My diary - January 31- February 2, 1973

"Victoria Beer"

January 31, 1973 Wed.

Dear Smiley: 

Last night 1st night since I’ve been here that I slept well. I have to drink a bottle of beer to sleep. History test easy. P.E. was awful. I couldn’t do any of it. Somersaults, standing on head etc. This afternoon I practised somersaults but with not to much luck. PLEASE help me do good in gymnastics. We drove to Mrs. Trost but she wasn’t home. Good thing of day I saw Mr. Venters at school & he told me all about Pat. Novelas start tomorrow also good news.

BYE!!!

Note: I was not sleeping at night as we continued having tremors, which terrified me. Dad talked to Dr. Zepeda, who advised him to give me a bottle of beer each night. Every night for several weeks, I drank a bottle of Victoria and slept. I am not sure if it was the power of suggestion, as Dad told me it would work, or the beer. To this day, I can’t drink beer as it makes me sleepy.

It's your Victory, enjoy! Advertisement on the back of a hand mirror

February 1, 1973 Thurs.

Dear Smiley:

Dads birthday. He’s 45 & roaring away. We had an earthquake 1st period. School was alright. I went to Echos house but she’s in San Salvador. I then went to Simones house. I practised my somersaults with Dave & Becky & I made it! HIP HIP HURRAH!! Thanks. Novelas are back. Good thing that happened: Dads birthday & I did somersaults. Dads having a big party. I went out for awhile I might go out again quien sabe. Got a 100 on History test. Mrs. Jones gave us our Xmas presents. I got a brooch.

BYE!!!

Note: I thought he was so old at 45, which now seems so young.

Somersaults were a nightmare for me. How lucky I was to have a brother and a sister who would help me.

"Quien sabe": Who knows?

If I saw Mrs. Jones today, I would tell myself, “She’s not my people, and I wish her well.” She always had something negative to say about my appearance. “Estás más gorda” (you’re fatter) or “No me gusta el estilo de tu pelo” (I don’t like your hair style). She would say it out of earshot of my Mom.

I am not sure why I kept the brooch she gave me, as it was a mink mouse, and I hate mice.

Mrs. Jones

Mink mouse pin from Mrs. Jones

February 2, 1973 Fri.

Dear Smiley:

Friday at last!!! YEAH!! Wow I couldn’t stand it much longer. 2 days off. I got a science report due on Fri. & English too. Homework coming out of my ears. Had pretty much fun in school. I was in the library & so was Mrs. Graft, Simone & Roberto Vassali. Wow he’s quite nice!!! Somoza kids at our school. 8th grade. We might go to Costa Rica over the weekend. Went over to Simones. Watched T.V. Outlined History. Wish me luck with English report tomorrow & Science. Going to sleep in.

BYE!!!

Note: I don’t remember President Somoza’s kids visiting our school or attending.

January 31, 1973 Wed. (David's Diary)

Hey Snoopy,

What’s wrong. Every day is miserable. No real friends. Gotup at 6:30. Well last night I was scared but today is worse. School. Things are piling up. I wonder how I’ll get the projector etc.  Uhh typing tomorrow. Well I made a fool of myself in Geography. I seem to be getting an inf. Complex. Math is fun. I’m going to chew gum. Well party…Gonzalez house tomorrow. I am invited with a girl. Or at least a novia. I hope the earthquakes are over. I know I sound mixed up but I will be better soon I hope.

(I think I’m losing weight).

Note: Wow. Tough times, but at least I’m enjoying math!  Lots of self-analysis going on.

Dad's 45th birthday with Mom

February 1, 1973 Thurs. (David's Diary)

Today was Dad’s birthday. At about 7:05 we gave him his presents. We then ate. In school today I got permission to get the projector and cassette. Typing, not so hot. Well I fooled around on the mats at school for a while. Well, I had good lunch and a piece of cake (home made). I then played baseball. Had a good game and a bad game. I will go to sleep early tonight. .Hope the film is good. See you later.

Note: Difficult to read the bottom half of my journal entry. I don’t recall why I needed a projector and cassette. Perhaps it will be clear in a subsequent entry.

My Dad would have been celebrating his 45th birthday. Seems young now!

February 2, 1973 Friday (David's Diary)

Snoopy, what can I say about today? It was average. The film strip turned out mas o menos. The tape broke. I guess I was nervous. Math homework today. I play outside a bit, baseball, but I played pretty lousy. I saw a girl that looked nice at Cynthia’s house. Pastence house. Finished composition. My goal, due Earthquake report for Miendieta.  Go to Costa Rica. Bisbee, they say that he got married. I rode bike a bit. Scared her.

Note: It looks like I had some sort of film project. My guess is it was for a class taught by Mr. Lucas, one of my favorite teachers.  “Mas o menos”  means more or less, an expression that both Susan and I seem to use even when writing in English! Outside of riding our bikes around the neighborhood, it’s interesting that we played more baseball in my neighborhood than any other sport, including soccer. We had no adult supervision; we just self-organized our games. There was a coconut tree in the middle of the park we played in. Right by second base. It made for interesting plays!