July 11, 1972 Tues.
Dear Diary:
Got up early & we all went swimming except Mom (she went for a walk before breakfast. After breakfast we layed out in the sun. I read on “Flying High”. We ate lunch. Dad & David went to Leon for ice. I read till I finished “Flying High” I made a salad for supper. Took a bath. Watched TV. Vicki is going to marry Fernando!! I’m getting darker.
BYE!!!
Note: Mom never learned to swim and the ocean scared her. She made sure we were all good swimmers getting us lessons at an early age. I don’t remember her ever getting in the ocean. She would wade in the shallow end of pools. She loved looking for shells, but I don’t remember finding many at Poneloya.
Vicki and Fernando were in the telenovela (soap opera) I watched. I love that these telenovelas lasted three to six months from start to finish.
Flying High was written by Elizabeth Rich and described the life of an airline stewardess.
July 12, 1972 Wed.
Dear Diary:
We got up ate and then walked the long way (the other way to the rocks. I’m sure getting exercise. I washed some clothes. Had cold cuts for lunch. David & I layed out in the sun for awhile. Read on “Never Call it Loving” by Dorothy Eden. Dad got a telephone call message that 1 of Mom’s nieces was hit by a car & is critically hurt & from New Orleans. So whoever it must be must be dead unfortuanotly or they wouldn’t have called. Went to Leon & to the supermarket. Watched TV. Read “Teen” mag.
BYE!!
Note: Terrible news about my cousin and not knowing any details was very frightening, especially to Mom. Mom’s sister in New Orleans had twelve children, nine boys and three girls. Unfortunately, growing up overseas, I didn’t get to know them well.
We found out later it was my cousin Patricia, 18, who died in a bad car wreck. I didn’t have the privilege of knowing her well. My only memory of her is that she was friendly and mentioned how her hair would turn green in swimming pools. I thought that she was so beautiful. Her younger brother Mike told me that she was a great big sister driving the younger siblings to see their grandfather. He lived by the city park where they fished together and rode a train. A terrible loss.
One of my goals is to get to know my many cousins and hear their stories.
July 13, 1972 Thurs.
Dear Flowers:
I changed your name. Ok Mom said “Dear Diary” is so common & this book is not going to be common. I couldn’t sleep last night I was up to around 2 in the morning till I finally took ½ a sleeping pill. I was worried about death and my poor cousin. We went for a walk (I caught up wiith them) & then I ate. It takes an 1 hr. To walk the long way. Trost havent showen up yet. Read on “Never Call it Loving” Stood on the beach watching the fascinating waves. Watched T.V. Leave tomorrow. I sure miss my bed.
BYE!!
Note: How funny changing my diary’s name to make it less common. How prophetic that so many years later I would be writing about it.
The death of my cousin really shook me up and made me think about death. I’m not sure my Dad gave me half a sleeping pill; it was probably just an aspirin. Thinking it was a sleeping pill helped me sleep. Watching and listening to the waves in the ocean has always had a calming effect on me. I believe remembering our departed loved ones honors their memories.
My sisters loved the telenovelas....they never missed "Corrin Tellado", good grief, I still remember the name.
I just love reading your blog/diary entries - it is like traveling back in time and experiencing a part of the world I have never visited.
I am going to have to find me a copy of Flying High!! I am sure I will get a kick out of that read. ✈️
So sad that ;your cousin died so young. She was a pretty girl. I love the mission you're on to get to know your relatives and their stories. You gave your diary a lovely name. What a wise woman your mother was!
Carol
I loved Dorothy Eden too, and after rereading several just a few years ago, found that they were actually even better than I remembered. The historical ones are filled with much genuine history and some of the ones set in the 60’s are a fascinating look at a time filled with change. Dorothy was ( like you!) a bit ahead of her time.
Kh
Very sad about your cousin. The book you were reading about flight attendants (stewardesses back in the day) reminded me that I read Coffee, Tea or Me when I was a teen. I think nowadays the job is not considered as glamorous as it once was.
Tracy S