Our catch phrase is on its way.

Dear Fellow Earthlings,

On October 4, 1961 (52 years ago today), 13-year-old Steve Walker decided to try keeping a diary. I took 9 old sheets of used cash receipts from the company my parents had (Walker Enterprises, Incorporated, a hauling and scrap company), stapled them together, and began writing: “Wednesday, October 4, 1961” “Stayed home from school today because of a cough. Made a chart listing names of girls I’d like to go steady with. It is a sunny but cool day.”

And that is it! The first time I ever tried writing something down for posterity! By the way, in case you might not know the expression “to go steady with”, it meant to have a girl or boy (someone of the opposite sex) whom one dated exclusively. My hormones were surely out of balance as, ironically, I made an entire “chart” listing the names of multiple girls I wanted to “go steady with”!

As I look back on those days so long ago, I am amazed at how one-track minded I was! Instead of studying, developing, and taking care of some precious bantam chickens I had, I was constantly thinking of girls! I wish I had used some of my nervous energy more constructively!

Steve Walker, Earthsaver and Jingles Creator

© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.