My diary -March 20-22, 1973
March 20, 1973 Tues.
Dear Smiley:
Did we ever have a cute guy traveling behind us!!! Wowie!!! We had our bake sale. We made $215.00. I brought cookies. I worked in the fresco stand today. Hard Spanish test. Think I flunked it. Watched T.V. Went to Simones to return a book (2). Had tacos for supper. Mom & Dad at a party. Went out tonight. Talked with Blanca & rest by my house. Then going over to next block. Alvaro drove me in his car!!! We went to this kids house & saw some movies (cartoons & Disneyworld). Afterward we sat on a car & talked & Wow!!!
BYE!!!
Note: Can we say, boy crazy!
When we lived in Managua, one U.S. dollar was worth C$7 cordobas. We made a little over $30.00 U.S., which was a lot for us. I don’t remember what we were raising money for, but I am sure I thought it was a worthy cause since I baked cookies.
It was fun getting to know and hanging out with our local neighborhood teens.
March 21, 1973 Wed.
Dear Smiley:
Studied for History & P.E. History open book test was 10 pages!!! No one finished so he gave us 5 min in recess. P.E. went smoothly. Watched T.V. Nothing to much new. I went outside & had fun. Talked with Alvaro & Blanca & Olga a wee bit & then went to movies at that kids house. Jorge sat behind me & bothered alot. Got 2 letters from Missy.
BYE!!!
Note: I don’t remember who the “kid” was, but at that time, we watched movies using a reel-to-reel film projector. This was before the time of VHS cassettes and DVDs. He charged admission. Quite the entrepreneur.
March 22, 1973 Thurs.
Dear Smiley:
Some day. Stepped in gum twice. Got in a fight with Nancy in History. Simone insulted me so I blew my fuse. I think the only way to handle her is to scream. I had no homework today. Mrs.Tablada didn’t come so free period. Ricky Shoemburg is back but in 11th grade. Watched T.V. Went outside but nothing exciting. Abit boring.
BYE!!!
Note: Bad and good things seem to come to me in threes. I stepped in gum, got into a verbal fight with Nancy, and was already peeved, so I lost my temper with Simone and her insults.
March 20, 1973 Tues. (David’s Diary)
Dear Snoop,
Today was pretty good. In school I had more or less fun. We played BB, and no one would take the ball to Mr. Johnson. I, after they left it by the barbed wire, got it. It was no one’s fault. Joey left and put the ball in charge of us. He borrowed it.
I beat dad in Chess. He surrendered. Later, we went outside at night and talked. Sue, Beck, Blanca, Tairo, Alvaro and me. Later we saw a dumb movie at some kids house. I owe him 1.5 co. Sue is getting to know the girls.
In science we had to do?? and boys section C in workbook. My work came out sloppy. Beck’s class dissected a garobo. It woke up during the operation. Later, they drowned it. If I knew how I have liked to sew it up.
I got 2 100’s in geography.
Note: I think I meant Joey put us in charge of the ball, not the other way around! In any case it looks like Mr. Johnson (our PE teacher) was not happy.
A garobo is a black spiny-tailed iguana. I’m glad that I got through school without ever having to dissect an animal, especially one that woke up during the procedure. I'm surprised that I showed interest in sewing one up. The thought makes me gag!
Sue here, I remember dissecting an iguana in Mrs. Tablada's class. It was still alive, and we saw its heart beating. It made me sick. She also brought in a cow's lung and heart for us to study and touch.
March 21, 1973 Wed (David’s Diary)
Dear Snoopy, today was pretty fun. School was alright. I have a test in English tomorrow and I haven’t studied yet. I’m getting along well with Patricia. Steve likes Leesa. He wants to go steady. This morning Doris said. Yeah you know, Dave’s kind of handsome. Then Leesa said, you’ve been here two years and you haven’t noticed yet. Outside we talked and went to the movies-again they fouled up. The film would stick and burn.
That Alfredo, he doesn’t trust me at all. That kid’s mixed up. His mom says, give everybody their money back and he goes, but they spent their change. This one kid bought a whistle when the film broke-shriek.
Good night.
-lights went out about a minute ago. They are on now.
Note: Interesting gossip. Nice to hear positive things. Regarding the movie, I’m not sure how this was being set up. Perhaps Sue will provide some clarity!
😊 Interesting you both talk about "the kid" ! I'm glad to know not all PE classes were stressful for you, Susan! No iguana dissecting for me - we did frogs and when a cat was brought out, I had to look away and got emotional. I did not like that part of Biology. Debbie M
I want to know what that WOW was all about. Always love your stories.
Oh my Susan I almost feel guilty reading your diary but I do so enjoy it !!!
Holy Cow. A reel-to-reel projector? Kiddo your (correction: OUR) age is showing. I just remember how seemingly skilled you had to be to properly thread the film through the various idlers and pickups. Malfunctions were frequent.
The schools I went to were fairly small and didn't have the resources for lab equipment and scientific experiments, so I lucked out on the dissection experience. In Bogotá (a city of 2.5 million, even back then) the vast majority of Gringoes went to "The American School", whatever it was called, but the folks heard it was "drug ridden" and instead put us into a small British school, which I'm quite confident was just as "drug ridden" .....The "drugs" in question being the rather…
Heh! Doris Nanton...I can still remember going to my first "teen" party...I believe it was at Mike Murphy's house, and Doris calling me "wall paper" instead of wall flower. I can still here "American Pie" playing in the background and it remains one of my favorite songs that take me back to those years in Nica. Though I was comfortable with all the "gang", I was shy in boy/girl situations. I'm still definitely an introvert.