My diary - June 29-31, 1972

St. Stephen's Catholic Church

St.Stephen's Catholic Church

June 29, 1972 Thurs.

Dear Diary:

Todays Grandma & Grandpa anniversary 51 years. I gave them 2 glasses (1 Archie Bunker, the other Ethel) Grandma cried so I imagine how she will cry when we leave Mon. Aunt Helen took us out to lunch. To Millers. I had fish. I drove with Aunt Helen & Mary. We dropped Mary Beth off. Mary, Becky, David & I walked around the block. We watched T.V. Aunt Betty called Grandma & Grandpa.

BYE!

Note: Leaving was always so hard on all of us. We knew we wouldn’t be back for at least a year and I always worried that they wouldn’t be around next year. It was hard.  We kept in touch by letters and occasional ham radio calls but it wasn’t the same as being with them.

St. Stephen's Catholic Church is the church my Grandfather worked for and his house was part of the church's property. This is where my parents were married and I baptized. It was quite the controversy in the late 1950's. Mom wanted to be married in this church and was told only if my Dad converted to Catholicism. Dad refused so after much negotiation the higher ups in the church agreed to marry them with the promise that any offsprings would be raised Catholic. They also couldn't be married in the main sanctuary. Dad kept his promise and always found us a church wherever we were. He would drop us off and come get us.

Mom and Dad respected each others faith. When we were younger Dad would take us to the synagogue on Saturdays; Mom took us to Mass on Sundays.

Inside of St. Stephen's Church photo by Eric Good

June 30, 1972 Fri.

Dear Diary: 

I got up at 10:00. Mary was supposed to come to pick me up at noon but she came at 1. Mom & the rest went to Zayres & the Supermarket. I talked with Grandpa & walked him half-way to work. Mary & I went to almost every store imaginable. I bought Becky a pair of earrings for Xmas & me a pair too. Mom’s & Dad's anniver. present a never a Sunday Bar equipment & myself some books. We went for a walk, went in elementary school. Dad came today! He grew a moustache.

BYE!!

Note: I am not sure about the gift I got my parents but I think it was a plaque for their home bar.

Dad came up with extra suitcases and to help us fly back to Managua. It was always a treat to have him with us. My Grandma wasn’t always thrilled as she and my Dad didn’t always see eye to eye. I think she didn’t like that we lived so far away and blamed my Dad. It also could have been the religion factor - they were Catholic, he was Jewish. However, she never spoke bad about him in front of us.

July 1, 1972 Sat.

Dear Diary:

I got up at around 9:30. We all got caught in our P.J. by Father Botzman & later Father Paules. We were going to go to Higbees with Dad but Jim called to take us boat riding. Mary came too (Both Mary’s). David had fun trying to ski. He got up on the water once successfully. I just rode in the boat. Mary’s having a party tonight. I was invited but I didn't go. Mom  & Dad went out with Aunt Helen & Uncle Norm. Grandmas mad. We had turkey for supper. Went to church. Watched T.V.

BYE!!

Note: Father Botzman and Father Paules always liked to visit with my Dad. Father Botzman came down to Nicaragua for a week one year.

Jim was Mary’s older brother. He was married to Mary Beth and they had a toddler son Jimmy.

Not sure why Grandma was mad. Maybe because our parents went out to dinner without her?

Grandpa and Mom on steps

Uncle Norm, Mary and Jim on steps