Catherine Sevenau is a writer and storyteller who is out to capture your skittery mind. She's penned three books, compiled numerous collections of family genealogy, and has been a regular columnist in the SUN since 2016. She can be reached at [email protected].
Dad raced a burro, placed fourth
Chapter 52: May, 1949 • Diary of my brother (age 15):
May 8 Sunday: Mother’s Day, rained a little and had a rainbow. Mom went to Chico to visit Grandma.
May 9 Got stamps from Jamestown bought $5.10. Jim got a ’49 Jeepster, yellow. Finished tying exercises.
May 10 Eighth graders had tests at High School all but Sonora. I gave 25 cents to legless man, washed out horn.
May 11 Jim drove Dup and me to drive-in for lunch and out to Phoenix. Learned hangmans knot. Set clock wrong and got up too early.
May 12 Had bad nosebleed and could not march because of it. Dup and Robie had spat but we all went to drive-in. Had party at Spanish.
May 13 Students running for Student Body offices gave speeches at assembly. Band played in grandstands because of puppet show.
May 14 Had big thunderstorm, electricity went out for a few minutes, bought new lock for door because old one could be opened too easy.
May 15 Saw show Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Native Sons of the Golden West to arrive for Grand Parlor
May 16 N.S.G.W. started convention in S.V.H.S. gym, Skippy Grant, once bass player, joined army, Ima got back from pack trip.
May 17 Broke water-leter (fishing line) out on Bass Lake, practiced marching. Was first in cafeteria two days in a row. Got sheet of Alexandria 6 cent air
May 18 Played at dedication of building at Fairgrounds and at 49er parade. Saw movies of Rose Bowl game. Saw show 3 Little Girls in Blue.
May 19 Last day of N.S.G.W. convention or Grand Parlor. Band had a party and discussed awards. Reading Ivanhoe again.
May 20 Fernandez’s brother got tent for camporee, he will pay me next week. Junior-Senior Prom held tonight. I didn’t go
May 21 Saw show Little Women then took walk up towards Don Hamilton’s house. Not eating any sweets.
May 22 Went to the Tuolumne County Band Practice for the first time, five basses where there. Got pennants with Sonora on them.
May 23 Went to Sophomore picknic at Phoenix Lake, swam, played baseball, and ate. Jim hid clothes and I lost some things.
May 24 Made up two 7ths with Lutz, corrected some papers. Went to May devotions and confession. Used different typewriter in class.
May 25 Went to church at 7 a.m. Went to dentist and jaw is swollen from filling. Had awards assembly. Women had tea at school.
May 26 Band led junior Rodeo parade. Got Annapolis first day cover. First day of fair. Senior ditch day.
May 27 Had big Rodeo parade. Band went thru town twice. 2nd time down to fair. Went to rodeo and saw championship burro races, tonight saw horse show, etc. a lot paid $60
May 28 Somebody broke into the store but didn’t get anything, second time in 3 days. Dad raced a burro, placed 4th
May 29 Memorial Day; band played at fair. Walked home with Galen.
May 30 First day of band practice for pageant, wrote book report. Bob Carlson got burned last night with gasoline at Hell drive.
May 31 Had awards assembly. Adel Collings got Gibbons Trophy, W. Castle got athletic, Dacker for girls athletic. Sportsman got new sign.
Catherine Sevenau is a writer, humorist, and storyteller living in Sonoma. The stories in this series are excerpts from her book, Through Any Given Door, a Family Memoir, available at Sevenau.com. A longtime Broker/Realtor at CENTURY 21 Epic Wine Country, she can be reached at [email protected]
