July 20, 1972 Thurs.
Dear Flowers:
We went to the country club & spent it there till about 12:30. I met 2 American girls there. They seemed nice. I took a bath. Lights went out. The American girls are living in Tina Lugos (in front of my house). I spent the afternoon over there. Talked to Anja. Watched T.V. Read on “Those Endearing Young Charms.” Flowers please lead me the right way friend wise. Help me get the right kind & some at least too! Thanks Miss Dad! Dave sleeps with Mom.
BYE!
Note: The power went out often in Managua but it wasn’t a big deal as we were used to it.
I worried about not having friends now that Missy was gone. Making friends was tricky as people were often only in Managua for a short time, especially embassy personnel. We lived in Nicaragua eight years so we saw many people come and go. You made a great friend and suddenly they were gone. We didn’t have social media to stay in touch. It was hard saying goodbye and sometimes hard to open your heart to new people.
July 21, 1972 Fri.
Dear Diary:
I got up & ate breakfast. Becky rolled her hair & washed it & then went to Mary White’s party which ended up to be a swimming one. Bye pretty hair! I took a bath & washed my hair. Mom rolled it. Anja was supposed to come & we’d go downtown but she never came. I read all of the afternoon on “Summer of 42” I watched T.V. I sleeped with Mom.
BYE!!
Note: I spoke to my sister yesterday and she didn’t remember ever rolling her hair. She has beautiful curly hair. Mary White was the U.S. Embassador’s daughter. Their son Christopher was a few years ahead of me if I remember correctly. Becky probably never rolled her hair again!
I loved to read and still do. Summer of 42 is based is a semi autobiographical novel by Herman Raucher of his coming of age. It was later made into a movie.
I reverted back to calling it my diary instead of flowers. I just did it those two days. It takes 21 days to make a something a habit.
July 22, 1972 Sat.
Dear Diary:
Got up. Ate. Read newspapers. Got dressed. Read on “Those Endearing Young Charms” most of the afternoon. Talked to Simmon on the phone. Dad came back today. He’s skinnier. Dad brought us a Mad Book & a comic. Mrs. Grafft & Mrs. Brown came over to get Mrs.Graffts tennis racket etc. I read on “Summer of 42” & watched T.V. Mom & Dad went out to a party. I read on Mad.
BYE!!
Those Endearing Young Charms by Marion Chesney was a romance about an Earl who comes back after ten years of war to claim the hand of Mary. Her sister Emily, a big romantic, doesn’t want her sister to be in a loveless marriage. She drugs Mary, dons a heavy veil and tricks the Earl into marrying her thinking the marriage would be annulled. It wasn’t and she has to deal with a man who now hates her.
Susan, living abroad was fun, but you’re right about friends coming and going. Like you were in Nicaragua for 8 years, I was in Chile for 7 years and saw a lot of people come and go. I always felt it was fairly easy to make friends because we were all in the same boat. It was always sad when your best friends would leave, though.
Tracy S.
I love how your entries are details mixed with teenage thoughts - it's as if I can picture you going through your days and feel your mood at same time. Thanks for book synopsis also 😊
Back in '66 there was one librería in San José that carried Mad Magazine, & Mad pocket books. I started my collection there. Not surprisingly, the folks saw no humor in them.
Not surprisingly, I read Summer of 42 as well—-a bit racy compared to Marion Chesney, though the book you describe would likely be frowned on in many quarters today due to the drugging of the sister—-even if it was in a good cause!
Kh
Summer of 42 movie. Remember as a teen. Enjoy reading your diary! Mg