Buckley Blog

My Personal Book

"My Personal Book" came from a book order in 6th grade. Appreciating the seriousness of the book and the impact it would have on my posterity, I filled it out truthfully.

27 years later... I am thankful for this: that the wishes of my 11-year old self did not come true.

I would be married to Ricky Schroder or Ponyboy from The Outsiders and living with Michael Jackson in a mansion in L.A. with a limousine and a pet mouse.

According to "My Personal Book", I decided that:

"When I have children, the only chores my children will have to do will be ___clean their room___ and ___homework___." That stinks because I have a sink full of dishes with my kid's names written all over them. Dang it.

I also decided that:

"My children will have to obey three rules. These three rules are:

1. no talking back
2. keep clean
3. do what I say"

How about simplify and just have rule #3?

What would I do if I was all alone? On the ALL ALONE page I wrote:

"Here are some of the things I enjoy doing when I'm alone:

1. turning the radio on full blast
2. watching TV
3. ?

I'm all alone and that's as creative as I can get? No #3? TV? Come on!

Other entries in the Personal Book:

"Some grownups make me feel worse because they say things like, "___you're so quiet___," or "___ugly pants___." I've seen my pictures, my pants really were ugly.

"Why are people always telling me to be quiet? After all I am really a very ___loud___ person. Don't they know that I'm noisy because ___I have good jokes___and don't they understand that ___I need the attention___?"

"I'd like to have something to say about how my home is run, but no one will listen. For example, I don't like the way ___my brothers are___." I am sorry brothers! I was lame.

If I could write A SECRET MESSAGE, it would say "Dear Ricky: ___You are so fine___." And that would be the end of the message.