Nothing Much Else Happened: December 29, 1978

Today was good enough to be a highlight day, but I think I have enough highlight days for one year. Lisa came with her parents and picked me up around 8:30, and we made our way across the western coast to San Diego. We stopped off at one place and made some good scores in miniature golf (overall she beat me by only one stroke). We went on and about 2:00 p.m., we reached Sea World and spent the rest of the day walking around there and playing in the (fake) snow.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 30, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 28, 1978

Today I would like to talk about tomorrow, the next day, and the next day. Tomorrow, Lisa Rogne has invited me to go to Sea World with her, and we will be doing that all day tomorrow. The day after tomorrow I will be giving a magic show — only this one will be a little different because Sean has to work and I have to do the show alone. (I don't know if I like that) The next day, the last day of the year, Colette Matthews will be coming over, and she will spend New Years with us and New York's times square.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 29, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 26, 1978

Today I would like to talk more about yesterday. The best present I got, of course, was the bike, but did you know that Mom got a bike too? So, we went riding around the neighborhood yesterday and today. Lisa dropped by at 1:30 yesterday so we could exchange gifts. Before I opened my present, she said, "Wait a minute. Before you open it, I think I better tell you it was either this or Minnie Mouse!" It was a mug with a picture of Donald Duck on it! I gave her a gold necklace with a gold apple on it.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 27, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 12, 1978

Today I called up Lisa we reminisced about Sunday night. Then I told her about a strange thing that happened to me when I went back to the place the play had taken place. My parents were still there because some nice Christmas trees that were used for scenery were being sold for @ $10.00. When I went back, I didn't know where they were, so while I was walking around, 5 different people asked me if I was "looking for Lisa, and that she had gone home with another guy". I asked Lisa how they found out that I was going with her, and how they got the notion that I was "another guy."

***

I love looking back at my 13-year-old self and realizing how horribly I'd missed the joke.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 13, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 11, 1978

Today is just about one of the best Mondays possible, for 3 reasons:

1) Because of the fantastic time I had with Lisa Rogne last night.

2) Because this is the beginning of the last week of school before Christmas vacations.

3) Because it marks only four days until Chris comes home. By the way, Ian will be coming home on the 19th. I would also like to add a footnote to yesterday: Dad's performance in the Christmas play yesterday was absolutely fabulous, and I thik they couldn't have picked a better part for him.

***

BTW, Dad had played the voice of a reindeer in the play. That's all I can remember.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 12, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 10, 1978

★ Highlight Day

Today — let's skip today! Let's get to tonight! Fantstick! So fantastik I've spelled the word wrong twice! This has been planned for a while. It started off with the family going over to the Westwood United Methodist Church for a children's play called "The Christmas Bear". I met Lisa there, and we sat through the first performance. After a quick dinner (which Lisa wouldn't touch because she was not feeling well) We stayed for about 5 minutes of the next performance and then took a little walk. After the performance I walked her home and we kissed goodnight.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 11, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 29, 1978

Today was a happy day. Happy for a number of reasons:

1) We got a call from Chris. It is now a known fact that he will be coming home, however we do not know what day. (This is for Christmas.) Ian has not said a thing, yet.

2) I called up Lisa. It is now only eleven (11) days until I see her at the production of "The Christmas Bear".

3) The Weeses put their house Christmas lights up.

4) I heard my first Christmas commercial of the year, done by Miller's Outpost. Now I'm really in the spirit.

***

Can you imagine a world without Christmas commercials until after Thanksgiving? These days, a local Chicago radio station starts running ads for a Christmas tree web site in early August.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: November 29, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 20, 1978

Today I would like to continue with what happened the night before. Before we took our walk a number of strange and as afar as I'm concerned unneeded events occurred. When Lisa and I were eating dinner — or, after we'd just finished — the adults were talking at the dinner table. One person, who shall remain unnamed, said, "I wonder if Lisa and Mark would be more comfortable in the bedroom". Another said, "Alright, but be sure to change the sheets". Later on, another person pretended to come in, went back, and said, "Well, Lisa's got one foot on the floor."

***

While this is all very funny/cute/annoying, the fact is that my memories of this night all these years later are much darker. You see, while Lisa and I were up in that bedroom, the television was on and the first reports from Jonestown, Guyana, were coming in: the massacre was finally breaking across the nation's news media. This event had a profound effect on me — it's a moment in history that continues to occupy me at different times. (I've consumed numerous books, web sites, etc. on Jim Jones and the People's Temple.) So, while I was definitely madly in like with Lisa, our short-but-sweet relationship is closely associated with this sad moment.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: November 21, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 19, 1978

Today was absolutely the most fantastic day. But, I can't have too many highlight days, so we'll just have to pretend it's one. It was the closing day of the show, the only matinee. Lisa, because of Sean's absence, helped me (sort-of) with the programs, and afterwards, we went backstage and I went into my magic routine. After the show, I privately asked Mom if Lisa could come to the cast party. She said yes, and it was alot of fun. Well, actually, the party was a bore, it was the walks we took together that were really enjoyable. I'll tell you more tomorrow.

***

Oh, yes ... tomorrow the story gets REALLY sordid. Hang on to your hats....

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: November 20, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 18, 1978

★ Highlight Day

Today was about the best day since February 2nd. During the show, I came backstage, and there was this beautiful 13 yr. old girl sitting at this desk! Well, now I learn what magic can do for you. I went up to her, showed her a few card tricks, and she loved them. Her first name is Lisa, but I'm not sure of her last name. She says she's coming back tomorrow, and I'm going to line up alot of magic, so I can get to know her better! Oh, is she beautiful — ∞ times better than what-her-face back on February 3.

***

Rogne. Lisa Rogne. Yes, I was gaga for her. She was the daughter of the minister of the church where the Village Players were performing. So ... never mind yesterday's entry, I suppose. Peggy ... who?

(And what did I tell you about that magic? *grin*)

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: November 19, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 25, 1978

★ Highlight Day

Today was one of the best days of the year. I flew to Sky Valley Ranch, my camp. This is my third year here, and I really feel comfortable. We flew in on Continental Airlines and I played Pub Pong on the DC10. They met us at the airport, and 1½ hours later we left for camp. We stopped at McDonalds, and then the final leg of the trip (and the longest — 4 hours). When I got here, my girlfriend Lisa Pettijohn was not here, but she should be here soon. There's only one guy in our cabin that was in my cabin the other 2 years — Jim Chedister. Everyone calls him Chestnut.

***

Look at me — a girl in every port! *rolls eyes*

Sky Valley Ranch is located in Buena Vista, Colorado. I continued to go to Sky Valley and its sister camp (for older campers) Round-Up Ranch through 1982, and then served as a counselor in 1983-1984.

I've tried so hard to track down Jim Chedister. Never been able to find him.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 12.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: June 26, 1978

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