My diary - November 20-22, 1972
- Susan Fisch Good
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
November 20, 1972 Mon.
Dear Flowers:
No school for me & Dave. Honor Roll day! Went to the C.C. & Steve, Dave & I played tennis galore! Oscars back! YULK!! Mom bowled. Ate lunch their. Went to school for Drama. Talked to Simmone. Went with Mom to Murphys (Colinas) & Hingst. Watched T.V. Arturo bought our turkey. Mom at meeting. Dave taught me a few new song on piano. Its Mrs. Graffts birthday. Read on Up the Down Stair Case.
BYE!!!
Note: I finally got my honor roll reward, a day off. Yay! Good to have goals and to celebrate when you achieve them.
Oscar was one of my tennis teachers, and my gut feeling was speaking to me, but I didn’t know how to interpret it then - I just knew I didn’t like him.
We were so lucky that Dad always arranged for us to have a Butterball turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was a lot of work for Mom as she had to prepare and cook the feast.
I bet Arturo got a funny story to tell out of bringing us the turkey from Miami. Arturo Moliere was a cool guy, and lots of females had crushes on him. Arturo was like a protective older brother; he took me on my first motorcycle ride, which was both fun and scary. My parents kept up with him throughout the years, and he told me he considered my Dad like his Papi, too.
November 21, 1972 Tues.
Dear Flowers:
School. I got a 95 on Spanish test. Subst. In math is something else. Julio is mad at me I think. Had tennis lesson (rained most of it). Had Oscar = Pwek. He’s nice & everything pero no se. Watched T.V. Did English. Please make Dad come home safely tomorrow & that I can wear my contacts with no problems to the coronation. We got a Guatemalan boy. 17 yrs & nice Edgar Castillo.
BYE!!!
Note: The coronation was similar to Homecoming Court in the U.S., with a big dance after the Queen and King are selected.
I was worried I wouldn’t be able to wear my contacts, as I felt more confident wearing them versus my clunky glasses.
Pwek- is how I spelled puke.
Pero no se - but I don't know.
November 22, 1972, Wednesday
Dear Flowers:
Math test. Saw a crudy film in Science!!! Playing soft ball in P.E. Michelle came home with me to work on English theme. Simone came over. Edgar just came home for 5 min & left! I went to the coronation. A number of people said I looked pretty. I was furious no one asked me to dance except for Steve & Dave. Danced 2 dance (both with Steve). Right after this song & then intermission. I was sitting in front of table. All of sudden I hear Hola Susan! Alfredo Motealegre & I go que tal & he Kissed me!
BYE!
Note: I still cringe remembering how awful it felt to sit like a wallflower with no one asking you to dance. It felt like everyone noticed me sitting there alone, and I was mortified. Nowadays, hopefully, I would shrug and ask someone to dance, rather than waiting to be asked. Age has its advantages.
It did end with a pleasant surprise!
(Que tal means How are you?)
It's outstanding with you writing about those very difficult times. I love reading them. Makes me think about my high school years. I felt very different being raised in a foreign country. I did not know how to live the American life!!!
Susie, your intent to "continue your writing adventure" in your latest email, is very encouraging.
To me, "children's literature" is much about teaching morality and even history, in a simple and entertaining way; it should be a bridge for dialogue between adult and child.
Amongst my shelf dedicated to "kiddie books", a few tattered treasures from my earliest youth:
"A Child's Garden of Verses", by Robert Louis Stevenson, orig. pub. 1885.
"The Child's World", many authors, Wilma McFarland, Editor, pub. 1948, set of 6 vol.
I practically learned to read from the 1st volume, and is amongst my earliest childhood memories.
"Childcraft", many authors, pub. by Field Enterprises, 16 volume set, pub. 1956. This was a very popular series, and…
You sure were active for a well deserved day off from school! Gotta love those bell-bottoms in the Coronation picture! I too was often a wallflower at the few dances I attended in High School. Going to Guatemala as an exchange student gave me confidence to dance and enjoy the music. Often get togethers with friends of my host family would involve dancing and I was included 😊 Made me feel like I was cool !
Well, Susan, you’ve been the queen of lots of things in the time I’ve known you; but you are utterly the undisputed Queen of Phonetic Spelling!
Hmmm Susie,I do remember Arturo Moliere - but can't remember was he a brother of Lillian Moliere? She was our ballet teacher - did you take ballet from her? Yes, he was handsome and for some reason I associate him with Juan Parodi - both popular bachelors!
Nice to get the kiss from Alfredo - the Latino guys were so suave! As I was an awkward young lady, they really helped me feel more a part tby not paying any attention to my shyness...
Glad you went to the conference - had intended to see if Mandy was going - was it the one in Nashville? Glad you are going to keep up the Blog👍 Tootsie