My diary -April 30-May 2, 1972
- Susan Fisch Good
- May 31, 2024
- 2 min read
April 30, 1972 Sun.
Dear Diary:
Sunday! Didn’t seem like Sunday. It seemed like a normal weekday. We went to 10:00 mass & then to the super. We had spaggatti for lunch. I watched T.V. I washed my hair. I went over to Simmons house. She gave me a book to read “The Voice of the Dolls” but I doubt I'll read it. Too spooky. I watched the most romantic movie. “Los Contrabandistas.” I liked when they were in a convertible 2 seats only. 3 people. (2 men one girl) & le girl refused to sit on the fat guys lap so the handsome guy made her sit on his lap. She didn’t mind!!!
BYE!
The Voice of the Dolls was by Dorothy Eden - one of my favorite authors - but this one was too spooky. Scary movies still frighten me. My boys will vouch that I run from the room if the music starts sounding sinister.
Los Contrabandista (The Smugglers)1967 was an Argentinian movie written by Jorge Luis Borges.
May 1, 1972 Mon.
Dear Diary:
No school. Labor day! Yesterday was Somozas last day of being President. He’ll be it again in "74". He & the 3 guys who will take over for the meantime were on T.V. & radio all morning!! Uh!!
I read old teen mag. We went bowling. Mom, Becky, David and I. Had fun! I went to Simmon’s house. I watched T.V. New novela “Esmeralda.” Dad came back tonight. He had a nice trip. He brought me back an orchid, a pretty owl belt & for all of us Mags. & a spring like thing that makes music. Becky last to sleep with Mom.
BYE!!!
Note: Funny, I wasn’t interested in politics, just that it interfered with my T.V. and radio. We were told never to talk about Somoza as it was dangerous. I always worried that my Dad looked a lot like President Somoza and might get mistaken for him.
Dad took a group of travel agents to London. We were glad to have him home.
May 2, 1972 Tues.
Dear Diary:
School as usually well first day for this week. Mrs. Burton got real mad at us & walked out on our class. Becky went to a party (at country club). David & I had our tennis lesson. It wasn’t to bad. 2 teachers one for David the other for me. I did homework. Watched T.V. Picked Becky up. Went to Simmons house. Hoover died today.
BYE!
Note: Mrs. Burton was young and very pretty but she didn’t seem to like us. I don’t think she liked being in Nicaragua. Her husband was the elementary principal. I remember her telling another teacher that she was home and went to use the bathroom only to find an iguana staring up from the commode.
J. Edgar Hoover was the first director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He led the FBI for 48 years. His methods were very controversial.
Dang! Iguanas can get big!
In San José, we lived adjacent to the city zoo. My granny, an early riser, was visiting from the states.
One morning we were awoken by a scream. She had come face to face with an "APE" hanging on the burglar bars on the living room window!! We recognized it as a two-toed sloth, so I ran to the zoo to get a caretaker. He shrugged, ambled over to the house, and for the next 20 minutes, coaxed the sloth onto his shoulders, saying "venga mamacita, ven conmigo". Why 20 minutes? Sloths are so slow, moss grows on their fur. Got to be careful tho, as their huge talons can hurt you.
My granny was…
What experiences your dad had too! I agree that he looked similar to Somoza and your parents were wise to tell you not to talk about connections to him. I empathize with Mrs Burtons fright at seeing the iguana. When I was finishing my Masters at UT, I housesat for a professor one summer and she told me a snake got in the plumbing once to her upstairs toilet! To this day I keep the lid down and open it carefully! 🙃
Oh Susie, need for you to connect some dots for me... When you are describing the beautiful Mrs. Burton, you comment on J Edgar Hoover - is there a connection? Your Dad does resemble Tacho!
Quick memory, at the riding school KS and I got to exercise the beautiful thoroubred horses belonging to the Somoza children - circa 1959. They used to arrive at the school in their limo with nanny... Tootsie
Loved your take on what was a normal day for you. My teenage years were normal but in the US. Your experiences helped to make you the amazing person you are!! Almost your birthday!!!
MJ
Wow Susan! What amazing experiences. I still groan when politics take over preferred TV time. Ha!! An iguana in the commode would make for great video today!! Love, Amanda