Did You Keep a Journal as a Teen?

Thanks to Dennis Blanchard, a great indie author for whom I have a great deal of respect, I found something that I wanted to write about.  It has been a while since I wrote on this blog, so I'm glad to be back.  In my book, Phobia, the main character kept a journal.  As I was writing it, I knew that girls kept journals during their younger years and some even still do, but I wasn't sure if guys did and if so, would they admit to it?  I found out that quite a few had and yes, they admitted it, although they might not have at the time. 

I recall keeping a journal and then it doubled and then tripled in size.  In addition, I kept  a dream log.  I can still remember some of the lines that I wrote in my journal because my witty, sarcastic humor shined through even when talking to myself! During a bout of self-pity, I recall writing this line verbatim, "I'm writing with the pen that my boss gave me after shutting down the business.  Guess that's how I have so much time to write now."  It was a Cross pen.  I still have it fifteen years later and it still writes. I guess that says something about Cross pens, and I do wish I kept those journals. Right now, they are floating away somewhere, pages of illegible scribble that probably no one except for myself can decipher.

Journals are a funny thing, because at the time, you don't want anyone to read them, but years later, you might find that you want to share at least SOME of their contents.  Why? Because they CAN be hilarious since so much time has passed!   You might look back and say to yourself, I was upset about what and who?  I can't even remember their last name!  It's also a great release of stress, anger, happiness, or sadness. Nowadays, I'll type up a journal, get my frustrations out and then close out without clicking the 'save' button.

Dream logs are another animal altogether.  Since so many of my books are about dreams, or have dreams in them, or are something I dreamt up, I absolutely LOVE dream logs. Of course, some from years prior have gotten lost in transitions, but I still keep current ones. I love reading them over and over.  Some  are downright spooky, but others are funny as can be.  I'm one of those people who recall their dreams frame-by-frame.  I don't lose any of the details when I wake up, so it's interesting to see just what was going through my head while I was asleep.

Do you keep a journal? Did you when you were younger?  Any funny stories you want to share? Feel free to post them here!

By the way, if you want a great book about the Appalachian trail, read about from Dennis - Three Hundred Zeroes: Lessons on the Heart on the Appalachian Trail.  Pick it up at Amazon.com. And no, Dennis, you shouldn't shut up! :)

Copyright © 2012 Elizabeth Parker

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