Last time I talked about the nature of normality, and the general screwiness of any attempts to define it. This was in defense to others' attempts to categorize me as "weird" or "normal". But enough of that. I've come here to talk about me, not pseudo-philosophically debate profound human issues.

I am one of my favorite subjects. I have always found myself extremely amusing. And as I grow older, I notice that some of most amusing moments are long past, experiences of my childhood that teeter on the edges of memory. The other night while unpacking far too many cardboard boxes (for we have just moved and I am now a big city boy), I discovered a daily journal that I wrote in fifth grade. Despite the limited vocabulary and grammar errors, I've decided that it reflects something about who I am. Here are some excerpts, and I should note that little has changed between my sense of reality then and now.

September 11, 1990:

Today's been fine. Nothing happened to me so far. I almost got killed by about twenty bicyclers in a race this morning when I was standing on a track, but that's nothing compared to things that have happened lately.

September 14, 1990:

I am doing great at school! The Skycruiser is getting new attachments such as a missle launcher, a suction cup, and a new speed; Super Hyper Thermo-Nuclear Power Jet. Math, Science, and Spelling are going great.

September 17, 1990:

The flying squirrels are getting cold, so now they are collecting nuts. Joe found out a better way to make acorn bombs and Mac has taken glue and he stuck them at branches so they'd be close at paw. Mac improved his gun. I'm also doing great in school.

November 13, 1990:

Nothing much is happening now. We got a couple leads on the case, though.

December 3, 1990:

"O, it's gonna shake, shake, shake. Gettin' ready for an earth quake, quake. Gotta drop and cover. 'Cause it's earthquake time!" That's the first line from the earthquake song we're making. Everything is going great.

(That was written at the height of the big 1990 St. Louis earthquake scare. I still remember the music to that song. It's a nice little blues tune that I think I made up myself.)

December 14, 1990:

Chris is coming home tonight! I can't wait to see him and I'll be really happy. There also happens to be a little demon character that seems to live in the gym. He stares at me and has a black hood, mustache, and frown.

December 17, 1990:

Do I have ESP? Several times have indicated that I may have psionic powers and stuff is happening to me again. My grandparents came over this weekend and they got to see my play.

February 6, 1991:

Today is a normal, good day. I am playing "Agents" with Keilan alot and this morning I found out what hair spray does.

February 25, 1991:

It's a good day. I am sorry that the ground war started but I hope we win. I also noticed how much Mario from Super Mario 3 looks like Saddam.

April 12, 1991:

It's another great half day. Tom is going to walk home with me, too. We want to make a robot.

May 15, 1991:

It's a hot day 'round 90 degrees and it's perfect for loafin' in the sun. I see a few guys shootin' hoops probaly crazy and some girls reading in the shade of the building. There are a few diehard 3rd graders playing the game of kickball that never ceases to exist. I'm still sweatin' like mad and listening to some tunes. God I wish I had some shades.

June 5, 1991:

It is the last day of school! My desk is almost empty and we are playing a game. This has been a great year and this journal says it all! We do have a new fence, though.

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