Chapter 58: Summer 1949 • Sonora, California ~ As Sonora was a backwater with no Catholic school, five Franciscan nuns in black habits and white wimples were imported every summer to bring the local schoolchildren a proper religious education, and for five weeks the nuns... Continue
Rude Awakenings
Chapter 57: 1949 • Sonora ~ Larry’s diary (age 15) Jul 16 2nd night of pageant. Gov Warren was there. Uncle Charlie and Aunt Velma came up. Got to bed after 2. Almost late for scene 3. I was an actor in the Big Columbia... Continue
Chapter 56: 1949 • Sonora ~ Larry and Dad took monthly trips to San Francisco to purchase stock from the Decca, Columbia, and RCA Victor wholesale dealers. Larry decided which records to purchase, as he knew all the popular songs as well as classical music.... Continue
Chapter 55: 1949 • Sonora ~ Larry’s diary (age 15) Jun 1 Cut Spanish because I was 20 minutes late. Watched some practice for pageant. Got impressions for new tooth. Windy. Jun 2 Had last big meal at R&B Jun 3 Had Spanish test,... Continue
Chapter 54: 1949 • “Bettyyyy. Claudiaaa.” Mother’s nightly yell for supper bounced across the yard until it floated down to the soft shadows of the creek where the girls fooled away their afternoons catching tadpoles. Betty paid no attention to Mom. Claudia, emptying her Mason... Continue
Chapter 53: 1949 • Sonora ~ Our parents never argued about how to raise their children. They argued about Mother’s smoking and drinking and about her housekeeping, but not about raising the kids. Mom gave the older ones a swift kick or a snapping backhand... Continue
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.... Continue
Chapter 51: Apr 1949 • Diary of my brother, Larry (age 15): Apr 22 Freshman picked weeds at school. Am now reading book called Lets Make Mary. Was late for school because of oversleeping Apr 23 Florence Harold came into my room with Ima looking... Continue
Chapter 50: Sonora, California. April 1949 • Larry’s diary (age 15) Apr 1 Freshmen's return was given, but it was so bad I left it to watch the baseball game with Livingston. We won 3 -1. Apr 2 Had tooth taken out, very large molar.... Continue
Chapter 49: 1948/49 • Sonora ~ Just three months after my arrival, my mother—along with losing her mind—lost her brother, Gordon Gregory Chatfield. He died in Letterman's Veteran's Hospital in San Francisco at the age of 42 from his WWII injuries (he fell off the... Continue