My diary - February 6-8, 1973
Updated: Mar 25
February 6, 1973 Tues.
Dear Smiley:
School was ok. I got a 98 on open-book test in History. Lisa & Steve Seehafer back. I got mad at Simone today. She came right up to Lisa Seehafer & go my have you gotten Fat!!! Lisa is very sensitive about those things. Simone should talk she is much fatter than Lisa. Good thing of today we went to American Embassy (now at Cuesta Country Club & got new passports. It took a long time but surely worth it all!!! Watched T.V. Read papers. I’ve gotta study for English essay test so wish me tons of luck. Mom & Dad at a party. Mom went with Hingst; Dad will come later straight to party (has to work late.
BYE!!!
Note: I seem to be doing better in school. Simone and I had a love-hate relationship. She was often very blunt and tactless.
It was interesting that we renewed our passports at the American Embassy, which had been relocated due to earthquake damage. I don’t remember whether we got the new passports right away or picked them up later.
February 7, 1973 Wed.
Dear Smiley:
I’m so tired. English test hard. New math teacher a Mr. Sanchez seems pretty nice. Nic. I think. P.E. was ok. Pray I’ll be able to do most of the things. Took a bath. Read on “The Vines of Yarrabee.” Practised P.E. stuff on a mattress. I did my science report. Now I have to type it. Mom & Dad at Hingst.
BYE!!!
Note: We had pulled one of our twin mattresses into the living room for me to practice. I guess it was embarrassing as Mr. Hingst had come over and seen our mess. Jim and his wife, Bernice, were good friends of my parents. He worked for Texaco.
February 8, 1973 Thurs.
Dear Smiley:
School pretty neat. I have a report to do for history on “Russian Literature.” Well they changed my schedule. I have a free period 3d period (P.E. too on Mon & Wed). And after that I have recess. Mrs. Tabladas class is next & she gave us study hall & let us roam around so WOW!!! I have English last period now. I think Roberto doesn't like me he doesnt even look at me. I wish for once when I like guy he would like me too. Such is life. Seehafeers were over. Watched T.V. I have to study for a hard super hard Spanish test.
BYE!!!
Note: It is so hard being a teenager and worrying about who likes you and who doesn’t. I wish I could tell my younger self that it would all work out. It has definitely been a bumpy adventure, but worthwhile.
February 6 Tuesday (David’s diary)
Hi Snoop, today was good in school but bad at home. We got to school later than usual (Sue). Steve’s back, he’s the same but his voice is lower. Alas, I have a friend. Today I heard someone say “it’s only 5 min of class. I then attracting Roberto’s attention took my pen upside down in the rim and said “mmm it’s about 5 to one.” He couldn’t get how I did it.
Mom doesn’t trust me to even cross the street. I got so mad. I said I’d run away. I knew I wouldn’t. Me and Cabra were wrestling today. We’re about equal. Sue and Beck really bauled (sp) me out for anything I did. Today we got our grades.
Note: I still enjoy tricking people when I can give the illusion of being clairvoyant or being able to magically know something. Poor Roberto!
I often thought or threatened to run away but clearly knew that was not something I could really do.
Cabra was a friend in the neighborhood. Years before, in order to become a true part of the neighborhood gang, I needed to challenge one of them to a fight. That’s how things worked back then. I was smart enough to not pick Cabra who was always asking to be picked. He had a reputation for being the meanest and toughest despite being one of the smallest, similar in size to me. Instead, I picked Cornelio, the biggest kid in our group. Cornelio walked away from the challenge saying I was not worth his time. That made me a hero as Cornelio had a reputation of being a bully and clearly he was shaken. That was my initiation. Was accepted without having to throw a punch! From that point forward many of us would play king of the mountain and have fun wrestling to see who could hold the top of a hill. I had the reputation of being “arrecho” which translates in that context to something like furious/tough. I treasure those memories.
I’m not sure what I did to get me in trouble at home but clearly my sisters were not happy with me.
Susie here - I can attest that he still loves to be a prankster. Our Grandfather Hughes did too!
February 7 Wed. (David’s diary)
Howdy Snoop, Today was an average day. I played basketball a bit in school. We have Mrs. Brown for a teacher again. What really got me was Mr. Johnson. In Basketball he kept tearing me down, and when we played a game only 3 of us played. Our class I mean. I played outside a bit but didn’t have much fun. Blanca seems pretty nice. So many new people in Los Robles. I got home on time and finished my homework and started my Spanish. Mrs. Brown came, wants a house and I had to show her where Caldera lives. Got mattresses out of my sister’s gymnastics. Mr. Hingst came over and saw the mess. Goodnight.
Note: Mr. Johnson meant well I’m sure and had to be stressed over losses in the earthquake. I don’t recall why Mrs. Brown needed me to show her when the Calderas lived. I still remember the first time I saw Blanca! Funny how certain memories persist and others are lost.
Susie here - Mr. Johnson lost his two-year-old daughter in the earthquake. It must have been an awful time for him and his family.
February 8 Thurs. (David’s diary)
I understand math and most of science.
Dear Snoop, you know what I don’t like about diaries is that it’s hard to write in them. No offense really.
School was regular today but fun. In the morning 5 or 6 5th graders challenged us, Steve and I, to a game of B.B. We tied. That’s pretty bad. Later in school recess, I jammed my finger, had to pull it back in place. O does it hurt. I can barely write. In los Robles I had fun at the end. First Cabra kept despising me but the sect (sp?) came and when they left I had fun. We first went to the ?? To see how the pool was ?? gerated it ??. Then we rode in the back of a truck. It’s a no no but it was too late.
Note: Funny how I ‘talk to the diary’ as if it could take offense at my comments about it!
Steve (Seehafer) and I were both vertically challenged at this age and it was troubling that we only managed to tie in a game against 5th graders.
I’m not sure which pool we were checking out. Perhaps the country club or a neighbor’s house that was damaged in the earthquake.
Susie here - I talk to my diary too. Must be a genetic thing?
I found out that James Hingst passed away on March 6, 2026. Here is his obituary.
still feeling uneasiness about living post earthquake. How terrible for the PE teacher's loss! Amazing you had a picture of his daughter. 🙂 I know it was hard on everyone - readjusting to new locations to live, go to school, etc. The adults probably kept a lot of known info and feelings inside for the sakes of their children and families. Thanks for sharing. DM
Just testing to make sure this works as one of my followers was not able to leave a comment.
Interesting to know they moved the American Embassy to Cuesta Country Club. Back in the day I was familiar with the Embassy as our Aunt Beth was the Ambassador's executive secretary. Never heard of the Cuesta Country Club - wonder where the US Embassy is now... I am sure they still have those handsome Marines there! Thanks for reminding us how terrible the earthquake was. Tootsie
Thank you for bringing attention to the victims of the earthquake....it always reminds us that "there but for the grace of God go I".
It looks like at this juncture, at least in you kids' milieu, things are more or less normalizing, with school work dominating your lives. By this time, had you driven around the city with the folks to see what portions were most damaged?
I’m always amazed that worlds apart we were reading the same books. The Vines of Yarrabee was a favorite of mine. Also: Such is life is a fairly sophisticated sentiment for someone your age—-but you’ve always been a bit ahead of the curve!