2.14.1 From Larry to Gordon 1955

1955 • San Jose ~ Occasionally Larry made the hour drive from San Jose up to San Francisco to take Dad to a show. They went to the Cinerama at the Orpheum Theatre on Market Street a couple of times. Dad was impressed, even though he was never much of a moviegoer. The year before, Larry took him to see the opera, A Midsummer’s Night Dream at the Curran Theater. My brother thought was great, but it wasn’t Dad’s cup of tea, he not being a fan of opera or Shakespeare.

Feb 14, 1955 • Miscellaneous entry from Larry’s diary (age 21)
Dad came down from San Francisco for a visit and took me and Cathy to the movie, Carmen Jones.

June 1955 • San Jose ~ Larry graduated from San Jose State College.

July 31, 1955 • San Jose ~ Our mother married Raymond D. Haynie in Carson City, Nevada.

Aug 1955 • Ohio ~ In August, my brother moved to Athens, Ohio to attend Ohio University as a graduate assistant, and in 1956 obtained his Master’s Degree in Counseling. He earned his room, board, tuition and all fees, plus was paid a total of $1,500 by the school during his enrollment. He went on to obtain his secondary teaching, school counseling, and administration credentials at Long Beach State in 1957.

When he moved to Ohio, no one knew him as Larry so he took the opportunity to formally use his given first name of Gordon. Until he married, the family still called him Larry, and for years after whenever we forgot, which was most of the time.

Mom was newly married to Ray, and we were now living at 183 George Street in San Jose, just down the block from our last house. Dad often gave me two-dollar bills which I saved, and Larry sent me this Silver Certificate in September from Ohio. The Act of August 4, 1888 is printed vertically on the left-hand side of the bill, and Lincoln and Grant are pictured at the bottom. It was the first piece of mail anyone had ever sent to just me.

Dad’s 50th birthday, Betty, Dad, Cathy

Sep 25, 1955 • San Francisco ~ Betty, Claudia, and I were with Dad to celebrate his 50th birthday, so he and Betty must have forgiven one another. We had a birthday cake in his flat on Clayton Street, his small white dinette table covered in a checkered blue and white oilcloth, Claudia commemorating the party by taking a picture of the cake along with Betty, Dad, and me sitting around the table.

Betty, Cathy, Claudia, 1955, Christmas

Dec 25, 1955 • San Francisco ~ Betty, Claudia, and I spent Christmas with Dad at his place. He had a small tree on a table in his living room, decorated with ornaments and tinsel, and tucked under it, he had wrapped presents for us. In the picture, it looks like I have a new Toni again, so I suppose Betty may have been the one to take over giving me a perm.

We made a lot of road trips back and forth between Dad and Mom for holidays and many a weekend, but as San Jose was only 50 miles below San Francisco, it was an easy bus trip or drive.

Note from my brother to me in 2017 ~ Catherine, because I was working and going to school full time I did not even know where my sisters were in 1953. Mom and Dad did not inform me of what was happening in the family. You, then Claudia, then Betty, eventually appeared like magic in San Jose to live with Mom in 1953 or 1954. When Mom remarried in 1955, I never met her new husband or visited them in their time in San Jose. However, you, Betty, Claudia and Mom did visit me a couple of times while I was at San Jose State College before I graduated in 1955. Dad also brought you all for visits during the times you stayed with him. Gordon

to be continued…

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