My New 5-Year Diary

2010 will begin with a new 5-year diary from Levengers (this photo is from their website). I also got one for my sister, who wrote the following in her Christmas letter this year:

"I read my Mom's journals this summer. For those of you considering starting a journal, I would highly recommend it. It was like talking to her on the phone. Mom's been gone for ten years and after reading those journals I felt like I had just seen her. I need to start my own journal."

Our mother, Judy Grothe, died from cancer at the age of 56. For years mom kept a daily journal with just the highlights of what she did that day, kind of like a 'tidbits' journal. She used plain notebooks, cloth bound books, daily calendars- something different each year.

We feel fortunate to have them and are glad she took the time to make journal writing a part of her life. Now her sisters have asked to read them. And, later, her grandchildren will be glad to have them. When they find their way back to me, I will post a few pictures and excerpts from them.

If you're interested there is also a 10 year journal keeper called Journal 10+ that I found in the Bas Bleu catalog for $45.

In the magazine Letters & Journals, I plan to have regular features on the types of diaries people keep, the books they use, what they write about, why they do it. In the meantime, I am excited about starting this new 5 year diary!