Last day of May 2008 Prince Edward Island

It was a glorious day today. The bitter ever present winds were gone , with bright sunshine. I still continue with phone calls from headhunters and others seeking my lifetime of experience with the world and its troubles. The other day, I visited Shel at the Cape Traverse cottage. We had burgers on the grill-a real treat! It had been a while. We walked to the nearby red-cliff ed beach and almost held hands. It is a most lovely part of the world I will separate from in only a few days. We had seen a hummingbird at the cottage window. It was a brief glimpse of a gossamer buff and black spectre. Later, while painting a deck, Shel said the bird was back. It came to her, hovered, came close, and brushed her hand, giving goosebumps and a feeling of awe on the dew-soaked, pine scented red cliff beach. My mother told me once that if she returned to this world after death, she would be a hummingbird-one of nature's most amazing creations.

My profound feelings for this amazing young woman , my wife are moving, passionate, and truly sad. No two people could be closer. But in this unfair world, other pressures often drive our individual decisions, our Christian free will.
Ill say here what I wanted to write to her on one of our unique pink "hoggnotes", little note papers that are in the shape of a happy little hog. (We always spell the endearment with two G's).

I was thinking of one theory of creation. That the universe began as a tiny spot in a great unfathomable explosion in a time untold billions of years ago. Then it kept growing and the universal mind that is God made all this by organizing the chaos. Then, some say, at some time in a nearly infinite future, it will all collapse and return to a singular tiny dot. Then it begins again, an infinite cycle, I wanted to tell Shel that I would love her forever, until the universe recreated itself, and we would be together forever, as God intended.

But I thought that in reality, I need to say nothing. My mother said, before she died to me, that all we need to say we have said between us. I truly miss my mother, the finest person I have ever known. I will love Shel until the universe reinvents itself-forever.

Wednesday, May 30, 1979 New Britain, Pennsylvania

11:00
Low 59
Hi 70+

Humid with sun early today. Thunder showers at night. School was O.K., but hard. Its getting tougher, hang in there.Carol came over after dinner again, and we played with the skunk. Later, got ice cream and watched T.V., most is O.K.

Modern note:

I haven't talked much about my pet skunk of this period, Ollie (The same name as my Dog). Ollie I found one late evening around 1977 in a ditch along Dave Spulin's driveway, by his shop. It was a rural area near the old place of New Galena, near Chalfont, Bucks County. Well there was a tiny furball, mayby as big as a credit card, but black and white in the ditch. I said stop, a baby skunk!-of course, everyone said I was nuts. But I knew litter runts often got left behind. Skunks emerge and forage for food after having their litters in late February or March, then may return to hibernation. This little one looked brand new on this late April day when I found her. I just jumped out, held her tail down (even infant skunks can squirt). The skunk infant had been abandoned, so I had to raise it. I found out what I could and prepared a milk mixture with sugar, and the tiny creature grew. We found a very reluctant veteriarian in Hatboro to remove her scent glands. I confirmed then it was a female skunk. He said he made a mistake and would never do it again-as the sack burst and the chemical (a sulphur based alcohol) is pretty smelly! I also made a mistake, in line with jarring salamander eggs (essay). It is best to leave nature be.

I raised my infant skunk by hand with a doll bottle and my milk mixture. She grew fat and happy, to be about 10 pounds. I will say that she was much like a cat with a good soul. This animal had no negatives, and was mink soft and extremely clean. She always smelled a little musky, loved chicken and cheese, and was most affectionate. Often I would play with her on the lawn out front. She would stamp her feet, and dance. She would sit on my lap and preen and look towards the T.V.Turn around in a mock spray and stomp again. Her long hair was amazing, At some point skunks were raised for fur called "Alaskan sable". That is profoundly sad.

I was very involved with work after college. Carol decided to run off, and Ollie still lived in the garage under the old desk where she had made a place. One day, in winter, I went to start my race car 'Cuda. The skunk awoke and tried to run outside. Later, mom found her cold on the floor. I was away, but mom said she was dead and discarded her furry soft body. I later asked if perhaps she just was in and out of hibernation, as it was winter. Mom told me her heart stopped. In hibernation, many people mistake no heart sounds as death. It is possible Ollie died later and not after my violently loud racecar awoke her. I will never know. She was gentle, clean, affectionate, and fun. She was also, like all skunks, almost blind. I miss her as a pet and being. My little black and white puffball.

Later, a new girlfriend Susie Keck would buy me a skunk as a pet. The animal was wild and viscious, and bit. The beautiful creature should have been released into the wild, where skunks have few enemies but cars and owls. The secret of Ollie was that I raised her by hand with tremendous love. There is a human message in Ollie the skunk. The way we are treated when we are very small carries forever. Gentle fun kindness, or viscious wild violence Or now attention at all. The missing of these simple natural facts is why I never went into Psychology (I didn't?). Hence I worry about my children in my business-forced absences.

Sunday, May 27 1979 New Britain, Pennsylvania

Low 55
Hi 60

Cool and mostly cloudy with some wind. Slept late. Carol and I went with Dave (Spurlin) to North Wales, also to the mall and looked around. We ate in McDonald's-wasn't too good. Later, prepared a cooked outside meal-Carol's sister (Dorothy Padden Trosky) and boyfriend Bill came over. Dave didn't want to stay, so he left. Afterwards we found Dave at Buck's shop and we went to Montgomeryville to see a movie "Alien", but we couldn't get near the place. We sat outside the 309 drive-in in audio range and watched it. OH GOD! Was good!
Especially for the price. Took a short jog later. Ate well today.

Modern note on this period in History:

Dave Spurlin would often cruise around with us. I had met him when I was 14 as he raced his dirt bike at the track behind my house-I got into bikes too and we became nearly lifelong friends. Usually we went around in his blue hot rod Chevy van, which only in 2006 was finally retired due to metal fatigue. Today married, in high school and long after he never had a girlfriend, and like everyone else, was in love with Carol's best friend Chris Brady. She actually lived in a junk yard and Dave was a parts buff motorhead like me. They never did really get together. Carol's sister Dottie reminds me a lot of Rhonda. She was nice, and a computer person in on the ground floor. She had been a teacher in Manheim, near Lancaster. We were all close. She had married a pharmacist (Trosky) young (I forget his first name).

They had an ugly divorce and I remember being around 17 and moving her furniture out as hubby looked on. It was said he couldn't just not help himself to his own drug supply. I really don't know the details. When we visited Manheim, I would leave the girls alone and walk around the town. I recall going into an empty unlocked church and just staying there a long time, playing with the piano. Later when Dottie started to date, our approval of the boyfriend was always required-she had some real winners. But Bill mentioned was a nice professional guy.

He had an old Ford Falcon Sprint, a 1966 I think (a small square car with a V8 engine). Since I was "Mr. Mustang" he often consulted me. We took them on a trip to the spooky Pitcairn estate (Bryn Athyn?) on really bad roads. It was there said the famous and reclusive heirs to the PPG fortune lived. We glimpsed a "Glass house", where genetically defective children supposedly were kept. They said the family always intermarried and that was the problem. I am not sure about that, but along with 'The one armed man", and the "Axe Man" tales told then in Bucks County ,it made for nice romantic scary trips with teenage girls. Those were the days. The private security guards in jeeps would always chase us away, so there was something up.

Dottie had been a teacher and was rumored to have had an affair with a student, a strapping high school kid I met. It was very odd. It was after that she got divorced, left teaching and went into computers. All rumors as far I am concerned, but something sure got fouled up.

I was every bit as close to Carol's family as to Shel's. Rhonda's family was always tense and effected, except for R's sister Janice (Urffer), who was a nice, beautiful Christian blond woman who had 13 kids. Mostly to annoy their mother, Myra Rosenberger. Just this past year I would attend the same Baptist church in Perkasie that Janice Urffer and her kids used to attend, during my "EIC" period in Ottsville. R's other sister Wendy was pretty nice and is an Air Force NCO. The youngest sister Sonia was a very pretty blond who mom doted on. I always thought they had been meanest to Rhonda. R was forced to leave home at 18 and marry Louis Sinoff. Sonia had a paid arts education and stayed home until Mr. Right came along.Talk about being surrounded by the German's-it never seems to end!

Janice had won a high school summer scholarship to study Spanish in South America. When she refused to return after being overwhelmed by an ardent Latin lover,the family created a story to get her home. They made it up that mom, Myra Taylor Mercer Rosenberger, was dying. Janice came home and was essentially kept under lock and key, as it was recounted to me. Janice never forgave her mother for that. Myra also always resented having children. She made her husband and children pay for it. This sometimes caused dastardly deeds to be committed, which I will not recount here out of courtesy. I think my own Rhonda resented the children , too-with tragic consequences, that are sadly I am afraid, permanent.

But I am a bit sad that when these break-ups occur you lose so much family. I guess the same things happen when people die. Why my friendship with Dottie ended when Carol took off with Greg Kolasa, or why my own kids cousins are alienated, and why the very close bond I had with Shel's sister Kim Becker (Kim calls me "Hogg"), the nieces, nephews and the really great times I had in the Rockies with Shel's brother's and the Konig's, shooting and fishing must be lost is an unknown. I guess it is the change in status-but it sure is sad.

Tuesday May 27 2008 Summerside, PEI

Well today was very windy and cool, then it was warm enough for a bit to don the shorts and a tee shirt again. I took a walk and caught a few minutes of rays from warm sun. Its now about 6:30 PM and dark cool clouds and raindrops loom.As usual I can open the big old windows for air, but only for a short time. I will be going back to Moncton for a second meeting tomorrow. I am to be there at 2 o'clock. The environmental manager will be in town and David wants me to speak to him. I also had a call from a lady in Calgary about a sales position with an equipment manufacturer. It sounded somewhat interesting too.

Regarding my trip to Phoenix around the ninth of June, I still have no confirmation. The principal involved will be on vacation with his kids at Disney World until the sixth. With some luck, Joey and I will be in a campground somewhere by then-I told the headhunter in Scottsdale to try and set everything up and I will contact him on the sixth or seventh. I have concerns about all this travel at this particular moment, but it is time to push forward.

Shel was here last night somewhat an unexpected surprise. I didn't make enough food for her to have dinner, which made me a bit sad. She was here a long time working on her computer issues. She needs to send her story to a writing contest by Friday. My printer is out of ink, and I can't tell her that until tomorrow. If she comes in before Friday, I may be able to one of these other printers working. She called her mom last night. Apparently, Kim is having a lot of problems with Denise. There are some bad problems in all that. I feel we were really able to help and support Kim when we were out west. Now she is at the mercy of Shel's unforgiving family-a feeling I have known well almost 18 years.

So tomorrow should be interesting. After that, it will be time to ready all for the trip south. I am waiting for the final decision when I talk to Joey Thursday and finally see Shel Saturday. There are still a bunch of details to work out. Its been quite a while since I have been off island and out of Canada. I really miss it just thinking about it. It reminds me of when I left New Britain to go to Harrisburg to work so long ago. But I have been travelling my whole life. The road usually renews me. Maybe, finally, this will be the last difficult trip.

Monday June 18 2007

I just found this third or "missing diary" of the three I have written here on PEI. It was in my brown business bag. Well not much written between then and now, but there are many audio recorded journals. I won't rehash the past. Today is a cool, breezy day. After a glorious "hot" sunny day yesterday. I went with Shel to her beach job at Chelton Beach. We argued like savages, but it was actually a good day. She works for Maggie of the "Steak Pit" here in Summerside, summers at the little canteen concession at the Chelton Beach Provincial Park. Its a cute job, as a college kids summer job. She makes hambergers and hot dogs, fries, chicken, ice cream, etc.

The beach is nice there and we made a deal I'll go with her a few times a week-not all the time so we don't get on each others nerves. I haven't been able to get the kids on the phone and no new email. Ill try again tomorrow.

Modern note:
The summer was really nice here on PEI in 2007. The times I went to volunteer at Chelton to cook at the canteen reminded me of jobs I had after high school. It was a lot of fun. We both got great tans, and had some quality time together. I had hoped to get back down south, but spent the whole summer on the island. Shel had just gotten back from Colorado, where she attended nephew Kelby Konig's high school graduation. She flew out of Manchester, NH and we had a nice but short little roadtrip back to the island. We ferried across Lake Champlain to Vermont and it was a lot like old times. I wish it could have been a longer trip, but Shel had to be back here for work.

Friday May 25 1979

Clear
72 degrees

Partly cloudy today with some evening showers. School was OK- it was a long week-I'm glad its Friday! Carol and I got gas somehow the mustang's door was dented. I think out in front of my house. Could have been kids. John (Gustafon) will fix it next week. Watched T.V. late, good programs- "Hot Rod", "Vanishing Point".


Modern note: This period is during the final full year of college for me. I changed my major from Biology pre-med to Geology as I fell in love with the subject, professors, fellow students (only about 15 total) and the field trips. I loved Biology, but there was a coldness to my fellow Bio students on their way to med school. All except one, my good friend Bea Beatrix H. White. She was a brilliant Quaker girl from Morton, Delaware County. She became a doctor and researcher and I lost touch with her around this time. We should have been a couple, but I was totally loyal to my childhood sweetheart and neighbour Carol Padden. We spent all of our free time then at car shows, working at John "Gus" Gustafson's auto body in Ottsville, PA, or cruising around. Most of my social life then involved the car show circuit, when I was a high level Shelby Club member and judge.

Sunday May 25 2008

Well the weekend that started out cold and very damp turned into a spectacular spring day today on the island. I put on shorts and a tee shirt and walked around town. It was filled with the smells of the gardeners and fresh cut lawns, and a few new blossoms. The tulips are up and some decorate my living room. Shel spent a lot of time here yesterday, at some food and was then off to do here weekend errands. She is submitting her excellent "Cathy the Clown" story to a Tucson writing contest. It is wonderful story based on fact. Shel befriended a bathroom attendant at a hi-end restaurant we used to frequent in Scottsdale. The lady was poor but very sweet, and volunteered at a children's hospital. The story is based on Shel's conversations with that special lady. It sure seems a long time since we were together in Arizona. Shel's blog, http://writervita.blogspot.com shows many Arizona photos and stories. It is sad she has left me out of the tale, as she has to keep her family from knowing that we are still close friends. The old German farmer thing-you break-up and you can't remain close. In many ways, Shel and I are closer than when we were always together. She is part of my family and shall remain so.

Very quiet Sunday as always. I was reading the parable of the feeding of the 5000 in the book of John. I love that one, and knowing that God can do anything in this troubled world is a great comfort to me. I heard from my old fishing buddy, my lonely old friend Philip Benjamin in Towanda. He was off to help his friend Carol, who is 85, cut grass. He really wants me to move back that way to go fishing. I told him I had decided to return to work and may stay here in the Maritimes, or maybe try Phoenix again. It becomes an issue of money at this point, as Joey is now quite concerned about college funds.

My contacts in New Brunswick said I may be able to remain on the island and still do some work there for them. It would probably be best to be in the office there during the week, which is very doable. I don't know much about the Phoenix position, and am supposed to meet there in about 2 weeks. I am sure that the correct choice will show itself. I really don't like the idea of permanently leaving the island, but that may change. Shel has been sweet, helpful, and very nice about the whole issue.

I would have loved to have made this a beach day, but its pretty chilly by the water. I spent some time in the little military memorial park by the house, in the warm sun. Kids were skipping stones bored at the little pond there. The pond needs some goldfish, which I may donate. I can hear the spring peepers in the evening here, in town. That sound is deeply stirring to me, with memories of springs long past. I often think that the sounds of the peepers, frogs, toads were the sound of spring long before there were any birds on this planet.

So a simple dinner tonight and I have some reading to catch up on, and there is usually a movie on Sunday evenings. It has gotten tough to find one here I haven't yet seen. They seem to repeat them. Erin Brockovich is on again. I did show that film to my environmental class at Gateway College. I really enjoyed teaching, and may return to it someday. I had a dream of creating a practical 2 year environmental degree in technology. That way, students could obtain real field skills and be certified to work in the industry with a two year degree. Maybe I can pursue that at some point.

Missing the kids, and as the time approaches to head home, I am thoughtful.

Wednesday, May 21 2008

It is a cool rainy day here on the island. I had a nice evening with Shel yesterday. We had dinner together and discussed my upcoming travels. I go to Moncton for a meeting tomorrow and to Joey's graduation and a little camping down south next week. My sister wants to go to Atlantic City, so I am going to try to fit that in. She is going a bit stir crazy since she has been "carless". But she was getting robbed every time she went to a garage, so its probably a good thing. She told me she really wanted to sell the house and move somewhere, but she is unsure about where. She wants to visit the island, but there are logistical problems due to the distance involved.
I am also supposed to travel to Phoenix for another meeting in June, but arrangements have yet to be made-more logistical problems.

My sister asked me if I had posted any of my mother's poetry. Right now, I am not sure where that stuff is.I think Joey has it. On a sad note, I was working on some family history online and found my mothers name in her sister's obit from March. Heck of a way to find that out. My aunt Amie, Alma Elizabeth Hatfield Loughran died at the end of March. I told my sister about it on the phone yesterday. It was the first we had heard of it. My aunt was in her 80's and had been ill quite some time.

I think now only my Uncle Colonel David Hatfield remains of mom's siblings. Time marches on. I do have fond memories of my Aunt Aim and my grandmother, "Nanna" Alma Chambers Hatfield visting us at the farm, and our frequent visits there to their home in Upper Darby. They were always kind to me. And my cousins, and I have written about fishing with my cousin Dave, Aunt Aime's son in Wyalusing, PA in the 1960's. It is there I hope to go with my son very soon to do a little fishing and catch-up. I haven't seen my Uncle Dave since he was off to fly a mission during the Cuban missile crisis. He is a fighter pilot and bomber pilot and a veteran of 3 wars. It wrote frequently to my mother, but now that she is gone, I have heard nothing from him. Perhaps I will try and find him. I know he had email.

These family deaths really drive home the march of time. It is ashame that the family arguments over the years still effect communication with all of us. Since my divorce, I have been essentially ostracized. My poor sister, who feels isolated is still held in some contempt for minor childhood events almost 50 years ago. I think it is an effect of the "Hatfield clan". I have really been effected in my life by people's lack of forgiveness. Its just not Christian.

Friday, May 18, 1979 New Britain, Pennsylvania

11:40 PM

Rotten today, just in time for the weekend. I knew it! School was fine. I am working with the staff of the Paley library to find a book for Aprille. In the evening, we went to the store. I got a pair of sneakers in Woolco. We watched TV later. The "Mod Squad" was reunited on the glistening screen. I don't like wet weekends!

May 20, 21 2006 Summerside, Prince Edward Island

Today was a nice spring day. Went to the store breifly. I gave an old guy a ride. Shel worked today and brought home some meat. Those Steak pit steaks are the best on the Island. I played some chess and my rating is finally coming up, after years away from the game. Was on the radio later as Shel went to her friends house. I worked stations in Germany, Italy, and Cuba. I couldn't hear much else with this equipment, but it all seems to be working well. Had some IM's from Alexis's friends, but the kids weren't online today.
Pretty cool and rainy last night. Its not as cool tonight and less windy. Hate being cold!

May 18, 2008 Wonderful PEI weekend

Today is Sunday and as the sun sets here on Prince Edward Island I am filled with good feelings generated by a truly great weekend. I went dancing with some friends on Saturday night. I am truly amazed as I continue to feel the Appalachian buzz to this place. The music and heritage of many people I meet here could be or is an echo of the central mountains some 1000 miles south of this place. Shel is enjoying her time out at the cottages. There is no phone or Internet and I sense a bit of "modern withdrawal" in her. So she stopped by to use the wireless and call some friends. We had a nice lunch and went shopping a bit-now our island stores open again in anticipation of the tourist season, soon to begin.

Ill be driving Shel's car to my Meeting in Moncton on Thursday. It will be easier on gas, and I enjoy driving her little car. Ill be driving my old Blazer back for the graduation, probably departing the island on June 1. I am pretty excited about it. I am also supposed to fly to Phoenix as an old colleague needs an office manager in Tempe. There are distinct advantages for me to stay here in Atlantic Canada. I am very excited about looking at some military facilities here, as well as some aging disused industrial sites begging for assessment and remediation. I am very excited about those opportunities as well. Phoenix beckons, but mid-July in the Sonora desert after several years here in the Northeast cool is likely to be a shock to the system.

Headhunters keep calling, but I am going to limit myself to only the best situations. Also, its nice to be close to family here on this coast. The cards will fall where they may. Shel will be busy all summer. Joey is working but for the week or so he has taken off for our fishing trip to Towanda and maybe Westline. Alexis is deeply involved with a boyfriend and her social network, and probably won't have time for dad. I think she is a bit angry with me-after all, I have been on the road almost since she was born. If not just plain work, constant travel with the Army. But I wouldn't trade my military experience for anything. The finest people I have worked with.

I had a nice call with Joey yesterday. He was pretty together and heading out to work. I need to get him a car. Mom gave his to her boyfriend and its seems permanent, and very unfair.
The weather has been fantastic. But for an icy cold ripple of rain that moved through earlier today, its been sunny and very nice. That cold sea breeze seems always with us, along the shore here until mid-July. Its an idyllic place to live, quiet and friendly. If I have to move to New Brunswick, I will cherish weekends here when I can visit. Shel said we can alternate, her visiting me wherever I go, as always, and me here as time allows.
Its shaping up to be a good summer.

May 15, 2008 Summerside, Prince Edward Island

Today was another glorious spring day. I relaxed and slept rather late in the mid-week quiet of my rear bedroom. I am usually awakened by the bright sunshine which filters thru my old friendly tree, my white lacy curtains, and spring bird song. Goodbye winter-unlike any winter I have ever experienced, with as many as 4 major snowfalls per week. I thought of my childhood on the farm and those winters in the 1960's, but can't remember that much snow.

I walked down to the boardwalk at Green's shore, just a few blocks away as I sometimes do. Just to sit in the warm sun and still cold seabreeze, gaze fixed toward the mainland across the bay and straight. There is a little lighthouse at the entrance to the bay I hope to visit at some point. A lot of people were out walking themselves or with their dogs and little children. I picked a few tulips, that go unnoticed by the landlord, and put them in the case in my livingroom along with some daffodils Shel picked before she left for her long summer of work as a cottage manager near Borden. She seemed happy for it all, now with her future apparently secure for the time being. I will just go on missing her company, which is SOP now for to long, but I am afraid, a permanent time.

I spoke with Joey yesterday. It was very disturbing. He was going to a movie he really wanted to see (Iron Man,( and I think he had a date) But he misplaced his paycheck from "Your Place" restaurant and was having a fit. We talked it out and he seemed better. Hopefully mom gave him a few bucks so he could take this rare girl out. He was very emotional. I know that his high school graduation, mother issues, my long absence, as well as his now remote sister are all issues. Some of his mother's lack of confidence and financial paranoia has entered him. I am hopeful my visit and his start of college will help. I told him I was sorry I was away all this time, as other issues always seemed to take precedence. And his mother's annoyance at having me closer than 1000 miles was always an issue. It would seem this summer should address resolution of some of these things. With my separation from Shel completed this week after 4 years of effort to save our marriage, my heart is free to begin anew. At least much freer than it was.

I got a call from a company in New Brunswick that has a lot of work with the Canadian military. It is all pretty routine environmental assessment and remediation stuff, with some ordnance issues included. I am supposed to meet with them next week in Moncton, if I can arrange transportation. Its been a tight budget here most of the last year, with all the Shel issues and my generally falling pension checks. Tonight I will probably take my usual walk, toss in a few pennies at Queen's pier and say my prayers for family and a successful completion to this chapter of my life story., and now...(drum roll!)...

Tuesday May 15, 1979 10:30 PM
written at 92 Evergreen Drive, New Britain Pennsylvania

Mild today.Some sun in the afternoon.School was O.K.-things going along briskly in this second week It seems like 4 times I have been in Calc II. Did homework in the evening. Carol and I weeded her garden and and went to Arby's. I've been real hungry of late-I'm going to exercise daily instead of fasting. See how it goes. Most is O.K.

Monday May 15, 2006 Summerside, PE

It has been a few days since I wrote. I was a bit grumpy and Shel was snappy too.Today was warm, sunny, and nice -played chess, went outside briefly. Shel worked, came home, then went out again. She didn't seem well to me. She went to sleep while I was still playing chess. She softly said after a while, "Thank you for taking me all those places".

It was actually kind of touching, made me tear a little. She also got some good groceries and candy for me. She bought salt-water taffy and must have been thinking of our times at the New Jersey shore and elsewhere. Maybe she too is just a bit sentimental. On the radio briefly. A few CQ's, no contacts.

Overview

It had been my hope to eventually copy all of my diaries, going back to January 22, 1966 into this medium. Unfortunately, all but one journal (1978) were destroyed. So we are stuck with my memories as needed and the events of the day. This format places the most recent entry first, so the reader will again have to deal with my "non-temporal " writing style. I have been maligned by some for writing various stories in an "out of order" manner. Perhaps that's how my literary mind works, or maybe just how the past presents itself to my consciousness. Another problem is my slow typing speed and sometimes low back pain which would have made placing over 30 years worth of daily diaries entries here anyway. No doubt that the reader would probably had balked at having to read page after page of how many eggs the chickens laid that day, the weather report, or crude sketches of the position of the Galilean moons of Jupiter as seen by a 10 year old with a telescope.
Junior high school, high school and college might have been more entertaining. That original series of diaries, which had gone down to weekly entries at best, ended on November 4, 1989, when my son was born.

Michelle says there is at least one other 1980's journal in her stuff at her mother's home in Greeley, Colorado. So for these first few entries I will tell the tale of the day, and maybe add the entries from last year and 1978 on the same day, just to create a contrast.