The blank book

I think one of the greatest gifts you can give someone is a blank book. It’s a gift of potential. I can spend hours at a book store trying to pick out the perfect blank book for my next journal. I love the expectation of a new notebook.

For many years I loved unlined sketch books for my journals, and my notebooks for classes. I liked the freedom they allowed to go in any direction and any size I wanted. Some days my handwriting was calm and smaller. But you can also see the days when I was upset and the writing is larger and faster. I also did little pictures (thumb print drawings) to illustrate entries every now and then. And if I’m printing I can keep my rows straight without the lines.

I decided three years ago that I wanted to start doing my journal in cursive again. I practiced for a few months before starting the new journal because it had been so long since I’d written anything but checks with cursive. I also bought a leather covered, lined journal at that time. It’s beautiful. I love the feel of it.

When Brett proposed I bought a small pocket sized note book and kept almost daily notes in it for the next six months till just over a month after the wedding. I wrote the things we said and did that made me smile. It’s a lot of fun to look back through that book.

At the beginning of my eighth grade year my family moved states. Before we moved my math teacher gave me a package and a card. The package was a blank book. The card read:

Dear Lisa,

We will all miss you very much. Our best wishes go with you. And, we know you’ll do fine, make lots of friends, and love your new home.

You are a young lady with lots of thoughts. Please use the book to record some of your thoughts to keep (as your journal).

You come from a rich tradition which – people who keep records. God bless you as you assume your part of this tradition.

Sincerely,
Mrs. P.

That meant so much to me. A blank book is an amazing gift. (And she was an amazing teacher.)

Blank books can come in many forms. Bound books. Small books. Large books. Spiral books. Sketch books. And even blog books. Thank you for letting me continue to record some of my thoughts and share them with you here. Yesterday MissGiggles.com turned 8 years old. This has been a great blank book that’s grown in any direction I’ve needed it too.