January 1st: When I lamented the fate of Japanese women.
Jan. 1st, 1986 (Age 7, Evansburg, New Hampshire)
Dear diary, today is New Years day. We won’t be selebrating because we’re still at my Grandmother’s house. I like her soft little cot. It’s so soft.
* * * * *
Monday, January 1st, 1996 (Age 17, Nagasaki)
I’ll never understand my parents. My father is a nice guy, but to us he can be such an asshole! My mom is right, every time he’s home and awake, which is rare, he walks around grumbling to himself and yells at my mom for everything she says. He goes out to bars by himself and spends all our money, and tells us we have to eat home every night.
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 1st, 1997 (Age 18, Annapolis, Maryland)
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Thursday, January 1st, 1998 (Age 19, Annapolis)
My half-brother Joe and his family came today, with the new baby Alex. I only got to touch Alex once, because Dad's girlfriend Linda wanted to play the grandmother. I really love being around them all, though. Jenny can talk now, but I can't always understand her.
* * * * *
Saturday, January 1st, 2000 (Age 21, Kobe, Japan)
I never realized how much Japanese people have to do on New Year's Day. This morning we ate the special food for New Year's called osechi. Then we went to three different shrines, and we also went to one at midnight last night. Then we went to the cemeteries of Sei's mother's family and his father's, and to two of his relatives' homes in Osaka. I'm also ringing in the year with cramps, which isn't fun. I got 30,000 yen in New Year's money (I think it's called otoshidama) from his parents and brother.
I was just telling Sei how this new diary will probably last me three or four years because the lines are so small. It's actually a bit hard to write. I know a lot will happen within these pages -- marriage and possibly children, but I'm looking forward to it all.
* * * * *
Monday, January 1st, 2001 (Age 22, Kobe)
I started this diary one year ago today. I think I was right when I said it would take four years to fill it. I don't have any predictions for the New Year -- I don't think anything special will happen, except us getting an apartment (when?!!). I spent the evening working on my Cavall genealogy. I got some more information from my father.
* * * * *
Tuesday, January 1st, 2002 (Age 23, Kobe)
Happy New Year! We called my dad. He said Maria was there with all the kids for two days. He said it's crazy. I believe it -- when I saw Timmy last he was crazy enough, and now there are three of them.
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 1st, 2003 (Age 24, Kobe)
We went to three shrines today and to see Sei's grandmother in the hospital. She's in a different hospital now and it's much less run down. They're going to visit all the relatives tomorrow but I said no, I need a break and my vacation is already more than half over (I didn't say that part). We haven't called my dad yet because the timing hasn't been right, but we'll do it tomorrow.
* * * * *
Thursday, January 1st, 2004 (Age 25, Kobe)
Happy New Year! Let's hope it's better than the last. We went to the shrine and got our lucky arrow. This is the Year of the Monkey.
* * * * *
Saturday, January 1st, 2005 (Age 26, Kobe)
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Sunday, January 1st, 2006 (Age 27, Kobe)
We went to just one shrine this New Year’s, our neighborhood jinja. I was home at 2:00 so I got to ring in the New Year again with Mandy online. Her husband was working so she was by herself. Sei is drunk and annoying me with his pointless speeches.
* * * * *
Monday, January 1st, 2007 (Age 28, London, UK)
Happy New Year! And, to start it off on the right foot, I've done something horrible to my eye. It's the right one, which isn't even the eye that's been bothering me since last week. I think I must have scratched it when I took off my contact last night because it's red and burning but not with the stickiness of conjunctivitis. I can barely open it and my eyes keep wanting to roll back into my head. I feel bad for Yuji because I couldn't do anything all day. If it's not improved by tomorrow I'll have to go to the hospital. At least this time I bought travel insurance.
Dear diary, today is New Years day. We won’t be selebrating because we’re still at my Grandmother’s house. I like her soft little cot. It’s so soft.
* * * * *
1/1/89 (Age 10, Evansburg)
Celebrating
the first day of the new year with a letter to Erin Chin that I’ll send
tomorrow.
Dear Erin,
Happy New Year! I’ve enclosed an origami dog I made. I’m also sending an old 1987 picture of
myself. Right now I’m listening to the
radio, Surf 94, and it’s exactly 8:30 p.m.
My favorite song right at this moment is "I Think We’re Alone Now," although I do hate Tiffany (I just turned off the radio). What do you want to be when you get older?
Yours Truly, Branny
My favorite song right at this moment is "I Think We’re Alone Now," although I do hate Tiffany (I just turned off the radio). What do you want to be when you get older?
Yours Truly, Branny
* * * * *
1/1/90 (Age 11, Evansburg)
As
you can see by the date at the top of the page, this is the first day of the
last decade of the twentieth century. Right now I’m listening to George Bush, our president, making a
speech. Oh good! He just finished!
Well, the eighties are history
now. So much for the decade of my
childhood. Now we’re in the decade of my
teenage-hood.
Now I’m listening to Sally Jesse Raphael talk to people who have lost their legs. Whoa! Well, bye!!!
Now I’m listening to Sally Jesse Raphael talk to people who have lost their legs. Whoa! Well, bye!!!
* * * * *
Tuesday,
January 1st, 1991 (Age 12, Evansburg)
Hi! Happy New Year! School starts again tomorrow. I don’t want to go back. Wahhhhhh!!!
The radio station I’m listening to
is playing the top 107 songs of 1990. This could take a while.
That's all. Bye!!!
* * * * *
That's all. Bye!!!
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 1st, 1992 (Age 13, Evansburg)
My name is Branny Cavall. I have
straight strawberry-blond hair that comes a few inches below my shoulders. I
have blue eyes and, unfortunately, I wear glasses.
I
was born on October 14th, 1978, in Pecton, Colorado .
Now I live at 210 Smallwood Dr., Evansburg, New Hampshire. We don’t have any pets.
I
have a mother, Lucy, a father, Ralph, a brother Allen, a half-sister, Maria,
and a half-brother, Joe. Joe and Maria are grown-up and live in California and New York.
My
only New Year’s resolution is to write in my diary every day!
* * * * *
Friday, January 1st, 1993 (Age 14, Evansburg)
Wow, new date. Mandy's house was fun. Her twelve-year-old cousin spent the night, too. She's okay, but she and Mandy don't get along well. I borrowed he tape, the Cure's Wish. Mandy's father and uncle both got drunk and threw up in every possible nook and cranny.
I just looked in the mirror and saw a gorgeous young woman staring back at me. Yay!
The lead singer of the Cure, Robert Smith (talk about your plain names), is manic depressive and sinking deeper and deeper into oblivion. You know me and my need to be needed -- now I've developed a string of fantasies about Robert Smith needing me, yes me, to help carry him through the days.
* * * * *
Saturday, January 1st, 1994 (Age 15, Nagasaki, Japan)
* * * * *
Sunday, January 1st, 1995 (Age 16, Nagasaki)
Happy New Year! I haven’t left the house in two days, and I’ve actually enjoyed it! I’m reading an interesting book called A Half Step Behind: Japanese Women Today. I haven’t been able to put it down. It’s all about the role of women in Japan and the discrimination they face. The worst thing is, everyone interviewed said they have one goal in life: to get married and serve their husband and children! Some of the women and girls even say that women are inferior to men! It’s enough to make you want to grab the girls by the neck and give them a good shake. It’s their own fault for not standing up to men.
* * * * *
Friday, January 1st, 1993 (Age 14, Evansburg)
Wow, new date. Mandy's house was fun. Her twelve-year-old cousin spent the night, too. She's okay, but she and Mandy don't get along well. I borrowed he tape, the Cure's Wish. Mandy's father and uncle both got drunk and threw up in every possible nook and cranny.
I just looked in the mirror and saw a gorgeous young woman staring back at me. Yay!
The lead singer of the Cure, Robert Smith (talk about your plain names), is manic depressive and sinking deeper and deeper into oblivion. You know me and my need to be needed -- now I've developed a string of fantasies about Robert Smith needing me, yes me, to help carry him through the days.
* * * * *
Saturday, January 1st, 1994 (Age 15, Nagasaki, Japan)
An uneventful
way to spend the first day of the year. I stayed home and did nothing all day.
This past week I’ve written nine letters that need sending. My dad is on
vacation until next week. We might go to Fukuoka for a couple of days.
Last night I taped MTV’s Top Twenty Videos of 1993. The VJ Marc Panther is so sweet looking! Then there was a short Nirvana concert, so I taped that, too. Then at midnight I went outside and threw four origami cranes off the hill, north, south, east and west. The one to the south had a note to God on it asking for a miracle for my classmate Peter back in Evansburg who’s going to have open heart surgery.
Last night I taped MTV’s Top Twenty Videos of 1993. The VJ Marc Panther is so sweet looking! Then there was a short Nirvana concert, so I taped that, too. Then at midnight I went outside and threw four origami cranes off the hill, north, south, east and west. The one to the south had a note to God on it asking for a miracle for my classmate Peter back in Evansburg who’s going to have open heart surgery.
* * * * *
Sunday, January 1st, 1995 (Age 16, Nagasaki)
Happy New Year! I haven’t left the house in two days, and I’ve actually enjoyed it! I’m reading an interesting book called A Half Step Behind: Japanese Women Today. I haven’t been able to put it down. It’s all about the role of women in Japan and the discrimination they face. The worst thing is, everyone interviewed said they have one goal in life: to get married and serve their husband and children! Some of the women and girls even say that women are inferior to men! It’s enough to make you want to grab the girls by the neck and give them a good shake. It’s their own fault for not standing up to men.
* * * * *
Monday, January 1st, 1996 (Age 17, Nagasaki)
I’ll never understand my parents. My father is a nice guy, but to us he can be such an asshole! My mom is right, every time he’s home and awake, which is rare, he walks around grumbling to himself and yells at my mom for everything she says. He goes out to bars by himself and spends all our money, and tells us we have to eat home every night.
And my mother is still just as
bad. She harasses all of us about every
little thing. Whenever I come home for
vacation I immediately start acting and feeling mean, too. This place is filled with bad vibes. I find myself yelling at my family and hating
myself, while in Kobe
I’ll be glad when the day comes
that I’ll never have to live in my parents’ home again. Then I can finally leave this evil behind for
good and forget about my past.* * * * *
Wednesday, January 1st, 1997 (Age 18, Annapolis, Maryland)
So it begins again. I was tired of my old brown notebook, so I’ve
gone back to using a blank book this first day of the New Year. I started keeping a diary regularly five
years ago today; it was a Wednesday, too. I wonder, when I finish this book, what will its pages contain? Everything, my whole world, is up in the air
right now. By the time I finish this
book I could be pregnant, or married, or have lost a mother.... Who knows. I want Sei to be okay this year. I want him to know in his heart that he is good and kind, and smart and
handsome. When he loves himself he can
love me.
It’s 12:40 a.m.* * * * *
Thursday, January 1st, 1998 (Age 19, Annapolis)
My half-brother Joe and his family came today, with the new baby Alex. I only got to touch Alex once, because Dad's girlfriend Linda wanted to play the grandmother. I really love being around them all, though. Jenny can talk now, but I can't always understand her.
* * * * *
Friday,
January 1st, 1999 (Age 20, Exton, New Brunswick)
It’s
so cold here in New Brunswick (-30 degrees Celsius!), and today it
snowed what looks like a few inches. I had a headache from tiredness, PMS, and
Sei yelling at me, so I slept most of the day.
* * * * *
Saturday, January 1st, 2000 (Age 21, Kobe, Japan)
I never realized how much Japanese people have to do on New Year's Day. This morning we ate the special food for New Year's called osechi. Then we went to three different shrines, and we also went to one at midnight last night. Then we went to the cemeteries of Sei's mother's family and his father's, and to two of his relatives' homes in Osaka. I'm also ringing in the year with cramps, which isn't fun. I got 30,000 yen in New Year's money (I think it's called otoshidama) from his parents and brother.
I was just telling Sei how this new diary will probably last me three or four years because the lines are so small. It's actually a bit hard to write. I know a lot will happen within these pages -- marriage and possibly children, but I'm looking forward to it all.
* * * * *
Monday, January 1st, 2001 (Age 22, Kobe)
I started this diary one year ago today. I think I was right when I said it would take four years to fill it. I don't have any predictions for the New Year -- I don't think anything special will happen, except us getting an apartment (when?!!). I spent the evening working on my Cavall genealogy. I got some more information from my father.
* * * * *
Tuesday, January 1st, 2002 (Age 23, Kobe)
Happy New Year! We called my dad. He said Maria was there with all the kids for two days. He said it's crazy. I believe it -- when I saw Timmy last he was crazy enough, and now there are three of them.
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 1st, 2003 (Age 24, Kobe)
We went to three shrines today and to see Sei's grandmother in the hospital. She's in a different hospital now and it's much less run down. They're going to visit all the relatives tomorrow but I said no, I need a break and my vacation is already more than half over (I didn't say that part). We haven't called my dad yet because the timing hasn't been right, but we'll do it tomorrow.
* * * * *
Thursday, January 1st, 2004 (Age 25, Kobe)
Happy New Year! Let's hope it's better than the last. We went to the shrine and got our lucky arrow. This is the Year of the Monkey.
* * * * *
Saturday, January 1st, 2005 (Age 26, Kobe)
Happy New Year!
I feel like I haven’t been home in days, and really I haven’t. I’m so glad we
don’t have to be with the family tomorrow, much as I like them. I’ve had no
time to tend to my own house, and Penn hasn’t been walked in three days.
Today we
went to the usual three shrines and to see Sei’s grandmother. She’ll be
ninety-two this year. She was out of bed and looking more chipper than usual.* * * * *
Sunday, January 1st, 2006 (Age 27, Kobe)
We went to just one shrine this New Year’s, our neighborhood jinja. I was home at 2:00 so I got to ring in the New Year again with Mandy online. Her husband was working so she was by herself. Sei is drunk and annoying me with his pointless speeches.
* * * * *
Monday, January 1st, 2007 (Age 28, London, UK)
Happy New Year! And, to start it off on the right foot, I've done something horrible to my eye. It's the right one, which isn't even the eye that's been bothering me since last week. I think I must have scratched it when I took off my contact last night because it's red and burning but not with the stickiness of conjunctivitis. I can barely open it and my eyes keep wanting to roll back into my head. I feel bad for Yuji because I couldn't do anything all day. If it's not improved by tomorrow I'll have to go to the hospital. At least this time I bought travel insurance.
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