My diary - June 5-7, 1972

A Pan Am travel bag for our trip to the U.S.A.

June 5, 1972 Mon.

Dear Diary:

My birthday, I’m 15!!! I had to get up at 4:30. I wore my contacts. We flew by PanAm to Miami. We stopped in Guatemala & Salvador. Dad had a cake put on in Guatemala. Lynn was on airplane also Kerry Murphy. Missy met us in Miami. She’s having problem with her dog. We flew to Cleveland on United. Mary, Aunt Helen, Mary Beth, Jimmy, Kay, Little Larry & Danny. I went with Kay & Aunt Liz to Grandpas house. They gave me a small cake too. 3 cakes! Wow! Aunt Helen gave me 5.00 & a white peasant blouse, Mary, 2 pairs of earrings, & Grandma an afgan beautiful

BYE!!

Note: How lucky was I to get three cakes! What a wonderful surprise for Dad to have a cake given to me in Guatemala. I hope I shared it with those around me!

One of my classmates, Lynn Duncan, was on the flight as well as Kerry Murphy who was several grades ahead. We did meet up with Missy at the airport which was wonderful. 

We had quite the greeting team in Cleveland consisting of aunts and cousins. I don’t remember if they all came to the airport or if we met them at my Aunt Helen’s house, which was close to the airport. I still have the afghan my Grandmother made me.

My birthday gift from Grandma

June 6,1972 Tues.

Dear Diary:

Got up around 9:00 or 8:30. We kids sleep in 1 room. Mom in the back room. I shared a big bed with Becky. I watched T.V. all the morning. For breakfast I had 3 hot dogs. Lunch a goose-liver sandwich with pickles. Watched T.V. all day except for a little bit in the afternoon cause we went to the supermarket (Fazios) Father Botzman came over & we saw his slides.

BYE!!!

Note: We slept in the parrot room with Pepe, a gift to my Grandparents from when we lived in Colombia. We covered his cage with a towel so we could sleep late. David slept on a fold up cot. Becky and I got the double bed.

I can’t believe I ate three hot dogs for breakfast. I couldn’t do that now but it was fun to eat foods we didn’t get in Nicaragua. Pickles were a loved novelty to me. My Grandmother made us “goose liver” sandwiches with lots of mustard and pickles. The official name is pâté.

My Grandfather was in charge of the building and grounds of St.Stephen’s Catholic Church. Father Botzman was the priest there and had visited us in Nicaragua. He showed us his slides from the visit.

June 7, 1972 Wed.

Dear Diary:

Got up at 10:00. We went shopping to Halles, Sears & Topps & Woolworths. David got some clothes in Halles. Boy in Sears Becky  & I sure made out I got 3 pairs of grovy pants. 2 out of suedish material, one blue with red pockets. I thing, 1 blue jeans with smiley on it, another with with 2 shades of brown. I got 1 blue knit long sleeve blouse & a purple & yellow skirt. David gave me my birthday present blush Hurrah!!! We ate at the Metz’es. Mary took me riding on her bike around the block.

BYE!!

Note: Halles which was a major department store similar to Belk or Macys. Topps was like Kmart. Doña Mercedes our seamstress in Managua had a difficult time making us pants. These were some of the items we always bought.  Mom had to estimate how much we would grow in a year which was no easy feat. Mary was Aunt Helen’s daughter who was like my big, cool  sister. She was always one of the highlights of our visits and still is one of my favorites!

My cousin Mary Metz Yambor

My Aunt Helen Metz