Upgrade Essay Contest"

567 Words


“Dear Diary”, I wrote. I was only twelve when my sister gave me a five-year diary. “Five-year diary! What will I do with it?” I questioned. I had more to say than one page a day and it was supposed to last me five years?

Puberty had brought about more than hormonal changes. I was noticing the boys all right, but mostly I dreamed about them. Daddy would not like it if he knew I had a crush on Jamie. Jamie was a boy who lived several farms up the road. He was at the house quite often as he and my cousins were friends.

“August 28, 1952 – Dear Diary. Jamie and Donald came by today. He does not know I exist. Oh, I pray he does soon or my heart will break! Today Ms. Powers told me I was a good writer. I want to write a story like ‘Little Women’. If I could be a writer like Louisa May Alcott, I would be so happy.”

So it was, the gift of a Five-year Diary started my love for writing. English, reading, and Language were my favorite classes, thus increasing my vocabulary, and helping me to be more expressive in my pursuit to tell my Diary all about my days, albeit a simple life, on the farm.

Any time there was an essay or a book report to write, I delved right in without hesitation to get the project done. Always there were red marks of suggestions on how to improve my report of the story, plus – an A or an A-.

My mother talked lovingly of her sister Beth, who had written a story, called, “He sent me roses” which was accepted for publication in the 1930’s. The pride, in which she shared the story, was rooted in my heart thus giving me a drive to do the same one day.

I accepted many years ago that I am a writer. I write non-fiction, poetry, short stories, memoirs, and a blog. I have written a weekly column for our local newspaper, “The Log Cabin Democrat”.

I am currently working on my family history of memoirs for posterity at least. The story of a farmer in the late 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s, who was blessed with six girls and no sons yet was as successful as a farmer could be with no help to speak of. The memories from my vantage point are worth preserving for future generations. It was a way of life that is fast fading from our history.

In my retirement living at the age of 60+ years, I found WDC. I have learned much more than I have given from the critiques, which have been so honest. I live with the desire to communicate. I write from the heart, and therefore it is imperative that my readers understand
me.

An upgrade would mean a larger portfolio, as well as being able to create a web page, which would mean more exposure. I do not intend to allow my membership on WDC to expire, thus I have been working on a plan to afford an upgrade from my present membership.

I am grateful for this opportunity to tell something about my beginnings, and to where I have evolved. My philosophy is – it is never too late to see your dreams come true. We are old when we cease to dream. I’m still dreaming!