"Friday, July 1,1966
Dear Diary,
Got up about 11. Ironed clothes, packed some, & cleaned up room. Patty's at Falmouth & I have to pack her clothes. She has loads of them, but unlike mine, they're not based on 1 or 2 colors. Ma came up tonight. Ruined the zipper on the shorts I based the colors of most of the blouses I'm taking to Falmouth. Went babysitting about 8:45 for Dickie's. 'Hogan's Heroes' was great - Newkirk starred. Got $3. Bye."
I found Ma's Social Security card, Medicare card, and Medicare Extension card with some papers my mother gave me. Ma's Medicare became effective 7/1/1966. I don't know when she went to work with Aunt Nellie Keohane for Mr Russell. Aunt Nellie's husband Freddie died in 1954 so it was sometime after that. I don't know if Ma had to work 40 quarters to be eligible for Social Security.
"Saturday, July 2, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went to work. Sandy was there. He broke his nose a few weeks ago. He gave me a ride home. Left for Falmouth at 3:30. Arrived about 5:30. Navins left about 7. Walked to Friendly's after supper. Walked to the Casino. Watched TV. Went to bed about 12 pm. Talked awhile. Mary's in cot. Nite.
PS Guys in a car drove by. One grabbed at Joanie & another spit at her/us, & hit me in the face."
"Sunday, July 3, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went to 9 am Mass. Took care of kids. After dinner, when to Black Beach. Hung around & looked at the boys. Watched some English boys play soccer or rugby. Watched the 'Lawman' - great. Walked to Friendly's. Went to see 'The King and I' - good. Watched 'The House of Wax' when we came back - terrifying. Came to bed at 1:30. Watched boys out of bedroom window. Bye"
"Monday, July 4, 1966
Dear Diary,
Hannie & I went for a walk this am. Went swimming at the raft. Went to Chapaquoit. After taking a walk along the beach, Mary & Jay left at 8:30. Joanie, Patty, Diane & I went to the block party. I met a kid named Cyrus. We sat in front of the Stop & Shop (where dance was held.) He kissed me on the shoulder and cheeks a couple of times. He kissed me on the lips once - I made sure it was once. His friends liked Patty & Joanie."
"Tuesday, July 5, 1966
Dear Diary,
Slept till 10. Joanie & I went to the Casino. After dinner went to shopping center. Bought some stuff. Saw Cyrus (Kenny ?) in Stop & Shop. He wanted me to go out with him & Patty to go with his friend Charlie (he's nifty) tonight. I lied & said that Ronnie, Eddie, Dennis, & Bobby were taking us to the movies. He's coming over tomorrow nite, but I learnt there's a dance at the Yacht Club from Victor Palladino's friend. Joanie & I want to go - who knows how it will turn out?"
I was 16 this summer and Patty was 12! How old was Cyrus' friend Charlie who wanted to go out with Patty!
"Wednesday, July 6, 1966
Dear Diary,
Got up about 9:30. Went for mail & paper. Walked to Bradlees & shopping center this after. Read magazines at the beach till about 5:30. After supper watched TV. Cyrus came about 7:45 as we returned from Yacht Club. I sent him to the dance with Johnny. Told him later that I couldn't go out with him anymore. Dance was great. There's another one tomorrow. 2 boys walked by me & Joanie 5 times. On the sixth they stopped & talked. They're from NY. Bye"
"Thursday, July 7, 1966
Dear Diary,
Got up about 10. Got the mail & walked by the Alden Towers where our NJ friends are staying. Didn't see them. Went to Chapaquoit this after(noon.) Since it was foggy & windy, there were some good waves. Watched TV. Walked to Yacht Club to see if there was a dance. Joanie went to it alone. I went to the movies with Diane & Patty. Stayed outside till 11:45. No one interesting came by. NITE"
Friday, July 8, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went to get the mail. Went to the beach. Went back to Watertown on 6:05 bus. 6 Midshipmen sat in front of me. We were held up by a parade in Boston so I didn't get home till about 9. Mary, Carol & Brian met me. Someone put the safety latch on in the front door ... therefore we broke a window in the cellar door. Eddie came over. Mary & I went for pizza at 11."
What else would you do if locked out - just break a window!
"Saturday, July 9, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went to work. Sandy was there. Mary came down at 1. Went home, then to the Hully's. Went to Boston at 3:00. Just missed a bus. Got the 5:30 one. Got to Falmouth about 6:45. Fooled around with Jerry, Eddie, Jimmy (all from Our Helen) and friends & while playing touch football with them, Patty was tackled & broke her collar bone. Stayed out with Jerry till 11. BYE"
"Sunday, July 10, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went to 10 AM Mass. Uncle Wino (Dicky) & family came. Jim & family too. Went to Chapaquoit. Waves were gigantic. Talked to life-guard. Went to Casino a few times. Fooled around with Jerry (he likes Janet Smith) & friends. Stayed out till about 11:30 with them. Did a Hullabaloo line with Jerry's brother Eddie. Good-nite
PS I like Jerry."
"Monday, July 11, 1966
Dear Diary,
Got up at 9:30 to watch 'Where the Action Is.' Loafed about all day. Peggy might buy the cottage behind us. Me, myself, and I played catch with Jerry (alone.) Fooled around outside with him, Eddie, Jim, Janet et al. Sat on porch watching everyone going by. Nite
PS Patty went back to hospital. So did Eddie - sliced his finger."
"Tuesday, July 12, 1966
Dear Diary,
Watched 'Where the Action Is.' Played cards with Jerry, Johnny, Joanie, Ricky & Diane. Made fudge. Fooled around with Jerry et al. Went in the boat with Eddie yesterday. Went to see 'A Patch of Blue' with Joanie & Diane. Stayed up till 12. Nite"
"Wednesday, July 13, 1966
Dearest friend,
Got up at 10:20. Played cards with Jerry. Diane & I took Joanne to beach. Went to play miniature golf. Got a score of 75. Lost of course. Watched Lloyd Thaxton. Went to see 'Harper.' It was good. Sat on porch. Watched TV. Wrote in you. Sleeping in Ma's bed. Bye
PS It's now 1:35 & Patty is visiting."
Thursday, July 14, 1966
Dear Diary,
Watched 'Where the Action Is.' Did the usual things - talked, fooled around with Jerry et al, listened to the radio, made the jigsaw puzzle, played ball, etc. Joanie & I went to the Yacht Club Dance with Eddie & Jimmy. The Bob Jaggers played. The drummer seemed let down when Joanie told him she's 14 (only 13) - he's 18 but looks 13. IVTIF"
"Friday, July 15, 1966
Dear Diary,
Got home from the dance at 11:45. Stayed up till 1. Got up at 9:30. Hung around. Went to the Casino a few times. Made the puzzle. Waited for Jerry, Jimmy, & Eddie. Said good-bye. Packed me clothes. Norman took pictures just before I left because Jerry & Jimmy came by & Joanie & I wanted pix taken with them. Left at 6:20. Arrived in Watertown at 8:25. Went to Navin's. Mary & I got a pizza at 9:15. Got another at 11. We were kind of scared because of the murder of 8 nurses in Chicago. Bye"
Richard Speck murdered 8 nurses 2 days earlier on July 13, 1966 in a home used to house foreign and local nursing students who worked in South Chicago Community Hospital. It took 2 days to find Speck.
"Saturday, July 16, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went to work. Sandy was there till 11:30. Mr McKenna came then. Got $6 but gave $5 to Mum as I owed her $9.75. Mary & I went to Boston. Quite a few sailors in there. Got home at 5:30. Mum & the rest got home about 5. Patty, Joanie, Diane, & Johnny were at Jerry's last night with Janet & Billy Fender plus Jerry, Jimmy, & Eddie. I went babysitting for the Dickie's at 9. Watch 'Miss Universe Pageant.' Miss Sweden won. I was rooting for her & Miss Denmark. Got home at 3. Bye"
"Sunday, July 17, 1966
Dear Diary,
Got up at 10 to take care of little kids while everyone else went to Mass, but Mum didn't so I ended up ironing Johnny's Scout things. Patty & I cleaned up living room & dining room & listened to records. Mary Navin came down. Patty & I went to 5:30 Mass at St Bernard's after missing the 5 at Sacred Heart. Aunt Nellie was at Peggy's (ugh!) Watched 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea' & Walt Disney. Mary came down & we watched 'Wackiest Ship.' Gebharts called at 11:15. Want me tomorrow at 8:30."
"Monday, July 18, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went to Gebharts at 8:45. They've got a new stereo thing. It's a record-player & a radio combined. Mikey played with it all day. Mrs Gebhart called at 6:30 and asked me to give the kids supper. So I did. I finally got home at 8:50. Walked over to Philips' School yard to see if Ron, Don, Eddie, etc were there. They weren't. Went to Navins. Stayed till 11. Washed dishes. Nite!"
"Tuesday, July 19, 1966
Dear Diary,
Mum called me at 8:05 - Rosemary wanted me! I got to her house at 8:40. The two kids, Adam 2 & Elizabeth 8 mons, were pretty good. Mary came about 1 and stayed until 5:25. Rosemary (Smith, Pollie Goedickie's sister) got home about 6:40. After supper I watched TV & took care of our little kids. Watched 'Where the Boys Are' starring Dolores Hart, Jim Hutton - he was great - George Hamilton & Yvette Mimieux. It was good. Bye"
"Wednesday, July 20, 1966
Dear Diary,
Arrived at Rosemary's at 8:30. Except for changing dirty diapers & Elizabeth spitting up, it was all right. Mary came about 4:30. Rosemary got home about 5 pm. Went to Square to get coke for cookout & had pizza with Mary. Went to Moe's about 6:30. It was good. I've got to have something sometime. Marie & I went to Navin's to get matches. Mary walked back with us & we stopped at Don Buddington's. He might invite us 3 to his party. Guess what!! ____ ____ is a homosexual."
I'm surprised that I had even heard of homosexuality! I took books on human anatomy from Perkins Library when I worked there - I seem to remember Mary Patricia, Patty, and I being surprised when we read how sex was performed! My mother sometime earlier had asked me if I knew how babies were made. I didn't but I said by kissing, hugging, and "that sort of thing." She was satisfied with that answer and didn't press any further - we were both uncomfortable - I was embarrassed.
"Thursday, July 21, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went to Rosemary's at 8. The baby was miserable again today. Rosemary got home about 5:50. I have to go at 8 again tomorrow. Mary Navin & I practised playing tennis in the Philips school yard & the Watertown High parking lot. Went to get my pills refilled, but I couldn't for some stupid reason. I've got to lose weight. ___ ___ weighs 156. ___ ___ weighs as much as I do 147. ___ ___ lost about 50 lbs. NITE"
So I spent my whole life worried about my appearance and trying to lose weight. I was 16 at this time and had already been on diet pills for some time. I was also having a lot of Cokes at the 5 & 10 or the Drugstore - never mind the pizzas. I also used to "borrow" $.25 cents from my mother's pocketbook - likely before I started babysitting or working - and go down Marshall Street and cross Spring Street to Aaron's Spa and buy a large Hershey's chocolate bar. I'd eat it on the short walk home. I remember my mother threatening to tell Aaron not to sell me any more chocolate.
"Friday, July 22, 1966
Dear Diary,
Got to Rosemary's at 8. Kids weren't bad. Mary came about 12:30. Rosemary got home early - 3:30. Got paid $36. Mrs Gebhart paid Patty $16 for the week. I got $7.40 out of it. Played tennis with Mary at Philips. Saw Eddie Staires & Paul Stiles there. Took care of kids. Worked out my financial affairs. Hope I keep working for Gebharts all summer - it'll pay my book bill & lab fees. Bye-y"
"Saturday, July 23, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went to work as usual. Sandy forgot our paychecks. Supposed to get them in Monday's mail. Listened to records. Went to Square. After supper went babysitting for Gebharts. Sat from 7:30 - 1. Got $2.75.
Bye
PS Billy Fender took Joanie to the movies. They went with Jerry & Janet. The Hully's got home today."
"Sunday, July 24, 1966
Dear Diary,
Actually got up at 8:30 & went to the 9:15 Mass. Went to Camp Quinapoxet to visit Johnny & Mr McCafferey with his broken ankle. About 4:30 Patty & I met Paul & began talking with (him) eventually some councillors came by. Most interesting of them were Paul Kelly - nifty, Rick, Flipper - the cook, & Mousie. I'd like to spend a few weeks up there myself - with the Boy Scouts. NITE"
Monday, July 25, q966
Dear Diary,
Went babysitting at the Gerhart's at 8:30. It was dull, as usual. Read 275 pages of 'Strangers on a Bridge.' Got home at 6:35. Walked to drugstore to see about my pills. Can't get them refilled. Walked by Donnie's house with Jody & Christine. Brian invited me back. So Patty & I went back. Joanie, Mary et al were at Daisy's & Donnie didn't want them to come down. They came anyhow. Played Hide & Seek till 10:20. Went to Navins. NITE"
"University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana
A winter scene of the thirteen-story Notre Dame Memorial Library. It is the largest college library building in the world. The magnificent granite mural, with Christ the Teacher as its central figure adorns the facade. It depicts saints and scholars who have contributed to knowledge through the ages.
Color Photo by John Penrod
Dear Mary,
What are you doing with yourself
this summer? Working?
I'm having one of the very
best summers yet! My work is
just about over and now I am
relaxing! O joy. There are plenty
of people here to share the Holy Spirit
with.
See you.
Sr Gregory Anne OP"
The postcard is stamped "Notre Dame, IN 46556 - Jul 26, PM, 1966"
Sr Gregory Anne was my 10th grade teacher.
"Tuesday, July 26, 1966
Dear Diary,
Got up at 11:30. Went to the Square with Navin. Bought the DC 5's 'Try too Hard' album. Mailed letters & Mary Jelonek's birthday present. Cashed my Press check. After supper Carol, Mary, Janet, & Daisy came by. They wouldn't go by Donny's house, so I did. Brian came out & eventually Donny, Eddie, & Paul came out & Carol et al came. Listened to records. Mary, Carol, & Janet went home. Don told Daisy that Patty & I were good kids. NITE"
Not sure who Carol and Daisy were. Maybe Joanie or Mary remember.
Wednesday, July 27, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went babysitting at 8:45 to the Gebhart's. Finished 'Strangers on a Bridge.' Met the ice cream man. He comes by at 3 every day. Gebharts got home about 6:40. Walked by Donny's coming back from Common St Spa. No sign of life. At 9 went babysitting at Gebhart's again. Finished 'To Kill a Mocking Bird' - great book. They left me something for the first time - ice cream. Got home 2:30. BYE -Y"
The same ice cream man came by Gebhart's every day so every day I bought ice cream for myself and the 2 kids. No wonder I wasn't losing weight!
"Thursday, July 28, 1966
Dear Diary,
Slept till 10:30. Cleaned up room & listened to records. Went to Square with Navin. Huliston was invited to Paul Stiles' birthday party. She said that if I had been there last night, he would have invited me. The Hullys came & showed movies Hannie & Mum took in Washington, DC. Joanie & I walked by Don's house about 6 times. Everyone was in the basement. Watched TV. Went to bed about 11:30.
Nite"
"Friday, July 29, 1966
Dear Diary,
Overslept this am. Got up about 8:15. M Gebhart came at 8:25. Wasn't at all ready. Peaceful morning. Got $15. Deposited $10 in my bank account. Went to Square with Navin. Went to library. Took out 'Don't Knock the Corners Off.' It's all right - not as good as some I've read. Went babysitting for Dickie's at 9:00. Ate too much of Ann's chocolate cake. Got home about 1:15. Bye-y"
Ann Dickie left Chocolate cake and Eileen Griffen would leave a pan of delicious brownies. Ann also left Fresca which I love to this day!
"Saturday, July 30, 1966
Dear Diary,
Went to work. Paul McC came home but didn't drop in. Was over $.45 today. Bought a pair of loafers for school at Otis Brothers. Took Joanne to Navins & Goldbanks' Market. Watched TV. After 'The Gallant Men' went out with Huliston, Navin, & Elaine Gambone. All 3 went to Paul Stiles birthday party last night. Last two weren't even invited. Walked to Square. Had a coke in Drugstore - John Short was working for Dennis Sanchez. Talked awhile. Nite'
I don't remember Goldbanks market or Elaine Gambone.
Sunday, July 31, 1966
Dear Diary,
After going to the 11:45 Mass, went to Canoe Lake Park with Hully's. Mary Navin & Patty came along too. Went on roller-coaster twice, drive-your-own-cars four times, & the seven gables once. Oh & the scrambler once. Didn't go to Donnie's as we saw him & friends on porch with Old Moses, his mother, & sister. Walked Joanie home. Had coke & talked to Jack in the Drugstore. Missed Eddie & Paul by a fraction of a second. They were leaving as we started up Marion Road.
Nite"
