Ooey, Gooey

First Posted May 12, 2009

Today I had lunch with my Brother in Law. We try to get together for lunch once every three months or so, nothing fancy or expensive, just good conversation over lunch. Today we ate at Johnnie Beefs. The owner is from Chicago and knows what he’s doing. He also works the counter and gets out to talk to the patrons when the lunch rush dies down. Today I enjoyed the best Chicago style hot dog I’ve had in years. It amazes me how a hot dog with tons of stuff on it like that can instantly take me back to the year I lived in the windy city. I’m actually salivating just thinking about it. Best $3.50 I’ve spent on lunch in months.

But I digress. This has nothing to do with today’s entry.

So over a yummy hot dog, I enjoyed talking with a good friend. We usually talk a lot about business and investing, about our families, about church stuff and whatever else comes to mind. Today I mentioned this blog and he asked a question that kind of took me by surprise. He asked if I was keeping a journal in addition to the blog. I said the blog was my journal right now. We both are journal keepers and discussed the merits of using one. I do feel bad that I don’t write in it as much as I used to. There is something intimate and much more personal about writing in a journal – a bound paper journal to be more specific, and with a nice pen – that you just don’t get in any other way.

I’ve actually given up on the idea of my children someday reading my journals. But I can’t blame anyone for not wanting to. Who wants to read 20 volumes of bad penmanship and grammar where the main subject never gets much done? Actually, maybe one of them will. She’s a voracious reader who downs long, heavy books on a daily basis. Books with no pictures even! I don’t even do that.

But I still think writing a journal is very worthwhile. In them I can work through troubling issues, keep important notes, and also they are a good place to keep track of all the silly things my children often say and do. It was just yesterday that my four year old son was tearing pictures of super heroines out of his coloring book and loudly saying, “ooey, gooey girls,” every time he dropped a sheet on the floor. Isn’t he so cute!? You just keep thinking that, little boy.

So if no one is reading, why write? Well, because it’s good for you, says I. It makes you feel better and helps you think more clearly. If you write long enough something good is probably going to surface, some problem is going to be solved or some important memory is going to be saved forever. So what if no one reads it. At least its saved, right?

This actually wasn’t what I planned on writing about tonight. (Not to mention the plug for Johnny Beefs or telling about my funny kids.) But it’s late and I’m not focusing very well. And besides, since I talked to my bro today at lunch, I’ve already written about 7 pages in my journal. In those pages I did come upon an idea I had planned on sharing. But I’m tired and will do so tomorrow. Until then, good night.

How about you? What are your thoughts on journaling? Do you have a journal, a diary, both, or neither?

Clark