Dear Diary: I Survived

Summer has arrived and with no school comes absolutely no rules.
As his farewell performance in my life Bubba ruined my yearbook with a filthy poem. 
My family tries camping...disastrous.
I live up the night life...fabulous. 
I will never stop being astounded at how incredibly different each diary entry is and the amount of WEIRD crazy stuff that happened. This could be a fantastic study on how constant chaos can be normalized.

After watching Netflix's Hillbilly Elegy I was struck by the similarities of the characters' lives and my own; only Dear Diary isn't an elegy, it is a toast. A toast to car air freshener birthday gifts, watching apartment neighbors fight, preteen pregnancy rumors, and cheating in school...when I decided to show up.
This episode, while definitely another serious reflection of my growing up,  is not a lament for the dead, although the little girl in this diary has definitely moved on; it is a celebration for the survivor she is today. 

Protecting your kids is probably the most important thing a parents does. How fitting that sunblock was not even a thing in little Chanel's life. Pretty metaphoric. 

There is a GUEST CO-HOST in this episode and he helps unravel the month of May in 1990.

Sexual education was quite diverse and intense for a 6th grader in 1990! From periods to AIDS to fetal development it was all covered in just 3 days. Buckle up and take notes...

Religion seems to have taken hold in my life. It is a good thing too, I need all the help I can get as we bowl our way through Easter and I resolve to single handedly SAVE THE EARTH!

A sweet reminisce of Chanel's grandparents and her development of faith.  

A surprise special edition. How did Chanel celebrate Thanksgiving in 1990? Not at all how you would guess...and let's be honest, you could guess just about anything! This episode exposes what is really important about Thanksgiving; what matters most.

Good things are happening.  The dog is ok, UNLV is the NCAA Champion, and my family pretended to be normal for one whole day.

March came in like a taunted lion for Chanel in 1990. She takes us through how you tame that beast, and let's just say I am proud to be that same girl today. Come at me yo!

Did your best friend ever get another friend and it made you crazy? How did you handle it? Sixth grade Chanel had her way. Also Chanel has some sage advice for dieting you don't want to miss. The 1990 Grammy's are reviewed and we find out Chanel had another pet. So much to laugh through...enjoy!!