Share Your Shame!

I was driving to work today and heard this piece on CBC about Dear Diary, essentially the Toronto Mortified Nation. Basically, it’s a stage show where everyday people get up on stage and read from their high school diaries. I think I want to do it.

In grade thirteen, I religiously wrote in a diary. I would have never remembered that I did except my mom kept it for me. And when she was sick, she gave it to me. We sat down with coffees, read it and essentially peed our pants for an hour. Honestly. The drama!

Will went to Beavers tonight, so I just pulled it out to see if there really were gems that I could add to this production.

I noticed a few things…

a. Many things have not changed. All of these excerpts could have been written now…

‘I’m in the s%$ttiest mood lately. I really wish I could break out of it.’

‘I do NOT need guys. Seriously, I have no interest I am so sick of being hurt that it just isn’t worth it.’ 

‘I played paddle tonight.’

b. Life was tougher without cell phones! Can you imagine – only ONE PHONE? ‘I’m so pissed at my mom. I need to call Pete and she’s still on the phone.’ 

c. You can bitch about how much you want to kill people, but 30 years later, you can still be friends and love their wives! (Sorry Rick and Phil).

d. I’m good at maintaining relationships with guys I ‘hung out’ with in high school! Ah Facebook!

e. I’m old!!  ‘The Grammys were on tonight. Pisses me off that U2 lost to Paul Simon. What a joke!’ or “I bought a great tape tonight – Terence Trent D’arby.’ TAPE????

I think I really want to do it. It would be a good opportunity to get over my fear of public speaking and would LOVE to hear other people’s because really, we’re all just sharing our shame.

Did you keep a diary? Care to share a nugget or two?

Oh and maybe I should add an e. I drank too much in high school. But I was still committed to writing!