The Last Banana

This is the story of how a big journal with little words came to be, that journal has been dubbed Daily Fruit since the very first entry on October 8th, 2001. It is now 2192 days later and I have made the last entry into this daily journal that has become somewhat iconic to me and a handful of friends.

Daily Fruit was born in the fall of 2001, one month into my freshman year at Michigan State. It was a new era of expression for me; a time when I started to create the idea of Bugsy Rocker, my little webpage and portal to creative expression. I wanted a website where I could share my photos and thoughts, but more than anything a place to express my creativity. Of the many ideas I had I needed a section to express that simple sentence or two that stood out from the day. That sentence or phrase could be something simple, but represented a thought, idea, or memory. That one phrase would have the power to stand on it’s own. It became my daily slogan or tagline

Why call it “Daily Fruit”? As children we always heard the line from our parents, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” It was my belief that a few words each day, something creative, whacky, or inspiring would also keep the doctor away (the psychologists in this case). It was the idea of doing remembering something little each day. Every day taking something from the day as little as it was as long as it was something. It was healthy and a daily mind activity.

Most of the Daily Fruit entries (at least in it’s core) were inspired by my old roommates, The Puds (otherwise known as Chris, Kevin, Jeremy, and Mike). My ex-girlfriend Robin was the influence for many, but these influences would all change over time as would the “topics”. At one point I was even able to inspire my old roommate Chris to start a journal of his own for a little while. It was short lived, but while it lasted we all enjoyed reading Chris’s version, Daily Veggies. Though sometimes strange and other times emotional, it became something for me, and others, to enjoy daily.

Now, the journal has become a chore. It’s not what it used to be, it has transformed and taken on a natural path of it’s own, as most things do. The inspiration doesn’t come to me as easy as it once did for Daily Fruit. I’m older now, my mind works differently and it has become an effort to think of something creative to write every day. Someday I may bring it back if the time is right, but for now Daily Fruit will rest in it’s grand legacy, six years strong. I have many other ideas for daily journals, creative expression, and new inspiration to last another six years. From the first apple to the last banana, Daily Fruit has brought much laughter between friends.

Thank you to everyone who inspired even one small journal entry, something worthy to remember forever. And thank you to those who enjoyed it and looked forward to the next day’s entry. It’s been a pleasure.

Daily Fruit archive from the beginning
This year’s Daily Fruit