Today was my very first day of high school. It’s really hard to believe. My mom and brother waved to me as I walked up to the fence which led to the school. As I walked down the path to the door of the fence, my sides brushed against the branches of the pine trees. I felt like I was walking through the corn field in “Field of Dreams,” into a new life. As I walked up to those dark, ominous doors of the high school, I never wanted so much to turn around and run back to my mother. But I was brave, and walked through those doors.

I felt so small and forgotten walking through the crowd of upperclassmen. At first, it was scary, but slowly the faces in my classes looked more familiar. I think I like high school.

When I got home, my mom said she cried her eyes out after I left for school.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,700 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Track ended on Wednesday with the Invitational. Believe it or not, I got to participate in it for discus. I didn’t place, though.

For the fourth year in a row, Medina won the Invitational. It was a glorious moment! When we were handed that huge trophy and got to jog around the track once with it, I was on such a high for the rest of the night.

My last Junior High dance for the rest of my life was last night. Before that was the eighth grade picnic. I talked to all the different people I had gotten to know this year. It was nice.

It’s really hard to believe eighth grade is almost over and that pretty soon, I’ll be in high school. I loved eighth grade, and really don’t want it to end. So many things happened and I’ve changed so much. Sometimes I wish life was like a movie in a VCR and you could rewind and replay your favorite parts. Instead, once you’ve lived something, it’s gone forever, living only in your memory.

Yesterday night was our last day dance. In a way, it’s a nice thought considering I hated most day dances, but in another way, it’s sad because it’s a sign that my Junior High days are running out.

In a way, it’s the last phase of the innocent, protected childhood I’ve lived with all my life. I’m not quite sure what to expect out of high school. Just the thought of it makes my stomach ache.

After the dance, I was going to go to Kimberly McComb’s house and just as I was about to leave, my mom suddenly hugged me.

This picture was taken at a junior high dance.

“I can’t believe how much you’ve grown,” she said, as tears moistened her eyes.

All I could manage to spit out was, “You always get like this around your birthday.”

There was a music contest every year in Medina County.

April 13, 1991 continued…

The next day we, alas, had to go back to school. Kimberly McComb came up to my locker to show off her tan and to show me she got her hair cut exactly the way I got mine cut a few days before vacation. Oh, well.

Life was pretty much back to normal until 8th period. Mrs. Kohl gave me last chair! And not last chair, first violin, she gave me last chair, second violin.

Right then, I decided I was going to get a one on my solo for contest if it killed me.

That night, I practiced until my fingers were sore. The next night, we had a practice performance at Mrs. Sabin’s. I had a few errors, but overall, it was pretty good. But it had to be better if I was going to get a one.

So, I practiced even more.

Finally, the big day came. I got up bright and early, with violin in hand, and had my dad drive me to the Junior High. We boarded the bus at about 7:10 a.m. and were off to Highland Middle School.

Medina reported to its homeroom, and I immediately started practicing. I had the first violin solo of the day, and it was scheduled at 8:00 a.m. I had twenty precious minutes to warm up. Finally, at five minutes to, Mrs. Sabin and I headed down to the room I would be performing in along with Christina Mello, Amy Pierce, Craig Williams, Seth Clouse, Melissa Sullivan, and Mrs. Sabin.

Since we got into the room a few minutes early, it gave me time to practice in front of an audience. On the scale, I did okay, but I kept messing up on the solo. Before I could finish, the judge walked in.

Now, the last thing I remember is handing the judge a copy of my music, the rest is a blank, up until the applause at the end. I found out about 15 minutes later, I got a one!

By the time it was time to leave Highland, I had gotten a one on my solo, a one on my quartet, a one on the orchestra ensemble, and a two for singing ensemble.

By the way, Mrs. Kohl didn’t treat me any differently on Monday.

And no, Martina didn’t win the Family Cup, Sabitini did.

April 13, 1991 continued…

That Saturday morning, we left Hilton Head. On the way back, I got more car sick then I had ever been before in my life. I threw up until there was nothing left inside of me to heave. It was a miserable ride home.

We got back in time to watch the Duke-UNLV game. Then, at the beginning of the game, we got a phone call. My grandpa died. So did my great grandma. All this happened while we were gone. Suddenly, the Duke-UNLV game didn’t matter. 

My grandpa was gone. The one who always told those corny jokes. The one who always told me how beautiful I was. I would never see his bright eyes or warm face again. I would never have another grandpa. He was gone.

My dad stayed in his room. He came out later on and patted me on the shoulder. “I was just thinking about my dad,” he said. I really wanted to be able to comfort him, but I didn’t know how. 

I fell asleep on the couch and woke up around 3:00 a.m. I couldn’t get back to sleep, all I could think about was Grandpa. I have to admit, I really didn’t know him very well, but I did love him. I hadn’t seen my great-grandma since I was a few months old and couldn’t remember her at all.

Some annoying singer was whining on T.V. on Showtime at the Apollo, so I shut it off and went to bed. 

I woke up at about 7:00 a.m. and found an Easter basket filled with candy and a pair of Sam and Libby’s ballet flats.

Despite the wonderful presents, it was the saddest Easter ever. Dad sat in the living room, listening to classical music, and reading poetry. 

Later on, I practiced my violin contest piece, and then at about 4:00 p.m., we went to the Top of the Tower in Cleveland for dinner.

April 13, 1991 continued…

Now, as if that wasn’t enough excitement for one vacation, I got to see her practice again the next day.

I moved up to the front row in front of her bag. I look around at all the empty seats knowing in a few days, they would all be filled for the 14th Family Circle Magazine Cup.

I watched Martina practice in awe finding it hard to believe a human being could hit the ball with such power and still have it land in the court. In a few minutes, she went over to her bag, which I happened to be sitting behind, and put her stuff away.

When she had finished loading her bag and putting her gold-rimmed John Lennon glasses in their case, she turned around and I found myself looking her straight in the eye. With my mouth open, I politely handed her the pen and paper.

I looked down at her muscle-bound arms with thick veins protruding out of her skin. And while she was signing, I caught her smiling at how shocked I was at her presence. But it makes me feel wonderful to think I induced a smile in such a legend.

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is on fire!.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 7,700 times in 2010. That’s about 19 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 22 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 96 posts. There were 30 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 2mb. That’s about 3 pictures per month.

The busiest day of the year was February 17th with 232 views. The most popular post that day was Preface.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, 30isthenew13.blogspot.com, metadiary.wordpress.com, en.wordpress.com, and mariaozawa2u.blogspot.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for midwestern girl forever, medina ohio, halloween, medina, ohio, and umbros.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Preface October 2009
3 comments

6th grade – A Halloween to Remember October 2009
3 comments

Introduction – The Public Square in Medina, Ohio October 2009
2 comments

About the Author October 2009
2 comments

Look Inside My Journals… October 2009
2 comments

April 13, 1991

Hello again! Life hasn’t been quite as exciting lately, but it hasn’t been too bad either. After the fourth track practice on Thur., I was feeling pretty sick. But I stuck it out and went to my choir practice anyway. I kind of regret doing that now considering ensemble did such a lousy job. Hey! I even went to school on Friday. Well, at least till second period. Then, I went home. For the next four days, I was as sick as a dog. I didn’t come back to school till Tue. around third period. During this time I watched about 100 hours of T.V. and read.

I almost relapsed trying to catch up on so much make up homework in so little time. But all I had to do was stick it out till Friday, and we were off to Hilton Head! We drove to West Virginia on Friday night, while listening to the big Ohio State game (they lost) and stayed in some flea bag hotel. The next day, we set off very grouchy with a good eight hour drive ahead of us. After what seemed like years, we made it.

During the trip, we saw movies like, “Field of Dreams,” “The Untouchables,” and “Ghost.” Everyday, we would go to the beach and sun bathe, read, and jog. During the day, Jer and I would play tennis and in the evening the family played doubles. Also, Mom, Jer, and I would bike all over Sea Pines Plantation. Nothing interrupted this happy schedule until Wednesday, when when we rode up to Harbor Town and watched Martina  Navratilova play doubles with some South African woman against the two best male pros in Hilton Head. During the course of the game, the men would make cracks such as, “Nice shot… for a woman.” Martina and her partner beat the men.

This journal entry was written March 1, 1991

February 28, 1991-March 1, 1991

Oh, yeah, I got lost in the Capitol Building that afternoon.

Carrie Ross, Eric Bass, Seth Clouse, Jeremy Wilson, Alice Lyon, Angie Leonard and I spotted some Congressional Records and thought we’d pick some up for History E.C.

Well, we got separated from our group in this process and we were lost for the next 45 minutes.

During those 45 minutes, Jeremy and Seth got on a press elevator and I decided to jump in, too. Well, I chickened out and made them take me back down. They didn’t get off with me and left me all by myself.

Luckily, there was this really hot guy in a business suit who gave me directions. We talked a little and it turned out he went to the College of Wooster.

Well, after about six or seven minutes, I found the rest of the group.

We finally figured out that the rest of the school was at the Supreme Court, so we walked over. The chaperones were really ticked off when they found out we were lost. Mr. Smith yelled at us.

Well, I had a really great time in D.C. anyway, and I’m sorry it’s over. I’d do it all again in a second!

It was kind of a let down coming back to school on Monday…Track starts on Monday. I wonder what kind of stories I’ll be able to tell about that.

My friend took a picture of me with my camera, so I could find out if it was still working.