My diary - February 18-20, 1972

El Velero Beach, photo courtesy Vianica.com

February 18, 1972 Fri.

Dear Diary:

School today as usually. I got an 80 on English test. Had a Math, Spanish & Science (got 70 with all the work I did studying!) We got report cards. I missed the honor roll again by 1 C+ in Typing. Gets you mad. 3 kids in my class made it. I didn’t stay after Typed abit. Talked to Anja. Went to Simmons & park with Missy. Were going to Spain & Portugal in Semana Santa Ya!!! I ate supper at Missy’s. Going to beach tomorrow so I didn't go to school party Oh! I’m tired

BYE!!!

Note: It was exciting to know that we were going to Europe during Semana Santa (Holy Week).  Dad rarely took us to the beach so that was exciting too.  

Diary

February 19, 1972 Sat.

Dear Diary:

David went on a camp out & we went to the beach. You know I really miss David. Missy went with us. We went to EL Velero. It’s gorgeous. You pay 20 cords a car to get in has air-conditoned camper you can rent & the beach has like U.S.A pick-nic tables etc bathrooms. We  rented one of those boat that you pedal. Dad, Becky, I & Missy. The ride on it was scenic. We  had to push it alot. Lets see I got the trailers key stuck in the fender of the car don’t ask me how. We had lots of fun. We then stopped at the Coverstones. Hope David has fun!

BYE!!

Note:  It cost us 20 Cordóbas a car to gain admission to the beach. At that time period, it was 7 Cordóbas to one U.S. Dollar. The exchange rate now is 36 Cordóbas to one U.S. dollar. My dad was not happy with me in regards to getting the key stuck but he managed to get the key out. It was the first time using a paddle boat and we frequently got stuck on the rocks. It was a lot of fun. I do remember getting a bad sunburn.

February 20, 1972 Sun.

Dear Diary:

I read on Lazarillo de Tormes. We went to church & then to super. I saw Patricia at the supermarket. We went to the country Club for lunch. Mr. W. came over & had a drink with us. He was drunk.  We have to take Malaria pills cause the beach we went to has it. Missy came over to have a pill. I talked to Anja & Missy. I watched T.V. Read alittle. Nixons speach from Chinas on. I don’t think I’ll watch it.

BYE!

Note: It turned out that we had been exposed to Malaria on our beach outing, which is a sometimes fatal disease transmitted by parasite-infected mosquitos that feed on humans. Symptoms include high fevers, chills, aches, jaundice and in severe cases organ failure. It was important to start taking medicine right away to help prevent getting the disease. It was a huge pill that had an awful aftertaste.  We had to take it for at least a month. Fortunately, none of us came down with it.

Lazarillo de Tormes is a 16th-century novel we had to read for Spanish class. It was written anonymously and is credited with inventing the picaresque novel. A picaresque novel is usually a first person satire and tells of the adventures of the main character - a rascal who travels from place to place. This story is about a young poor boy who works for various men from different levels of society.

Lazarillo de Tormes