This story is going to start out pretty slow. It will be mostly the scattered ramblings of a teenaged girl revolving around her home life, friends, school, work and church. It won't reflect a serious day by day narrative of the show until shortly after the barn incident, so it may seem a bit random and disconnected. Don't worry, it will all come together before the end.
This story is not meant to be preachy, but in the show Beth comes from a devoutly Christian home and I tried to reflect that. My religious background consists mostly of being a practicing Later Day Saint AKA Mormon. Although I am not completely ignorant of protestant or catholic religions; I am not familiar enough with them to be comfortable writing from another religious perspective. My own High school years revolved around my friends and family, Choir, early morning seminary at our chapel before carpooling to school, High school, homework, studying, the girls devotion activity meetings(Young Women) every Wednesday, church and school dances (Later Day Saints love to dance), summer jobs, Sunday church attendance, chores and pets. Not necessarily in that order.
I do not own The Walking Dead in whole or part other than my DVD's, which is the only way I can watch them because I do not get channels on my TV(long boring story about C-SPAN and how I broke our TV in the 90's that my husband will never let me live down) The only reason I know about Walking Dead is that My husband and I happened to be staying in a hotel the week after the pilot aired. We saw the pilot and the second episode and I was hooked. So…Please, please, please don't spoil season six for me. I'm waiting for the disks to come to a store near me, and enough time off from work to actually watch them. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Please feel free to flame my grammar, spelling, plot, character portrayal and soforth, However I do not wish to debate doctrinal points. I already know most people don't agree with me and that is OK. I will respectfully ask that we agree to disagree. No human can force another human to read (or do) anything, so…if you don't like it you can choose not to read it.
Sorry for the long authors note. It is the only authors note I will write except for "For the disclaimer, please see the Authors Note at the beginning of Chapter 1.", until the epilog. Thank you for letting me entertain you for a little while, Happy Reading.
The Journals of Elizabeth Anne Green
Tuesday June 1st.
"Dear Diary" sounds so trite and overused I guess. "Dear Posterity" is kind of pompous. This is Sister Fansler's idea for summer vacation. She is always about "liken the scriptures unto yourselves." during seminary, and wants us to keep journals like Nephi. Also, everyone who makes 3 or more entries a week all summer will get a plate of chocolate chip cookies. No one makes chocolate chip cookies like she does. Maybe when I'm old, like 30, I'll find this and read it and remember what it was like to be young, so I'm not so hard on my kids.
My name is Elizabeth Anne Green. My father is Hershel Green, I am a sophomore at the same high school Daddy went to, and Grandpa, and his father. My family has lived on our farm for 5 generations and my Great, Great Grandfather helped build the first high school on Coweta County. My mother is Annette Green, but she was born a Tate, then she married a McCarter, then a Green She is my role model. My half sister is Margaret Della. My Dad's first wife died when Maggie was four. She is studying for her masters in biology at the University of Georgia. She will finish next year. My half brother Shawn Jacob is from my mothers first marriage. She divorced Shawn's dad when he was about 2. His dad is in jail forever, and my dad adopter him when he was 6. He is a missionary in California and will be back in three weeks.
Here's to Fansler Cookies.
Wednesday June 2nd
I really can't write much. Mama is taking me to the Young Women activity tonight. We are going to crochet more hats for the babies at one of the children's hospitals in Atlanta. We learned how last week. We are working on our good works value projects. I am bringing the dozen an'a half hats Mama and I made since last Wednesday. Next week an' the week after we're going to tie baby quilts. I'm looking forward to that. Mama says she don't got the patience for quiltin' but I've always wanted to try it.
Also, finals are tomorrow and Friday and so I am going to have some last minute cramming tonight and tomorrow for math. Math is my problem subject. Not that I do badly. It just takes a little extra. Thank goodness I have until Friday to study up. My best subjects are English and music. I am in the guitar class, which is kind of part of band. I also play piano. Mom taught all of us piano. She teaches four kids on Mondays.
My best friends are Jennifer Short and Gertrude Palmer. I hope to see Jennie tonight at church. Gertrude doesn't go to my church. She and her Mom go the Baptist church on the other side of town. Its real pretty, all white with a tall steeple that has a cross on the top, and stained glass windows. There is a huge cemetery on one side of it with a some statues of angels, and a big one of Jesus holding a lamb in the middle. In front they have a bench with the Ten Commandments on it.
One Autumn when we were younger, Angie, Susan and Tom, the pastors kids, and Maggie, Shawn, Gertie and I raked up a bunch of the leaves by the cemetery. Then we took turns burying each other in them. We buried Maggie, Shawn and Angie in the leaves. They were supposed to wait a few minutes for Susan, Tom, Gertie and I to hide and then come find us. Mrs. Haywood was driving by just as they jumped up out of those leaves by the front row of headstones. She thought the dead were rising from their graves. They scared her so bad nearly put her car in the ditch. She never did like Maggie or Shawn after that. She took them and Angie to Pastor Jim and warned him that "Those Mormon kids are going to corrupt your sweet Angie." As soon as she left he laughed great big belly laughs and asked all of us to move the leaves away from the cemetery before playing in them any more. Maybe we should do that again this fall. Its been a while since we did anything like that, the Miller kids would have fun with it. Maybe make it a Thing.
Time to go. More later.
Friday June 4th
Finals are over, and I'm officially a junior. I think I did pretty good. Jenny, Gertie, and I are going to see a movie at the theatre in Newnan, and then we are going to sleep over at Gertie's house. Tomorrow Gertie's Mom and Step-dad are going to Atlanta to do some shopping, and we are going to watch her siblings, Sampson and Delilah. They are seven and a real handful.
Maggie and I may be sisters but we are almost complete opposites. I barely come up to her shoulder. She isn't really thin but she's not fat either. She was very athletic in school, she played field hockey, softball, and basketball. I'm not. I'm klutzy and accident prone. Where I'm pale and blond, she is olive and brunette. My eyes are blue and hers are brown. She looks a lot like Daddy when he was younger, I'm more like my Mama. Maggie is studying for her masters in biology at the University of Georgia. She will finish her next year and then start Veterinary school. When she finishes she will take over Daddy's veterinary office. I want to study music or early childhood development. Maybe both? I can't decide. Maggie always wanted to be a vet just like Daddy. I'm not entirely sure what I want. That's another thing, Maggie always knows what she wants, and if Maggie wants something she goes out and gets it, she goes out and does things. She is never afraid to speak her mind. I'm shy and quiet, I don't take chances, I'm not adventurous, I'm not assertive either. I like to go about things quietly, under the radar.
Well, I guess I should get started on my outside chores before Daddy comes to remind me. "We all have jobs, Bethy, We don't get to complain." My outside chores are to take care of the chickens and the horses (Nervous Nelly, Jasper, Jack and Idabel), and make sure that Barney (our almost feral tomcat) has food. Maybe I will write the story of Barney sometime.
Sunday June 6th
We didn't make it to Newnan. Gertie's Grandma had a stroke so she and her little brother and sister are staying with us while Mr. and Mrs. Palmer go to see her at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. They will be staying with her aunt for the next couple of days.
We pulled out a bunch of old movies from Maggie's room. We hadn't seen most of them before. We kind of had a marathon. We started with "The Flight of Dragons". Sam wanted to see that one because it had a dragon on the cover. It was pretty OK. Lila picked out "The Last Unicorn".
Gertie wanted to see the old black and white version of "Dawn of the Dead". We thought it would be kind of corny because of bad special effects and lack of color, but it was so creepy we took it out of the VCR after 20 minutes and watched the "Princess Bride" instead. It is Jennie's favorite. She fell asleep during the fire swamp and I fell asleep sometime after Miracle Max. Gertie says she still doesn't know how it ends because she fell asleep too.
We woke up on the couch in a heap when Mrs. Palmer called to tell Gertie that they will be in Atlanta until Wednesday. Her grandma is going to go into a nursing home and it will take that long to decide on one, and set her grandma's affairs in order.
Mama got breakfast ready for Sam and Lila, while the rest of us got ready for church. Today is Fast and Testimony Meeting. You wouldn't know it to look at me, but, I love food. This is the hardest day of the month for me because I hate to skip a meal, and today I skip two. Breakfast, which Mama usually insists is the most important meal of the day, and Lunch which is more of a snack to tide us over to dinner.
Each month we dedicate our fast as a family to something. This month we were going to dedicate it to enough rain for our crops, but last night Daddy said we were going to dedicate it to Gertie's family, that they would be comforted and that they would be able to adjust to the changes in Mrs. Gilbert's health. Individually, I'm fasting that I passed my finals, because as long as there are tests, there will be prayer in school, and about school.
The other thing about fast and testimony Sunday is testimony meeting. Instead of having speakers anyone who wants to get up and say something can as long as it is related to doctrine, thankfulness, or how we have seen Gods hand in our lives. It is also supposed to take less than two minutes so that everyone who wants to can have a turn. Some people abuse it and use it to be preachy or complain about people they don't like, or things that annoy them, but usually it can be really funny or interesting.
I especially like when Brother Maxwell stands up. He never really has a topic, he just talks and tells stories that are really funny. Today he told a story about calf born missing a leg. It figured out how to walk without it. He said she turned out to be his best milker. She had just turned 17 when she passed away and he missed her so he told us about her. I think I really learned something from his story. Perseverance is important. It can make you stronger and keeps you from getting lazy. If that calf had given up and lied down she would have died of pneumonia by the next day. She must have had a hard time getting around but she got around and gave good milk and never kicked in her stall. I think whenever I'm having a hard time doing something and think I'm no good I'm going to think of that 3 legged cow.
Choir practice was great. Sister Donnelly had us work on "The Star Spangled Banner", and "My Country 'tis of Thee". We will sing them during the July 3rd sacrament meeting. I'm really excited.
Mama just came up and asked me to set the table. That means dinner is almost ready.
Monday June 7th
Girls can be so mean. I can't and won't date until I'm 16. It does not mean I'm a lesbian. It means I'm not going to lead someone on. I'm not going to "Go" with someone behind my parents back. They trust me and if they found out I went behind their backs that would destroy their trust in me. The purpose of dating is to find an eternal companion. It needs to be done carefully. Marriage is a serious thing. I want to make the right decision for me. I want to make decisions that I won't regret later. Sometimes I think Gertie and Jenny are the only people who really understand me. Gertie's parents would let her date if she wanted to but the guy she likes already has a girlfriend so she is just worshiping from afar. Jenny and I have the same beliefs about marriage and dating so she gets it. Why should it matter to the other girls anyway. I think it's harder for Gertie though. She gets bullied by association.
Nellie is going to foal any day now. She looks like she is bloated with colic, only bigger. When I run my hands along her sides I can feel the foal moving. Its kind of weird. I thought breeding her would be interesting but I really miss our morning rides. Its been a month since I rode her last; for now I'm riding Idabel, Isabel or Jasper while Nellie follows. Daddy said I shouldn't ride her until the foal weans. The foal might try to follow her and get stressed if it can't keep up or looses sight of her so I guess we won't ride together until around Christmas. Still, it's nice to just talk to her as I groom her. She has this way of looking at you like she understands what your saying.
Jack is the sire. He can be a bit mean if he doesn't know you or thinks he can boss you. I'm kind of scared to ride him. Daddy says he is just "spirited and shy". Jack is a rescue animal from the next county over. The people who had him couldn't afford to feed him. By the time the county came and took him he was skin and bones and had worms. Daddy nursed him for six months before he was strong enough to ride. At first he would shy and kick when people came near him but slowly he would let Daddy put the saddle on him and lead him on a leash. After a while Daddy added a sand bag to the saddle, then a second and a third for short walks. When he was comfortable enough he finally let Daddy sit in the saddle. Daddy would just sit and pet him, and Jack would just stand and graze. Jack is eleven years old. He has lived with us for five years and you would never know he had hard beginnings. Daddy says people and horses are a lot alike. If a horse is treated rough he will be prickly and blustery to protect himself. He will have a hard time trusting. People are the same. I don't think I've ever met anyone as prickly and blustery as Jack.
Tuesday June 8th
I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me. I don't need to worry about what Brandy says to me or about me. Only two more days until I don't have to see or hear her.
Wednesday June 9th
Today in our Young Women's Meeting we tied 5 baby quilts. While we did that Sister Vogel talked to us about choosing an eternal partner. We were encouraged to make a list of the attributes we would like in our eventual husband. This is what I wrote:
Cute. I don't want to marry a scruffy guy. I want a husband who is clean shaven and looks good in a suit. He has to be a gentleman, polite, not use profanity, be considerate, like babies and should be good with kids, thoughtful and kind. I also want to marry a returned missionary. I want a man who will lead our family in the gospel, holds the priesthood and follows the "Words of Wisdom". That means he will be sober and not smoke or drink coffee or tea. I also want a husband who is a hard worker and will be able to support our family so that I can stay home and nurture our children.
Well, after we wrote out our lists Sister Vogel talked to us about how we can't expect more out of others than we expect of ourselves. She wants us to use Smart Goal methods to work on attaining the qualities we want in our husband. We are to pick which two things we think are most important so I am going to work on having a better work ethic and being more considerate to others, so…
S Specific. I'm going to improve my work ethic by getting a job this summer, and helping Mama around the house more.
M Measurable. I will ask to be scheduled for at least 20 hours per week. I will do all the laundry and learn to mend and iron.
A Attainable. Yes
R Realistic and Relevant. Yes
T Time bound. I will begin filling out applications tomorrow. I will ask Mama to show me how to do the mending tomorrow, because Thursdays are when she does it, and help with ironing on Monday and let her know I intend to take over the laundry on Wednesdays. I will evaluate my stick-to-it-iveness on the 22nd.
S Specific. I will be more considerate of others by being a better listener and being more tactful.
M Measurable. I will count "one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand" when someone stops talking before rushing in to say my piece and consider how to better word things.
A Attainable. Yes but challenging
R Realistic and relevant. Barely and yes
T Time bound. I will try it out tomorrow at school and see how it goes. It takes 30 days to set a habit and 3 to break one so I will evaluate my progress on July 8th.
I guess I will write about how it goes tomorrow.
Thursday June 9th 2011
Today was a good day, the best day, the last day of school is here! I told Jennie and Gertie about my SMART goals; Mostly so they can help me by saying "count" to remind me if I forget. I told them about wanting to get a job because Mom likes me to be with someone when I'm not home. "Safety in numbers.", is one of her favorites. I needed one of them to come with me to get applications. Gertie and Jennie both came with me because Gertie wants to get a summer job too and thought it would be cool if we both got jobs for the summer, especially if we could work together. Jennie has been a clerk at Little Sue since last summer. It would be so fun. This is where we applied: Food Lion, IGA and Farm Fresh grocery stores, Little Sue and 7 11 gas stations, 3 restaurants, a donut place and Tiny Tots Daycare. The nursing home needs volunteers but it smelled weird.
Mama agreed to teach me to do mending. We patched up a pair of Daddy's kaki pants. Mama showed me how to stitch the rip together with basting, put it on an embroidery hoop, stitch it to the patch and satin stitch over it so you can barely tell it is there. The square patch is on the inside carefully stitched down so it won't make wrinkles. Mama said sometimes you can put pretty embroidery over rips instead of plain stitching, but flowers and such would cramp Daddy's style. I also cut up one of Daddy's old work shirts for rags. Mama said the cloth was so threadbare that patching would do no good. She had me cut the buttons off to put in her button jar. Then I fished a button out to replace one that had come off a blouse. I also watched her darn a sock with her ball shaped pin cushion. She called it a daring mushroom. She says most socks are frustrating because the threads are thin to pick up and re-weave. Most people don't bother. She told me next time a sweater has a run, or a pair of hand knit socks needs fixed she will let me do it because it will be a lot easier. I really liked mending. Mama and I got to talk a lot, and guess what! Mama is going to teach me to sew. She is going to let me use her sewing machine, and she is goin'ta help me make a summer dress tomorrow.
I remembered to count to 3 one thousands. Gertie and Jennie were good enough to remind me and after a while I didn't need reminding as much. I also had a chance to really listen to them. I think Gertie is a lot more worried about her Grandma than she has been letting on. Her parents picked her and the twins up this evening. They are going to stay with her aunt and cousins in Atlanta. She is probably going to spend most of the time visiting her grandma in the nursing home and babysitting Sam, Delilah and her cousins.
Jennie also seems to be excited that Shawn will be back from California in a few more weeks. Apparently she and Shawn have been writing each other for almost a year and I never knew. It's amazing what I can learn by not jumping to open my mouth.
Well, TTFN
Friday June 10th
Mama took me to turn in my applications and then we went to Piece Goods to get a sewing pattern and pick out cloth. I picked out M6346. It's supposed to be easy, says so right on the envelope. The cloth is a creamy butter yellow with periwinkle blue morning glories all over. I am making view D.
I read the instructions 3 times on the way home. Mama and I laid out the pieces the way the instructions showed. She explained warp and weft and grain and bias and the effect they have on how the cloth drapes. She showed me how to pin down the pieces. She told me it is important to cut carefully because you can't fix a cutting mistake. You have to buy new cloth and start again. The first thing we did after we cut the pieces out was transfer the markings from the pattern to the cloth pieces then I got to use her sewing machine to zigzag around the edges to keep the cloth from fraying.
Mama helped me set the darts in the back skirt pieces, stitch the back skirt pieces to the back yoke pieces, and set in the zipper. She made me pick it out 3 times. I was ready to quit but I finally understood what she meant about the seam allowances and left enough space to stitch the facings to the inside near the zipper cloth without gapping. That zipper was so frustrating that once it was done I folded it up to finish tomorrow.
Jennie and I are going to turn in our applications in about 2 hours. I don't know when I'll be getting back so I need to get started on chores. Day 2 of counting 3 one thousand is going ok.
Saturday June 11th
I told Daddy about the SMART goals I'm working on. He thinks they are good goals. I told him about all the applications I put in around town. Daddy asked me if I would like to work as a receptionist at the veterinary office, and clean out cages, and do filing and set appointments. I will be working from 8am until 3 pm. After 2:30 Daddy does house calls for livestock and such. Maggie did the same thing for Daddy when she was in high school, but she also went on house calls and helped with the animals in the clinic. I don't know if I want all the gory details about the insides of critters.
I can't wait to tell Jennie. We are going to have a sleep over at her house Monday night. We are going to sleep on her trampoline under the mosquito net watching the stars. Beatrice (her older sister) and Tiffany(her cousin) are going to sleep out with us. We are going to do nails before it gets dark. Tiffany is really good at doing nail art.
Mama and I did the front facings on the dress today. She sat back and watched me set the darts, and helped me pin the sleeves and sides. Then she watched me make the side seams. Heming and adding the ruffle was easy. I'm going to wear it to church tomorrow.
Monday June 13th
Well, I've been up since O'dawn early cause I had to get my chores done before work. Work. So, working with Daddy was kind of interesting, sort of. When we got to the clinic Daddy showed me where the cages are. Daddy only does surgeries Monday through Thursday so that no one needs to check on the animals over the weekend, except for in emergencies. Daddy set up a log in for me on the computer and showed me the cleaning closet and animal feeds, and gave me a tour of the small kennel and stable where the livestock are kept.
Marcella showed me the paperwork, how to take payments, how to use the computer to schedule appointments and the filing systems. She is Daddy's part time receptionist. She works Mondays and weekends, and does the payroll and collections.
Frank Pierce is another vet that works with Daddy. He has been working with Daddy for three years. He started working for Daddy when he was doing clinicals and decided to stay. There are also three veterinary techs, Veronica, Tammy and Lou.
Once I got the hang of it, it was pretty easy. Ironing is pretty easy too. Just quickly monotonous. I think that as long as I can keep my mind from wandering I should do OK. I just hope I don't scorch another sheet. Mama says she will show me how to patch it without it being noticeable for what it is Thursday.
TTFN
Tuesday June 14th
I had so much fun at Jennie's last night. Tiffany did every ones nails with this stuff she calls gel. We had to put our hands under a special light to harden. She made mine pale pink with light green and gold leaves. She took pictures for the class she is taking. She hopes to graduate in two more weeks so that she can start working as a nail tech. After we had our nails done Jennie and I braided every ones hair while we watched a movie, and then we listened to boy bands.
It was great laying outside on the trampoline. Beatrice showed us the different constellations and talked about how women have often been compared to the moon because most women can track their cycle by the moon. That is also why the moon is so prominent in pagan fertility rites. Most civilizations based their calendars by the cycles of the moon up until the Edwardian Calendar was introduced. She showed us the north star and talked about navigation by the stars. She knows lots of stuff about the stars because she worked at the planetarium the last two summers. She starts back for this summer next week. Sometimes when she starts talking about the really technical stuff that's over my head I get bored. I fell asleep listening to her.
I am so glad I have a phone. Daddy insists that I have it with me when I'm not home so I can call for help if I need it. Its just a flip phone but it saved my bacon. I would have slept in and been late getting to work if the alarm hadn't woken me up. I actually managed to get there just as Daddy finished parking. He told me Uncle Otis and Aunt Patty would be over with Jimmy this afternoon and that they would be staying for dinner. Mama wanted me to come straight home after work to help her cook and clean. I'm really excited that they're coming. Patty promised she would teach me her fried apple recipe next time she came. Her exact words were, "I'll show you how one time. If you can't remember after that, you're out'a luck." I had to promise not to give it to Mama, and Mama doesn't mind as long as I make it whenever she asks me. I think Mama is going to get fat. I intend to write it down, because I am a scatter brain and will forget how to make them as soon as she leaves if I don't.
Wednesday June 15th
Today was really busy at work. The whole day people were calling for last minute appointments, mostly to spay cats and dogs. One person needed their turtles beak and claws trimmed ( never realized you needed to trim turtle beaks). I'm still counting before I talk. It really helped with figuring out what people needed for their pets, especially the turtle.
Well, as I was going to take over doing the laundry I have to say, I never knew how much clothes and linens 3 people can wear in a week. I declare Daddy must change his pants and socks 2 or 3 times a day. Mama says its too hot out to be using the drier so I hauled the laundry outside to hang out. There was a good breeze going and it wasn't so humid so the laundry was mostly dry before dark. If I'm going to work on Wednesdays I think I should make sure I'm up in time to hang it all up before I go to work. If the weather had been more humid or had less breeze I would have had to run more of it though the drier than the towels.
Patty's Fried Apples
1 stick of unsalted butter ½ cup brown sugar
1 Tbs. cinnamon 1 dash vanilla
1 dash of salt 1 tsp nutmeg
½ tsp mace ½ tsp soda
¼ tsp cream of tartar 4 apples sliced. Granny Smith are best.
Melt butter and sugar together in a pan with spices, soda and cream of tartar. Add apples cook till tender.
In Young Women we talked about the parable of the mustard seed and how a mustard seed starts out very small, but if it is nurtured it will grow into a giant tree. Then we talked about different things we can do to grow our faith while we tied the last of the baby quilts. We also had an informal planning session for Girls Camp. Saturday at 9am we are going to meet at church and carpool to the fire department in Noonan to get CPR certified for camp. We were also given our packing lists and camp manuals.
Thursday June 16th
Mama showed me how to mend the sheet I scorched. I stitched a square of cloth over it with a basting stitch. Then I embroidered ivy and flowers around the scorched area. After that I turned it over and cut away the scorched cloth and trimmed it really close to the embroidery with a pair of tiny sharp scissors. Then I turned it over again and trimmed the outer edge of the patch close to the embroidery. The embroidery took about three hours but I think the sheet looks prettier now than before I scorched it.
Saturday June 18th
Well, I am CPR certified for another year. It is really supposed to be good for two years but we do it yearly so that it is fresh in our minds. I'm sure the moms at church are glad we are certified. I guess it ensures that their children are more likely to survive us babysitting them. It has been such a busy week. I'm glad that after I finish my chores, there is nothing that I HAVE to do for the rest of the day. I think I'll go get started on them so that Isobel and I can go for a ride to the pond, and I can read some of "Dragon Song", before going back.
Monday June 20th
Mama and I made cornbread, but not just any cornbread. We made her special deluxe cornbread with cream corn, chilies, bacon pieces, and onion in it. Then she put grated cheddar cheese on top. Mama always serves it with sour cream on top next to salt pork jowls and beans. I think its my favorite meal.
Mama helped me cut out another dress today. I finished everything but the hemming. I'll do that tomorrow after work. Its pink with white cherry blossoms and little Hello Kitty's all over it. Childish? Yes. Do I care? No. Its Hello Kitty. You can never be too old for Hello Kitty. Plus, the fabric was on sale.
I managed the ironing without scorching anything this time. Mama showed me how to use her sleeve board and hams to iron curves. Kind if tricky, but, Mama says that once I get the hang of it, it will be a piece of cake.
Still counting three one thousand and it's getting easier to remember. I think I've picked up on most of what's going on in town just listening to conversations at work. I'm not eaves dropping exactly, its just hard to not listen to what people say in the lobby about their lives and the people they know.
What I've learned since I started keeping my mouth shut and my eyes and ears open:
Mrs. Jenkins was cheating on her husband with Sam Frye and her husband came home early, so she ain't gunna be Mrs. Jenkins much longer, and is now staying with Mr. Frye. I'm pretty sure this is true because Sam Frye related the tale to James Baker while they were waiting on their appointments.
Agatha Monroe had twin girls last week. She had been expecting one boy.
Brandi Mattney got a tattoo on her bottom. Her mother found out because it got infected and she wouldn't sit. Her mother forced the reason she wouldn't sit out of her. She will be on antibiotics for another week and is grounded from hanging out with bad influences. Her Mother was telling Mandy Pierce that if she don't shape up she is going to be sent to live with her aunt in Nebraska. (I know its wrong but I smiled when I heard it.)
Justin Pierce joined the Piece Corp and left for Peru Friday.
Janet Anderson and Willie Hogges are getting married in September.
Well, that was the most interesting stuff, I would write more but I have chores to do before it gets late.
Wednesday June 22nd
Maggie is coming home Friday morning. She is going to drive to the airport with us to get Shawn. I'm so excited! I haven't seen him in two years except for pictures. Mama has been on a major cleaning spree and I'm glad I can go to Daddy's office to escape from it.
Laundry duty went better this time. I got up 2 hours early so that I could run it through the washer and hung out before daddy was ready for us to go to the clinic.
Jeanne Johnson called Mama this morning because she wanted to come to but its kind of a family moment. She has been writing him every week since he left. Mama dissuaded her by telling her that his luggage would take up any extra room in the car, which is true. I think Mama wants Shawn to wait a bit before settling down, and finish his Agriculture degree.
I think Mama and Daddy are counting on him to take over the farm soon, but, Shawn told me he wants to try to do some ranch management in Montana or Wyoming before he takes over. He has always been more interested in livestock than crops.
I have a hard time picturing Jeanne and Shawn settling down together. Shawn is so down to earth, steady and reliable. Jeanne is the epitome of fashionista, superficial, trifling, airhead. She is right in the middle of the "I'm more Mormon than you." game. I hope that he does go west if he marries her, if he took over the farm right away, I would have to live with her. Yuck!
I think it would be great if he married Jenny. Jenny is my favorite pick. It would be like a never ending slumber party. Plus, she has had a crush on him for years, she is a pretty good cook, she knows a bit about how the farm runs, and Mama loves her. I think it has a better chance of happening since he has been writing Jennie weekly or more. He only writes Jeanne monthly and addresses it to her family et al, not to Jeanne.
I want to go riding with him and take him to all of our old spots and play video games with him. It will be so fun. I want to tell him about what Scott Price did to the statue of Mainer Christon, show him the new skateboard park in Newnan, and get him to make Grandma Green's vinegar barbecue that he won't tell anyone the secret to because he promised her.
Well, Mama's call'n me. More later.
It's been 2 weeks since I set my smart goals so here is my progress:
I got a job. It's going OK.
I've been doing the mending. It's been nice sitting with Mama learning to fix stuff. Mama says I have a talent for it. I'm learning to sew, embroider and darn.
I've done the washing twice. I will never take washing machines for granted. Can you imagine how long it would have taken to wash Daddy's pants by hand? All day I would think.
I've gotten lots better at listening. I hardly have to even think about 3 one-thousand any more. Well most of the time.
I guess if I keep doing well when I evaluate again in 2 more weeks I will pick out 2 new goals.
Good night.
Thursday June 23rd
Not much time to write. Mama's cleaning spree has me worn out. My hands are so pruned up they may never be the same. Hopefully they will dry out a little by the time I finish the mending. I ripped the side of my pants and I'm going to embroider morning glories up the leg where the rip is. It will probably take a few days to finish it but I think it will be really pretty when it's done. Before I start that Mama is going to teach me about darning. Daddy's blue variegated sweater got caught on a fence a few months ago and it got lost behind the drier. Mama found it during her cleaning spree when she pulled out the washer and drier to mop behind. Mama says it will be a simple project to learn the basics of darning with. I need to finish it by Tuesday so I can stain treat it and soak it so that it will come clean when I do laundry.
Tomorrow is the big day. Maggie will be here at 7am even though we don't have to worry about Shawn's flight until 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Daddy closed the veterinary office for the day and Dr. Pierce is going to cover emergencies. Since I have tomorrow morning off Maggie is taking me out for some catch up girl time. We are going to get our nails done and go out to lunch. Its going to be so nice.
Friday June 24th
Today has been such a long day. It was wonderful. Maggie and I have matching nails, pale pink with white glitter. We had Chinese takeout and ate it in the park. We went on the swings even though we are too old. We managed to get back 5 minutes before it was time to go to the airport.
Jennie beat us by 15 minutes and was wearing a bright green t-shirt that said "Welcome Home Elder Green" in gold letters. She had one for each of us to wear to the airport. Almost no traffic plus a flight delay had us waiting by the luggage conveyers for almost an hour and a half. He was a little taller than I remembered and had a smidgen of pudge on him but was otherwise the same as I remembered him. We were all surprised when he walked up to Jennie and went down on one knee and proposed. I don't think she was expecting that. She just started bawling. They are going to get married in the Atlanta Temple after she graduates next spring. Best of all is that she wants me to make her cake.
Saturday June 25th
Shawn was up early and had finished mucking half of the stable by the time I had finished checking the chickens' water, filling up their feeders, and collecting and washing the eggs. Working on the rest of the stable went really fast and we were able to go riding together. I rode Isabel and he took Jack. Jack didn't give him a lick of trouble either. Shawn insisted on inspecting each pasture and field, the pond and along the creek. We got back just in time for lunch.
After lunch Maggie and I helped Mama in the kitchen. It's nice having everyone together. Maggie and I started on a jigsaw. Its going to be pretty when its done. It will look like a field of flowers with an old fashioned wind mill in the distance. About the time we stalled out on making any more progress it was time to start on supper, so Mama sent us out to the garden to collect early greens.
Before supper was ready Shawn ran in, ran through the shower and ran out again calling out that he would be eating with the Short's. I suppose he is going to be over there a lot, and they will likely be here a lot too…exceptin that Jennie won't be coming over for any sleepovers until after the wedding. Daddy says if they decide to stay on the farm he will do renovations on the cottage on the southern edge of the main cow pasture. All it needs is a roof and the driveway regraveled. It is one of 3 houses and a house trailer that are part of the farm. He usually has them rented out to cover the taxes on the farm, and a little extra for their upkeep, but he thinks having Shawn close to help on the farm will be worth the loss of income on the property. He mentioned that he might expand the stable and rent out the additional stalls to make up the gap this fall.
Daddy wants me downstairs for scriptures and prayer. We are in Psalms. Those are my favorite.
Sunday June 26th
Shawn was asked to speak in church about his mission, and after the meeting he was officially released from his missionary service. Jennie and Shawn aren't going to announce their engagement for a week or so. She and Shawn want to get her engagement ring first. It's kind of fun having a secret and knowing what no one else knows.
I heard from Gertie this afternoon. She will be home Wednesday. Her Grandma is doing a lot better and likes her nursing home. Apparently 2 of her best childhood friends whom she had lost contact with years ago are in the very nursing home she is in, and they are having a blast. She has had an amazing recovery. Gertie says her Grandma hasn't been so active or happy since before her Grandpa passed away.
To celebrate her homecoming she wants Jennie and I to have a sleep over at her house Thursday. I can hardly wait. Jennie intends to tell her about the engagement at the sleepover. I think Gertie will be as surprised as we all were.
Its kind of weird to think that a year from now one of us will be married. I'm really happy, but I'm also nervous that Jennie and I will change. The idea of growing up is thrilling and scary. Jennie is a year older than Gertie and I but I've never noticed it before now. She was always going to graduate first, go off to college first and get married first but it seemed so vague and far away. Now its rushing at me like a train. I'm glad she's going to be family though. I have one child hood best friend I won't end up out of contact with for fourty years to be reunited with in a nursing home.
Monday June 27th
Turns out that Maggie is only taking two classes this summer and their both online so she won't be going back to Atlanta until the fall. Since Shawn is back he has announced that I no longer need to tend the horses, its his job and he wants it back. I insisted on tending Nellie and he has relented on that point.
Friday Daddy, Uncle Otis, Uncle Linden, and Brother Short are going to do the layout and foundation for addition to the stable. They intend to make it large enough for 8 stalls a tack room and an office. The old tack room is going to be turned into a powder room. They are going to have Newnan Mechanical do the plumbing.
The clinic went like clockwork. Daddy went to check the fences with Shawn as soon as we get home. Mama was out visiting teaching with Sister Bradley when I came in the house, and left me instructions on how to start supper and that she would be home in time to get it finished. Maggie was out with some of her friends but would be home in time for supper. Jennie had her shift at Little Sue. It was rare. I am almost never home alone, and as childish as it may seem, and its creepy. I turned on the radio in the kitchen and suddenly Shania Twain was singing. I went into the parlor and turned on television, it was on commercials. I grabbed Mama's mending basket and came up here and set the alarm so I wouldn't forget to start dinner. I pretended that everyone was being noisy downstairs and finished the mending. Just one button. I can't think of anything else write and I have 20 minutes until I need to start supper, and I have the family home evening activity ready. I can't stand all this quiet, I'm going to go visit Nellie.
Tuesday June 28th
It has occurred to me that Nephi described in his journal how he came by it and that he also had other journals. Nephi found ore and from the ore he refined gold and beat it into plates or leafs and bound them together into a book.
I bought this journal at the office supply in Newnan for $1.25. Originally it was intended for English, but it turns out that Ms. Bartlow has all of our homework assignments and classroom assignments formatted onto worksheets, and according to Jennie, she has been using the same ones since she started teaching in 1984. Maggie also had Ms. Bartlow and she showed me where she kept her old ones filed away, so I know its true.
I love royal blue and I love glitter. That is why I picked out this one. It has a solid royal blue glitter cover, 150 spiral bound pages and 2 dividers so it can be used for up to 3 subjects. It's college ruled so I can write more on a page. I've never had another journal. Mama kept a baby book about me, and there are tons of pictures and albums but this is the only journal so far.
When I finish filling this one up I might go back and get one of those fancy leather ones with the gold on the page edges and ribbon ties or maybe a Lisa Frank one with a built in lock, but for now this one will do. Besides, I don't think anyone knows I'm keeping a journal and even if they did, my family isn't nosey, so I don't need a lock. Besides, locks only keep honest folk honest. Dishonest people will just bust one up. This journal isn't really a secret either it just hasn't come up. I'm not hiding it. I've been keeping it on my vanity table in plain sight. There's not even anything in it that's secret. Personal maybe, but, nothing that people don't already know.
I smell bread baking so here is some more common knowledge non secret but personal tidbit. Nothing is as good as a fresh loaf of bread and the best part is the heel still warm with butter and a little bit of peach preserves. It's 'specialy good if you sneak it. I'm no good at sneaking and always get caught, but Mama doesn't mind as long as I don't cut the ends off all the loaves. I've been brought to the understanding that it's greedy and selfish. It also makes the loaves dry out and they need to last through Monday.
Wednesday June 29th
I just realized that my birthday is in 5 more days. Usually I have a sleepover with Gertie and Jennie but I can't this year. Since Jennie and Shawn are engaged she can only stay until 10pm. Maybe we could have the sleepover at Jennie or Gertie's house.
Gertie is supposed to come home at about 2 o'clock. I can hardly wait! Maybe Daddy will let me leave the clinic if things aren't busy.
Oh there is the washers buzzer. More later.
Friday July 1st
Goodness, I wish I could draw as well as I make music. The look on Gertie's face was priceless when Jennie told her about the engagement. I'm glad I got to see it. We spent the rest of the evening looking at wedding gowns.
Gertie was real disappointed on the brides maid front. Generally speaking, bridesmaids are kind of an honorary thing. Since Jennie and Shawn are going to the Atlanta Temple to be married there won't be an isle to walk down with a bouquet of flowers, escorted by grooms men. Jennie will have an escort through the temple. Probably her Mom. Shawn went before his mission so he won't have one. Gertie and I won't be able to go to the actual wedding because Gertie isn't a member of the church and I cant go into the temple because I still won't be old enough. All we really get to do is help plan the reception which will be partially catered and partially pot luck. And we get to wear brides maids dresses in the wedding colors.
Jennie is leaning towards orange and yellow. That's no surprise since those are her favorite colors. She even found roses that are orange and yellow with red tinges that look like fire.
Gertie spent most of her time in Atlanta hanging out with her cousin May. May took her to get her hair cut. It is sort of tapered half way down on one side and shaved with a flower carved into it and goes down to her shoulder on the other side. Apparently her mom was pissed. Her hair had been past her waist. I think it suits her, its kind of cute in a punkish kind of way. And how the flower is kind of carved on the side is kind of neat. I don't think I could pull that look off, but I don't have her flamboyant sense of style either. I'm t-shirts, jeans, cowboy boots and pony tails. Sundresses and hats too.
Gertie bought us both hair chalk. That's how she got the blue streaks in her hair. I love it and it's a great way for me to get around Mama's rule about having to be 17 to dye my hair. Jennie really likes it because it shows up really well in her hair without needing to bleach it first. She tried out the yellow and orange and really popped against her black hair.
We talked about venues for my birthday slumber party and Jennie wants to have it at her house because she feels like its her fault it cant be at my house. It is, but I don't mind. I'm so super excited about the wedding that I don't care. There will be 8 other girls, not including Jennie's 2 little sisters. The decorations are going to be blue and green and so is the cake. I'm also going to bring lime sherbets because it's my favorite.
We spent most of the evening watching movies, catching up and planning games for my birthday party, and so I'm ready for a nap. Even if it is only 3 in the afternoon.
Saturday July 2nd
It has been swelteringly hot today. All the windows and doors are open to let the breezes through. I wish we could get air conditioners but Daddy says window units are hard on the wood sills and will cause moisture rot, and venting a central unit would be expensive and problematic. It's also a good excuse to sit on the porch drinking Mama's lime aid and listening to Maggie tell me about her last semester.
I now know all the finer points of flirting and how to friend zone someone without hurting their feelings. I know which professors to watch out for and which ones are fun and interesting. I also know that I never want to experience dorm life, or room mates in general. I can't believe that Maggie went 3 weeks sponge bathing and using waterless shampoo to avoid a creep that was stalking her in the co-ed bathroom. My sister knows how to pee in a bottle without missing a drop and she explained the technique so well that I'm sure I could do it too now. I hope I never have occasion to. She learned from a college friend in her freshman year.
She gave me her proven techniques to keep rude roommates from stealing you food, "borrowing" your stuff, and how to keep roommates and others from having sex on your bed. Maggie even went and got her "Bed Saver" to show me. It consists of thousands of roofing nails punched through a yoga mat, spaced half an inch apart with another yoga mat glued against the back to keep the nails in place. There are a set of ties at each end and in the middle so you can attach it firmly to your bed. Tie it with a quick release knot against the wall and toss a thin blanket over it and no one will ever even sit on your bed without permission more than once. To untie it put your pillow where you intend to lean over it and pull the tie ends to unhitch and tuck it under your bed far enough that you won't step on it in the morning. It looks like a freakishly mid-evil torture device with a lavender and pink floral twist.
Community College looks better and better. I have to wonder if Mama put her up to it to avoid empty nesting for a few more years. My Mama is diabolical. I have choir practice in an hour for tomorrow. We are going to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" and "My Country Tis of Thee" with "God Save The Queen" They have the same tune and so for the final verse one half of the choir will sing "God Save the Queen" while the rest of the choir continues with "My Country 'tis of Thee". I'm not sure how well it will be received since the revolutionary war was fought against the British, however, the chorister is Canadian.
Monday July 4th
Happy Birthday Me! I'm 16. OK not really, but I will be at 1:45 this afternoon. Mama has been working on my cake so it will be ready to take over to Jennie's house later. Maggie went to get the decorations.
Shawn and I went for a ride together this morning. It was nice and peaceful. I told him about Maggie's "Bed Saver". He laughed and said he wished he had thought of something like that. He thinks she should patent it and have it marketed. He told me about how the cows are doing, about the progress the made on the addition already. At the rate they are going it should be finished in another 2 weeks. The only hold up he can possibly see is waiting for the inspection on the structure Friday. He is looking forward to finishing so that he can start work on the house. He intends to re-gravel the drive if there is time between when they finish the frame up and when the USDA inspector and County Code Office inspector can come see it.
I probably shouldn't be writing at work. There goes the phone.
Tuesday July 5th
We had so much fun. Almost 30 people from Jennie's, Gertie's and my classes showed up. I wasn't expecting nearly so many people. We watched the county fireworks display from Jennie's back yard. Our dads set up a grill and barbequed ribs, hamburgers, hotdogs and corn on the cob. Daddy and Brother Short played a couple of old bluegrass songs, Daddy on his old fiddle and Brother Short on the banjo. Then Shawn put on a country station and asked Jennie to dance, and that was like a signal to everyone else. Daddy and Brother Short broke the party up at a quarter after 10, at which point everyone but Gertie, Sara Whitley, Megan Sternkoff, Amber Yonk, Zaria Carter and Carrie Montros packed up and went home. We played games and watched movies until early, and slept in until 9 o'clock. Gertie and I stayed to help cleanup after the other girls left.
I'm tuckered out.
