I’m hard-wired for formal prayer. I find myself reciting the Our Father when an earthquake hits, and oftentimes at night as I go to sleep. “How weird,” I think, stopping in the middle, but then a Hail Mary (a woman about whom I hold equally... Continue
Rude Awakenings
Why write? It’s complicated. I never had any intention of becoming a writer, to externalize my life and expose it on paper. But as life would have it, I had a meltdown as the result of a course I was taking, and out of that... Continue
In 1943, my father exchanged his iceman’s uniform for a suit and tie. Union Ice Company was having financial difficulties, and Dad had enough sense to get out of the cold. Offered a management position with Sprouse Reitz, he had the option of running a... Continue
Chapter 69: November 1950 • Sonora Larry’s diary (age 16) Nov 1 New springs for horn. Got up at 3:30. Cop stopped me in Escalon, front light out. Nov 2 Played solo for Tuolumne County Education Association, all of the teachers. Nov 3 Lost 2nd game of... Continue
Chapter 68: 1950 • Sonora ~ Larry’s diary (age 16) Oct 1 Saw Father of the Bride with Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. Oct 2 Mom at hospital for operation. Carried horn home. Oct 3 40 seniors and I went to Sacramento to see Sutters... Continue
Chapter 67: 1950 • Sonora ~ Larry’s diary (age 16) My brother wrote daily about the usual. A few highlights: Sep 3 Cleaned up room it needed it. Stayed open by myself all day. Heat wave finally broke a little. Sep 4 Copied Wildcat book. Dad... Continue
Chapter 66: 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... Continue
Chapter 65: 1950 • Camp McBride, Strawberry Lake, Pinecrest, California Even though she shunned ruffles and ric-rac, Betty carried a purse wherever she went, typically a small shoulder strap as it freed her hands to climb fences. She had a collection of pocketbooks handed down... Continue
Chapter 64: 1950 • Sonora, California At fourteen, my sister Carleen stepped into our mother's shoes 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... Continue
Chapter 63: 1950 • Sonora, California Note: My brother’s daily entries in the months of March and April were typical of those in the past dealing with school, sports, band, and work; I only posted excerpts from part of April, where they took on a... Continue