My diary - February 15-17, 1973
- Susan Fisch Good
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
February 15, 1973 Thurs.
Dear Smiley:
School was O.K. I don’t like Math with Mr. Sanchez too boring. Seehafers came home for lunch with us. We drove to Las Colinas to pick up Mrs. Hingst to go to Granada for “ORTHODONIST”!!! Lisa Cheeck came along. Quess what I don’t need braces!!! I have a good bite. Watched T.V. Got all ready to go to Costa Rica. Ricardo called me. Tennis lessons start week after next.
BYE!!!
Note: We had quite a group going to the orthodontist. Mrs. Hingst had been there, so she was the co-pilot for Mom. I am not sure why Leesa Cheek was coming other than she might have needed to see the dentist, too. I was so glad that I didn’t need braces. My bottom teeth overlap a bit. A few years ago, a local dentist was trying to convince me to get braces. I asked if my bite was ok and he said yes, but my smile would be better. I said no, I had made it this long without them, and I was okay with my smile.
An interesting note on Leesa - she later moved to Brazil and was in school with my cousins Michelle and Michael Desrosier, a small world for sure.
February 16, 1973 Fri.
Dear Smiley:
We had an open assembly today at school. Starting the 26 we have school (High School) 1 p.m. to 6 pm. I thought school would never end!!! Well we drove after school to Costa Rica. The scenery is beautiful.Trip is 7 ½ hrs. about!!! Hotel Irazu is where were staying it has a tennis court & pool. Went to eat at Chalet Suiza We were going to eat downstairs but we couldn’t get served so we walked out.
BYE!!!
Note: My Dad was not the most patient person, and the service was lacking, so we left and went to the Chalet Suiza, which was very good.
February 17, 1973 Sat.
Dear Smiley:
Well in the morning we went downtown and window shopped. We got Dave a bathing suit and maybe a few odds & ends. For lunch we went to the country. In the afternoon we kids played tennis & relaxed. I finally got Pats number. I called Gregos (also information etc.) I called her & she didn’t reconize me. We’re getting together tomorrow. We went to McDonalds for supper. Not to good. Well I’m bushed. Went to church.
BYE!!!
Note: I am not sure what Gregos was, but I was glad to finally reach Pat.
We didn’t have a McDonald's in Nicaragua at the time. Dad thought it would be a treat, but it wasn’t.
February 15, 1973 Thurs (David’s Diary)
Howdy do Snoop, Today was stupid. School alright. Went home with Seehafers. All he did was read PlayBoy. Not that I don’t like them but after a while it gets like reading a comic twice. We played basketball a bit and walked towards Marisela’s house. I saw her at Marta’s house. Dork means - take all bad words (meanings) you know and mix. That’s what you are. Tomorrow we leave to Costa Rica after school My shots in basektball are improving and so are my grades - I hope. I should be losing weight but I seem to have more fat on my belly. Beck is mad at me. I guess it’s my fault. I didn’t pick up the cards after playing a game with her. Now that I think she forgave me. Sue is her usual self. Grouchy with me. Good Night.
Note: Not much to add!
February 16, 1973 Friday (David’s Diary)
Dear Snoop. Today should have been good but it wasn’t. I got a 100 in math, a 100 in science. The moment we left school we we went home and went to Costa Rica. Dad was in a bad mood. He always is when we travel. I forgot my swimming suit, a belt, and my jacket. Luckily Mom packed mine. The Irasu is not so cool. Has a nice swimming pool and supposedly a tennis court. Service is lousy. We went to the restaurant, 10 minutes we got table. 5 minutes plate and when we had to wait for a menu, we left even though we ate the bread. We then at at the Palette Suiza food, supposedly good. I disliked it…Brandy in the onion soup, greasy Escalop. We only have one bathroom, Yuch. Good night
Note: Interesting that the word “yuch’ seems to be a favorite of Sue and me! Looks like I was prepping to be food critic. I would certainly enjoy some brandy in my onion soup these days!
February 17, 1973 Sat. (David’s Diary)
Dear Snoop- Today I got a short hair cut at the Gran Hotel and on way out Dad and I met Mom, Sue, Beck, going the same way. We ate at the country C. Then I swam - a bit cold. After that I went to play tennis with Sue and Beck. When a ball went out of bounds, I got it. They ran away. I got mad. We played more. I, just for fun hit the top of can. When I got it, they ran away again. When I caught up, I threw top in front of them No one wanted to get. Got into argument. I said, I’m going to run away from home. Went towards woods, circled, went to room. They looked all over, crying. I did wrong. Mom understood but still got mad. Church was weird. Dad left us at wrong one. Didn’t count for Sunday. We asked a priest before and he got mad. Finished in 10 minutes. Dad picked us up, went to end and go us other mass. We then went to McDonalds.
Sue and Becky and I are in peace now..Good night.
Note: Looking back at these times, I realize how privileged we were to travel freely and stay in nice places. I remember scaring Sue and Becky when I faked running away, but thought I had done that in Panama. I certainly would rather get lost in Costa Rica than Panama. In any case, I learned my lesson. Nice that we all were “peace” after the scare. It’s interesting that Sue Becky claim to have no recollection of this event!
Hotel Irazú was built in 1970, a year after we left, in what was back then the semi-rural outskirts of Bo. La Uruca, but just a few blocks from the autopista to the airport. Since it's only a 10-15 minute drive to the airport, I wonder why y'all didn't fly? Was it for expediency, like being too indeterminate to go "stand by" or lack of a flight at the time you needed? I also wonder how long the border crossing took back then, (Aduana).
I kinda remember the Chalet Suiza, neat looking place, don't remember eating there tho.
I don't remember a McDonald's in San José, maybe the one you went to was fairly new and still having teething p…
No, no! Alterations to your smile were ( and are!) completely unnecessary!