My diary - January 7-9, 1973
- Susan Fisch Good
- Jan 9
- 2 min read
January 7, 1973 Sun.
Dear Smiley:
Got up late. We went to Zayres a nun took us. We went to Aunt Helen. Everybody was there almost. Uncle Leo, Aunt Erma, Cathy, Dan, Dean, Tabby, Larry, Kay (kids too), Aunt Liz, Uncle Nick, some other lady too. Talked to Dad. Its so sad & sickening! We won’t see him till June 6 MONTHS & we will have to go to school her Oh Hells Bells!!!!!! PWEK! Mr. Hargrove is dead! PLEASE, please keep Dad safe, healthy & alive. I Beg you.
BYE!!!
Note: My grandparents' house was on the church property, which included St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, two schools, a parish hall, a greenhouse, a boiler room, and a convent. Everyone was pitching in when we arrived, and one of the nuns drove us to Zayres, a store similar to Target.
All the relatives wanted to see us. They all thought we had died in the Managua earthquake.
I did not want to go to school in the U.S., and the thought of not seeing my Dad until June was sad. I was so worried about him, especially with Mr. Hargrove's death. His son was in my class.
January 8, 1973 Mon.
Dear Smiley:
Today we would started school back in Nic. We won't be able to go back till June. Watched T.V. We really didn’t do anything. We are trying to decide what to do with our schooling. Father Paules came over to visit us.
BYE!!
Note: I was never excited to go back to school, but now I was wishing we could be back at A.N.S. Father Paules was the Senior Priest at St. Stephen's.
January 9, 1973 Tues.
Dear Smiley:
I got up late. Watched T.V. I got a letter from Simone!! She’s in Barranquilla. Did do much today too cold. It snowed quite abit. Rolled up Grandma’s yarn 2 balls. I don’t think I like Frisk the dog.
BYE!!!
Note: Excited to get a letter from Simone. I am not sure how she got my address unless my Dad forwarded the letter to me. Barranquilla, Colombia, is where we had previously lived.
I don’t think Frisk lasted long with Grandma as he was small and black; she couldn’t see him and he kept tripping her.
Sad entries for you, I'm sure. When my family moved to TN in 1976 , my dad came first to work and look for places to live. My mom , brother and I stayed in New York while our house was on the market - took around 6 months to sell. I loved that house - 2 floors, nice town where we rode bikes freely. I can empathize with your missing your dad so much. Our family didn't feel right, but I'm sure it was hardest on my mom. 🙁 God was with both our dads at those times. 🙂 Debbie M
I cannot imagine how difficult this time must have been for you and your family. I cannot imagine not seeing my dad for that period of time-let alone under those circumstances. Hope to see you soon at CSCET!
Funny how we have different names for their dog. I called him Fritz! On a more serious note, I remember the feeling of panic when it looked like we would be going to school in Cleveland.
Sounds like you had a good support group there at the Catholic campus.
I'm most curious as to where your Dad stayed... how many other PanAm people stayed behind to help him? Did he stay in your house, or maybe in a hotel at the airport? Did y'all's house get looted, or did you have a guard? I'm guessing after salvaging what he could from his office, he spent most of the time at the airport, coordinating flights. I imagine all the airlines were very busy transporting aid and supplies. I also imagine the work load for him under those conditions, must have been tiring, as he would not have been a young whippersnapper then.
If I could go back…
Ooooo, who was Tabby? What a wonderful name. ( Please tell me she was a person!)