Dear Diary...

A couple of the treasures I came across when I was cleaning out boxes in my garage for my yard sale were two of my old diaries from 1978 and 1979. I had so much fun reading through the pages and finding out what was important to my 10- and 11-year old mind back then. Ahhh - life was so much simpler. My biggest worries were boys and sleepovers.

Here are some of my favorite entries, and the memories they conjured up... (forgive me if you get bored; but this one way for me to write up some personal history). I'll type the literal translation of my entries below each picture - misspellings, poor grammar, and all - in italics.

 

 

Kathleen Folkersen

943-1804

7156 S. 2220 E., Salt Lake City, Utah 84121

This was the address of my home from birth until I was 16 years old - except during the three years my dad served as the mission president over the Sweden, Stockholm Mission from 1972-1975 (from when I was 3 until I was 6).

It was a multi-level home with three bedrooms upstairs (one was the master, one was the office, and I shared the third with my sister, Leslie, who is six years older than me); the main level with the kitchen, dining area, and living room (I remember we called it the "front room"); the next level down which had two bedrooms, shared among my four brothers, the laundry area which we called the "utility room," and our old upright piano where I was to practice during my short-lived piano lessons at age 8; and down even lower was our family room (furnished with red carpeting, a pool table, and our Atari game system), and the furnace room (where we had our food storage and our costume barrels - into which I delved frequently for dress-ups).

January 1, 1978 - Well here it is in (78). And this is the first time that I've written in a real diary. My sister Leslie made me a diary made of papers but I missed a hole bunch of it because I forgot about it. I put some makup on today but everyone said that I am too young to put it on. Good night!

My sister Leslie was a very artistic person, so it doesn't surprise me she made me a diary. As far as putting on "makup," that obviously started for me back at age 10 (or sooner) and didn't ever stop because I eventually went on to go to beauty school.

January 2, 1978 - Today we went bowling because it is another holliday. But tomorrow we go to school, (boo hoo). I really didn't get very much points in bowling because I haven't been practicing very much. And me and my family played a few card games but I won one game. GOOD NIGHT!

Ah yes, every child loves to go back to school after a holiday break. Not.

January 3, 1978 - (Hi) today we had school ((it was sortive fun)). today I went to one of my friends house today and they had a new trampoline, (from Christmas,) and I got to jump on it. Today I talked to my boyfriend MIKE! I had to walk Tamm H. home (it was late)and I found a tap shoe. (Aint) got (nutin) more to say! GOOD NIGHT. HaHaHa.

Now there's a new word: "sortive." Hey, it works, and that's how it sounds, right? My friend with the trampoline was Michelle Hyte. She and her older sister Laura were pretty good friends of mine. I remember one time we had a birthday party for Michelle and we got to sleep in their camper in the driveway. Another memory about going to Michelle's was one night when we were planning a sleepover and I took the yellow ten-speed bike, holding my pillowcase and belongings in my hand over the handlebars. There was a steep hill we had to go down - and on that hill my pillowcase got tangled up in the spokes of my tire and I flipped over the top of my bike and my bike landed on top of me. I got pretty messsssed up in that fall.

January 5, 1978 - (Hi) well today I went to PRIMARY. I went over to my friends house again today and jumped on her TRAMPOLINE but this time one of my old boyfriends (his name is Billy B.) came over to her house and jumped on her trampoline too. (GOOD NIGHT.)

Okay, a couple of things came to mind when I read this one. First of all, Primary was on a Thursday. We used to have our auxiliary meetings on weekdays instead of on Sundays. And seeing the name Billy Bruske brings back a funny memory: he used to be able to turn his eyelids inside out and then he'd sit there and blink at everyone and freak us all out. Isn't that a lovely memory?

January 15, 1978 - (Hi) Well today SCOTT WOODBERY had his farwell and he's cute! Good night!

Scott Woodbury was the older son of one of the couples in my parents' Study Group. They were a group of couples who had gotten together on a monthly basis to study their scriptures, have dinner together, etc. There were a couple of good looking boys in that group. I think the one I had the biggest crush on was Spencer, Scott's younger brother.

February 9, 1978 - (Hi) Well today on MICHELLE'S TRAMPOLINE I LEARNED HOW TO DO FLIPS! GOOD NIGHT!

...and I can still do them. Thank you very much.

February 10, 1978 - Well, Well, Well, Today I just slightly had some fun, but not to much! GOOD NIGHT! yea.

So when you're young it seems like your priorities are boys, friends, and fun. In that order. Apparently on this day I didn't have as much fun as I could have had.

(Unknown Date) - Well tonight we went to see PETE'S DRAGON. Good Night!

I remember what an impact this movie made on me. It's funny though - I couldn't tell you what the movie was about if you asked me now. All I remember is Helen Reddy singing, "I'll be your candle on the water," which was one o the songs we sang in Madrigals when I was in high school.

March 3, 1978 - Hi! Well today I'm sleeping over at Christy P. house having a slumber party. Good Night.

Christie Park was one of my best friends in the ward. I have a few memories of her, specifically. I was at her house when one of my dogs, Sparky, died - he was hit by an appliance truck as he was crossing the street. I can't remember if my family called me but I remember walking up the street towards my house seeing a lot of kids bending over in a circle around him. It was sooo sad. The other thing I remember is that Christie was badly burned one day - she was sitting or standing near her stove when her mom had something cooking and it somehow spilled all over Christie. I remember she was out of school for months as she was at home recovering from her burns. I remember there was a smell in her house - I don't know if it was medicine or burned skin - but it was really hard to smell. I was so worried about my friend.

The other diary I found was my 1979 Diary. 

Eleven years old. Fifth grade at Bella Vista Elementary. Mrs. Zimmerman. She had a couch in her classroom that she called her "davenport," and she drank coffee nonstop so her breath was awful. But she was such a great teacher. I loved her.