I am holding in my hands a diary. It has a black satin cover with flowers in pink, blue and purple. There is a tarnished gold latch but they key is missing. It is a five-year diary which I started in 1969 when I was in 2nd grade and recorded the last entry on April 6, 1973-- the day of my grandpa’s funeral.

It is like a time capsule-- a glimpse of my world through my eyes. Page after page of things that I remembered, remembered differently than they actually were, and things that I didn’t remember at all.

I learned that much can happen to a girl in East Toledo between the 2nd and 6^th grades. I also learned that even at the tender age of 8, I was preoccupied with boys, was constantly at odds with my sister, and I had a real problem with swearing!  

As the years went on, my handwriting got better as did my spelling, my entries were filled with more adjectives and juicier tidbits, my flair for melodrama increased five-fold and I found the queen mother of all diary treasures… Bobby Sherman’s address!

Travel back with me… to 1969 and beyond. Maybe it will help you to remember when…if not, it will at least reveal just how damn old I really am.

Dear Diary...

June 18, 1969: I went to my Grandma K’s to watch Here Comes the Brides in color.

July 4, 1969: I learned how to ride my twoweller bike and we also had a bad storm and a tornado warning.

July 19, 1969: I played Batman and princess and rode my bike.

July 20, 1969: Today two men walked on the moon.

November 23, 1969: I made Boston Baked Beans. It was also a luckey day they started to make our attac to our bedroom.

November 24, 1969: Apollo 12 splashed down today.

December 27, 1969: Linda was born. It was a wonderful day.

February 14, 1970: (embellished with hearts) William Harrison gave me a Valentine that said Be my honey bunch valentine. He said he loves me--3^rd grade.

February 17, 1970: We had a MAN teacher!

May 12, 1970: I gave William a picture of me we no we love each other.

October 11, 1970: We went to the mall I got a girl scout uniform.

December 16, 1970: Tammy and Amy came over for sloppy jos we made love beads.

(Slim pickins from 1971... Apparently not my best year.)

February 3, 1971: My poem was picked for Snoopy News. It was the only one in my class.

July 14, 1971: we went hiking and fishing at Strawberry Lake. I caught 2 fish.

July 30, 1971: we got a new camper it is so exciting! Two men rode in a car on the moon.

December 25, 1971: It is such a lovely day. We’re going to the farm for Christmas.

December27, 1971: Today Linda is 2. Poor thing… nothing was planned we had French toast and stuck two candles in it.

February 4, 1972: We’re over Grandma K’s. Made pizza and beautiful valentine cards.

May 22, 1972: Help! I need dear Abby. I think Billy Davis likes me. I sort of like him. No BOYS I LIKE LIKE ME! Dad yells… I cry. I can’t seem to grow up!!!!!

November 29, 1972: Dear Diary, a man came in our school and robbed us. He took 9 dollars from one teacher and he robbed other schools to he carried a play pistle air gun but everyone thought it was real.

December 3, 1972: John S. is in love with me I think. I hope not. Tony M kissed Lynn and she swung back her fist to hit him and he ducked and she hit me. Casey almost took my hat. He’s so cute!

(This as far as I can tell starts my swearing phase)

December 11, 1972: Today we went to Masonic Auditorium and saw the most wonderfully stupid show in the world. Someone spit on mom, probably one of the dumb ass boys behind us.

December 13, 1972: I put up grandma K’s tree and manger and decorated a little. Lisa will help me with the basement. Christmas is a week from Sunday. The year has gone so fast it seems like yesterday it was summer.

December 14, 1972: Today is Thursday. I think I may like Matt W. he is sort of cute and he’s funny. Casey is cuter. He sits right in front of me! We are going to get our Christmas tree today. If anyone looks at this I’ll kick their ass.

December 19, 1972: Good movie, Lisa the dumb ass started asking what to wear we got in trouble and dad gave me a damn lecture about the room.

December 26, 1972: Kris and Laurie (me) stay up to the farm. (This entry has significance because it is when I changed the spelling of my name from Lori to Laurie so that I could be like the woman I looked up to most in the world…Laurie Partridge).

December 31, 1972: This is the last time I’ll be writing ‘72 in my diary. I hope that in the coming year there will be peace on earth. Went bowling. Bowled 85, 82 and 102. Happy New Year.

January 2, 1973: mom is pregnet. It’s a miracle after that operation!

February 22, 1973: Today we had the shittiest sub in the world… she called the dam principal and we don’t get art until mister chief says ok. It was NOT our fault!

February 23, 1973: Went to Jeri A’s house for a birthday slumber party. We ate and put people in trances. We put cathy in one and told her to do the strip tease and she did! She took off her pants and her shirt.

February 24, 1973: Dad said if my grade card stayed good I get my ears pierced. I get a slumber party for my birthday. I can’t wait!!! Still slipprier than hell and I fell three times on the way to kellys.

April 6, 1973: Todays Grandpa Schusters funeral. I’m writing in my diary now because I couldn’t take it before. At night I cry I miss him so much. Grandma held up pretty well until the curtain closed. I’ll never forget grandpa.

This was the last of my entries. A fitting end I guess… as it was the first chip in the protective bubble of childhood. I was lucky… I made it to sixth grade with nothing more dramatic than the ever adorable Casey almost taking my hat.

Thanks for taking the hike with me. By the way…Bobby Sherman’s Address as of October, 1969: Bobby Sherman PO Box 890 Radio City Statinan N.Y. N.Y. 10019