Journal

First of all, thank you all for your support and wisdom on my last post. Your words really helped me, and the gifts (that I assume are on their way) won’t hurt either. I am very thankful for everyone who reads what I write and is able to relate, respond and encourage me. My favorite gemstone is ruby. Also, I don’t like floral prints. Just making light conversation. Do with it what you will.

Second, after I wrote that post about respecting my children’s privacy, I decided to read my son’s journal. In my defense, I had no idea that it was his journal and his subsequent protestations of “it says JOURNAL on the cover, mom” are neither here nor there. As far as I’m concerned, it was a marbled notebook that was with his school books, so my perusing it fell under “parental review of academic matters because I am a concerned mother and this seems easier than looking through the math stuff and besides it has fewer numbers.”

So I opened the journal and read this first sentence.

“My name is _____ and so many people annoy me.”

I loved that sentence so much (and yes, he had written his name, but I edited it out, because I enjoy censorship.) I loved that sentence so much because it is like Melville’s “Call me Ishamael” but better. (Disclaimer: I could be biased.) I also loved that sentence because I did not know that the second sentence would list the people who annoyed him, featuring the person who gave him life, love and high cheekbones. I also didn’t know that the list would omit, for reasons that are completely baffling, Dad. Hey, is it me, or is the list of stuff I didn’t know pretty substantial?

“What’s with this list of annoying people?” I asked my kid when he walked into his room like he owned the place.

“Yeah, so?” he asked.

“Well, why am I on it?” I wanted to know. “And more importantly, why isn’t your father on it?”

He shrugged. “Maybe because Dad doesn’t read my journal and you do?”

I didn’t say anything because he hadn’t read me my Miranda warning and I’ve seen enough Law & Order to know how that turns out. But I did communicate with my eyes which I opened extra wide to indicate that I was upset and/or could be a stand-in for Elmo if only I’d grow some red fur.

Later, I brought this up with Husbandrinka.

“Don’t you think it’s weird that he finds me annoying but not you?” I asked him.

“No, I really don’t,” he said. “I think you’ll find that most people feel that way.”

Sigh.

Looks like I’ll have to read Most People’s Journals to confirm this.

______________________

In other news, I can’t stop watching it. Although one of my kids said “you know it’s not real, right?” I love how they worry about me!

One year ago ...

• Allow Me To Rant - 2012