The Diaries of Yesteryear

Much as I try to guard against it, end-of-year nostalgia is beginning to set in around here. I was doing OK until last night when the hubby spent a couple of hours showing me all the photos we've taken of our holiday decorations over the past decade or so, and reminiscing about where we bought them, when we put them up, and how each arrangement differed from year to year. Yes, he can be a little maddening, but he's cute and he can open jars and hang pictures, so I'm keeping him. And, to be honest, I welcomed any distraction during that Cowboys game we were suffering through.


Actually, though, I always experience a little holiday nostalgia myself every year, without any prompting. Getting out all the old ornaments really brings back memories -- both happy and painful, I'm afraid. I love it, but it really defeats my determination to live in the here and now, as much as possible.

Well, that really doesn't have much to do with today's post, except that it's all part and parcel of this nostalgia bug that seems to be going around here. But I've also been sorting through all my old diaries, journals, and planners -- getting ready to write a post for my (mostly neglected) Supply Cabinet Chronicles blog. And that really has brought back some memories -- again, both happy and not so happy. But the planners themselves are part of the happy!

I used these appointment-book type planners as daily diaries all through high school and my early college days. Later on, as life got more complicated, I switched to book-length journals to hold all my secret thoughts and random musings. As a teen, though, I didn't have a lot of time (or the patience) to sit down and write a lengthy journal entry -- I just wanted to remember who took me to the prom and when the next book report was due. Those were the days, huh?

(And notice all those lovely shades of blue?)

The Scribbles line of appointment books from Hallmark were always my favorites. I thought I had several of these, but could only find two -- for 1965 and 1967.


And this one from 1964 is sort of unique, and the only one I have like it -- long and narrow, with an ice-blue vinyl cover decorated with darker blue butterflies.

It's also unique in that it represents the first time a certain guy named Michael made an appearance in my diary. I've hung onto the diary and the guy for more than forty years now!


And here's what I'm using now. Definitely not as interesting, but much more practical. And it does have a lovely blue cover.

Blue Monday is hosted weekly by Smiling Sally.
To see more offerings, or to participate yourself, please head on over to her blog.

See more Holidailies Posts:
The Great Christmas Show, Day One

The Great Christmas Show: 1942