At some point the text became less in relation to the pics, though. My blog is actually a way back to the old form, and I can share it with more people than just my parents.

It was my “lightning conductor”, the place where I could muse on all the things not politic to say aloud in an isolated environment where circumstances magnified every small slight. It gave me the power to analyze events and get rid of petty annoyances before they grew out of proportion and was written more on a needs basis than daily (some entries were several pages long, others a few lines).

They sit on a shelf in my library, some thirty of them, and I sometimes take them down and live again my reaction to complex events when they were my only confidant.

Amy

Julia – yes, that’s exactly why I keep a diary while traveling – to remember all the small details.

Rachel – what a great idea. I think these days a lot of us use a blog in this manner as well. Thanks! I’m so glad you enjoyed Lane and Kate’s story.

My grandmother always kept a diary, and sometimes she’d read it to us. She made even small things sound funny or amazing, having a real way with words. I remember an entry about jetboat riding and how Frank had to wipe his head with his hanky because they got so wet.