November 1987

The snow is pretty much melted. There wasn’t much, anyway. Did you hear about our new T.V.? Our T.V. and Mike’s blew out in a storm, so after months of no T.V., the insurance company finally gave us a check! The T.V. is brand-new, color, and just as large, if not larger, than our last one. Mike got a V.C.R., which is at our house until he gets a T.V. I think he mentioned that he gets a small T.V. after all. Anyway, he’s still got around 10 free movies or blank tapes to pick out to go with the V.C.R.

Debbie’s planning on going to university. They’ve already accepted her. Of course, what can you expect when she only got all A’s except for one B+++ on her report card.

Everyone’s doing fairly okay. Of course, Joey still has trouble doing homework, and, unfortunately, Susie’s growing up to be a regular St. Bart’s brat. I feel sorry for her. Next year, she’ll be the only one going there; Joey will be going to Lincoln. Imagine Joey in junior high school!! It’s almost unbelievable. It’s a good thing Mom doesn’t have to leave for work until noon because otherwise Susie and Joey would be missing the bus every other day. They did before Mom got her schedule changed.

I would love to see the deserts and mountains down there! The pictures are great. We don’t go in the gravel pit much because people shoot out there illegally.