An Excerpt from my Journal circa 1972

Last weekend I cleaned out the linen closet (ok Band Groupie—I need you at my house to organize). I came across a shoebox where I've kept a few small items since I was a teen (my memory box). I have all my report cards from Kindergarten to University, some letters, an autograph book from Grade 6 and a small little notebook where I recorded the experiments I did on worms for Grade 10 Biology. The little book was 3” x 5” with tiny little writing paper.

Bianca had posted a An excerpt from my journal circa 2000 and I thought I would do the same. Inside my little notebook I had written of my 6 week trip to Quebec City to learn French on a bursary. It was 1972. I was 18 and had just finished Grade 12. I had spent two years losing weight and I had reached a low of 130 pounds (from a high of 176). When I returned from that trip in August I was Maid of Honour in my sister’s wedding which meant I had to fit in the dress. 

As I read through a bunch of things jumped out:

• My bursary covered my food and amenities of $20/week.
• Chocolate bars were only 10¢, chips 5¢, a coke 15¢ and a milkshake 25¢.
• I obsessed over my weight continuously recording a gain or loss.
• My last entry on Aug 12th said “I have gained ½ pound altogether”.
• A typical breakfast was a poptart and grapes.
• I ate Whistles for dinner one night.
• I listened to records on a record player.
• I watched TV in french.
• I had my "first kiss"!
• I didn't learn much french (c'est la vie!).
• I have really nice penmanship.

Here is the excerpt from my journal: 

Sunday, August 6, 1972: “Decided to fast today. Did washing, took a bath and washed hair. Had cantaloupe for lunch and read after. Listened to records. Then decided to go to cafeteria for supper (fast didn’t last too long). Sat at fountain after. Really nice & peaceful. Went back to residence and had choc bar (!!!). Went to TV room and saw last of Walt Disney. Went & bought 2 more choc bars (!!!!!). Watched Adam 12 in French. Bought 2 bags of chips and 2 glasses of pop (!!!!). Was really homesick. Got to bed at 11:30.”

Almost 40 years later, I could write the same friggin paragraph. Isn’t that sad. When I see how much weight has defined my life, I want to cry. And maybe that is why this blogging thingy is actually working. It is making me see that some things aren’t really that important. 

But really, how many of you can remember when chocolate bars were 10 cents? And Poptarts were a nutritious breakfast food. And do they still make Whistles? 

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