June 22nd, 1973

Dear Diary,

Well, here I am at Grandma Rose and Grandpa Jim's house. We just arrived about fifteen minutes ago and I'm going to have to make this entry very short because Mom and I have to share the guest room together and as soon as she's done tucking Ricky in, she's going to be coming in here. I don't want her seeing my diary, because then, she might read it. Not that she's ever had before, but there is always a first time for everything as far as my mother is concerned.

Anyhow, I did see Laurie before we left and I got to tell her where we were going. I'm sure the news will find it's way to Keith. I hope he waits for me, but I'm sure he will; he is a man of his word after all, right?

Okay, well, the drive here was alright. I spent most of it writing poetry until Mom asked me if I wanted to drive. I've only had my driver's license about six months and hardly ever drive, so driving in a strange place was a little frightening, but then again it was pretty fun. I think I enjoy driving. I should do more of it (but only when Mom isn't being a side-seat driver. Can you believe at one time she actually seized the wheel?). But anyways, I guess I'd better get going. Mom will be in here any minute.

Oh! But wait, a quick run through of what my surroundings look like. This room is blue (Very very blue with blue floral print curtains and a blue quilt on the bed, which I am currently laying on). I think this room was the same one that was Mom's when she was little. It's actually pretty hard to believe. I didn't know Mom liked blue this much, even though, that's what I always think when we come here. Some things never change...

Yikes! I just heard the door to the other bedroom close! Mom's coming! I'll write more tomorrow!

Donna


June 23rd, 1973

Dear Diary,

Call me crazy, but I am currently writing this from the safety of a tree branch. Yes, I climb trees. Actually, this is the only way I found that I can escape my mother. Grandma Rose suggested it to me. I guess Mom's afraid of heights. Good ol' Grandma Rose.

Anyhow, I decided to write right now because later tonight I probably won't have much time. Besides, we just ate lunch, so I won't be called in to help fix dinner for a couple of hours yet. Ricky's playing cards with Grandpa right now and Mom and Grandma are gardening. I don't think anyone will find me up here for a while. So… let's catch up on the rest of yesterday.

Okay, so we left our house at about one and I was disappointed that I didn't get to say goodbye to Keith. I did get to say bye to Laurie though while Mom was inside grabbing the last suitcase (I swear my Mom over-packs!) and Ricky got to exchange a few words with Chris and Tracy.

By three we were a good hundred miles from San Pueblo. Mom refused to turn on the radio, so I started writing some poems in a notebook I brought along. Ricky decided to start a sing-along, but Mom soon put a stop to that and started to play a 'count the number of green cars we pass' game. I didn't join.

At about six, we stopped at a restaurant for some dinner. Mom ordered for all of us and we each ended up eating a green salad with no salad dressing. She claimed everything else on the menu had too much grease, but to be honest, grease or not, I would have died to have a hamburger and a strawberry milkshake!

At eight we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's farm. We unloaded the car and then Mom sent us all to bed. I think she was tired from all the traveling. I fell asleep at about ten and dreamed about, you guessed it, Keith.

Sadly, it wasn't a very interesting dream.

So anyways, this morning, Mom woke me up at seven to help Grandma with breakfast. Then after breakfast, Mom, Grandma and I sat down to talk. Actually, Mom did most of the talking. I hope I get some time to talk with Grandma Rose later though, alone. I trust Grandma and I want to tell her about Keith. I'm sure she'd like him if she met him. She has always let me blast my Partridge Family records when I've visited in the past. However, these were the times (actually two summers ago) when Mom and Dad were still together and they were vacationing elsewhere, while Ricky and I were stuck with our grandparents.

I wish Keith were here. Then we could sit in this tree together, just out of Mom's reach. I wish this were the case for my at-home situation. I wish Keith and I could live our lives without any interruptions from Mom. It would make life so much easier. I hope Keith comes up with a plan soon to change Mom's mind about him and his family. I don't think I can wait any longer!

Well, anyways. I'll try to write more tonight, but if I don't get to it, I'll fill in what happened the rest of this day tomorrow.

Happy in her tree,

Donna


Later June 23rd, 1973

Dear Diary,

Again I am pinched for time because Mom is only tucking Ricky in, so I'll make this quick. I didn't get a chance to talk to Grandma Rose today because she and Mom went shopping and then we all watched TV together after dinner. While they were gone, though, Grandpa, Ricky and I listened to records. I didn't really get to listen to my favorite songs, but polka music isn't all bad. Okay, so it's not all good either, but Grandpa enjoys it.

So anyways, I guess that was my uneventful day. Hopefully I'll get a chance to write a letter to Candice tomorrow. She left me her address so I'll have to fit some time in for that.

I heard Ricky's door close; Mom is coming. I'd better stop here.

Till tomorrow,

Donna