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From the Keyboard of 13-Year-Old Me

December 14, 2011August 25, 2015 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 1 comment

A lot of people have voiced the same idea when it comes to sorting through boxes that have been sitting untouched for years: why not just throw the contents out instead of taking the time to leaf through them? I thought about this as well when I decided to start going through some of my untouched boxes a few weeks back. After all, if I haven’t needed or thought about anything that was in the boxes for years, what purpose would I have for them now? In the end, I decided I’d go through them. This is me we’re talking about and a little voice in the back of my mind kept saying, “What if those boxes contain something that you would like to keep?”

I’m glad that I listened to that little voice because I found two pieces of writing that I’m glad to have rediscovered. One is a book of stories (literally a book of probably fifty different stories) surrounding the lives of two characters that my childhood best friend and I made up during our late middle school years. In our minds, we were our characters (naturally), although now that I think about it, I wonder why we put ourselves through all that our characters endured throughout those fifty stories. I remember the two of us making cards (announcements, invitations, etc.) with her stamping supplies during one of my visits to my hometown after I began writing our stories and I’m curious to see if I’ll find any of those in the boxes I have yet to go through.
The other piece of writing that I found is the one that I was most excited about. It was a short story written for my eighth grade English class and once I found it I immediately took the time to read it. It was a lot of fun to go back and read the words that flowed from the keyboard of thirteen-year-old me. As I did, there were two things that really stuck out to me.
1) The surprise. The story I wrote was a futuristic story. I’m wondering if it was part of the assignment to write a story that took place in the future, because writing a futuristic story just doesn’t sound like me. At least, it doesn’t sound like thirteen-year-old me. Thirteen-year-old me wrote preteen angsty stories that usually ended with a lot of heartbreak. Often, someone died. And no one died in this short story. Well, there was that one guy, but he was the villain of the story. And that is another thing that surprised me. I wrote a story with a happily ever after ending. I don’t remember writing happily ever after endings… ever. (My stories might not end tragically, but I don’t wrap everything up with a nice pretty bow, either. That’s just not true to real life.)
2) The “Oh, yeah!” moment. The main character of my story had violet eyes. As soon as I saw that little detail I remembered that all of my main characters had violet eyes back then. I wanted to have violet eyes, so I gave them to my characters. It was easier than trying to convince my parents that I needed to have color contacts.
I wonder what else I’ll find the remaining boxes. Probably nothing as cool as this.
About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

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The Dog in Snow
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

One comment

  1. *tarazza says:
    December 14, 2011 at 3:33 pm

    What a fun find! I would love to see some of my writing from my younger days. I wonder whatever happened to all my notebooks…

    Ha– I definitely remember those days where if I wanted something, I gave it to my character. Many a character of mine had their own pet dog who was devoted to her, and only her.

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hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. 💙
Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. “The water looks cold,” I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. 😂)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle tour with a stop at Thingvellir National Park. My fingers froze as I took these photos but it was worth it to capture this view. 😍 PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
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