War, Camp, Women Stuff

Today's entry is dated December 8, 1991, and I'm putting pressure on my 12-year-old self to finish writing in this journal before Christmas. Even so, this is a pretty short entry. I reflect on lots of things I've written about over the past year, including Operation Desert Storm, my first time at sleep away camp, and getting my first period.

Speaking of my period, this is the first time I write in my journal about actually getting it. I mention the possibility of getting it in this entry, but I don't actually get it until months later! The day I got my first period was a whole ordeal; even now I cringe just thinking about it! Maybe I'll share about it another day, but for now, here's what I wrote:

I mention this in the video read-aloud above, but this is the first time I've shared an entry that mentions war. I actually wrote about Operation Desert Storm a lot in this journal, but I've intentionally refrained from sharing some of those entries. Perhaps I'll share some of them in a bonus post.

If you wrote in a journal as a kid, I'd love to hear what point of view you used in your journals. I find it fascinating that I write in the second person, as if I'm writing TO someone. But to whom?? I just remember it always feeling good to feel like I was writing not to myself, but some one or some thing else. Like I was writing a letter to a friend.

I don't think this stemmed from any loneliness or lack of friends to talk to, it just made sense to my little 12-year-old brain. I still write this way now, though it feels like the "you" is an extension of myself, as though I'm writing to a benevolent, wise version of me, who isn't omniscient (otherwise what would be the point of writing to them?), but is an open and eager listener.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Sign in to share.

You're so rad,
Sarah