July 11th, 1973

Dear Diary,

Today is Monday. That means two more days until the concert! I know it's pitiful to be keeping count, but the suspense is almost killing me! I just can't stop thinking about it. It's as bad as when I was younger and awaiting Christmas morning. I feel all jittery and excited but still extremely nervous! At least Mom hasn't said anything about it or our conversation the other night. That helps a bit. I just have to make it through tomorrow and then through Wednesday. After that, I'm sure everything is going to be just fine. Can you just imagine Keith taking me to a movie this Friday and Mom not having a single problem with it? Would that be groovy or what?

Well, anyways, today was another average and agonizing slow day! I spent all day at home and only caught a glimpse of Keith when he rode up in the bus. It must be fixed now. That means the concert on Wednesday and then their summer tour begins. Am I ever going to miss him! Hopefully they won't leave until next week so Keith and I can have a Friday date together. Okay, so maybe I am over-doing this a little bit. It's like that old saying that 'I'm counting my chickens before they're hatched' and all that (I think Grandpa Jim uses that phrase). But anyways, that's not entirely true, but then again, let's be honest, I don't really have a ton of faith in Keith's plan. It's not that I don't think it's not going to work, it's just that I don't know enough of it to come up with an opinion. All I know is that I'm going to pray long and hard for a good outcome. If Mom would be okay with the Partridge Family again, that would be wonderful! It would be wonderful for Ricky too. I mean Chris and Tracy are like his best friends and poor Ricky needs good friends and positive influences. It's all part of growing up.

Anyways, the more I think about this (here I am again, over-analyzing a situation), the more I find Mom's motives of sheltering us kids from 'show business people' selfish. Just because she has had a bad experience doesn't mean we are also going to. Actually, my experience has been most wonderful so far and I wish it could continue with not so many restraints and interruptions. Keith is so good to me and I wish Mom could see that. Sometimes I think it'd do her good if she started dating again. Then maybe she could better see my side of the argument.

It's really silly, but I almost feel like I'm trapped in the middle of some sort of crazy fairytale. It's like I'm poor Rupunzel locked away in my tower. I've found my prince, but my mother mustn't know about all the times I've seen him because she doesn't approve of our relationship. It's crazy, but it fits. Let's hope that it won't end the same as the story though. That would be too terrible.

Well, that's enough daydreaming for tonight. I'm going to go to bed. Hopefully I'll be able to fall asleep.

Sleepily,

Donna


July 12th, 1973

Dear Diary,

Tomorrow is the concert! Oh! I am basically bursting at the seams! I spent my whole morning inside today doing house chores trying to get rid of these jitters, but that didn't seem to do a bit of good. If anything, it only made it worse! I kept daydreaming, as I often do, and forgetting where I was. I don't blame Mom a bit for snapping at me when I almost vacuumed up her knitting things that are located in a basket by the fireplace. That's why I resorted to dusting and then sat outside on the porch to have some time to myself. And that's where I am now, several hours later. The sky is darkening now and I'll probably be heading in soon. I can't believe the day passed as fast as it did. I expected another unbearably slow day. I guess that may be how tonight will be and then tomorrow morning. I can hardly think about anything else but Keith and the concert tomorrow night. Maybe I'm overdoing it a little, but I just can't help it! I'm so nervous and so excited!

Anyways, as another thought, I revisited my ideas of what his plan could be and unfortunately, the confrontation seems the most logical. I'm really hoping that if that is what his plan is, that he'll be better at talking with Mom than I am and that he'll be able to communicate what I've been trying to get through to her for the past month.

Well, I'd better get back inside and try to get some sleep. I've decided to go to bed early tonight. I want to look somewhat presentable tomorrow and I know I won't look anything but terrible of I don't get a substantial amount of sleep. Let's hope tomorrow will bring good news and hope of a promising future. We can only hope.

Nervously,

Donna

P.S. This may be too late to mention, but I just came upon a thought. And a most concerning thought at that! Have I ever told Keith that I loved him? And does he love me back? Am I worrying about everything or what? Of course he knows that I love him even if I didn't tell him. Two people in love just know these things, right? And both Candice and Karri said that Keith was into me, so he must be, right?

Oh dear… All this second-guessing is not good. Let's just look at the facts: I love Keith and Keith obviously wants to go out with me again. For now, that's good enough for me. If tomorrow's plan works out as good as I hope then Keith and I have nothing to worry about, right?

Right.