"Sunday, May 1, 1966
Dear Diary,
Slept till 11. Went to Aunt Hannah's for dinner - Me & Patty. Veddy dull. Aunt Hannah gave me $1 & a bottle of toilet water. Gave P $1 & nylons. Invited us again for supper. Left about 3:45. Got home 4:40. Went to Mass. Played ball with Diane, Mary N & Patty. We walked Diane home. Had coke & talked with Jack - he might go to dance. Got killed for not being home earlier. Watched Bonanza - Missed Wackiest Ship."
"Monday, May 2, 1966
Dear Diary,
Another day of school. Walked there with Chris - my legs were sore from keeping up with him. Went to Hully's. Walked home with Mary & Joanie who went to Scouts. Met them at Parker Drug. Watched Donnie, Ron & John Wolfe playing ball at Philips school. Walked J home. Had coke in Drugstore. Bob was working. Jack came in as we left. Played softball with Mary & Patty. Washed my hair. Saw the Beach Boys on Andy Williams. Did homework & exercises."
Mary's (and Joanie's) Confirmation at St Pat's. Chestnut Street in the background.
"Jose Feilloje
2, Atherfold Road
Clapham North
London SW9
England"
"2 Atherfold Road
Clapham North
London SW9
19-5-66
Dear Mary,
I hope you are well and your parents as well. I was very pleased to receive your letter, and I am sorry for not having replied sooner. No I got not time to go sight seeing. Yes I also think I am very lucky to be in England. My father will go to Scotland and to Wales and I think he will go to New York too. I am to stay for about six months. I spent Easter in England.
Now I am going to tell you about what I have seen since my arrival. I have seen Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and a museum called Madame Tussaud and The Tower of London. I will try to see many other interesting things whenever possible.
I hope you will write me soon.
With all my love,
Yours sincerely
Jose
PS I'll give you more details in my next letter and I send you one postcards of France and one of England.
My mother like to have a photo of you."
Buckingham Palace
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris
George Navin with Jimmy, Christine and Jody's head at the Navin's on upper Marshall Street.
Jimmy walking so casually with his hands in his pockets, Peggie Navin, and Jody.
"Jesus Be Our Guide"
"May God bless all the people in St Patrick's Parish and may He give eternal rest to our loving classmate James Gildea.
Thomas F Powers
Albert J Sallese
Ordained Priests
May 26, 1966
Pray for vocations"
Two members of St Pat's who were ordained priests.
"Cohuna
28th May, 1966
Dear Metty,
How are things going? Okay, I hope! Also how's your diet going? I started one last week and it lasted exactly four days. I lost five pounds but finally, as always, temptation was too great and I broke my diet.
Sorry to hear abut your losing the chance to work in the hospital cafeteria but I do hope you get another chance.
By the time you receive this letter you will probably have spent your weekend in Washington. Hope you had an enjoyable time.
Now for the latest news. For the last six weeks I've really had a fab time and only spent about six nights home. The thing that took up a bit of time was the Deb Ball which was held on April 27th ...
"We had about two weeks practice before the Ball and it was really terrific. There were twenty three Debs. My dress was Crepe with Empire line style, floating panels with a bow attached at the back and it was finished off with motifs and pearl studs at the front. I spent a day in Bendigo buying my things and the total cost for the deb Ball was about six weeks wages. Mum let me make my debut on condition that I pay for everything by myself. My dress cost $66.00; stole $12.50; gloves $1.80; shoes $7.50; Photos $50.00. Even tho it was expensive, it was really worth it. Do girls make their Debut in America? I think it's become a custom for girls here but not all make it as it is rather expensive.
Shortly after the Deb Ball I joined Young Farmers and have been to such things as ...
"car trials, debates, meetings also a dinner-dance at Echuca. The dinner-dance was really fab and I had a marvelous time. I went home with Gordon Forsyth (the latest) and finally arrived home at 1:30 am. I met Gordon a couple of weeks ago at the dance when I had a date with John Walsh and Ian McGowan. I told them that I'd meet them at the dance that night but my main reason was to break it off with them. Any way Ian, was the first to get there and I was quite frank with him. I just told him I didn't want anything more to do with him and to get lost. He didn't get the message so I told him to stop bothering me as I came with someone else. Just then I saw John so walked up to him and we started dancing. I'd gotten rid of Ian and it was John left to go.
After a couple of dances I told John that ...
"I wanted to go and see a friend for a few minutes. Anyway I just walked off but before I'd gotten far Gordon came up and asked me to dance so I ended up with him. Before the night was over I apologized to John and broke it off.
On Friday (a week after the Dinner-Dance) Gordon came to see me at work & asked me if I wanted to go to the Echura dance with him Saturday night. I went and had a terrific time. I haven't seen Gordon for about eight days and I'm supposed to be going to a 21st Birthday in Cudgoa (about 80 miles away) in two days time. Noreen Barry, a nurse at the hospital invited me but I haven't got a ride over yet so I'm hoping Gordon does come to see me.
In the next month I've got five Young Farmers Balls to attend and only two evening dresses to wear. I might get out of it by wearing different accessories because I can't afford any more clothes at the moment ...
"Bruno (soldier in Vietnam) should be home within the next couple of weeks, but I don't know when he'll get to Cohuna. Hope it's not to soon because I'll have to break it off with Gordon first and I'm having too much fun with him at the moment to do so. Perhaps in three or four weeks time.
At the moment our YCW are in the process of organizing a Lightening Premiership in football and basketball with other groups. We hope to have a barbecue and dance afterwards. While on the subject of football the Young Farmers are going to have a Ladies football team play one Sunday and I'm hoping to play a Rover, if I can.
Teresa Chevellier the YCW leader in Bendigo was visiting our group a couple of weeks ago and we all decide to go to the drive-in. Had a good time and Teresa stayed with me that ...
"night and the next day we decided to go fishing out at the Murray River. We didn't catch anything, but really enjoyed ourselves.
In the last five pages I seem to have written nothing and I hope it hasn't bored you because it's given me writers cramp. Well after that I suppose I'd better finish this letter.
Until next time
Mary
PS Excuse my writing as it seems to be getting worse every time. It's rather messy isn't it?
PS 1 Say 'Hello' to your family from me and give them my best wishes.
PS II 'Happy Birthday' for June 4th. Please forgive me for the delay on sending your present but at the moment I'm flat broke and don't get paid till two days after your birthday. If possible I'll try to send it Air Mail. PTO"
"PS III Have enclosed a picture of David McCallum. The Man from UNCLE has become one of the most popular shows on Australian TV.
Bye for now."
"Greetings and Good Wishes"
A merry Birthday greeting that isn't very new, is sent with hearty wishes for someone special ... YOU!
"To Mary
from your pen friend
Jose"
"Sister Gregory Anne, OP
Saint Patrick Convent
24 Chestnut Street
Watertown 72, Massachusetts
Mary"
I wrote on the envelope that Sr Gregory Anne sent me a St Christopher medal.
"Happy Birthday, Mary"
That brown oblong is the remnants of the tape that held the medal.
"To a sweet but quiet girl. Who is a swell person too. The best of luck to you when you get out of school. As always, Pat '66' - Don't forget our little parties."
Chris graduating.
"Archdiocese of Boston - Department of Education
St Patrick High School
Watertown, Massachusetts
Report of Mary Ellen Manning Academic Year 1965 to 66"
Subjects are Religion, English, Math/Geometry, Latin, French, and Biology - my marks were all Bs and As. My attitude was average to above average. My mother signed the report card each quarter. Rt Rev Michael J Houlihan was the Pastor and Sister Mary Robert OP was the Principal.
Almeida bus ticket to Falmouth for June 24, 1966.
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