Dear Diary - Final Entry

This is it. After 1990, I no longer kept a diary. (Hold your applause 'til the end.) Not sure why - too busy keeping up with Future Husband on a regular basis, trying to graduate on time, running around with naked friends - who knows? I'm glad, though. Like Jimmy Buffet says, "Yesterday is over my shoulder." So, for the last time, let's glance back for just a moment...

January 4th: “Marc’s mom called me up at Marcia and Elise’s and yelled at me because I call too late at night. They hate me. Todd came over and hung out. Left mad. Says I make him crazy.”

January 30th: “Todd and I broke up. OBVIOUS REASONS. Marc and Babette broke up. Marc needs space right now. Said he loved me again and this time I said it back. FIRST TIME EVER. TO ANYONE. Julie and I saw Maki Mandela speak. Interesting.”

February 16th: “Saw The Jesus and Mary Chain concert with Marcia. Marc met the gang. Well, he met Julie last Halloween when he told a Jewish joke and she slapped him because she thought he was anti-Semitic. Then I explained he’s Jewish, too, and she thought he was okay after that. Jeez. He met the rest of them tonight. Cathy kept singing, “Look at me, I’m Katie” instead of “Sandra Dee” from Grease. Everyone else went to Masquerade, then Mike came over and kept turning the lights on us. Marc this is Mike; Mike this is Marc. Great beginning, huh?”

March 7th: “Nightmare Day. Went to the gynecologist for the first time – Sharon came with me. Turns out I have one tough hymen. That explains a lot. World’s oldest doctor couldn’t get in and I almost told him to join the club. He explained the whole thing – with pictures and diagrams – none of the solutions sound romantic. Good thing Julie wasn't there or she’d have drawn the whole thing for everyone at the next party. I am just not normal. This confirms it.”

March 19th: “Went to Melbourne (Marc’s hometown) and met his best friends Joe and Ariana. They are nice, but quiet. They didn’t like Babette, but I think they like me. Marc said I make him float. Funny thing is, he seems to mean it. Not like others. He is really so kind to me.”

April 12th: “Marc needs a break. I cried and cried. Then Nana told me to get out of the house and quit feeling sorry for myself. I just wanted to hang around with her, but she said to get off my ‘arse’ because she didn’t want me around ‘moping’. I took her advice and went to Marcia and Elise’s and met Tim. He’s Irish and so cute – looks like a Kennedy! I told Nana she is always right. She just smiled.”

May 4th: “Tim and I are seeing each other now. At one party, Marc showed up and met him. They hung out and played quarters while I sat on the sofa ALONE. Then Marc left with a smirk on his face. Later, Tim told me he could “make me scream”. What an ego! I fell asleep while he was talking. Spent the day with Mike and Julie. Mike thinks I need to make up my mind about men and stick to it. Easier said than done.”

May 18th: “Mom and Ron got married. What a great night. Mom looked beautiful. Michele drank too much and crawled around in the bushes. Will remind “our lady” about this until she’s old and grey. Marc came and is almost like a member of the family. He and Michael already act like brothers."

June 5th: “Met Dawn, Marc’s newest chickie poo. Tim is starting ‘I love you’ noise. Predictable. Mike is the only male (outside my family) who is worthy of trust because he’s the only one who has never tried to f*ck with my head. Or the rest of me. He’s the best. Julie, Marcia, and I protested the GE power plant in Largo. Almost got arrested. Fun!”

September 7th: “Defended Mike’s honor on Channel 8 news after what will now be referred to as the “Spiderman Incident”. Lots of stuff on the news about going to war. Makes me think of Becky. They listed an address to write to soldiers so I wrote to her. Would hate for my old best friend to die or get hurt with bad blood between us. Can hardly remember what went wrong. Hope she writes back.”

October 10th: “Julie and I went to see President Bush and pretended to be supporters. Then we pulled our anti-Bush signs out and screamed at him. Got thrown out. What a rush. He’s as much a geek in real life as on television. Quit Amnesty International because, turns out, I’m for the death penalty.”

October 15th: “Becky wrote me back from Germany. She misses me, too. Doesn’t think she’ll be involved in the War for Oil. Good.”

November 10th: “Lawton Chiles won – thank God! By the way, I’m now legally able to drink a beer. Want to pierce my nose but mom says I’d have to move out. Fascist.”

December 11th: “Becky’s in Orlando where her mom lives now and invited me over. It’s like no time at all has gone by – we had a blast. She’s only twenty so we couldn’t really go out and drink. Just like old times! Then she came to Tampa and stayed with me. She met Marc and thinks he’s really nice. Surprised I found someone normal. So am I!”

December 26th: “Celebrating Cathy's birthday. Love the holidays. Getting to know Marc’s family and they’re actually really nice. Even Donna. Marc is wonderful, smart, funny, and the best friend I could ever have. I can’t picture myself loving or caring for anyone but him. I really believe he’s the one. Hope I’m right.”