1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) Nov 1 thru 10 (note: posts about classes, band, R.O.T.C., and dates with Gail) Nov 11 Mom drove me back to San Jose as she was bringing Claudia down for eye trouble. Introduced them to Gail's folks. I watched TV at her house till late Nov 12 No … [Read more...]
1.65 Larry’s Diary, Oct 1951
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) Oct 1 Band rehearsed outdoors. Got name in Democrat for going to San Jose State. Dad resigned from Sonora City council, picture on front page of paper Oct 2 Got four letters from girls from "Girl Friends". Answered them all. Wrote letter to Mr. Wisler and … [Read more...]
1.64 Larry’s Diary, Sep 1951
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) Sep 1 College of Pacific players came to Sonora for training. Went to Mt. River lodge with Mirks and boys. Bought $15.00 pair of slacks Sep 2 Missed playing for Lodi band concert in Lodi. Said goodbye to Porter. He's going to Tahoe for week then back to … [Read more...]
1.63 Larry’s Diary, Aug 1951
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) Aug 1 Ate at clubhouse 1st time in two weeks had both lunch and dinner. Slept and practiced in afternoon Aug 2 Sent letter to Mrs. Crookshank about Bonnie. Sent letter to Mr. Wisler about scholarship to Idaho Aug 3 Went home and got glasses from Dr. … [Read more...]
1.62 Not MY Mother
1951 • Sonora ~ My sister wore plaid skirts, silk neck scarves, and had a cashmere twinset for each day of the week, bought with her money from her job at the movie house. She jitterbugged with Pat, JoAnn, and Joyce, walked arm-in-arm with Cassie Jo, and gossiped with Shirley and Phyllis. … [Read more...]
1.61 Larry’s Diary, Jul 1951
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) Jul 1 Bob Durham slept late and I got him up at 4:05 A.M. Mailed letter and 3 bucks to Bonnie. P. Barnard is moving out of the bunk house. Jul 2 Changed from room 10 to room 3. Bigger room with 1 locker, better view. Had steak for supper. Dropped razor and … [Read more...]
1.60 Larry’s Diary, Jun 1951
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) Jun 1 Chased buses from Merced Lake to Henderson Park for Senior Ditch Day. Went to Turlock for Jr-Sr Prom with Norma Hunts. Called Bob Jones. Home and in bed at 4 A.M. Jun 2 Bought tie for Mr. Hagemeyer from Brass Choir. Now have 79 silver dollars. Drove … [Read more...]
1.59 Larry’s Diary, May 1951
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) May 1 Sick from eating cherries, missed day of school, Mom and Claudia also sick. Packed uniform in suitcase. May 2 Polished horn and shined bell with lacquer polish. Modesto Junior College and Acapella Choir sang. Gooslink accompanied. Paid 75 cents for … [Read more...]
1.58 Billet-doux from Mom
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) Apr 12 Mom got letter published in Union Democrat about city council and Dad April 5, 1951 • Letter to Editor, The Union Democrat Editor, The Union Democrat, Sonora, Calif. Dear Sir: Answer to letter from U.K. Peterson published in April 5th issue of The Union … [Read more...]
1.57 Larry’s Diary, Apr 1951
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) Apr 1 Saw show Bird of Paradise. Mailed letters to N.Y., S Williams and J Cavallari in truck wreck. Janice broke pelvis bone in 4 places, hurt head, leg, back Apr 2 Mac took me to see a man about a job this summer at the powerhouse. I HOPE - Durham already … [Read more...]
1.56 1951 • Popcorn Girl
1951 • My Sister Carleen ~ Carleen was high-spirited and hard-working. Her dance cards were filled, as were her weekends and summers. She cut a rug at the Harvest Dance, and at the Valentine Ball she slow danced and jitterbugged with Bruce and Eddie; at the Winter Mist, she box-stepped … [Read more...]
1.55 Larry’s Diary, Mar 1951
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) Mar 1 Played checkers at Dipper with Dwain McDonald. Got new music at Brass Choir rehearsal. Got one with bass solo throughout. Also Tuolumne County Orchestra Mar 2 Went to Stockton and saw "Our Town". Most of cast went down. Had turkey at Finney's. Mar 3 … [Read more...]
1.54 Larry’s Diary, Feb 1951
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 17) Feb 1 Got "Imogene" in Brass Choir music, easy piece. Also Tuolumne County Orchestra practice. 2nd square dance held, first time I danced. Jerry Paine my partner Feb 2 Band played for Pep Rally in gym and for game with Oakdale. They won both games, A game … [Read more...]
1.53 Larry’s Diary, Jan 1951
1951 • Larry’s diary (age 16-17) Jan 1 Michigan beat Calif by 14-6 in Rose Bowl. Went to last mass. Finished inventory except records. Got to bed early for a change Jan 2 Went to Alan C. house and we went over our stamps. Got Valentine, Graduation, and Easter cards in. Talked to dad … [Read more...]
1.52 Larry’s Diary, Dec 1950
1950 • Larry’s diary (age 16) Dec 1 1st home game Jackson A's lost, B's won. Don Grant drove me out and back. Got price list and catalogue from Sherman Clay on horn. Mailed stamps in late 6 months Dec 2 Turned out Wildcat #6. All ads perfect except spelling. 1st time Balcom (English and … [Read more...]
1.51 Larry’s Diary, Nov 1950
1950 • Larry’s diary (age 16) The majority of Larry's entries in November deal with school, band, movies, and work. He mentions in passing that Mom is struggling again. Carleen had more to say about Mother below the diary entries. Nov 1 Went to San Francisco Sherman Clay 3rd time. New springs … [Read more...]
1.50 Larry’s Diary, Oct 1950
1950 • Larry’s diary (age 16) Oct 1 Saw Father of the Bride with Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. Sat with Ray Ghiorso and Bill Squires. Oct 2 Mom at hospital for operation. Carried horn home for 2nd time for T.C.B. without rehearsal. Boys Sextette and Commissioners meeting at … [Read more...]
1.49 Larry’s Diary, Sep 1950
1950 • Larry’s diary (age 16) Sep 1 Worked on stamps and coins. Treated Joe Drabkin to lemonade. City suing his father for wall crumbling. C.O.P. football players arrived for practice. Sep 2 Put nickels in collection. Saw Mr. Hagemeyer first time since school let out. Hung up pennants. … [Read more...]
1.48 Larry’s Diary, Aug 1950
1950 • Larry’s diary (age 16) Aug 1 Went to Redwood City with mom, stayed overnight at Day’s. Mom drove mostly. Aug 2 Ordered pin at Sherman Clay and got solo in Oakland. Met my aunt Nella May in Sears. Got Ukes and trumpet records. Got fruit. Aug 3 Forgot picking up Decca … [Read more...]
1.47 Summer 1950, Bounty Hunter
Summer 1950 • Sonora ~ The family met Jay Bruce and his wife in the summer of 1950 when their car broke down and was being repaired across the way at Kelley’s. Betty was amazed; they were the oldest people Betty had ever seen driving (they were almost seventy). Mom was concerned about this elderly … [Read more...]
1.46 Larry’s Diary, July 1950
1950 • Larry’s diary (age 16) Jul 1 Cleaned up room. U.S. troops rushed to Korea. Dug in back yard some. Mom went up to Dardenelle for fishing Jul 2 Tuolumne County Band marched for Tuolumne Jubilee, also gave concert. Took Bonnie to show Three Came Home. Got her home by 10:30, then … [Read more...]
1.45 Larry’s Diary, Jun 1950
Jun 1950 • Larry’s diary (age 16) Jun 1 A trial is getting underway in Business Law against shady characters. I am a witness. Bought Business Law book. Senior tea today Jun 2 Went to Phoenix Lake for Junior picnic, went swimming and rollerskating, 1st time in long time. Senior Ditch day. … [Read more...]
1.44 Larry’s Diary, May 1950
Carleen, at fourteen, stepped into our mother's shoes during the periods when Mom was gone. It was expected and she didn’t think much about it, she simply did it. When she went anywhere she took me with her. On her way to school she dropped me off at Mrs. Evans, then picked me up on her way home. … [Read more...]
1.43 Larry’s Diary, Apr 1950; Don’t Go
1950 • Larry’s diary (age 16) Apr 9 Easter Sunday, Band (H.S.) marched in uniform for the Masons to the Red Church. Went to 8 o'clock mass. Carleen got sick. Apr 12 Had lunch at Lions Club meeting of Senior Boy Scouts. Dad got drafted to council in election Apr 21 Carleen got a new … [Read more...]
1.42 The Sight of Blood
Feb 8, 1950 • Sonora, California ~ Mom’s ham and cheese sandwiches were our favorite lunch. She ground the ham with her metal meat grinder which she vise-locked onto the edge of the yellow Formica kitchen table. After filling the soft hot dog buns, she rolled them in waxed paper, twisted the ends, … [Read more...]