1969 - June

June 2nd

Don's hair is really getting long and it looks excellent, but his parents aren't exactly thrilled with it. In fact, Mr. Schlenger realizes that I don't want him to get it cut and he keeps making all these wisecracks. I hope that I don't make myself an enemy, even a good-natured one...Yesterday evening was "puddle-wonderful". As soon as it began to rain I got this tremendous urge to run outside barefoot in the grass. The drops felt cool and happy and made me laugh...Even watching TV (color!) was fun. Dogs..."Blimpos"...I love Donovan -- he's so precious! "The Sun is a Very Magic Fellow"...Don and I ran out in the rain to get sno-balls -- egg custard and spearmint, with marshmallow...The water at the pool felt delicious. Baby girl that almost waddled into the water; diving man with the red beard; curly-haired baby that grew up (so fast!). Everyone looked so pale in bright new swimsuits. Ah, for a tan!

I was unsure how it would be seeing Don so often after our 5-day separations. It's gonna work out great. This summer it won't be tragic if we don't see each other for a day or two because I've adjusted to it, but at the same time there's so much to do that every hour will be precious.

It turns me off when Mom makes any mention of Don's monetary situation or future plans. I guess that I just don't like her passing judgment on him, or even criticizing him sometimes. Maybe I'm just protective or sensitive about certain areas or subjects. As long as Don will be happy doing what he wants to do, that's the most important thing. Sure, I would like him to get his Masters and Ph.D. both for money reasons and possibly prestige, but I'm certainly willing to subsist on a relatively small amount during our first few years of marriage. We both want to travel and then again there's always the Peace Corps. No kids for at least 2 years.

Walking across the street to Linda's house this morning, I happened to glance at the Winn's house and I remembered that Danny is home. For some reason, knowing that made me feel content. Looking at him last nite, I tried to decide whether or not I'm still attracted to him physically. I think I am. I love the combination of an untucked blue shirt over jeans, anyway. I guess that he's still a link with the "old days"...I mentioned to Don that Mike is very "interesting" and he wanted to know how. As a matter of fact, I'm not really sure. He's funny, and kinda sexy with that moustache but he's not nearly as appealing as Don.

I don't think that Don likes me to call him Donald. That's what Sharon and Nancy called him. I only do it when I'm really exasperated with him, though.

"Creative art is intercourse, in which the artist renders emotional his audience." -- Stranger in a Strange Land

Potato chips make me happy.


June 3rd

time becomes so relative
it's scary
makes one very
perturbed of thoughts yet unsaid
and doings yet undone, hungers unfed.
it was planned for 2 1/2
but, at 2
the world turned to 3
i died at 4!

We have to live
Tuesday kind of Mondays
we have to
do
our cannots
love our isn'ts.
-- Danny Winn

This afternoon was another really comfortable one with Don. At times he can be such an angel, like he was with breakfast and lunch, and washing the dishes. I love to laugh with him. If only he weren't late so often!...It's so beautiful out back now. Everything looks so soft and velvety and clean. The grass is patterned with the shadows of the trees as the branches rustle in the wind. Dappled.

"Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall."
-- Beatles
   "Sgt. Pepper's"



Re-reading the letters I wrote to Don this past year -- actually quite good! I think that I can put a point across when I want to (yeah, I'm also a sneaky little diplomat). I enjoy writing in this book because I can be as lavish in praising myself as I want to. Three cheers for Sunny! Honestly, the beauty of this is that I'm only writing for me and I don't have to worry about explaining myself too clearly or impressing anyone. I just jot down my stream-of-consciousness. It's exciting.

The Beatles' album, "Magical Mystery Tour" is excellent...I must do a lot of reading this summer, particularly my "Psychology Todays". Have to develop my powers of concentration...Do chickens have noses? Can they sneeze?



SQUASH.

"The human brain is a wonderful thing. It starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public!"
-- The Worth-Palos Reporter, Ill.

God is a short way of spelling Good.
I believe in Good.

Orchestrated music can be so pretty -- Beatles' "Yellow Submarine". Rich, delicate, striking, clear, deep, resonant. Bubbly notes -- rhythmic thudding of hooves -- zylophone -- violin crescendo.




June 9th

Still a little sleepy. Such a busy weekend! Yesterday -- "motivated exhaustion". I never want more than 2 kids! I was a mite irritated at Don for his outspoken remarks about the Emmy Awards. For the most part I agreed with him, but it annoyed me that he wouldn't lower his voice around the kids. Funny thing -- I really enjoy playing cards with him, constantly! I guess that I'm just on a kick. 3 songs from "Hair" were on the Smothers Brothers Show. They gave me chills and the excitement was increased even more by having Don there. I can't wait to see it!



Saturday -- Mental Health meeting was something of a drag. Same material covered as last year. Felt sorry for the new kids though -- I remember how unsure and frightened we were. I also felt superior and rather confident. I want the kids to look up to me and ask me question. I wish that most of the Rosewood kids weren't living out there, though. In a sense, they'll be even more experienced than me, and will definitely be closer to each other. My leadership complex is showing...

Great Falls -- unbelievable. Once again, that tangible excitement and yet, peace. Two scenes particularly etched on my memory -- our picnic by the river...the serenity...moving water...slenderly twisted trees by the shore...slight breeze...warmth of the sun...Larry's guitar...Donovan...being totally carefree and not worrying what other people thought of us..."specialness' and belonging. Lying on the rocks -- watching the scores of fish trying to leap up the falls...the cool spray...the beautiful view...Larry's broad, muscled shoulders and chest, the play of my fingers on Don's stomach and leg...the total envelopment of a kiss. People watching us "scamper" across the rocks. The delicious chill of canned 7-Up and Coke. Larry's little Simca -- what a precious little car! Driving home, my slight sunburn and sense of satisfaction made me feel like we were returning from the beach.




Sandy came over before I left for Rick Claus' surprise party with the announcement that come next September, she may be engaged. It's so hard to believe -- Sandy married?? Somehow, Sandy symbolizes all of Forest Garbage childhood, for even though she's 20, she'll never seem more than 14. I always knew that the biggest blow, bigger even than graduation or college, would be when the first of my friends got married. I dunno whether she will get engaged so soon (this summer will tell), but still -- so strange.

The party was exactly what the doctor ordered after the preceding morning and afternoon. The barbeque was done to perfection and served beautifully with plenty to eat (including lots of deviled eggs!). We sat at small tables out in the backyard and when the sun set, Mrs. Claus turned on the small colored lanterns and two flame lamps. It was so soft and pretty. The most touching moment, for me, was when we all sat around in the lantern light singing "Today". Chris sat on the grass and played his guitar. I felt so close to everyone. It's one of the last times we'll all be together...

Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine,
I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine;
A million tomorrows shall all pass away,
'Ere I forget,
 All the joy that is mine, today.

Forgot to mention that Friday evening we went to see the movie, "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium". It was really cute. The scenery was fantastic and parts of it were "a laugh and a giggle". What seemed very familiar was when Shelley's father announced that she was going to Europe after catching her and her boyfriend on the couch in the den. Not that we've ever been caught or anything; it was just the expression on their faces! The weather on the way to the theatre was really weird. It smelled like a summer storm, with intermittent rain in large drops. But the wind was blowing the clouds around us so that dark storm clouds framed a scarlet sun and brightly-hued sky before they totally blackened it. So exciting.



On the last day of school I fulfilled my 3 year long ambition to drive around the circle with the decorated and honking cars at the end of the day. Made you really feel that you almost belonged to a superior race or something as the sophomores and juniors walked to their buses! I don't feel like I'm actually out yet, though. It simply hasn't sunk in. I can't believe that there will be no more classes with the gang, Mr. Brown, JCT, Simmons, Kelly. Usually by the time the end of school has rolled around, I feel that summer vacation has started, but now I feel like it's been somehow only cut short and that we'll be back again in the next few days. Done for good? Unbelievable! And I didn't even get to tell the library ladies how I faked them out... I'm feeling a little apprehensive about swimming at the Yearbook seniors' Progressive dinner party tomorrow -- how my hair will look, how pale I am, my toes, my fat thighs. I wonder how it will be with Barb and Judy. I wish Steve didn't live so close to Don.



The part about the library ladies had to do with the fact that for some reason they thought I was a member of the Honor Society and gave me the same privileges as those guys had.

"No man stands so straight as when he stoops to help a boy."
-- Advertisement for Big Brothers

The draft is white people sending black people to make war on yellow people to defend the land they stole from red people.
-- "Hair"


June 12th

So Don puched little brother in the mouth. Despite the resultant depression and ill feelings, I'm still might proud of him for doing it. First of all, it strengthened his "male image" in my eyes. Frankly, I never thought he had it in him. Secondly, he needed to explode 'cause hell, he's put up with an awful lot from Rick. I'm only sorry that his parents aren't better able to change their perspective on the situation. Don threatened to go live with Paul in an apartment that Paul's been considering, but, thank goodness, money and transportation problems make it impossible. Poor guy, though. Once you're 18 and have lived away at college, home life can seem pretty miserable.

Talkin' about "male image" -- my physical attraction meter ir running sky-high lately. I see a tough-lookin' guy and wow! All sorts of instant daydreams. These daydreams are a little more advanced and specific than the musings of yesteryear which never went much beyond a kiss. Now, I know. It still never ceases to amaze me that I can "chemically react" to so many other boys and still feel excited as well as content and happy with Don. That's true love, I guess. I do wonder sometimes what it would be ike to have some sort of sexual relationship with another guy. I dunno. We'll have to see what next year brings. Would I be able to respond or would I be too caught up in guilt feelings?

It's interesting how I've been writing in this book. It's true that I'm mainly writing for me, but then again thoughts flash across my mind like, "Would Don understand this?" "What if Mom ever knew this?" But the most frequent thought, and a freaky one at that, is that I have this nutty desire to have some strange boy read this next year at school. I don't mean a total stranger, but a guy whom I've struck up a friendship with in class or somewhere. Somebody who doesn't know the people or experiences that I've written about. Veddy interesting...

You know, it turns me off somehow when Jackie refers to boys and girls our age as "men" and "women". I certainly don't feel like a woman yet...I think it's exciting to turn to a fresh new page and watch my thoughts pour out so easily. They even race way ahead of my pen. Fascinating...

For the past few days, I've felt like my brain and emotions have gone on vacation. Not only have I become absent-minded, but I seem to be observing everything with a detached objectivity. I haven't been upset at a number of small crises which normally would really affect me. Especially curious is my lack of feeling, other than maybe a small measure of dread, towards my own graduation and even, in a sense, towards the prom. I feel a little angry and fearful that my cap doesn't fit, but other than that (and dread of the heat in the auditorium for graduation), blah. Even not seeing Don at least once a day doesn't make me miserable. Still, nights like last night are really great. Jose Feliciano is fantastic and he did a marvelous version of "Sunny". I still luv to hear that song when I'm with Don. I really like Spanish guitar. The New Christy Minstrels were quite good with a gorgeous lead singer, but they're a little too patriotic and all for me. (One of the worst fears of all is that sudden feeling that "something" just came at the wrong time and in the wrong place. Luckily for me it didn't. If it'll only wait one more day.)

I had a dream about camp last night. Now I really want to go back there again in a few years when I'll be married to Don. Perhaps this is because I remember my feelings of inadequacy my last year there, and having been slighted, and now I'd like to go back and show them what a lucky and successful girl I am...I still get this fear now and then that Don's gonna find this book. He places so much emphasis on our sharing everything together but I don't think that he fully realizes the importance of keeping certain things private, and mistakenly attributes it to a flaw in the relationship. I know that there's a lot that he keeps to himself, especially about me, but  in a way, I'd prefer not to know. It goes back to those same old sensitive feelings towards criticism. I think that I'm getting stronger in regard to this, but I'll have to see. Still, I know for sure that he would never understand some of the things I've said in here.

It took years for me to realize that this attitude of "I'd prefer not to know" was one of the most damaging ways I could ever set myself up. I said that I didn't like surprises and the Universe got me for that one.

I am a frustrated artist...

Really? Didn't remember this.

What was really great was the boysenberry tart that I had at the Pancake House last nite. The berries were nice and warm and gooey and there was so much whipped cream!

Recently Dad and Don have been misunderstanding a couple of things that I've said, mainly because of an unconscious inflection in my voice. I've gotta watch it. I didn't realize it until I answered Don with a very short, clipped "alright" that sounded as though I was angry and sulky. I didn't mean to sound like that and Don said that it was probably coming naturally now. That would really be bad.

"We know in part!" -- New Testament, I Corinthians 13


June 18th,

So much to write about! I think I'll start with this unbelievable dream I had last nite, before the images begin to fade. I dreamt that I was on some sort of a field trip that went to a department store in Towson. When we arrived we drifted into small groups and each group entered one of a series of elevators. Inside my particular elevator was a white switch like the ON-OFF ones you have in the house. The fantastic thing was, though, that when you pushed the switch upward, to ON, the elevator took you into the future, and when you pressed it down, you went into the past. I insisted on operating the switch in my elevator (just like I insist on tuning the color TV when several of us are watching) and for a while it was really fascinating.

Boy did I used to love being in control.  ;-)

I'd push it upwards a little and when the doors opened we would all step outside and look around. We'd still be in the store but you could tell the time was different because of the clothing people wore and the items for sale. Once we went so far into the future that all solid matter had dissolved into prisms of color and psychedelic patterns. And we went so far back in time that we could feel the blasting cold and darkness of the ice ages.

After a few hours of this we got tired and wanted to return to the present. But as there was no time gauge in the elevator, we had to use trial and error. Another problem was that everytime I flicked the switch to stop we would still "slide" a few months or years before coming to a halt. I began to get frustrated and frightened as we continually found ourselves in the 1950's and early 1970's instead of June 16, 1969 which was the date I wanted. Once we even got as close as June 9th but that still wasn't right.

I remember dashing out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened and running over to a small desk calendar on a nearby counter. Another time I bumped into Miss Schaeffer, my 8th grade Home Ec teacher. I knew that she had recently gotten married and as she was standing there with a man who had his arm around her, I hoped that maybe I was back where I was supposed to be. But she dispelled that illusion when she announced that she had just received her 4th degree in graduate school. I became so upset that I ran back into the elevator and pushed it forward.

When I pushed it back to stop I just ran out crying, not caring where I was. Sally ran after me and we sat down on a couch with me sobbing in her lap. We were in the future, around the year 1998 and a lot of the women were walking around in filmy, transparent white pants and tops with flowing scarves. Several of them were walking toy poodles with gold collars. I suddenly had this tremendous urge to take off all of my clothes, at least my blouse and bra. It was an exciting feeling and word "anonymity" kept flashing across my mind. It was as though I could strip everything off and no one would care because this was the future and no one knew me here anyway.

I saw Danny walking down one of the aisles. He looked the same because he was one of the kids on the field trip, but even though he didn't look any older, he appeared to be more mature somehow. He was wearing some sort of Edwardian suit with a ruffly shirt. I glanced back at the elevator and saw Mitch Miller and a friend standing there. I jumped up and ran over to them. By some magical means I was now dressed in white hip huggers and a blue sheer blouse which I was buttoning. Mitch touched my hand and I felt a warm glow. We stepped into the elevator and I remember feeling guilty that I had left Sally. Suddenly the scene changed and I was in another, different, elevator, with a dial instead of a switch and red velvet curtains. It looked like a dressing room, and a black-haired woman with glasses came forward and asked me something. I don't remember what it was, because then I woke up.

I haven't really sat down and analyzed this dream yet, but the connection of certain characters and incidents to real life are quite obvious. First of all, Miss Schaeffer was probably brought to mind when I read the Sudbrook yearbook the day before yesterday. I stared at her picture for awhile, surprised that she was still teaching there. The bit about taking off my clothes is connected to a dream that I had last nite. In that dream, which had something to do with babysitting for the Greenwald kids with another girl, we were both sunbathing "au natural" on an upstairs glassed-in sun deck. Actually it resembled more the carpeted hallway at the top of the steps.

Anyway, this part of both dreams is straight out of the book, The Exhibitionist. Maybe some subconscious part of me is an exhibitionist, or would like to be.

Wow; a therapist would have a field day with this. From my perspective today, this isn't about actually nudity, but about me realizing at some level that there was a part of me that wasn't being expressed.

The part part describing the dress of the women of 1998 is probably from the movie that Don and I saw last nite on TV, entitled "The King's Pirate". One of the characters was an Indian princess, dressed in traditional silks and scarves. Speaking of the movie, it was really cute. Corny and a bit fake in some parts, perhaps, but Doug McClure ("The Virginian") was still precious and the scene in Jill St. John's bedchamber was quite funny. I enjoy seeing this type of "love-adventure" picture [they used to call movies "motion pictures"] with Don.




June 19th

Last week's Progressive Dinner Party for senior Totem [yearbook] members -- a really fantastic day. The mood didn't really get established (meaning that we weren't interacting as one tight-knit group) until Judy's house, but we steadily worked up to it. The afternoon got rolling with a swim party over Steve's -- I didn't go in, but judging from Hamlin's purple, shivering frame, the water was positively icy. The sky threatened rain for most of the day but luckily it passed over. Don came by for awhile and I borrowed his trusty camera. I wanted to get a shot of the gang tossing ol' JCT in, but he came in a "no-nonsense" tie and school clothes.

Appetizers were served at Julia's house -- matzoh ball soup, tomato juice, potato chips and dip and stuffed celery -- but I was more fascinated with her ping pong table and particularly the player piano. Ping pong wasn't too satisfying, mainly because the room was too crowded and I kept blowing shots in front of Mr. Terry. The piano, though, was real cool and I kept grabbing selections out of the closet like There's No Business Like Show Business (remember 4th grade?) and Bill Bailey, and then turning up the piano as fast as it would go. Super cool.

My reference to 4th grade was about the time I hid in the class bathroom to avoid auditioning for Campfield's school show. I was dragged out and reluctantly won the part of singing songs from "Damn Yankees" with Fred Lubin. The show's finale was "There's No Business Like Show Business" and I LOVED it. So much for closeting my shy side.  ;-)

Kendall, Barb and I had to leave a little early for Tommy's in order to pick up the rolls on the way. Driving down Liberty Road, I heard Stevie Wonder's song, "Ma Cherie Amor" for the 1,000,000th time that day and suddenly it became "my song" for that party and for all the kids together at the end of the year. Whenever I hear it I'll always associate it with the "Spirit of '69".

And all these years later, whenever I do hear it, I still visualize coming down that last hill on Liberty Road before Woodmoor.  :-)

Tommy's mother served some marvelous salads, including a frozen fruit one with bananas that I absolutely adored. For lack of space, I sat on Chris' lap, which I'm sure the ol' vulture didn't mind. I just felt particularly exuberant and in want of male attention. Chris was wearing a Hopkins sweatshirt that Don had lent him earlier and he joked about the possible association. That ridiculous Harry S. Truman joke also got started over Tom's.

The next stop was Judy's, for the main course -- crab imperial. After eating, we borrowed a ball and 20 or so of us began puching it around. The "game" developed into a mass effort to get at least 69 consecutive "hits", counting "1" everytime a person pushed upwards on the ball. We made it to about 84 before we gave up and launched into a game of keep-away. Boys against the girls with JCT, Barry and Rick on the girls' team to sort of even things up.

It was almost completely dark by this time and the girls quickly turned the game into tackle keep-away. It was a high-pitched and exciting 15 minutes and one of the highlights was watching Tommy get snowed under by 6 girls. I grabbed Chris once, knocking us both to the ground and before I knew it, there were 6 million people pulling and tugging at us to get the ball away. I felt so close to everyone and once again, the feeling was almost tangible, particularly in the soft dusk as we counted, trying to reach the magical number 69.

I rode with Chris and Jack over to Nancy's where we had some really delicious cheese cake topped with cherries. We sat around in the living room and everything we said was positively hysterical. Barb and Steve were really a riot. I was sorry when we moved out back for some watermelon and the spell broke. Barry chased me around the house with his water pistol before I left with Steve. It took me about 6 years, but I think that I can appreciate Barry now. He still has a big mouth and can be quite obnoxious at times, but then again, who isn't at one time or another? He's a darn nice kid. I don't think that we could've reached this point any sooner than these last few months. We had a lot of growing up, changing and understanding to do.

"Ours is not to reason why; it's all been done by Krutch and Fry!" -- Winton Snyder, 6th period Honors English Class with Mr. Simmons


June 25th

Sunny's musings and poetry...

I = backwards or forwards the same; the "self" is inescapable -- pursuit

Innocence (of evil?)/Ignorance (of knowledge?) What are the differences? The connotations? Ignorance leads to fear.

Reality through Abstract -- Alice in Wonderland

Time sequence = organization
[hmmnn...where did THIS come from?]

Reality -- perceived through senses (whole)
Abstract -- interpretation of reality through emotions (parts); distortion?
**************
i

caught in the salty spray of white-topped green
looks blue from ashore

foam-flecked jowls of mad sea dogs
surface
dive to depths of murky black, wherein hides

self

darting shapes of yellow cream brownish orange
signal flashing lights!
gnashing teeth...

illusions are short-lived, aren't they?

I love clam and onion dip.

This past Saturday night I climbed through Don's bedroom window at 1:30AM. I know, I know -- I must have more guts than brains! But I felt the same thrill of adventure and daredevil that I did the time I rang Lucille Ball's doorbell in LA. I wonder how much courage I'd have in a real pinch...

Just a couple of things worth mentioning about the Senior Prom. Swimming over Barry's girlfriend's house was definitely the high point. He really has a find in that girl, Sue; she's sweet and a marvelous hostess. The water was sub-zero cold and even "body" Claus looked icy. But I was in the mood to go swimming, and swim I did for all of 5 minutes. Afterwards Don and I laid on a towel in the grass and I only wish we'd had more time. I felt positively "movie-starish", especially when Sue served steaming coffee. I went inside to change and was there only 10 minutes or so, but when I came out it was getting light already.

It was really cool to watch the shadows of trees become more distinct in the graying dawn, even as the gas flames faded. Driving back home to drop off our suits was equally neat. I love driving over winding country roads, and Liberty Road was completely deserted. Birds crowded and almost seemed to cover all of the side streets and I was afraid that we would flatten some. I became quite irritated at Joel and Rozzie, though, for keeping us waiting so long before we left for Columbia. That's one of my pet peeves -- lateness. If you say that you're going to be at a certain place at a certain time, then you should be there!

Columbia was interesting for two reasons. At one point we stopped by the lake near The Cove while the sun shone faintly through the drizzle. We couldn't find a rainbow but it was an unusual-looking sky just the same. Jackie, Mike and Don fell asleep on blankets in Symphony Woods but I felt like taking a walk and merging with nature. I saw quite a few picnic tables, squirrels and even a chipmunk and a muddy, clogged stream. Seriously though, it was nice and quiet. It's hard to believe that Columbia is a growing city. I was determined to find a 4-leaf clover but Don said that I'd never find one if I searched for it. Luck isn't something that you concentrate on discovering, its an unexpected and pleasant surprise...profound, yes?

Nope. That's something I feel quite differently about now. I believe that you participate in making your own luck.

I like to stretch out on my stomach across my bed with my feet pressed against the bureau when the stereo is on. You can feel the throb of the music through the wood.

"We live in multiple worlds, many of which are solitary and strange to all others." -- Henry Bellamann, Kings Row

1969 - May

May 28th

This entry definitely won't be an expression of creative genius. I'm writing super-slow to get used to this new FLAIR pen and I'm concentrating too hard on my choice of words for this to be entirely open, honest and unaffected. Call this an introduction, if you will. (I absolutely love this [turqoise-blue] color. My purpose in writing this Thought Book: I lack the discipline to keep up a daily diary and besides, with my calendar, I don't think that I need to. However, my feelings and beliefs are changing quickly these days and I feel that I can get a better understanding of myself and my motives by keeping track of them. I must admit that Mr. Terry's "thought package" first gave me the idea, especially after Don began his own. But it was Millie Rahn who finally convinced me.

So the possibility of working once again at Rosewood looms on the horizon. It's a job, with money, and in the field of mental health. I don't have to live out there, but I still dunno. Last summer was rewarding, but rough. Do I have the fortitude for another 7 weeks?...

This evening was fantastic. Linda was over, Karen came up and we had the most marvelous time reminiscing about Campfield, Sudbrook and the gang. Christ, would you believe -- 12 years gone?! It felt great to sit on the porch, picking the bushes and watch the years slip away (corn). Seriously, it makes you think. What will it be like, what will we be like when we come back a year from now? Like Karen says, at college you're a rubber band being pulled in different ways...When we come back will we be able to talk to one other? Childhood, youth, slipping through our fingers -- remember, remember, remember. We laugh when we look back, but we cry, too, trying to hold onto that slender thread. The ties are  being broken now -- high school, leaving friends -- the final big break for me will come with moving. Ah, the links will be broken and we must move ahead. The pain. Like the infiniteness of the universe, it's impossible to comprehend in its entirety. Take a little bit at a time. So much. It's whirling in my mind. Must go to sleep.

We'd be moving to the newly-built apartment complex, Stevenson Village, during the summer.


May 29th

Slight headache. Drowsiness. The wind is soft in the trees outside of homeroom. Hippies 3 just entered the building -- bouncy, intense, bored. SOUND is on (8:20). A song, "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" to commemorate Memorial Day tomorrow... LOVE.

SOUND was the morning HS radio news show produced by Mr. Terry and Co.

M&C [Modern & Contemporary History] -- my mood has changed (lighter, brighter). Jackie cheers me up as usual, J. L. still repulses me. Vietnam -- Mr. Kelly is talking but my mind is tired. Traffic drones in the background, relaxing. Oops - I just had a wave of faintness, probably because my stomach is empty. Mmmn -- chocolate eclair. Some boys look marvelously tough in cut-offs. I enjoy the discussions in here, but boy will it be a relief to get away from Barbara and her "fountains of knowledge". It's probably jealousy, altho I'm not actively jealous of Steve and Winton. With them I feel more admiration. Perhaps it's because I'm "closer" to Barbara (irony). Or the seating arrangement where the 3 of us are in a row of own own with attention frequently focused on us because of Barb and Judy.

But next year -- a fresh start. As they say, for better or worse, when you go to college you leave your old labels behind. Judy just sneezed and without thinking I said, "bless you". She ignored me of course, and now I feel hostile again and angry at myself for even saying such a silly little thing to her. BITCH.

I have absolutely no memory of why Judy and I weren't speaking. She was mad at Don and I for some reason and stayed so until the Yearbook signing at the end of the summer. Then she simply just started talking to us again; I think it was about our monkeys.

Revelation - the lady from Planned Parenthood speaks next Monday. I've been a part of the fuss that's been raised to get her here [as part of Forum], but now I realize that I'm not so all-fired anxcious to hear her. Are these my hidden inhibitions speaking? I'm interested, but perhaps the actual live display and exhibition of contraceptives poses a larger "embarrassing" threat than a film. I don't know.

Quote by Mr. Brown: "There's a limit to how much you can love someone besides yourself."

Al's report on racism and sex makes me think. He said that all white women subconsciously desire to be raped by a black man. I don't know about that. But I know that recently I've thought about the possibility of having a close Negro friend next year, especially a male, and that this wish may have sexual overtones. Not that I have any intentions of deliberately dating a guy because he's black, or of hopping into bed with him. I just feel super-liberal and even kind of excited after that black guy in the car with the smile and the peace sign [a new neighbor]. As far as he's concerned, I would also like to speak to him because he's just returned from Vietnam.

First, Jackie, then Karen, now Millie. I'm really learning the meaning of friendship; friendship based  not on common friends and activities, but on trust, understanding, identification and common beliefs.

7th Period -- Library. It's so damned hot and sticky. The air is so oppressive and heavy you can feel it. I was just working on Totem lists down in the Conference Room with Judy. Just the 2 of us. Stilted, almost wooden conversation, pertaining only to the book. I still feel very queer speaking to her, especially when we're alone. Very sad. My prediction remains the same -- no change in Judy's attitude towards me at least until next year. Goal -- to look at a black man and black woman and see them not as black, but as individual persons, regardless of color. Until I can totally erase my color consciousness, I can't honestly ever say that I'm completely unprejudiced.


when two lovers touch hands
they touch
their two hands
they touch their one hand
they touch
the space between.

when two lovers kiss lips
they kiss
their two lips
they kiss their one lip
they kiss the space between.

when two lovers hold each other
they hold
their two selves
they hold
their one self
they hold
the space between.

-- donovan






May 30th - Memorial Day

I really feel good this morning; the tension and irritability of last nite has disappeared. That was quite an evening -- I felt like climbing the walls to the point that I couldn't even sit still long enough to concentrate on writing. It's a pretty morning...the sky's perhaps not so blue as it was a few hours ago but the birds are still chirping like crazy. I'm really looking forward to this afternoon and cooking dinner for the boys with Jackie. I'd love to have beef stroganoff and something gooey for dessert. I only hope that my few meager dollars are enough for the groceries and my ticket to see "Monterey Pop" at Center Stage tonight. Schlenger's not exactly over-abundantly wealthy right now. The mercury's supposed to hit 95+ today. I hope that I don't wilt in the kitchen. The entire world seems to have gone to the ocean this weekend. I bet that icy spray feels might good.

"Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."     -- Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land

 I can't believe that after next week, Don and I will be able to be with each other every nite. After the endless week-long separations of this past year, it seems positively unreal!

I've just spent the last 20 minutes at the bathroom window, lusting. Ben Stombler is stretched out on his back lawn, sunbathing. What a bod!

Monterey Pop -- exciting camera angles, fantastic shots. Unbelievable. What will our children say when they see this film? Simon & Garfunkel photographed in red haze - beautiful...Mama's & Papas - classy...Janis Joplin is a soulful blues singer but I don't go for her shrieking...Jimi Hendrix has mellowed since 1967. True, he still makes love to his guitar but it's less explicit...Ravi Shakar - WOW. I felt especially good with Don this evening -- exhuberant, yet peaceful. Anticipation of some beautiful nites to come.



Jackie -- our relationship is growing more solid, less philosphical and out-of-touch with day-to-day life. As I know now to expect, the god has clay feet -- in the form of a certain irritating nervousness. But this is good and natural in a close, concrete and lasting friendship. I only hope that it doesn't prove to be "too" irritating. The dinner -- disappointing in its "unorganization" but a success otherwise. If I may say so myself, I'm damn good at seasoning steaks. I really like Mike and I especially enjoy when he makes a harmless, amusing reference to sex or a related subject. I like when he and Don laugh privately or are in some other way linked, simply because of their maleness. I love Don and life right now. Boy, do I.

We never knew that Jackie had Tourette's. They didn't know what it was back then. The "nervousness" that I wrote about was actually her experience of the tics that are part of the syndrome. I certainly would have had a different take on the situation had I understood what she was dealing with.

Interestingly, this is my first mention of "organization" in my diaries.  ;-)


May 31st

Helped Don move out of Jennings [his freshman JHU dorm] this afternoon. It was rather quiet there, almost depressing. I think that we were both experiencing nostalgia as we couldn't help remembering the wonderful hours we spent in his room. I even missed Sandy's [his roommate's] garbage and protest posters. The room looked so empty and desolate. I forgot to take a last look being that I'll never see it again. And the school year at Hopkins has ended...

Don and I half-convinced Mom and Dad that they should see Monterey Pop, and if they finish dinner in time they'll try and catch the 8:00 show. If it amazed me, I wonder what it'll do to them! I'm glad they're at least willing to try it only I hope that they won't feel too out of place because of their age. At any rate, I'm proud of 'em.

Forgot to mention the sweetness of the honeysuckles last nite. The scent was so beautiful and overpowering that you could almost become drunk with it. I remember tasting them years ago...I love egg salad and wind chimes. I also love lemon-lime flavoring...It bugs me when Mom calls black people, colored. I know that this is because of the way she was brought up and that even I used to do it, but it makes me feel uncomfortable after being in Mr. Brown's class [It was his wife I had for Geometry the previous year]...I never appreciated the talent of the "late, great" Otis Redding until last night. it's a shame he had to die...Damn those real estate brokers! I'm mad as hell about those people having to traipse through here all over again. Don says that Lochearn has been wonderfully successful in convincing people not to panic and sell. As a result, the neighborhood is becoming integrated without either block-busting or mass migration...Many thoughts are coming to me now, but I must go. Sue's boyfriend, Brent, is interesting. I have to decide why.

1968 - October

October 15th

I'm sitting in my chair, as usual, my legs curled up beneath me. I'm wearing brown high socks, a brown/gold/plaid skirt and a gold long-sleeved blouse. On the floor, near my bed, is a copy of a GWU newspaper, 2 pairs of loafers and my pink stuffed poodle. Thrown across my bedspread are my suede jacket, a belt and a slip. My desk is just a little less cluttered with my stack of books and the desklamp shining on my looseleaf which is open to my M&C notes. On my night-table with my clock, phone and lamp, is a guidance pass, a copy of Don's schedule and my address book. There you have it; an exciting run-down of Sunny's room at 9:55PM on Tuesday night, October 15, 1968.

1967 - September

September 7th

Hullo again. Ug - back in school already. I just can't believe how fast this summer went! Well, to begin with, the school's been invaded. Yeah, by 1000 stupid little sophomores. They've taken over! The bus stop was especially cute. I swear, maybe it's me, but every year the kids seem to get younger and younger. And I thought I was small? Bill's back - complete with goatee and moustache. He sure as hell doesn't like the 10th graders anymore than we do."We" happens to be me, Linda, Chucky  and friend, and Simon, the 5 juniors and Marcia, Danny, Karen, Leslie and the one or more seniors. When I think of last year and the seniors -- oh well, why think. It's too depressing.

I'm in 11K this year; homeroom is #100. My locker's on the first floor - great! Mrs. Dunn is our homeroom teacher and the kids are different this year. Ann and Harvey Parcover are in it now, plus some other changes. First period is gym. The halls are really cute - they're still only giving us only 4 minutes to change classes - even with 500 extra people, so I'll be walking across outside until it gets too cold. I have Poag- she doesn't look too bad, although I hear she's tuff. I guess I might have to just take showers this year. Barbara Levin is in my class, oh joy, coughing her head off. So is Jackie Garner and Joie Potter.

Next comes Chemistry and oh boy, I think I got a beaut. He's young, Jewish and taught at Pikesville but looks like he may be difficult. I sure hope not. Chemistry's gonna be hard enough without him complicating things. I'm worried. Barbara's in this class too. So's Fetter Rutley (bleached his hair) and others, including Apple. So far my classes have really been changed around this year. Everybody's all split up. *sob*

Next comes Spanish and a little hike from the first floor up to 310 - sound familiar? BUT NO MCGOVERN! That's one thing I thank heaven on bended knee for. We have some idgit called Tingaling or Senorita WingDing or something like that. Man, I oughta breeze through this class. This is the only time I'm with Linda. We even eat on different lunch shifts. She on B and I'm on C. It was in this class that she told me that I had Walters. I swear to God I almost had a heart attack - in fact I think I did. I had heard somewhere that she might be teaching Geometry this year and so when Linda told me that she saw her in our math room (we both are in 302, although during different periods) I almost died. I was almost ready to go down to the office right then and there and demand a transfer. But I decided to wait.

Next came Yearbook -- a totally confusing class with Mr. Terry - my candidate for the funny farm. This year ought to be interesting if nothing else. Mr. Terry talks in completely disjointed sentences and subjects - he's really funny, actually. Oh I don't know - he confuses me. We'll just have to wait and see. Funny thing is that I sort of have a double period with him, 'cause next is Honors English. Here is where I meet the brains - Bernie Newman, Chris Hamlin, James Glass, etc. Jackie has Yearbook and English with me. Ronni and Levin are in here too. Now if I though he was a little crazy in Yearbook...well anyway, by the time lunch rolled around I think I was ready for Shepherd-Pratt with him. Besides I was starving and still don't know what we're doing this year in English although I'm sure we're not playing going-to-school-games.

At least Judi W and the other kids eat on C lunch. Terri doesn't, though, and I really miss our old lunches. In fact, neither she nor Judi are in any of my classes. but little ol' Speedy's on C-- hasn't changed a bit. So is Terry -- precious as ever and Sharon. She got her hair cut. Oh, I've seen quite a few kids today although I don't know how with all the crush in the halls. Little Kurt's still around -- ya know, he grew! Randy is as sick-looking as he was at the end of last year. Charlie looks great but Ken looks dopey. In fact, he's one of the only few with long hair still and those clompy big boots.

I haven't seen Ross or Chuck. I've seen Doug but not Phil and oh yeah, Steve Johnson looks great, but unfortunately so does Sue McLaughlin. Ann looks real cute. She got her hair cut and is going with come boy from St. Joe's. She dated Terry this summer. Kelby doesn't look so hot. I saw just about all of Queer's Row. One thing I have to say about the sophomores is that they've got some adorable boys, expecially the blondes. At lunch there were 4 dropped trays; I think we broke a record.

History is next. I go there from lunch with Kathy Land. What a bore that class is. I'm in here with the brains, too. Very few girls - Brenda Bryant, Kendall and some others. You know the boys. I really like American History but Mr. O'Donnell has to be seen to be believed, or should I say heard. He's got a voice like Jackie Vernon and the most sickening sense of humor, if you want to call it that. He just drones on and on. I can tell I'll get a good afternoon nap.

And now on to Geometry where lo and behold - no Walters! Walters floats and the one I've got is a nice colored lady - Mrs. Brown. I'm in a real moron class. Fred Lubin is in here too, as well as Chemistry and Yearbook, and so is Euler's friend, that Bobby. I can tell (I hope) seriously, I'm pretty sure I'll do all right in this year. It's Chemistry I'm really worried about.

Guess what? You'll die when you hear this one -- Phil, yes Phil Edwards is going with Margie Moritz. I can remember when she asked me who he was! I almost fell over when Ann told me. Margie's going to Milford now. Ann went out with Doug this summer.

After dinner I finished GWTW again would you believe. I don't know what it is about that book that fascinates me so. I do know that I'm still wild, if not more so, about plantation life before the war, I wish I could've lived at that time.


September 10th

First day of Sunday School for Jeff. Hahaha. Didn't feel too great on account of my friend. Went over Marcuses and almost beat Richard in a game of ding dong. Drove Jeff over Plaines, then came home while Mom and Dad went over Calvin's. At 4 we went over the Hyman's for a real good barbeque. Uncle Julian took a family photo for our Israeli relatives. Good show on tonight - "High Chaparral".


September 13th

In various and sundry ways, school is beginning to pick up a little. History, Spanish and Geometry are as dull as ever but Yearbook is pretty excellent and I'm starting to notice more "people" around the school, if you know what I mean. I sat with Terri during a History movie today - long time no see! Chuck Smith was in there, and boy, has he gotten precious! I hear he's going with a cute sophomore. I don't know whether she goes to Woodlawn or not. As I said, I'm starting to notice some of the local life. I've only singled out a few so far but even after being in school a week, I haven't seen quite a few kids yet, namely Ross.

Anyhow, I've found an almost exact double of Neal (remember him? ha ha ha). Really, he's on C lunch and something to look at. Usually there's no one to walk to my next class with, but I don't mind walking alone cuz I can always watch the hustling crowd. Terri's found a great lookin' blond sophomore. the thing is, I sorta like him too. He's not exactly easy to ignore. Randy, I have to admit, is improving. His hair's getting longer and he doesn't have that ridiculous "fox with the pointed ears" look. Steve Johnson is gorgeous.  I saw Clem today, too - tough as ever. Please don't mind me going on and on like this; it's just that I want to give sort of a run-down. You know, pick up where we left off, fresh beginnings and all that.

We had a Chem lab today, double period. Oh, by the way, we had homeroom officer elections this morning. I ran for president against Steve Pollack and I'm pretty sure I won. I won't know definitely 'til tomorrow though. Get this -- Karl Petro actually talked to me, and Paul thanked me for a pencil he borrowed. Well, they say miracles do happen. Anyhow, ol' Wolfe says we have a test next Tuesday. Cute. I have to make up that stupid quiz by Monday. DAMN. Spanish is a real drag. I pity me next year. Oh well; I am learning something -- Buenos Dias!

Yearbook's good. I volunteered for Forum's Board of Governors, whatever the heck that is. Well, you know -- anything for those yearbook write-ups. Steve Purks is sweet, and cute. It's a shame about Mimi. Yeah. Say, you know, I almost got me in the beginning and end paper pictures for the '68 Totem. This year's theme is the history of Woodlawn, and they wanted a boy and girl to sit and watch the swans at that little lake near the cemetery where Woodlawn was supposedly founded. Me and Karen Levin volunteered and well, you know. Really, Mr. Terry didn't see my hand. It's just as well, though. she'll do it justice.

English -- we're still on the creation -- Milton's Paradise Lost  with God, the laser beam, and Lucifer frozen in ice down there in "oh hell" Hades. One of these years we'll get to Lord of the Flies.  Fred Lubin is a terrific writer. He's basically very shy, but expresses himself beautifully on paper. He's supposed to bring in some of his stuff for me to read tomorrow. Dad might take evening courses at Hopkins. I'm really excited; it'll be so great if he does.

And this is where 1967 ends in the diary. I wish that I had written a little more, to see exactly when the crushes stopped and the involvement with Don and the Totem crowd began. I believe that it was around Halloween.

Lists (December, 1967)

Favorites:
Colors - soft pastels, lemon, lime, sky-blue
Cars - MGs
Boys - Don Schlenger, Paul Bennett, Marty Lowy, Darryl Rehr, Lenny Pogach, Hank Gundloch, Rick Claus
TV Shows - Smothers Brothers, Bewitched, Second Hundred Years
Hobbies - bulletin board
Sports - soccer
Foods - popcorn, garlic pickles, chopped liver, grapefruit sections, baloney

Dislikes:
Food - tongue

1967 - July, August

July 6th

Place: Train, 20th Century Limited
Weather: Nice

Right now it is 11:05 Baltimore time/10:00 Chicago time. I'm exhausted...this has really been some day! This trip really looks like it's gonna be great. Our tour leaders, Joan and Jerry are a groovy couple (even though Jerry kinda reminds me of McGovern!). It is like becoming impossible to write on here with the train wiggling the book all around. Hey -- lights out in 5 minutes.

12:25 I can't get to sleep.
1:30 This whole thing is so awful it's funny. Absolutely no one can sleep.
2:20 I seem to be the only one up. I did sleep for about 35 minutes though. Everybody looks so funny in their sleep -- one kid, Phil or Bill, has his raincoat over his head. The stupid door to the ladies room won't stay shut and every few second starts clank-k-clanking.
3:10 Chicago time, and we're up again. Now we're passing through Cleveland, Ohio.
5:15 I've actually slept again! We're in Toledo now. 4 more hours to Chicago.

We took a bus from Baltimore to NY, and I'll never forget riding past Newark Airport and looking out my window to see a plane landing on the tarmac right next to the bus. Felt like we were flying!


July 7th

We arrived in Chicago at about 10AM after the weirdest night imaginable. All of us were dead tired. We took a bus from the station to our hotel, the Avenue. The girls from the other tours stayed at the Essex which was a little nicer. Talk about disorganization! I practically went crazy when I didn't see my luggage being loaded onto the bus. But it was there. The boys on the tour turned porter and had to carry our luggage upstairs...and the room weren't even ready!

So we took a walk around. Chicago is pretty clean by Baltimore standards and they have lots of parks, which I like. After the walk we took a lousy bus tour during which nearly everyone fell asleep. But at the end of the tour, we went to the Museum of Science and Industry which was fabulous. While walking around, I got separated from Jan and Sally, and these two boys from another tour started following me. It was kinda scary, but fun -- they weren't bad looking. We went back to the hotel and changed for dinner at Kungsholm's Smorgasbord. There was an elaborate puppet show afterwards -- really different. Called the family at 10 Chicago time.

Our tour was originally supposed to be 3 separate tours -- all girls, 14 - 16, and 16 - 18. At the last minute, apparently, the powers-that-be decided to put us all together, and so there were 69 kids and 6 chaperones!

July 7th (letter from Mom)

This sure is a "lonesome ol' town" when you're not around, because strange to say -- when you're not here, either is Jeffrey. He is always out with the boys, except for meals and you can't imagine how quiet this house is. It's driving me nuts! Seems like I'm never satisfied!

Anyway, when we came back from the bus station Thursday, Linda called to to speak to you -- yep, she had forgotten all about your going away (absent-minded Linda) that day. I questioned her about her trip and her new job, but she was as talkative as a cow and just as enthusiastic, so I told her you'd probably drop her a line and that was that.

We are anxiously looking forward to your first card or letter, to learn your reactions and what this country really looks like -- besides watching it on a black and white TV. Dad seem to feel he has a pretty good idea since he saw it 25 years ago, but things change, and remember that Jeff and I have never seen it.

Happy 16th birthday again, and from now on we're haunting the mailman!


July 8th

My birthday! I had a great sleep -- the beds were real soft. Wrote a long letter to family. Discovered a rip in my suitcase which Joan sewed up. Some of the girls and Sally gave me cards, and Jerry kissed me! We had breakfast at 10:30 and then went swimming at the Essex's pool. Jerry was leader in the craziest Simon Says game that I've ever seen. I almost won! He also showed us some neat card tricks and other stuff. I luv him. He and Joan make the most wonderful couple.

We went back and changed for a planned lunch at the Pickle Barrel Restaurant which never materialized because we couldn't all catch a bus. So we ate in some dinky place. I sat between Alex and Jim. Tom, of course, was near Sally. Jan likes Jim, I think, and I may like Alex. Who knows. What really got to me though, was that Sally and the rest had ordered a cake for me at the Pickle Barrel, so when we couldn't get there, Jerry rushed out and bought a cake from Sears! Everybody sang Happy Birthday and when the song ended, all the boys from the younger tour turned around and said, "Who's Sunny?"

We left at 4:45 for the 18 hour trip to Denver. Alex and me sat facing Sally and Tom. There were about 200 Boy Scouts on the train going to New Mexico. One real nice one showed me the observation car with a dome on top. After dinner a group of us went back to that car and played blackjack for a couple hours. Oh yeah, before that, Jerry got me into a game of blackjack in which he put me into a state of shock by announcing that we had been playing for a dollar a hand! I almost had a fit and then everybody started laughing. By the way, I only like Alex as a friend.

It looks like I've always been very gullible.  ;-)


July 8th (letter from Mom)

We were all so excited last nite when we heard you were going to call...Jeff couldn't get over the fact your were so far away and yet your voice sounded like you were across the street...I'm sitting in the car waiting for Jeffrey at Dr. Veiga's and writing makes the time go by so much faster...I got back all the information from the insurance company for your Learner's Permit for driving and I am sending it to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles next weekend...You know Balto is Dullsville in the summertime -- dull, dull, dull -- and this summer seems to be no exception...

I thought i'd get a little peace and quiet from that constant record playing, but Jeffrey has started up where you left off, and the miserable part of it is that his favorite record is "They're Coming to Take Me Away"! I think I would rather listen to Baby Baby Baby! all the time. [Aretha Franklin] How would you like to wake up every morning to the beautiful strains of The Crazy Farm over and over and over again? Whee! I wish camp would start.

From Jeff: P.S. your records are great
From Dad: P.P.S I keep looking at your itinerary every few hours to see what you are doing -- Boy, am I jealous. So -- keep the postcards coming so I can travel on cardboard.


July 9th

We arrived in Denver at 10 and are staying at the Cosmopolitan Hotel -- real nice. I'm rooming with Jan and Sally. We got to wash our hair and Sally nearly flooded the bathroom because she forgot to put the shower curtain inside the tub. In the afternoon we went to Elitchis Gardens -- an amusement park. I was idiotic enough to talk everybody into going on the roller coaster. And then I almost died I was so petrified on it. Never Never Never Again!

The weather was really hot but there was no humidity so it was OK. I couldn't eat the dinner at the steak house I was so full. I'm sick to death anyway of hamburgers, french fries and vanilla ice cream. After dinner, we played miniature golf. It was so funny. In our group of 4 was Alex, Sally, Jan and me. I came in 3rd. Neither Sally, Jan or me could get the ball through the loop thing. We didn't get to bed until 1AM 'cause we had a pillow fight.


July 10th

We got up at 6:30 for an all-day tour. First we went to the Air Force Academy and then to see some Van Briggle pottery. After lunch at the Holiday Inn, we took a bus to the summit of Pikes Peak. Our driver was a speed demon! The scenery was fantastic. It was kinda scary when we climbed up to 14,000 feet and it got colder. At one point we stopped and had a snowball fight! At the top the air was thin and we were sort of hazy. Jerry really felt sick.

When we came down we drove to the Garden of the Gods (rock formations) and then on to the Flying W Ranch. There, we discovered that we were 3 days late (because they didn't get the second itinerary), but we got in anyway. We walked around, saw some cowboys, horse being shod and I bought a funny wooden horse for Jeff. We paid 50 cents for a cruddy little train ride that went in a circle. When we got off, though, we told Jerry and Joan that the ride was great. Man, you should have seen their faces as they rode around in that circle with all those little kids. Jerry almost had kittens!

We had dinner in a big barn and we ate on tin plates. They had the neatest set-up and we all moved like greased lightning. You know, they fed over 1000 people in 25 minutes! Afterwards there was a show put on by the wranglers. Pretty darn good! I luv the song, "Tumblin' Tumbleweed".

Letter from Mom:

If you can just keep your sense of humor, you'll do fine -- and one thing you'll learn is that not everything in this world is what it is cracked up to be -- some things are much better and some things are a whole lot worse. I know that you know all this, but I have no one to get up on my little soap box for now that you're away, so you'll just have to excuse my little lectures now and then...I am down the store as I write this, and Papa just stopped in and I just read your letter to him. He loved it!...Helene still has an upset stomach from Mexico, so please, please be careful what you eat. On 2nd thought, don't eat -- just drink cokes and more cokes. That is all!

By the way, Terri Fisher came over to get back the record you borrowed from her (you know, "Baby Baby Baby" ad nauseum) and she was so excited when I told her that we had just spoken to you on the phone...Linda looks like she is going nuts from boredom, but who can tell with her!

You got the most beautiful birthday card from Jack Breskow (our insurance agent) with a magnificent picture of a collie on it. You'll love it! I put it on your desk. Also, enclosed is that sparkling postcard from Karen -- boy! She makes a terrific correspondent! (She sounds like the morning after the night before.)

Well, it's time to go home now. It's about 95 degrees outside and the humidity is unmentionable. In other words, it is good ol' Balto in the summertime, and everyone is steaming hot. Oh! How I hate to get in that hot car.


July 11th

Got up at 6 to catch the train to Salt Lake City. We got our own car and the ride would have been great if it hadn't been for 3 screaming babies. We met a real great guy named Hollis Pence. He was 16, good-looking with a great build. He climbs mountains, skiis and is really mature. It took us about 3 million years to get lunch. After dinner we had a sing-along in one of the observation cars. Eventually we got thrown out. The scenery along the Colorado River as we entered Utah was beautiful. Incredible reddish cliffs...

Things to remember: Mr. Trainman, Jan's chocolate milk, Penny S., Linda's zipper & Jerry's paper cups

Interesting how affected I was by the red rocks...


July 12th

Woke up in the  morning to find Sally gone, then went back to sleep only to get up later and discover Jan missing too. Seems they got up early to go shopping. We had breakfast at Duncan's Cafe and then went back to the Hotel Utah to get ready for the trip to the Great Salt Lake. Incidentally, the view from our hotel room is great, especially at night. The city is all lit up as well along with the huge Mormon temple across the street. We're on the 9th floor.

Anyway, we left on 2 buses, first for this open cut copper mine that's the largest in the world. After that we drove to the Great Salt Lake. What an experience! The water is filled with zillions of tiny, red brine shrimp and it's almost luke- warm near the shore. And that feeling of floating -- WOW! You can't touch bottom once you're in even a little over your head and it's so neat to lean back and see your feet float up. We sunbathed on the beach, did exercises with Jerry and built a pyramid. We ate dinner at the Pagoda Inn and got completely slap-happy. We were supposed to have a little party in the boys' suite, but it wasn't much so I washed my hair.

Remember: "Sorry garage"

I guess that I mentioned washing my hair so often on this trip because it was a production with the rollers and all. I can't remember, though, how I dried it; I can't imagine that I packed my big bonnet hair dryer!


July 13th

Had breakfast at Duncan's again. Oh yeah, forgot to say that yesterday Sally and me and Jan did a little shopping after breakfast. Salt Lake City is unbelievable as far as the layout goes. The streets are a hundred yards wide and as the city is nestled in a valley, you can see the mountains. It's really hot here, even in the morning. What got me though are the boys. All of them are precious -- blonde and blue-eyed -- just adorable. The 3 of us were really amazed. Today we took a bus tour of the historical sights, ate lunch at the hotel and hopped the train for San Francisco at 4:45. Had to switch trains.


Letter from Mom:

You have been doing a perfectly marvelous job of keeping us informed of your trip. Honestly, with your vivid descriptions of train rides, people, scenery, personalities, etc, Daddy, Jeffrey and I feel like we're actually taking the tour with you. Daddy, in particular, is so fascinated with your impressions of your trip, he has been reading your letters to everyone.


July 14th

What a night on the train -- ugh!-- for several reasons. Linda and I tried to get some shuteye in the bathroom but we didn't succeed too well. YAWN... BUT -- we're in Califonia!! I can't believe it -- across the country in one week! As we passed through Nevada into California, the scenery looked like it was snatched right out of a Bonanza set with the pines and lakes and even some snow on the ground. (We've met some other tours so far which seem to be pretty lousy -- word from the sponsor.) To go on, we took a bus to San Francisco from Oakland. I saw my first palm trees! And, as we rode to the hotel, my first hippies.



The Fielding Hotel is a crummy hole in the wall. Some of the jokes about that place are really funny. Practically as soon as we got there, the 3 of us ran out to Gump's -- a real expensive department store, and then to lunch at a real nice little cafe. Dinner was in Chinatown (we had gone there earlier, after lunch; I love those little shops -- "dirty" some of them -- and I bought a dragon at one.) The owner of the Chinatown restaurant had been in the movie, "The Ugly American" with Marlon Brando. We went to the Hungy i. Nice place, but Vaughn Meader was bad. He really bombed.

Vaughn Meader had achieved fame in the early 60's by doing an impression of JFK. After JFK's death, his act was no longer relevant.


July 15th

Went on a bus tour which included the Golden Gate bridge (it's really red), Twin Peaks (couldn't really see them because it was so foggy), Seal Rocks (where we got these neat little hotdogs wrapped in dough called pronto pups) and Fisherman's Wharf, where we had lunch at Fisherman's Grotto #9. I had half a broiled lobster -- great! After eating, we took a cable car back to the hotel. That had to be the wildest thing ever. Like when you're at the top of a hill and the bell starts clanging -- a Rice-a-Roni commercial! I washed my hair and rested when we got back. We ate at a deli for dinner and waved at all the guys and drunks that passed.

I remember being so disappointed that the Golden Gate bridge wasn't really golden. And the lobster was my first ever!


July 15th (Letter from Mom)

Tonight we're going out with Sam and Theresa Hankin for steamed crabs at Gordon's...You can't imagine all the rain we've been having since you left. The grass is as green as I can ever remember and we have to cut it every week -- it grows so fast...I haven't seen much of your friends except for Sue M (great friend?) who always seems to be walking up and down the street in her curlers and bare feet. I think she is firmly convinced that she is a little sex-pot. Linda seems to have disappeared from sight altogether, except for one night when I saw her sitting on the fender of her car watching the boys play ball.


July 16th

Went back to Fisherman's Wharf for a bay cruise. It was real windy on the top deck. Saw Alcatraz. Shopped around area for awhile -- bought cotton candy and Linda had a caricature drawn. Had lunch at the Spaghetti Factory, a real neat place with crazy and cluttered decorations. Bought a button and poster in a psychedelic shop nearby. Groovy atmosphere. At night we thought we were going to a normal discotheque, but it turned out to be a hippie dance at the Filmore Auditorium! [See letters in Trip Scrapbook] Unbelievable's the word -- gyrating, crazy, whirling shapes and forms were spotlighted on the walls, huge balloons floated around and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band was outasight.



This was the actual poster that I bought there!


Letter from Mom:

Jeffrey really seems to be getting used to staying by himself at night, so Daddy and I went out again last evening. It didn't seem to bother Jeffrey a bit. He told us that he watched a great show. Guess what it was -- "The Miss Universe Pageant"!

Please keep us informed how things are working out at your end. Why oh why did we have to have a train strike this summer??...You'll have to see how pretty the front of our house looks now. it's all painted. I got fresh flowers for the flower box out on the porch and we had all the flower beds cleaned and the bushes clipped.

Aunt Naoma is going to call me shortly to come over for a barbeque so I think I better finish this letter now. We are so anxious to hear your impressions of San Francisco and Hollywood and especially Disneyland and the picture studios. So keep the mail coming, honey, and give us all the low-down.



July 17th

Five hour bus ride from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. Switched buses and ate lunch in Merced. Yosemite is beautiful -- lots of pine trees, granite cliffs, waterfalls and lakes. We're staying at Camp Curry in tents (me and Jan). Went bike riding before dinner -- real nice 'cause most of the ride was on flat ground. Me and Jan stopped at Happy Isles -- a gushing stream where it's real cool and windy. Food is great here. Linda took a picture of a cute boy for me during the ranger talk. Oh yeah, we met two surfers -- the blonde was precious. Nancy dies for them. Watched fire falls over Glacier Point.

A few notes: There was a temporary train strike that went into effect during this stop which is why we took buses for awhile...I still have the photo that Linda took of the unknown boy. It's with my other pix of Yosemite in the scrapbook. No idea what his name was...They stopped the fire falls a few years after our visit. Seems that pushing fire over the cliff every night was deemed to be too dangerous.


July 18th

Got up early, ate breakfast and went bike riding with the gang for an hour. It was hot out. Sally and I set the pace. Came back, rested a while and then went horseback riding for 2 hours. Scenery is beautiful, but I wish the speed could've been a little faster. Went swimming afterwards and met Jan back at the tent. She had been mountain climbing for 3 hours with Jim and Bill. They climbed the face of Glacier Point and came within 1000 feet of the top! Jim says the view was great but it was hard climbing. Looked for bears after dinner and accidentally stumbled into the all-male quarters after dark! Reminds me of the first day of gym.

On the first day of gym at Woodlawn, some of the girls and I accidentally walked into the boys' locker room instead of the girls'.


July 19th

Woke up at 6:30 to eat breakfast and catch the bus to LA! It was a pretty long trip. Got real excited on the freeway when we started to notice Hollywood signs. The hotel is fair -- we don't have a TV but we do have a stereo system with one station. I have the cot this stop. Funniest thing -- the first thing we see when we pulled up to the hotel was Randy in the barbershop getting his hair cut. Boy did I laugh! As of now, the Strip looks kinda disappointing --- in fact, so does Hollywood as a whole. It doesn't look much different that other cities! Oh well, we'll see. Had dinner at Ben Frank's.

Letter from Mom:

As for the neighborhood -- Danny W. is growing sideburns down to his shoulders (I've never seen such long sideburns). Jeffrey and his friends play Monopoly morning, noon and night. It's like a "floating crap game" and it goes on and on and on, and the amazing thing is that they never seem to get tired of it. A real active group of kids if I ever saw one!


July 20th

DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable! The thing that impressed me the most, believe it or not, was the cleanliness of the place. It was also a little bit smaller than I had imagined. The only disappointing ride, though, was Storybook Land Canal Boats -- I hadn't realized that it was on a miniature scale. The best had to be It's a Small World and the Matterhorn bobsleds. Others were -- the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Carribean, Mark Twain's Steamboat, Submarine, Autopia (cars), GE and Telephone Companies buildings, Mad Hatter, Rocket Jets. Fireworks at 9PM over the castle were spectacular. The Mustangs (band at the dance) were real good. Went on bobsled at night -- much better than during the day. Saw a duplicate of Bob Random.


July 21st

Took a tour of 20th Century Fox Studios instead of Universal because Universal doesn't have tours anymore or something like that. DARN. Fox was lousy. I was really disappointed 'cause we didn't see any scenes being shot or even one single star! We walked through the sets of "Peyton Place" and saw where "Lost in Space" is filmed. I saw Richard Basehart's car and Julie Andrews' dressing room. After lunch we had a tour of the stars' homes in Beverly Hills -- Lucille Ball, Jimmy Durante, James Stewart, Agnes Moorehead, Raymond Massey, Natalie Wood, Dinah Shore, Jack Benny and more. At night we went to the Coconut Grove - marvelous! John Gary sang.


July 22nd

WHAT A DAY! Jan and me took ourselves to Beverly Hills looking for Lucy's house. I was determined to ring the doorbell and ask for Desi Jr. Where I get my nerve, I'll never know. Anyway -- we asked directions at Raymond Massey's estate (6 tennis courts, 2 pools!). As we walked down the block we thought we saw Lucy get out of a green Porsche with her husband. We were positive when we got close enough to see her red hair. We couldn't catch up before she went into her house. I did knock on the door though, and ask for Desi, but his step-dad, Gary Morton, said that he was on tour. I can't believe the gorgeous houses and the fantastic landscaping with the palm trees. Only thing that bothered me was the smog. On the way home it made my lungs hurt and eyes water.

At night we took separate cabs to the Hollywood Bowl. That place is really huge and the acoustics are great. But tonight there was a jazz concert playing and I don't really like jazz. We got real slap-happy; we're all becoming pyromaniacs. Anyway, Sally and me left at intermission to go back to the hotel. When Jan got back we had a big pillowfight and I locked them out on the balcony.



Letter from Me to Terri:

...On the tour bus, we passed Lucille ball's house and I suddenly got this crazy idea that I wanted to go ring the doorbell and ask for Desi! Well, you know me -- once I get an idea...

Letter from Mom:

Gosh! It certainly was a thrill hearing from you from LA last night. I was so excited I even had the operator laughing. She kept asking if I would accept the call, and I didn't pay any attention to her because I was too busy calling Daddy to go to the other phone. Finally, when I realized the operator was still asking if I would accept the call I said Yes Yes! and then you were on.

Grandma is spending the weekend over our house (oy vey) and as usual she is driving me wacky. Did you write her a letter about the nice check she sent you for confirmation and your birthday?

Where are you getting your energy?! You can't be that same lazy little miss who simply can't get up in the morning after a couple of hours of baby-sitting. The answer must be that you're not bored this summer, right?...From your letters, it seems that the boys on the trip aren't too exciting -- but when you run across anything (boys that is) really interesting, let us know about them. They seem sort of different than the ones you meet in Balto.

Well, Jeff's appt. is going to be over in a few minutes and then begins "the battle of the barbershop", so I better get started...


July 23rd

5 hour ride to San Diego and then the bullfights. Jerry was a real panic bargaining with the Mexicans at the ring. We all bought those things that you stick the bull with. The bullfight itself was pretty exciting. Some of the girls though, including Judy, cried when the bull was killed. That part was sort of sickening. Man, you've really gotta have a lot of nerve to get in there with those animals. One matador, the only American, got thrown to the ground and gored, but he's OK. After dinner in San Diego, we all got popcorn or cotton candy and played imaginary jump rope.

"Imaginary jump rope" -- boy we sure learned how to find fun that summer!


July 24th

Slept late, packed, washed hair. Skipped breakfast. Had lunch with Fern, Terri and Judy. Sunbathed on porch and read. At 3:30 we got the pictures back that were taken Saturday night. I only bought the big one. We took a bus to the train station and then shopped around Olivera Street for awhile. had a Mexican dinner of tacos, which were good, and hot tamales and enchiladas which were yuck. Bought Valley of the Dolls and started reading it on the train -- we have another overnight. Tom played his records nearly all night! I love to hear the Boston girls sing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".

First Mexican food.


July 25th

Arrived in Phoenix at 7:00 -- took 5 hour bus ride to the Grand Canyon. Heat is really fearful here -- goes up to 110! Even at 7 it was boiling. I saw my first cacti. We're staying in cabins; better than tents but still not so hot. Sally & Ellen, me & Jan, and Joan & Jerry share the same porch in a lodge-type arrangement. Cafeteria is really lousy. The boy who served the milk and iced tea invited us to a dance but I wasn't in the mood. The other kids looked in on it later but said it looked lousy. The Grand Canyon is just a little ways from the cabins -- magnificent! Saw dances of the Hopi Indians.

Letter from Mom:

I have decided that Dad and I are definitely not the outdoor type. We went to the Club Sunday and I ended up with a bee sting, chigger bites and poison ivy. As for your father, he flopped on the tennis court and came up with a scraped elbow and a very sore rear end. A couple of shmoes if you ever saw any...By the way, I saw that picture, "Two for the Road" and I loved it. I was just in the mood for something like that. Daddy didn't see it, but I'm not too sure he would've liked it.


July 26th

Had a 2 hour tour of the Grand Canyon -- different vantage points. Boy that thing's huge! Came back and boarded the bus for the ride back to Phoenix. The Hotel Adams is pretty lousy -- epsecially Jan's and my room. Got a letter from Dad. The kids wanted to go swimming as soon as we got there, so I had to lug my suitcase up by myself. Elevator wouldn't stop at our floor. Fun. Pool is terrific. Dinner was unbelievable; it took 2 hours to get served, and the food was lousy. We went crazy and got all worked up. I got so frustrated I started laughing! Before dinner, Jim and Alex threw Jan into the pool with all her clothes on. Uh -- she had her friend; it was a real riot. She didn't have it bad though. I laughed myself sick. After supper we went swimming again -- had chickenfights and the boys threw us up in the air in the pool. They even managed to drag Penny in with her clothes on too! It was a panic.


July 27th

Got up at 5:15 (good God) to catch the 7:30 train to El Paso. Man was it hot when we got up! Our room's air conditioning was broken and even at 5 in the morning you can swelter in Texas. By the way, nothing happened as far as the riots that were supposed to take place last night, but the curfew was still in effect until 6 AM. As the train pulled up in the El Paso station, we caught sight of the Hotel Cortez only a few blocks away -- I cracked up. Oh boy -- Fielding here we come! But it just so happened that Sally, Jan and I lucked out this time and got a suite! At dinner we got a free movie pass and saw "El Dorado".

Letter from Mom:

This has been a rather boring summer, but we shouldn't complain too much as Balto. has been rather fortunate so far -- no rioting and the City officials are really doing their best to keep it that way. I sure hope you won't run into any of it in the cities you visit -- but so far I believe things are beginning to ease up.

I never dreamed you would like LA (as they call it on the coast) as well as you did -- becuase I thought it was like any other American city except for Disneyland -- apparently those "kooky characters" appeal to you, but ye gads -- not to live with!

Jeffrey and the twins are leaving tomorrow morning for Camp Wonposet. "De Lawd be Praised". The feeling is mutual -- he is glad to go and I am delighted to send him off to the great outdoors. He is really growing this summer and I think by the time he gets back he'll be taller than both of us...The strange thing is when you went away, the whole neighborhood seemed to disintegrate. It's so quiet in the evenings Daddy can't get over it.


July 28th

MEXICO! I swear, we must've bought the place out. I got 4 pinatas and Jan got 5, if that gives you any indication of the total number that were bought. I also got 2 bracelets for Mom, and some real good, but inexpensive, pottery for Nana and Papa, and the folks. We also stopped at a glass-blowing factory and a paper mache factory. What a day! I felt really gritty when we got back. For dinner our group ate alone -- finally! Only we had to run through a real hard downpour and everybody got drenched; there are no sewers here. I called Mom and Dad.


July 29th

Had some Mexican stuff packed and shipped. Ate lunch at same place. Walked around for awhile afterwards looking for a book to read on the train. El Paso is kind of a dirty place in a way. Maybe it's just because all those Mexicans make me nervous. Got train at 6:00 for Houston. Before the bus came it poured buckets so we rushed around wrapping everything up so it wouldn't get wet. Figures the rain would stop when it came time to go out. Had a rotten night on the train. First time I bring pants and the air conditioner breaks! Slept in bathroom.

Letter from Mom:

Your timing is terrific! Friday night when you called, Daddy had just come home from work and we were both feeling a little lonesome, when lo and behold! the phone rang and all the excitement in the world came pouring in. Gosh! it was wonderful -- you sounded so pepped up -- Daddy and I agreed it was like a shot in the arm. We felt so good just listening to you. It changed our whole mood for the evening.

We just can't put our finger on it -- but somehow you're beginning to sound more grown-up -- like you've been around and have really had experiences instead of just reading about them. There is nothing like the good old "school of experience" to give one confidence and that is one of the greatest benefits of traveling.

I spoke to Aunt Marilyn this morning and she told me about poor Sally's frustrating experiences with her camera. I'm sure it wasn't funny to Sally, but it sounded funny when Aunt Marilyn was explaining  it. Oh well, you can always lend her your negatives and she can get the pictures from them. I supposed you've heard the saying "one picture is worth a thousand words" and when all your pictures are developed (besides being bankrupted) we will have gone on every mile of that trip with you. Considering how I love pictures and since I'm a lousy traveler, I won't mind us being bankrupted this time. Although I haven't paid for your summer clothes yet...

I told you that Linda had come over on Thursday night to see how you were getting along. Well, it seems I was so starved for some teenage talk, and she was so starved to talk to somebody about her latest love affair that we jabbered away for one solid hour...By the way of gossip, on the QT, we heard that Helene is back with Richard Klotzman and the poor Millers are in a state of misery again. When are they ever out of it?

The phone just rang again and it was Daddy and he said it was so quiet and dead down the sore that he wanted to know if I had any plans in mind. Considering there is a 60 to 70% chance of rain this afternoon, I can't think of a thing to do but settle down with a good book in a nice, cool air-conditioned room.

Well, I think I've run along with a bunch of useless information long enough now, but I do enjoy talking to you, even if it's only a monlogue on a piece of paper.


July 30th

"The stars at night, are clear and bright
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
Deep in the heart of Texas!"

Arrived at Shamrock Hilton, Houston, Texas at about 12:30. Houston is really a modern city. The hotel is terrific. The amost amazing part, though, is the pool. Largest outdoor pool in the world! In the afternoon we went to NASA Space Center, came back and had a good dinner at this restaurant across from the hotel, and then went swimming until 9:00. Alex went off the high dive. Joan dunked me once and I sawallowed a ton of water!


July 31st

What a day! I skipped breakfast and then went swimming and sunbathing. Water was great! Had lunch at the pool and supper in the hotel. At 7PM we got on the buses and headed for the Astrodome. That place is unbelievable! They have ticker tape signs along the wall and computerized cheers and commercials. The game was between the Mets and the Astros and we went crazy! We brought signs and screamed ourselves hoarse yelling, "Let's go, Mets!" We almost got thrown out of the stadium! One lady said that it was the first time that any large group had rooted for the other team in the Astrodome. When we got back, we had a welcoming committee of 3 Texan boys who had been at the game. Boy did they ever have thick accents! "Hi, y'all! Y'all from New Yawk?" One of them, Darryl, was adorable. He was 17 and some character -- and that drawl!


August 1st

Went to Pancake House for breakfast. Came back to hotel and took a picture of the pool, then caught train to New Orleans at 12. By the way, Kenny broke his wrist throwing Linda into the water and Ronni broke her finger when it got caught in a door on the train. We arrived at the station around 8:00 but had a long wait for the luggage to get on the bus. We're staying at the Sheraton-Charles. So is Irgang. I got a letter from Linda, and oh yeah -- we lucked out again and got another suite -- really huge! We had dinner at about 10. There's a real good radio station here.

Irgang was the name of another tour group; supposed to be fancier, as I recall.

Letter from Mom:

Daddy and I are taking a 2 day vacation -- back and forth from the Club Tuesday and Wednesday, playing some tennis (oy vey -- the temperature is in the 90's with humidity to match) and maybe dunking in the swimming pool. Tomorrow we're going to see Richard Chamberlain in "West Side Story".

I am waiting for Daddy to come home from the store now, and I think I hear his car, so I'd better close...


August 2nd

Breakfast, then a 2 hour tour of New Orleans. I especially liked what I saw of the French Quarter. We didn't really see much of the Mississippi but we each got a free piece of candy shaped like a cookie, called a praline. It's made of molasses, sugar and nuts -- real sweet and delicious. Came back and slept the entire afternoon. For dinner we went to Antoine's; best part was the whole loaf of French bread we each got. Afterwards we walked down Bourbon Street and heard a terrific little jazz band. I love the atmosphere. We went into several small shops that had precious stuff.

I remember how impossibly humid it was on that tour -- August in the deep south -- wow. I also remember how surprised I was at my positive reaction to the jazz band. What I didn't know at the time was that that little group of old black guys were part of history and how incredibly lucky I was to have witnessed it.


August 3rd

Got up early for breakfast and shopping in the French Quarter. Had delicious rice cakes and hominy grits. We walked around for several hours and I got a "sex thermometer" for Karen, a button, some scented soap balls and other assorted nothing. Sally and me also sent some boxes of pralines to the relatives. Now -- here it comes -- the delightful overnight trip to Jacksonville, Florida. Unbelievable as it may seem, the air conditioning was broken again and we spent almost the whole night singing in between the cars, trying to escape the cockroaches! What a mess.

For some reason I recall that we sang our way through the current catalogue of Monkee tunes, including "I Wanna Be Free".


August 4th

Traveled all day -- from the train we took a 7 hour bus ride from Jacksonville to Hollywood. Ick. We're staying at the Diplomat and it's beautiful!The lobby is so huge. I got 4 letters. I also called home. Well, here it is, the last stop, and I have the cot. Oh well. The kids went down for something to eat after we got to our room (our room connects with Margie's and Ronni's and Robin's) but I had to take a shower and wash my hair. When Jan and Sally came back, they said that they had met 3 obnoxious boys and that Terri had already found 2 good-looking ones!


August 5th

Got up at 9:30 and went sunbathing. Couldn't go in the water; that tropical sun is like real hot, and I was afraid I'd burn, so I went in in about an hour. I took a shower, changed bathing suits and went out again. I came in pretty soon though -- it got all cloudy. DAMN. A little later, Ellen and Linda and Nancy came in and we bought some things at the hotel drugstore and got something to eat. We walked around outside, looking for coconut heads, but there are no stores around here. So Nancy and I will take a bus into town Monday morning. We ate dinner in the Crystal Cafe at the Diplomat. Real nice place and fine food.

Afterwards we went down to the Teen Room where I met KEVIN. Precious isn't the word -- he's Irish, with long brown hair, blue eyes, a pug nose and dimples. We all made him an honorary Fug. At 12 we went to the nightclub show with Stiller and Meara (got autographs when we saw them in the hall) and an act called Hines, Hines & Dad -- they were great!  We went to the coffee shop, had lime rickys and got H H & Dad's autographs. [I still have Gregory Hines']. Went back up to 8th floor. Kevin was out there. Goofed around until 2:30 with everybody.


August 6th

Sunbathed mostly the whole day -- beautiful weather. Ocean's pretty lousy though -- no real waves. Went on these neat little one-person motorboats [jet skis]. They were terrif!!! I luved it. Kevin came down to the beach and got in my boat when I got out. I hated to leave -- it's the greatest feeling when you cut through the waves and the salty spray flies back in your face. At night we had a weiner roast and a splash party with the pool all to ourselves. Sally and Kevin both dived from the high board. Wayne and a couple of us were the last ones in the pool. Ate in the coffee shop again.

Even though there was another day of the tour, my entries stop here. It truly was the experience of a lifetime for a 16 year old. I wrote pages at the back of my diary for my favorite songs from that summer, the songs we performed at the final banquet and other things I didn't want to forget. I will always be grateful to my parents for sending me to camp and on this tour. All of these impressions will be with me forever.


Lists

Favorites:
Colors - pastels, yellow and black plaids, red and yellow plaids, hot pink and orange
Cars - foreign sports cars
Boys - Kevin Feeney, Wayne Norwood, Jim Epstein, Clem, Ross Burgess
TV Shows - Mission Impossible, Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Tarzan, Hogan's Heroes, Invaders, Our Place
Hobbies - ping pong, collecting
Actors - Sidney Poitier, Albert Finney, Lucille Ball
Foods - shrimp, broiled lobster, hot chocolate

Dislikes:
Music - jazz (unless it's authentic Dixieland)
Foods - Chinese, watery hot chocolate
Colors - dark ones, except with a suitable jumper