JULY
1 July 1971 Thursday
I got up early today because I had a lot of
things to do. I had to pack and get ready to go back to Texas. Also, I had to
clean my room and get everything organized. Besides that, I had to make sure my
beach party was coming off. I went up to Taco Bell to pick up my check. I
cleared $72. I bought some shoes with some of the money to wear back in Texas. At
4:30 Donna and I went to pick up Wendy Warner and Kent Larsen to drive to Bolsa
Chica Beach. Nick Kelsey was there when we got there. It was a real nice beach
party with hot dogs and marshmallow to roast. There was Plenty of cokes and
beer. Kent was the only one there who got really drunk. Of all the kids I invited
only me, Donna, Kent, Wendy, Nick, Ernie Sauter, Bob Wimberly, Karen Gramsted,
Jill Penney, Jim Gramsted, Cathy, Tom Peavy, Cathy, Jean Van der Murghal,
Marshall Burns, Charlotte Smith, Michael Fiore, Gary Bassin, Jill Penney, and
Laura came. That was plenty. The water was warm and at night because of red
tide, the waves were florescent which was magical. At one point I think Bob
wanted to playfully seduce me and was chasing me, but I managed to out run him
in the sand. In the news today the 26th Amendment was passed so that
18-year-olds can vote now. Also, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Freedom of
the Press.
2 July 1971 Friday
I got up early at 8 to get ready for my trip. I
still had to a lot of packing and cleaning before leaving. My cousin Francis
Griess came to the house around 12:30
with her two kids, Aleesa, and Stephen along with her sister Terrie
Williams. We are all going back to Texas together in Frances truck and camper
shell. We took the Riverside Freeway to Grandma Williams’ trailer house in
Yucaipa where we had lunch there before getting back on the road about 4:30. We
took the freeway to Blythe, and it wasn’t too hot as we were traveling in the
evening when we went through Arizona. We reached Prescott, Arizona where my
cousin Marilyn Stevens, their sister was living. We got in around 11:30 at
night and we spent the night there on the ranch. It is really dry here in
Arizona and it doesn’t look like they had much rain in a long time. The ranch Marilyn
and her husband Danny lives on is kind of nice, but I know they aren’t making
any money on it. Francis drove all the
way so she must be really tired. I know I am. It’s a long hard trip in a pickup
and camper. I wonder how the pioneers did it. Two years ago, John Cunningham
and I returned from our camping trip to Kern River. It was a beautiful
experience one of the best in my life. One of the few good times being alone
with him.
3 July 1971 Saturday
We left my cousin Marilyn’s house at 6:30 in
the morning. Marilyn and her baby, Dina, joined our company, so we started to get crowded in the truck but at least Marilyn could help Francis and me
drive. The sun was rising up over the mountains and it was a really pretty
sunrise. We took the southern route through Phoenix into Globe where we stopped
and had lunch. Around Deming, New Mexico it began to rain so it really cooled the
temperature off. We stopped in Alamogordo where we ate dinner around 6 before
hitting the road again. It was a miserable long drive through New Mexico and the temperature was in the high 90’s for
most of the trip. It was really a long, hard drive into Lubbock, Texas which we
didn’t reach until 1:30 in the morning. I spent the night then with my uncle
and aunt Wallace and Mattie Lee Williams until I could call my aunt and uncle
J.W and Pauline Johnson in the morning. Wallace and Mattie Lee have a nice
house in Lubbock, but I will be glad to leave. I do want to visit with the Huskey’s
some tomorrow before going to the farm in Hart Camp.
4 July 1971 Sunday
I woke up at 7 at my uncle and aunt, Wallace
and Mattie Lee Williams’ place and then called my uncle J.W. Johnson to let him
know I had arrived and then I called the Huskeys. Mrs. Huskey came out to my
uncle’s place to come get me to take me to their house in the city. I stayed
with them until J.W. and Pauline Johnson came to get me this evening. Over at
the Huskey’ place at 5605 Geneva, I visited with Pam, her sister and brother-in-law
Judy and Johnny Schroeder, and with Mr.
Huskey who has always been good to me. It was wonderful to see all of them
again. Mr. Huskey was looking good after his illness. I hope he's alright now.
Judy doesn’t look any different than
from the last time I saw her, except she is pregnant. Pam is still her exuberant
self. I only missed seeing Buddy Huskey. In the morning I was still tired
somewhat and I slept in Buddy’s old bed until around 12:30 when I got up then
to eat some lunch with the family. In the afternoon Pam and I went over to
Judy’s home at the old house on Quirt Street. I stayed there for a while then
went back to the house on Geneva Street. There, Pam and I walked over to the Monterey
Plaza for me to buy some post cards. In the evening J.W. and Pauline came to
pick me up. My cousins John and Kay were with them. We went to the show here in
Lubbock and Pam came along with us. We saw a John Wayne movie called “Big
Jake.” We came back to J.W’s farm late around 12:30. The temperature today was
103 degrees this Independence Day. There was fireworks going off all around the
city.
5 July 1971 Monday
I got up at 10 this morning, and it was already quite warm. I just watched
some TV and visited with my aunt Pauline Johnson until my cousin Kay got up.
After lunch we went down to Grandpa’s farm and watered his fruit trees for him
while he is away down at the house at Lake Haskell. After that I went with Kay
into Olton to see her girlfriend, Cherie. There we rode our bikes for about ten
miles, and it was hot out. I almost passed out with the heat coming off the
pavement. My nose bled a little because I was so flushed. In the evening we had
some supper and Kay and I listened to records mostly. I went to bed after
watching some TV for a while. The weather was searing hot today at 101 degrees,
but the sky was really blue with billowy clouds. I got all my postcards written
to send to my friend today. I will mail them out tomorrow when we go into
Lubbock.
6 July 1971 Tuesday
I was up around 9:30 to get ready to go into
Lubbock. Before doing that, I helped my cousin John Johnson out in the fields
chopping cotton. Kay and I went into Lubbock around 11:30 and we had lunch at
Underwood’s. I love their BBQ, fried okra, and cherry cobblers. Then we went
over to the Huskeys while Kay then went off to her doctor’s appointment. Later when
Kay returned, Pam Huskey, she and I went over to Judy Schroeder’s’ to see her
before the whole bunch all leave for Mississippi for a job for the summer. Kay
and I got back to Hart Camp in the late afternoon around 5:30. She had to get
ready for her basketball practice, so I went down to finally see Grandma and
Grandpa Johnson who had come in from Haskell that afternoon. I visited with
them all evening and after they went to bed at 8, I went back down to Kay’s to
listen to records . I bought a new album today called “Joseph and His
Technicolor Dream Coat” also by Weber and Rice. I went to bed myself around midnight
and it was still hot out. The high today was 103 degrees. In the news Lous
Armstrong the Jazzman died today.
7 July 1971 Wednesday
Grandma had me get up at 10 this morning so I
could take her into Littlefield to do some grocery shopping. While we were
there, I got a haircut to please her. I figure it will grow back when I return
to California. The rest of the time I went to the co-op Gin at Hart Camp with
Grandpa Johnson to watch him play dominos with the other old men there. Coming
back to the farm I started going through Mayor Reece’s scrap books. I later took
a nap in the late afternoon and then got ready for evening church services with
Grandma and Grandpa. The Littlefield Church of Christ is having a revival all
this week. I did not care much for the preacher’s way of spreading the Gospel.
It was so dry, clinical, and so sterile. Doesn’t he realize he was speaking of
the gospel in the holy Church of Christ? There was no love at all in his message.
On the way home from church , Grandpa Johnson’s pick-up truck had
a flat
tire which we changed and were on our way again. We got home late at 10:30 and then
Grandma called Mom because it was only 8:30 in California. Mom said everybody
is just fine out there. Last night I had such a lonesome dream. I dreamt that
John Cunningham was drunk because he had to go into the military service, and I
couldn’t help him at all anymore because he lost his deferment. When I figured
out a way to help, he turned into Kent Larsen instead. It was so vivid and
reminded me how things used to be between John and me which still hurts my
heart. I didn’t get to record KHJ’s
top ten like I like to do but here in Texas the Raider’s “Indian Reservation” is
number one in Lubbock. I like Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy, Mercy Me the Ecology,” and
Three Dog Night’s “Liar.”
8 July 1971 Thursday
I didn’t get up until 11:30. I slept poorly
last night because of the heat, and I did not drop off until way into the
morning when it cooled down a bit. I’ve had the weirdest dreams. I got up and then
had lunch with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson and in the afternoon, I wrote 12
pages of notes of the formation of the Garden Grove Police Department in 1956.
In the evening I got ready to go to the revival meeting in Littlefield again. This
time Bro. Paul Bates gave an excellent sermon tonight and Grandma is going to
invite him over tomorrow so I can talk with him about the Church of Christ’s
beliefs. Coming home from the meeting, we saw Aunt Pauline and my cousin Kay
out bicycling. Pauline was tired so I took her place and rode with Kay back up
to J.W’s place. I visited with Pauline and my cousin John Johnson some about
politics and history. They are more conservative than I am for sure. Kay took
me home back to Grandma Johnson’s around 11:30 but I didn’t go to bed until much
later. It’s starting to cloud up again and 97 degrees was the high today. There
was a full moon out tonight. I wonder if it was out this time last year the
last time, I was alone with John Cunningham. I can’t remember. It doesn’t seem
possible that I have survived until another July 9th. How I thought
it all ended for me that night.
9 July 1971 Friday
A year ago, today was the beginning of much
sorrow for me. How I lived another whole year, to this day, without John
Cunningham in my life, I will never know. I marvel how God sustained me. I
won’t record what happened on that day as it’s between me and my God. I know
now that if I can live through all that anguish, I can survive almost any sorrow that might be
I store for me in the years ahead. I only hope I proved myself worthy to God by
my endurance. Today I got up at 9 and it was a cooler morning for some reason although the high for the day
did reach 95 degrees. I wrote two letters today. One I sent to Sally Johnson in
Montana and the another to John Cunningham that I never sent. Yesterday I wrote
to Bob Wimberly. In the afternoon Brother Paul. Bates and Brother Troy came out
to Grandpa’s place as I wanted to
discuss church doctrine with them and learned more about the Church of Christ.
In the evening I drove Grandpa and Grandma into Littlefield for another revival
meeting with a lot of good singing and preaching. We didn’t get home until 10.
In the news Jim Morrison of the Doors died in Paris, France. I think he died
last Saturday on July 3rd but the news was only released today. I’m not as
upset about today as I had thought I’d be although I have been anticipating
this day for a long time. Old memories can wear razor thin a years’ time
10 July 1971 Saturday
I
couldn’t sleep as the heat was unbearable, so I got up to pray in the early
morning when I saw what appeared to be a light illuminating my bedroom. I had vision
that I was visited by an angel of the Lord God Almighty who said I was blessed
among men and shall be called Ben Israel Beth Shalom. Praise to the Lord ,
praise to thy mighty love. Oh, Wonderful matchless King of Glory. Cold hearted
souls, how can you turn your backs on the imploring of your loving God who
loved us so much that he sent him son to die for the salvation from our
miserable sins. Hosanna, Hosanna, and Praise Him Our Blessed Redeemer. I feel
transformed like I must try to be a better person and forsake sin and dedicate
myself to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I read the Bible for much of the day.
11 July 1971 Sunday
Today was a day of sweet fellowship. I went to Littlefield
this morning at 10:30 with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson to take the Lord’s
supper and take part in worship. After the service we all when to the Little
Field’s school cafeteria where the mothers of the church laid out a bountiful
spread. Afterwards at 2:30 we all went back to the Lord’s house for a feast of
gospel singing. I lead the song “Blessed Assurance” and it was the first time I ever led singing
at the front of the church. After the song fest we went home to the farm and
rested until it was time for the evening service. Today is the last night of
the revival meetings preached by Bro. Paul Bates our gospel evangelist. The
service was over at 8:30 and was a busy but plentiful Lord’s Day. How good it
feels to worship the Lord with those that love him too. I met sister Burke
tonight whose husband Brother Burke married my parents 25 years ago in Olton. I
wrote two letters today. One to Mom and one to Charline imploring them to
return to Christ’s church. The weather was warm at 95 degrees.
12 July 1971 Monday
Peter wrote, “ye are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; Ye should shout forth
praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” I
slept in late this morning and Grandma had to wake . In the evening I worked on
the Police Department paper I am going for the Garden Grove Historical Society, and I am half way through with reading and
copying information from the newspaper clippings the mayor gave me. In the
evening I went down to see my cousin Kay, but she wasn’t feeling well so I
didn’t stay long. It was a breezy day today that kept the temperature down
some. It was 95 degrees. In the mail I got a post card from Greg Troyer He’s
visiting relatives in Iowa for the summer. I also got letter from, Mom forwarding Don Dobmeier’s
manuscript award application to me for the historical society. In Mom’s letter
she says she not feeling well. She had her bladder test done but she didn’t mention the results. I read
some more from the Bible before going to bed. I think I must have come to the
farm to isolate myself from the world to
understand the laws of the Lord. The farm has been a refuge from much
wickedness so I can hide and study the Bible.
13 July 1971 Tuesday
I got up at 10:30 today. It was warm again but
at least the wind is blowing some to keep the warmth down. After lunch I worked
some more on copying the newspaper clippings on the formation of the Garden
Grove Police Department I was asked to write. By the evening I finished the
container of clippings, and I was so
glad . In the evening, I talked with Grandma to keep her company why Grandpa
was down at the gin. In the latter part of the evening, I wrote two letters.
One to my sister Charline instructing her about the church and another to her brother-in-law Tom Peavy begging
him and imploring him to come to salvation
to accept the gospel. I studied the scriptures
some more before going to bed. In the news the Selective Service’s draft
laws have still been unable to pass both houses of Congress. It is a blessing
for those who must still fight involuntary servitude. I have acted hateful
before to politicians like Governor Reagan . I pray Go will help e rid such
from my heart. I pray for forgiveness for those that trespass against me and
for me when I trespass against them. Oh, help me dear Lord in my hope for perfection
against wickedness. I have had a sharp pain in my chest this afternoon from
what I don’t know.
14 July 1971 Wednesday
I got up at 10 today. I dreamed all night long
of many people and places, of murders, and of lost friends. In the day I worked
on organizing my notes some but in the afternoon, I went with Grandpa up to the
Hart Camp Gin to play dominoes with him and his old cronies. In the
evening we went to church in Littlefield
. We studied Chapter 21 of the Book of ACTS
tonight. We got home at 10 and I read some before going to bed. I have
read all the Epistles except those written
by Paul so far. Chapter 12 of Revelations gives the history of the Church of
Christ. I have put off studying the letters of Paul since he never knew or
loved Jesus when he was alive but only became a Christian later. He still has a
twinge of hate in his letters that the
other Apostles do not possess. It is remembered above all things that God is
love.
15 July 1971 Thursday
I got up at 10:30 today and worked on my paper for
most of the afternoon. I finished he is beginning of the Garden Grove Police
Department as good as I’m going to do. If they wasn’t it any better, they can
do it themselves. In the evening, my cousin Kay Johnson called and asked
whether I wanted to go into Lubbock with her girl Cherie and her mother. I said
yest just to get off the farm for the evening. First, they went shopping, them
around 9:30 we all went to a nice restaurant called the Sizzling Sirloin. It
was very good especially the cheese bus. After that we went out to the airport
because Kay, Cherie, and Cherie’s mother are going to fly to Corpus Christi this
coming Tuesday and stay for a few days. They
bought their tickets and checked the flight schedule. We didn’t get back to
Hart Camp until 12:30. I told them ghost stories all the way back to the farm.
It turned out to be a nice day. The weather was cool in the morning, but it
warmed up to 95 degrees in the afternoon. God’s commandments are hard, but the
regards are sweet. I need to refrain from vile language and vile habits. I
received a letter from Cal-State Fullerton’s financial aid office turning me down for help with the tuition and suggested that I
contact the Federal Insured Loan Program.
16 July 1971 Friday
I got up
at 9:30 today but didn’t do anything all morning . My cousin Kay Johnson did
bring over her typewriter for me to use later on in the day. We didn’t get any letters
from anyone today either. I’m really disappointed that no one has written
to me even sent a post card, so I know
they were thinking of me. Not Mom, my sister, Tom Peavy, Kent Larsen, Craig Pugh,
Bob Wimberly or Sally Johnson. I feel sort of deserted and forgotten. In the
afternoon, I typed up a few pages of the first draft, but I’ve gotten to the
point that I am tired of it and need a break from it. I’m going to put it off
for a few days so it won’t get old and tiresome and then I can get a better
perspective. In the evening, my cousin called and asked whether I wanted to go
to the show or not and I certainly did in order to get away from the farm. So,
my cousins John Johnson and Kay and I went into Littlefield and saw “Valdez Is
Coming” which I didn’t care for. Afterwards we “cruised” down Littlefield’s
Main Street what little there is of it.
I haven’t had so much fun since I watched the cotton plants grow. Sarcasm if you
can’t tell. Still, it was good to get off the farm. The temperature was 100 degrees
today . I think I am going to go home to California around the 25th of July, God
willing. I have done all that I can do back here on my paper for the Garden
Grove Historical Society. Praise the Lord God.
17 July 1971 Saturday
I was up at 9:30 today and I drove Grandma
Johnson to go shop for groceries. We first drove into Amherst and not finding
anything there she wanted we drove in
Littlefield to shop at Piggly Wiggly. We were back on the farm around
11:30. I was born in Amherst and there’s not much left there anymore except a
small store, a bank, a hospital, and a few houses. The hospital is je only
thing that keeps that town alive. In the afternoon I wrote another letter to
Tom Peavy before going to the Gin at Hart Camp to play dominoes with Grandpa
Johnson. After that I didn’t do much else except in the evening except, I went
with Grandpa as he water, he orchard and later took Grandma Johnson down to
visit with my Aunt Pauline and cousin John. It’s funny to see Grandma Johnson
wearing my sandals I made in Craft Class when she is out walking around. She
said otherwise her bunion hut her. At night Grandma tried to call Mom and Dad but
no one answered the phone so they must of all been out. Before going to bed I
listened to Grandpa Johnson sing a couple of hymns in preparation for church
tomorrow. The weather was warm again at 99 degrees. The wind and dryness keeps
the humidity down. In the news President Nixon plans on going to Red China this
fall. I’m not as optimistic as I was 3 years ago about peace in Asia, but I still hope this trip will bring about
peace.
18 July 1971 Sunday
Last night I dreamed I had another angelic visitation
when 3 angels appeared before me seraphs
of the archangel Michael. Revealing that I should see many visions and see many
things. “Go up to Zion and shout to Israel
the Saints shall receive glory forever and ever. In the kingdom of New
Jerusalem.” Parise the angels of heaven and blessed be God’s messengers. This
Morning Grandma and Grandpa and I drove into Littlefield to attend church and take the Lord’s Supper. The service was
about how as Christians the spirit of
giving should be with us always. Holy,
Holy, Holy is the King of Angels.
19 July 1971 Monday
I woke to a cooler morning as the wind kept blowing
a gentle breeze all morning long. In the afternoon after eating a dinner of
fried fish, Grandma and Grandpa and I
drove over to the Yellow House Ranch to visit with Buddy and Joanne Huskey.
They are living on a very nice ranch, and it is something he always wanted to
do being around horses. He’s the foreman there. We just stayed for but a little
while, then we came on back to the farm. In the evening I went up to my uncle
and aunt J.W. and Pauline to retrieve
Grandpa’s bike that Pauline had borrowed t and then watched some TV . It was
cloudy and windy all day with a few sprinkles in the afternoon. Maybe it will
rain tonight. I hope so . We need it. 80 degrees. I finally got a letter from
Bob Wimberly today and I immediately wrote him back. I feel so isolated from
everyone here on the farm. I also got a small package sent by my sister Donna
with some school student about my college loan application. I hope I will get
it, Good willing.
20 July 1971 Tuesday
Two
years ago, the United States sent Apollo 11 to the moon and landed two men on
the surface. Neil Armstrong was the first man to ever step foot on the moon. I
watched the landing with Mom and Dad and the rest on the TV. I had just
returned from 10 days in Texas with my sister Charline and nephew James where we
stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. We flew that year back and forth. Charline was
unmarried and still living at home. My sister Donna was still married to Terry
Pierce. I had graduated from high school in June and was working during the summer for H & L Distributors where Dad worked. I was making $3 an hour
helping truckers unload their beer trucks. 1969 was a log hot summer and I
spent almost most constantly at John Cunningham’s home at 11671 Capri Drive in
Garden Grove. John was working that summer for “Pizza Man” as a delivery man. Some
of the hit songs from that I remember were my favorites like Jr. Walker’s “What
Does It Take to win Your Love for me,” Stevie Wonders’ “My Cherie Amour,” “the theme from Romeo and Juliette,” Three Dog Night’s “Easy
to Be Hard” and “Good Morning Starshine.”
It was the best summer of my life so far. Today it rained all morning long like a typical California drizzle . 70 degrees
and it was overcast, cloudy and a cold miserable day. I am homesick I guess for
California, I am tired of this isolation. I wish I could go home tomorrow .
21 July 1971 Wednesday
I didn’t
get up until 10:30 because it was a
long, long sleepless night last night. I seemed if it would go on forever. In
the afternoon, I rode Grandpa’ bike over to my uncle J.W’s place where he was
working on a well pump that burned out.
Grandpa was helping him with it. Later on in the day, I packed away a lot of my
stuff in anticipation of going back to California, so I won’t have to round them up at the last Moment.
In the evening we all went into
Littlefield to attend Wednesday Church service. We studied Chapter 22 of ACTS. I
love the hymn “Sing to me of Heaven” Back at the farm I didn’t do much but
watch TV and as some Life Magazines that Grandma Johnson had around the house.
The weather was cool and cloudy today 80 degrees. This has been the coolest
July I ever spent back in Texas. Last year when Summer class was over, I flew
back to Texas on July 24th to spend 10 day with Grandma and Grandpa before I had to be
back in California to register for my Sophomore year in August. While I was
back in Texas, my uncle and Aunt J.W. and Pauline Johnson took my cousin Kay
and I to see a play called “Texas that was performed in the Palo Doro Canyon which
was amazing. My friend Ralph Ludder took me to the L.A. Airport to fly back. He
was my best friend last summer. We sent a lot of that summer on the beach
building sandcastles and helping each other in our various trials .
22 July 1971 Thursday
I got up late at 11 today. I don’t know why I
slept in so late. In the afternoon, after dinner, I rode Grandpa’s bile over to
my uncle and Aunt J.W. and Pauline’s farm to see what Aunt Pauline was doing. We visited
for a while until my cousin Kay came in around 5. She told us all about her
trip to Corpus Christi and it really sounded like she had a lot of fun. I
didn’t do anything else for the rest of the day except watch D.H. Lawrence
“Sons and Lovers” on TV. I had to read the book for Freshman English. The
weather was cool for most of the day with a nice breeze coming in from the
south. There were plenty of thunderheads
all round us. The church teaches that we are God’s peculiar people, and
we are to refrain from the ways of the gentile. We are to avoid vile habits and
vile thoughts. We are not to swear for an idle tongue manifests Satan and not
God. We are not to partake of lewd behavior
such as dancing for immoral purposes. We should avoid hot drinks and
hard liquor . Wine is to be drunk in moderation. Smoking is an abominable
habit.
23 July 1971 Friday
I got up
at 10 today and it was cloudy with thunderheads all around us, but we never got
any rain out of them. I rode Grandpa’s bike over to my Uncle and Aunts where I visited
with J.W. And Pauline some and was
invited to have supper with them this evening so when Kay and John got off work
I went back and had supper with them. In
the evening at 7:30, my cousin Kay and I drove into Lubbock to go see a movie. First
however we went to the Lubbock Airport, and I bought my ticket for the return
to California. I’ll leave Lubbock at 8:10 and get home at 9:13, California
Time. My student confirmed ticket cost
$59. The show we went to see was called Willard. It was strange and about a boy
who raised rats to do diabolical things. His favorite rat was named Ben. It was
just an average movie. We got out of the show at 11:30 and we then drove around
the city. We went to a Taco Bell because
I wanted to see how they ran theirs. I was not impressed. Then we went to a bowling
alley and bowled a game. I hadn’t bowled
since Ralph Ludders and I used to go a year ago last June. It was fun
being with Kay, but I really don’t like bowling all that much. We didn’t get
back to the farm until 1:30. It was 85 degrees today.
24 July 1971 Saturday
I was up at 11 , tired from last night. After
our noon diner, I rode Grandpa Johnson’s bike over to my uncle and Aunts farm to see my cousin Kay. We went over to
Kay’s grandparents’ house to visit with Laura and Leonard Sullivan. I hadn’t visited
with them since I had been back. We stayed about an hour then we left because Kay had to get ready for work . I then
rode the bike all over the country road and went up to Hark Camp to get a drink
from the coke machine in the Gin co-op before riding back to the farm. There I
visited with Grandpa Johnson until 7 when Buddy and Joanne Huskey drove up from the ranch. Buddy came to see me before I
leave this Monday. I was sure glad to see them come up. They stayed until about
9 visiting with Grandma and Grandpa too. Buddy was always fond of them. It
doesn’t seem like three years since I
was with Buddy and his cowboy friend Boyd in Lubbock. It seems like 30 years
ago so much has passed and might as well
have been for all the things that have
changed since I was 17 years old. The
weather was cloudy and warm at 85
degrees. The cotton is high, and the maize is heading out but there’s no okra
yet of r black eye peas for me this year. In the news Miss Lebanon was crowned
Miss Universe.
25 July 1971 Sunday
I got up at 9 to get ready to go to church with
Grandma and Grandpa. The Littlefield meeting sated at 10:30 and was over by
noon. The morning service was on how to worship
Jesus better and the evening service was on the life of King David. I
will miss being in church with Grandma and Grandpa and singing acapella the
good old Gospel hymns. In the afternoon after dinner, I went over to my aunt
and uncle to see my cousin Kay before she had to go into work. I told her
that I will try to come back this November
for Grandma’ 50th Anniversary celebration. After she had to leave, I came
back to the farm and visited with Grandma
for the rest of the afternoon while Grandpa went down to the gin. In the
evening I went back up to J.W. and Pauline’s place to say my goodbyes to them.
Pauline had made some peanut brittle for me to take back with me to California.
It’s the best there is. The weather was warmer today than it has been since a
week ago at 90 degrees. It was lightening some to the north of us this night.
Tomorrow I’ll sleep in my own bed in California. I read in the “The Lord has
sworn and will not repent , thou my people are priests forever after the order
of Melchizedek” so there’s no need for an intermediary between us and God. I
need to be mindful of this.
26 July 1971 Monday
I woke up at6:30 this morning and it as cold
and dark as it was raining with an
electrical storm making a lot of noise. We left the farm around 7 for Grandma
and Grandpa to take me to the airport in
Lubbock. It’s about 40 miles from the farm to Lubbock. It rained on us the
entire way and it was a sad, lonely looking morning. I said goodbye to Grandma
and Grandpa and made my way into the airport after telling them I will see them
again in November. I left Texas on the Continental 8:10 flight and arrived in Los Angeles at 9:15 California
time where it was cold and overcast. My sister Charline was there with my
nephew Janes to pick me up to take back to Garden Grove. I was so glad to see
James. After I was home, I unpacked my
suitcases and tried to get things put a
way. I had to tell Mom all about the folks in Texas when she came in from
having X-rays taken of her back. In the
evening I took Mom’s car because the battery was down on the Ford, up to Taco
Bell to hear aloo the gossip there while I was gone. Karen Gramsted was there,
and we visited for a long time catching up. I told her I may come back to work
for Leo Waldman to cover a few shifts. I then left and went to Cypress for old
time sake to look around campus but didn’t see anyone I knew. I also felt like
I didn’t belong there anymore. So, I went over to Ralph Ludder’s place on
Holder where I stayed for about an hour
visiting. He wanted us to go to the campus of Cal State Fullerton tomorrow On
the way home, I detoured and went over to Capri Drive where John Cunningham
used to live, and my heart dropped when I saw unfamiliar cars in front of it
and I knew he’s gone for good and might as well be dead in my life. So, this is
how it ends. When I came home, Karen called me and wants me to work this
Wednesday and Saturday. Of course, I said I would as I need the money. I am
tired but I will rest in the love of the
Lord for in his arms there is comfort.
27 July 1971 Tuesday
I got up at 8 and straighten up my room while
waiting for Ralph Ludders to come over for us to go to Cal State Fullerton but I was tired of waiting for him so called
him and said I would meet him at Cypress. While there I visited with Mr. reeve
and Mrs. Fouste two of my favorite teachers at Cypress, but I never did see
Ralph in the Bernstein House. So, I called over there and he said something
came up and he couldn’t go today after all. Ralph often doesn’t follow through
on plans we make but oh well. So instead of going to Fuller ton I went back
home to Garden Grove at 2 and took a nap
until 6:30. I must have been really tired. I watched some TV because Woody
Allen was o the Steve Allen Show and I also watched Zero Mostel and Phil Silvers in A Funny Thing Happened on
the Way to the Forum.” It was really good,
but I do think Cypress performance last Spring was every bit as good if
not better. The movie was bogged down by the chariot chase at the end. My prejudice
I suppose. Cypress is growing and changing, and I remember in the fall of 1969
they hadn’t even planted grass or the Olive Trees in the new section that just
was completed in time for the semester. However, Cypress doesn’t feel like I
belong anymore. Still there are lots of and memories stored in those concept
and tile walls of the Bernstein House. There are lots of old ghost of things
past that still dwell there and, in my
heart, I know I did so love Cypress when I was there. The place was good to me
helped me grow up. The weather was overcast and muggy today at 80 degrees. I sent Grandma Johnson a
letter today saying I arrived safely and
thanked both Grandpa and her for all they have done for me. I am glad to be
back home but there’s more temptations to overcome here than being on the farm.
Oh Lord give me strength for me to overcome trials and tribulations of the
flesh.
28 July 1971 Wednesday
I got up
at 9 today and fixed myself some breakfast . When my sister Charline came over
with my nephew James, I took him to Magnolia Park for a while and then we went up to Cypress to locate my
sister Donna and Ralph Ludders who are both in Summer School and taking the
same Anthropology class. I accidently encounter Wendy Warner and we visited for
about an hour. She caught me up on all the gossip of the Bernstein House crowd
and I don’t think she is as enthralled with Kent Larsen as much as I think she
knows now she will be nothing but a friend to him. Besides that, he’s a Mormon
and that is kind of wacky. I would have liked to have stayed and visited some more
but I had to get James back home so I
could get ready to go into work at Taco Bell. I will have to get in touch with
her again real soon. I like Wendy and I think Kent is rude to call her his hag.
At Taco Bell I took Karen’s hours and worked with her brother Jim who took Vickie O’Neil’s place. I met the new
hire, a boy named Bob Thill. I worked from 7 hours from 3:30 until 10:30 and
showed Bob how to close up and turn off the fire pit out front. Around 6, Dad
came up to Taco Bell and asked me to
work tomorrow over at H & L Distributors. I hate that work unloading beer
trucks and I didn’t want to, but I almost had to . It ruined my whole evening thinking
about it. I am dreading it right now as I write it. I first worked there during
Easter Vacation of my senior High School year in 1969. Dad insisted I work
there over my summer before attending Cypress. It was excruciatingly hard work
and most of the drivers were tough working men who treated me like a nuisance
to be bossed around. The money was good but hardly worth it. Nothing is worth
working at place that makes you miserable. I finally was able to learn what summer
songs were popular here now that I am home. KHJ’s top ten songs are the Bee
Gee’s How Can You Mend A Broken Herat, Jean Knight’s Mr. Big Stuff, 5 Man
Electrical band’s Signs, The Grass Roots Sooner or Later, Three Dog Night’s
Liar, Mercy, Mercy Me the Ecology, Draggin the Line, Gladys Knight I don’t Want
to Do Wrong, The Doors Riders on the Storm, and Indian Reservation. I like John
Denver’s Take Me Home Country Road and BJ Thomas’ Mighty Clouds of Joy.
29 July 1971 Thursday
I was up at 6:30 to get ready for work. I had
to be down at H & L Distribution warehouse
by 8. The company distributes mostly Coors, and my neighbor Tom Horan is
the manager and Dad’s boss. I went with two men an unloaded 750 cases of beer
at 4 stops. We came back in at noon and then took another loaded truck out and
delivered the same amount of beer but in
5 stops. We were through by 3 and we stopped to eat before coming back to the warehouse
at 4, stinking of beer. I was only able to endure the work through God’s good
mercy that thus too shall pass, and it did. I came home after work and rested.
I was sore and still from all the lifting of cases of beer and moving kegs but in the evening, I went up to Cyprus to see why they haven’t sent me my diploma
yet. They simply said they haven’t gotten around to mailing them out yet. So, I
went over the Bernstein House and saw her hanging out in the house’s office and
we visited some more. Kent Larsen is still down in Southern Utah. After leaving
her I went to Taco Bell where I was going to close the store for Karen Gramsted,
but she said the party that she was going to go to was called off, so I just
went home. I have been reading Robert Heinlein’s “A Stranger in a Strange Land” lately. It’s pretty good. The weather was hot
and dry today at 90 degrees. I thanked the Lord for giving me the strength and
comfort for get through this day.
30 July 1971 Friday
Dad and I got into a fight this morning because
he wanted me to go into work this
morning and I told him no way was I going to work this morning with all that I have to do. Then
he got mad at me, and I said that if he is going too act that way then I am
never going down there to work at all. He can be such a baby at times. In the
afternoon I went over to Cal State Fullerton and turned in my student grant
loan application. Then I went to their library
and found out about the Orange Countiana contest which I want to submit
my Garden Grove Police department manuscript
to them. I stayed on the Fullerton campus for about an hour then came
home to Garden Grove and called Bob Wimberly
and asked him whether he wanted to go to the show or not. He did so we went to
see The Hellstrom’s Chronicles and McKenzie’s Break at the Titan Theater here across the street
from campus. The Hellstrom’s Chronicle was kind of good about insects taking
over the world . After the show Bob and sat and talked about theology until he had to go into work. Bob is the only
one of my friends who has a knowledge of theology as he once studied to be a
minister before he realized he was a homosexual. Afterwards I then went home. Bob confuses me at times.
He’s so smart and wise and yet he has no shame about being queer.
31 July 1971 Saturday
Today is my sister Charline and brother-in-law
Dennis Wach’s first anniversary. They were married in Westminster. I got up
this and didn’t do much for most of the afternoon. Dad had to go into work today
because of a railroad strike. I got a few more registration things taken care
of for Fullerton but other than that I
didn’t do anything until it was time to be going into work at Taco Bell at 4:30. I rode my sister Donna’s ten speed, and it was kind of warm out. I worked with
Karen Gramsted until she went home and then with the new kid Bob Thill until
closing at 12:30 It was a steady but rather slow night. Bob seems like a nice kid, still a
senior in high school. I heard from Karen that everyone is mad at Vickie O’Neil
because they think she was leading Jean Van Der Merghal on and now won’t go out
with him. Taco Bell drama. The weather was 90 degrees and warm and sunny. In the
news, the astronauts on the moon are riding around on a contraption I guess doing whatever they are supposed to be
doing up there. In San Juaquin Valley there are mosquitoes carrying sleeping
sickness which has no cure. It has plagued anyone as of yet . Yesterday a plane
crashed in Japan and killed 166 people who were on board.
AUGUST
1 August 1971 Sunday
I got up at 9 this morning to get ready for
church. The Church of Christ out here is located in Brea. Br. Jack Swain talked
today on the institution of the church. Afterwards I came home and ha some
lunch when Bob Wimberly called and wanted to go apartment hunting with him in Long Beach. He lives now in Anaheim but
wants to move. I had nothing else to do so I went. We went to Nancy and Sandy’s
apartment first in Long Beach, then looked up in the paper for some rental ads.
Nancy and Sandy Burns are real nice
people even if lesbians. I had to be back by 5 to get ready for evening service
but still I didn’t get to church on
time. The evening talk was on worshipping God which was given by brother Jack’s son. After
church I went up to Taco Bell to see Karen Gramsted and Jean who were working
tonight. We talked for a while. Karen wants to have another beach party a week
from this coming Tuesday, After Taco Bell I went over to Wendy Warner’s to see
if they were all right. Charlotte Smith and Michael were over having dinner, so I didn’t stay long. At home I
watched Henry VIII and His Six Wives . The first episode was on Catherine of Aragon.
2 August 1971 Monday
Two years ago on a Saturday, John Cunningham
and I went to San Diego and spent the whole day at the zoo and in Old Town. We
left at 8 in the morning and stayed until 6. It was such a nice trip. Today I
got up at 9 and in the afternoon around noon I went to Cal State Fullerton
where I turned in my application for a loan at my appointed time, I also paid
my first installment for the dorms of $210. I stayed at Fullerton until 3 then came home to go pick up my check. I got paid $24 at Taco
Bell. Around 6 I went to the Anaheim Fox Theater and saw “What’s the Matter
With Helen” by myself. Debbie Reynolds and Shelly Winters were in it. It was a
real good murder and suspense type movie.
I didn’t see anyone today and nothing else much happened. In the news the
United States is going to back Red China for admissions into the United Nations
and the astronauts are getting ready to come home from the moon.
3 August 1971 Tuesday
I got up at 10:30 today. I didn’t do much . In
the afternoon I bought some color felt pens and messed around some with them doodling.
. It was hot today. 94 degrees. Charline and James were over for much of the day. I went in at 3:30 for my
doctor’s appointment for my medical to attend Fullerton. He filled out
everything except for the small pox shot and the T.B tests. I need to have them
done at Cal State Fullerton. In the evening I stayed home and taped songs off
the radio. I didn’t go to the Garden Grove Historical Society meeting tonight although
I should have. I watched instead “First
Tuesday” on TV and the movie “Maid of Salem” with Fred McMurray and Claudette Colbert
in it. I received my Associate of Arts degree from Cypress in the mail today.
4 August 1971 Wednesday
I got up late today because I was tired for, I
didn’t sleep well last night. It was too warm in the house. In the afternoon I
took my loan application to Great Western Bank in Buena Park and then went bike
riding for the rest of the afternoon. I went over to Ralph Ludders then over to Taco Bell to visit with the kids
there. In the evening I called Craig Pugh to see if her was back from Utah and
he was. We talked for a while then I watched TV some. Donna has turned her back
on me after being born again. She has taken up smoking again. Cigarettes are a
deadly immoral curse and all that partake are slaves to Satan himself, so the
church teaches us. If you harm your body which God has create for your selfish benefit,
are you not mocking God the Lord Himself saying I will destroy your temple. Oh,
how evil and vile are the ways of tobacco that would make slaves of our souls.
I wish Donna would cast off this filthy habit.
KHJ 93’s top ten songs for this week are Jean
Knight’s Mr. Big Stuff, Signs, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Mercy, Mercy Me
the Ecology, Liar, I Don’t Want to Do Wrong, Riders on the Storm, The Grass
Roots Sooner or Later, Chicago’s Beginnings.
5 August 1971 Thursday
I got up at 9:30 today to watch the draft
lottery. December 4 was number one in the military draft pick. Craig Pugh who
is the only one I know who is in this year’s lottery was number 258 which is
pretty good, and he should be safe. I’m number 165 from last year. If Congress
doesn’t pass the draft bill by tomorrow night, we will be without a draft for
about two months while Congress is on vacation. Then the Selective Service will
induct people like John Cunningham who have lost their student deferment. It is
a horrible mess to live under. In the afternoon Craig Pugh and I went to San Clemente,
but the beach was too crowded there. We just stayed about an hour then went to
San Juan Capistrano. It was hot today. 94 degrees and humid too. Later we took
the Pacific Coast highway up to Golden west and drove to Taco bell for a Pepsi. I didn’t get home until around
6. Charline and Dennis were at the house and had barbeque hamburgers with us. I
taught James how to blow bubble out of a pipe today. Charline sure doesn’t look
like she could carry the baby until
October. I wish the baby would be a Virgo, but it will probably be a Libra.
6 August 1971 Friday
I got up at 9:30 today but didn’t do much this
morning. In the afternoon I took some newspaper clippings over to Craig Pugh
and the went over to see Bob Wimberly in Long each. There I spent most of the
afternoon helping him shop for things for his new apartment. We went over to
look at it and then over to Nancy and Sandy Burn’s place. We didn’t stay long
and then we went back over to Bob’s house, and we talked about a lot of
things before I went home at midnight.
Tomorrow I’m going to help Bob clean up his new apartment. It’s pretty nice,
roomy, and only about two blocks from the beach. He’s renting it for $99 a
month. The weather was hot and sticky again at 95 degrees. This time last year
I bought a motorcycle for $50, and I was hanging around Ralph Ludders a lot who
had a motorcycle. We would go to the beach almost every day and also to San Diego. He was engaged to Brenda,
so we double dated some . I was out of
school for the summer, but he was attending Cerritos College. I used to ride on
the back of his motorcycle to go with him over there to hang out. I was working at Taco Bell pretty steadily back then.
7 August 1971 Saturday
Today was a busy day. I went over to Bob Wimberly’s
house so we could gather up everything we needed to clean this new apartment in
Long beach. His new address is 347 Hermosa not far from Bixby Park and within
walking distance of the beach. We worked for about 3 and a half hours,
scrubbing floors, lining drawers, hanging drapes, and laying the rug. In the
evening we went over to Nancy’s place and stayed until 10:30 at night. We ate
dinner there of barbequed hamburgers. On
the way home Bob and I got into a terrible argument over race. It was
ridiculous for we both though the same that there’s no such thing. But I
apologized and said I was sorry for fighting and asked for his forgiveness. If
the Saints cannot show humility and compassion, how can we expect to be a light
unto the Gentile? God’s peculiar people must submit to all the abuses of the
Gentile for Christ’s sake and worship God in a way that is pealing to Him and
be an example to those outside of the law. The weather was cooler in Long Beach
at 85 degrees.
A
favorite song right now is Joni Mitchell’s song Carey off her Blue Album.
8 August 1971 Sunday
I got up this morning to attend Church in Brea.
My back was a little stiff from all the work I did at Bob Wimberly’s yesterday.
The service was a talk on the institution of the church. When I came home, I cleaned
the kitchen for Mom and then went to my room to lay down some and listen to
music. Mom and Dad were with my uncle and Aunt Milton and Marie Williams trying
out their new boat. My sister Donna was at work. As they day went on my back got
sorer and stiffer until I could hardly mover without a sharp pain jabbing me in
the middle of my lower back. When Mom came home, she helped me get up for I
couldn’t unassisted and she called Dr. Delille’s office for some pain pills,
She went and got the prescription and they helped some. I wasn’t in as much misery as I was before, but I still
ached. I watched the Anne Boleyn episode of the King Henry VIII series on his wives.
The weather was hot again at 95 degrees. Oh Lord have mercy on us when we are afflicted.
You are my hope and strength.
9 August 1971 Monday
I got up this morning, feeling a little better.
I guess from the pain pills. In the morning, my sister Charline came over with
Dennis and my nephew James for most of the day. Mom got her new glasses today
and my sister Donna went in for a physical. I had some spaghetti for lunch and
fried okra for dinner. I went to see Dr. Delille this afternoon. He just said
my pain was from a muscle spasm. I don’t know why I am prone to them. Bob Wimberly
called, and I explained why I couldn’t help him moving in today. In the evening
I packed away my old magazines, newspapers, and other paraphernalia I want to
save which I can’t take with me when I
move out. There is nothing in the news, at least I don’t think there is. The
weather is hot and dry again at 95 degrees. Th pain in my lower back seems like
someone has me in a tight grip and is kicking me in the ribs. If I lay down or
sit in one position too long, I get a terrible cramp there. My Uncle and Aunt
Milton and Marie are leaving this Wednesday to go up to Mount Shasta. I think Mom
and Dad are going to join them around the 21st. I’d like to take care
of Milton and Marie’s house while they are gone. It has a nice pool.
10 August 1971 Tuesday
I was up
at 9:30 to get ready for work. My back was sore, but the pain pills pretty well
took care of the painful ache. I went into Taco Bell at 11:30 and worked until
4:39 with Violet and then with my cousin Larry Fagan. Marry is being accused of
things he didn’t do by Mickey like taking money from the till. Taco Bell is
starting to become a lace of intrigue and conspiracy since Leo Waldman put
Mickey in charge of the crew. I can’t believe the power struggle going on in that
dinky little joint. Karen and Jim Gramsted came up to visit for a while and I visited with them before I had to go
home. There I called Craig Pugh up and asked if he wanted to go to the movies.
He did so we went to the Warner Drive-In
and saw a triple feature “THX1138”,
“Marooned”, and “Battle Beneath the Earth.”
THX was the only good one but we talked and goofed around during much of
the features. We didn’t get out of the drive-in until 2 in the morning. The
weather was hot and humid gain at 95 degrees. In the news Northern Ireland is
on the verge of a civil war.
11 August 1971
Wednesday
I had a strange and mysterious phone call this
afternoon which has upset me for the rest of the day. When I came home from
work at 4:30 Mom said while I was at Taco Bell , somebody named John wanted to
speak to me. Mom said he spoke awkwardly and strangely as if he was on dope or
sick. I had no idea who it could have been because the only John I know is John
Cunningham and he’s moved away. I had a strange feeling that it was John
Cunningham and that he needed my help or to speak to me, but I wasn’t there to
take his call. He told Mom he would call back, but he never did. The not
knowing is the worst part. If it was John, what does he want? Does he miss me? Oh,
Thou who knows
all things, clarify this mystery . I worked
today from 11:30 to 4:30 with Violet. We talked about how Mickey is trying to get
my cousin Larry Fagen in trouble. I mailed a record back to my cousin Kay
Johnson in Texas which she had asked me to do a long time again My nephew
James, Charline and Dennis were over for most of the day. I saw Dennis’ half-brother
Tom Peavy some today also when he came
over to see Dennis, The weather was hot again at 90 degrees, Only If I had been
home to have answered the phone.
12 August 1971 Thursday
I woke up this morning still slightly sore and
stiff. I didn’t even get up until noon. Bob Wimberly called and asked me over to
have someone to visit with while he was working on his new apartment. I was
over in Long Beach for most of the rest of the day until 6. At home in Garden
Grove, my sister Charline and Dennis were for dinner and Mom fixed fried fish.
My sister Donna had a date tonight and borrowed Mom’s car. I played with my
nephew James some until they left at 9
tonight. I had a headache for most of the day. Almost like eyestrain although I
hadn’t been reading any. I called Craig Pugh up and we visited for a while and
just talked about life in general. I really like Craig even if his Mormon Mom
does not like him spending so much time with me. I still don’t know who called
me yesterday and it’s been on my mind so much. Maybe it was a prank, The
weather was cooler today at 85 degrees but it’s still humid though. It’s a lazy
summer environment with sunny skies with nothing much today. Some of the songs
out right now that I like are Joni Mitchell’s Carrie, John Denver’s Country
Road, Joan Baez’s The Night They Tore Old Dixie Down, Rod Stewart’s Someone
Like You and Carol King’s Far Away.
13 August 1971 Friday
It
was a strange day today. This morning at 10, Craig Pugh called me to do something,
and he went with me Cal State Fullerton for some information on the selective
service draft and for counseling. I wanted to know whether it was a good ideal
or not to drop my student deferment since my draft lottery number is 165. They
advised me to wait util October then decide. If I do drop it, I wouldn’t have
to worry but for two months instead of for a whole year. After that we went
over to the dormitories off of Nutwood and Commonwealth to see what they were like.
I wasn’t too impressed. In the afternoon after taking Craig home I was driving
around to go buy some oil for the Ford
when I saw my old high school friend Larry Jaeger that I hadn’t seen I ages. He
used to be my best friend in 1968 before I met John Cunningham my senior year. He
filled me in on all the gossip on my old high school friends. Strangely enough
all the kids I knew at Rancho like Gilbert Silva, Randy Koller, Bob Belcher,
Fred Townsend, and Bill Lyons are all in the military either having been
drafted or volunteered. Jaeger said he is going into the army in the fall and
John Cunningham will probably be drafted
now that he has lost his deferment. That just leaves Jerry Smith of all
my high school friends that aren’t in the military. In the evening I was
disappointed that Craig didn’t want to go to the movies with me, so I went by
myself and saw “Summer of ‘42”. It was very charming. The weather is finally
cooling off now at 80 degrees.
14 August 1971 Saturday
I got up at 11 this morning and didn’t do much
but watch some TV and read a bit from the newspaper. Mom and Dad went shopping
for most of the morning for things they will need on their trip. They’re going
to spend a week with my Uncle and Aunt Milton and Marie up at Mount Shasta starting the 20th. Bob Wimberly called today and asked if I ‘d come over
tomorrow after church and visit for a while. Also, he asked if I would stay in his
place while he goes on his trip , to
look after the place some I guess while he is away. I said I would. It will be
a good time to start writing again the paper on the Garden Grove Police
Department that I have been putting off. In the evening , Ji Gramsted called
and asked if I’d come into work and take Bob Thill’s place because he doesn’t
feel well. I said I would because I could use the extra hours. I worked 6 hours
from 6:30 to 12:30 with my cousin Larry Fagen. Taco Bell is really falling
apart now, I hear. It has rodents and cockroaches which it never had when I
worked steady and kept it clean. Also, I heard that money is missing again. I’m
glad I am just working there temporarily , filling in for people. It was 85
degrees but very humid.
15 August 1971 Sunday
I got up at 8:30 to get ready to go to church in
Brea, I was tired, but my back wasn’t hurting anymore. After attending the
Church of Christ, I went over to Bob Wimberly’s apartment in Long Beach liked he asked me to do. I talked with him
while he put a few kitchen items away and I helped him straighten up his living
room. His apartment is starting to look nice now I talked him into going to
church with me this evening and he was not impressed with how dull it seemed to
him. He did enjoy the singing. Afterwards we went back to over to his place and
we watched an episode of King Henry and His Six Wives, This one was about Jane
Seymour. It was ate when the program was over and I too tired to drive all the
way home to Garden Grove, so I spent the night over at Bob’s. There was plenty
of room for he had already moved a couch into the front room. I know he would
have shared his bed, but I was not comfortable with that in case he got the
wrong idea. The weather was warm and humid
in Long beach. It was hazy but not cloudy. 85 degrees. In the news
President Nixon finally agreed to a Price and Wage Freeze to control inflation
but only for 90 days. I enjoyed church today even if Bob didn’t. Oh, wondrous love.
Oh, help me live that I might abide with
thee and not in sin.
16 August 1971 Monday
I slept over at Bob Wimberly’s apartment on
Ramona in Long Beach until 11 . I left
for Garden Grove as soon as I was u At home, I had to pick up Bruce Peavy, my
sister Charline’s kind brother n law for
her as she was going to look after him while his mother Janet worked. I then
called everyone up about the Beach Party, but I couldn’t get a hold of Wendy Warner. I
was kind of worried about her because no one seemed to be able to get a hold of
her either. Jerry Smith returned from his cross-county trip her took for the
summer. Anyway, I took $50 out of the bank that I am going to loan to Bb Wimberly
before going into work at Taco Bell. I worked from 3:30 to 10:3- and it was a
very hectic night for a Monday. Mickey
and I squared over the fact that I thought that she a low and conniving woman.
She had caused so much turmoil at Taco Bell
that you can’t believe and is uncalled for. She is also out to get my
cousin Larry Fagen fired. I think she is plain vicious. I got paid today $25 and
saw that I had a nickel raise. The S.O.B. gave me a raise now that I’ve quit instead of the
whole time I worked there. Anyway Violet , came up late in the evening and Vickie O’Neil, Bob Thill and I told Violet
straight out that we don’t like what’s going on down here. Because Mickey is on
a power trip. Violet quite agreed but she left her keys in the locked office, so we had to call Mickey to come down as she
is the only one with keys to the office. Later I saw Violet and Mickey setting together in the same car. I hope they
weren’t conspiring together because it certainly isn’t worth working down here
anymore if there isn’t any trust. I’m glad I am out now, The weather is hot and humid at 89 degrees
17 August 1971 Tuesday
Today seemed like a long day. I got up at 8 to
get ready for Bob Wimberly to come over after he got off his graveyard shift at
Tic Toc Market in Anaheim. He borrowed Dad’s Ford pickup, and I helped him move
his dining room set from his old apartment at 506 North Lemon in Anaheim to his
new place in Long Beach. Afterwards he drove me back to Garden Grove to return
the tuck and in the afternoon, I ran around buying junk for the party tonight. O
bought three cases of coke and pop and some other party stuff. I spent about
$13 in all including the gas for all the running around I did. I picked Craig
Pugh up and then we went to get Bob Thill. We were at the Bolsa Chica
Beach around 5 and my high school friend
Larry Jaeger was already there with a
friend of his. Karen Gramsted and her three cousins came right after I arrived, So we sent up the food
and when Nick Kelsey came, we helped him put up these tie-dyed army surplus
parachutes we used as tents. My cousin Larry Fagan never came with the firewood,
and I was so mad because I had to go all the way back to Garden Grove to get some for the fire rings. Earnie Sauter
the arrived along with my sister Donna and her new boyfriend Jack. Nelson Sage brought a bunch of hard
liquor for mixers. Then kids I didn’t even know
joined us so there was quite a
few of us there listening to music on the portable boom box radio someone
brought and playing in the water and sand. The party started to break up around
10 when Jim Gramsted, Jean Vander Merghal and a friend of their came after they
closed up Taco Bell but by midnight the party was over. Bob Thill went home
with Karen Gramsted’s crowd. It was 12:30 when Craig Pugh, Ernie Sauter, Donna, Jack,
and I cleaned up the mess and packed out what was left. Craig left with Ernie Saunter,
and I drove home alone by myself kind of depressed because everyone seemed to
have had a great time but me. I’ll never have another beach party and I don’t care if I see any of those kids
again, especial Craig for leaving without me. They don’t give a damn about me.
I suppose none of them ever did. I am just disgusted and depressed.
18 August 1971
Wednesday
I slept
in until 11:00 as I was worn out from yesterday’s fiasco of a party. In the
afternoon, I went through my check book to balance it and I have $24 in it.
This is the beginning of my new fiscal year for my checking account. I also cleaned out my
car and vacuumed the sand that was tracked in. I also went up to Taco bell to
give Karen Gramsted her glasses that she had left behind at the party. She said
she did lose her watch however when she went off with some dud to make out last
night. I had to go not work at 3:30 and worked until 10:30 with Vickie O’Neil. Mickey
sure was nice to us kids today when I came in. I hope she came to her senses
about being so bossy. It was a nice steady night that made the time pass
quickly. Nelson Sage came up for a while to visit . He said he lost a lot of
booze at the party last night but there was nothing I could do about that. In
the news the labor unions are giving President Nixon a hard time about his new economic policies
freezing wages. I don’t like that the government can still raise taxes but not salaries. The weather was very nice
today 80 degrees although it feels like there’s
a change coming in the wind.
19 August 1971 Thursday
I was up at 10 today as that I had gone to bed
early at midnight last night. There is a change in the wind for me as that
events and actions are swirling around me. I seem to be caught in a whirlwind
that I cannot control or know of what
manner I am propelled. My life at Cypress seems do long ago now and the friends
there are fading away and yet nothing has come to replace them. I had high
hopes that Craig Pugh and I might become as close as John Cunningham and I were
but that is unlikely now he’s heading off to Utah to attend school. I feel kind
of lost right now in some type of transitioning. Anyone who thinks they can
control their fate is a fool. Life unfolds before us and one can only act upon and
heed the warnings he is given to channel his actions like a stream going into
the direction of his destiny. I am so confused by my feelings and how to
overcome temptations but in God’s own
good time I suppose it will be revealed to me how and once again I’ll now in
what direction I am headed. It is my desire to serve God the benefactor of all our happiness and who
sent his son to redeem us from our sins.
20 August 1971 Friday
A year ago,
I was still working with John Cunningham at Taco Bell, and we had made plans to
go to Knotts Berry Farm, but he never called and stood me up. He was always
standing me up. Anyway, I was angry and called him to tell him want I thought
of him, but he cooled me down and asked me to gout out for a drive with him. I
knew from the tone of his voice that this was really it. The end. He came by
and picked me up and we went up to Cypress and we walked along the Piazza
overlooking the duck pond where we stopped to have a serious talk. John said we
should split for a year and not see each other during that time but in my gut,
I knew it really was for permanent. However, I was weary and so tired of
begging to be with him that I simply agreed. He took me home and it was the last
time John, and I ever rode in his Karma Ghia again. The next few months were
pure hell for me as I felt so empty not being with him and lowly but a year
later it doesn’t hurt as much but still, I have a small bruise on my heart. I slept
in very late today . Mom and Dad left on the vacation to join my Uncle and Aunt
Milton and Marie at Mount Shasta. My neighbors Tom and Jean Horan went with
them. In the afternoon I went shopping for groceries for my stay at Bob Wimberly’s
next week and the went to work at Taco Bell at 4. I worked with Vickie O’Neil
and Jim Gramsted until 8 when Jean Vander Merghal came to take my place as I was tired of
working. I brought Jim a cake and some ice cream for his birthday which is
tomorrow. The weather is warm at 85 degrees. He will turn 17 years old.
21 August 1971 Saturday
I was up early today around 9 to round up all
that I will need to pack to stay over at Bob Wimberly’s place in Long Beach. I
left at 3:30 after Donna left herself
for work. Over at Bob’s I tidied up the place and packed away the food I
brought in Jerry Smith’s ice chest since there’s not an icebox in the apartment
yet. Bob won’t return until next Saturday,
so I’ll be alone here for a week. Bob left me a check to pay me back the
$50 I had loaned him. I went out and bought some stationary today so I could
write some letters. Now I have no excuse to not write people. In the evening I
worked on paper stain glass designed window I am making for Bob’s kitchen widows to a=dd some
color to the place. There wasn’t anything special on TV, so I went to bed
around 11:30 after the news. I like being out on my own. I wonder how dormitory
life will be like. A new and exciting experience, I hope. While putting things
away I came across Bob’s stash of men’s health and fitness magazines along with
some male nudie magazines. He must have had a trunk full. How I have sinned in
the flesh. Lord, please love this sinner. The weather here in Long Beach is
cool being not far from the ocean. 75 degrees.
22 August 1971 Sunday
I woke up late from sleeping in a strange place
I presume. I didn’t go to church at all today
although I studied dome of the Bible and listened to Handel’s Messiah. I
also finished the art work I was doing for Bob Wimberly in the afternoon. I put
on a load of washing of bed linen for I
like a clean bed . After cleaning the apartment , I went home to Garden
Grove to gather up a few things I need ,
like my own pillow. While at home I watched TV for most of the evening
especially the fourth episode of King Henry VIII which was on Queen Anne of
Cleves, my favorite of his wives. My sister Donna isn’t staying home lone anymore
as she is having Linda, a girl from her work spend the week with her. They both
want to go on a diet together. Around 11 at night I drove back over to Long
Beach where the weather was cool and breezy at 80 degrees.
23 August 1971 Monday
I got up at 10:30 feeling stiff from sleeping
on the floor. To remedy this in the afternoon I brought in this wire spring bed
so at least I’ll be off the ground. After having cleaned up the place, I went
home to Garden Grove. Donna and Linda were gone already to the beach. My sister
Charline and Dennis were over to get their dogs they had left at the house while they were at
Jean Horan’s cabin at Arrowbear this
last weekend. I called Ralph Ludders and Jerry Smith to see if they would go
with me to Cal State Fullerton, but they were busy. I was disappointed for I
didn’t want to go by myself, but I did anyway. At the college I had my smallpox
inoculation and a Tuberculosis skin test at the Student Health Center in the Letters and Science Building. It only
cost a $1. I have to come back on Wednesday for the results. While on campus I
went to the Office of Admissions, and I
talked to an evaluator about my science requirements which I was worried about.
They accepted my 8 units from Physical Geography and Anthropology for my
physical and biological science requirements. I was so relieved praise the Great God. I was afraid I might
have had to take Chemistry and Biology for my science lab requirements. After
leaving Fullerton I drove back to Long Beach and did another tissue paper stain
glass window design and watched from TV. There’s something important in the
news but I can’t remember what it is to
write about it. Maybe it was the police shoot out in Hawthorne with some of
Charles Manson’s followers
24 August 1971 Tuesday
I was up early today at 8 because my stomach
was so upset that I couldn’t sleep any longer. When I was up, I tried to work
some on the Garden Grove Police Department write up, but I didn’t get very far
with it. I went for a walk today to explore the neighborhood and went down
Ocean Boulevard walking until I came back to Ramona Street at noon. It was a
cool breezy day so back at the apartment
I fell back to sleep and slept until
Sandy Burns and Nancy came over at 6:30
to visit with me. They just stayed for a little while and then I watched some TV . I watched a
special called “the City That Waits to Die”
which was about the big earthquake that is supposed to strike San Francisco.
I’ve written 3 letters this week. I wrote to Grandma Johnson, to my cousin Kay
Johnson, and to Sally Johnson who is still in Missoula Montana. Things fell up in
the air and floating around me as that I
feel like my life is in transition and noting has solidify as of yet. In the
news last Sunday George Jackson of the Soledad
Brothers was shot and killed at San Quinton Prison along with 3 prison guards and 2 other prisoners
who were in the escape attempt. It was Jackson’s brother who was killed at the
San Rafael shoot that killed that judge there. Angela Davis was indicted for
supplying the guns for that shoot-out.
25 August 1971 Wednesday
I was up
at 10:30 this morning and I cleaned up the apartment some before going home to
Garden Grove. I tried to contact Jerry Smith and Ralph Ludders again but to no avail. So, I went again to Cal State
Fullerton by myself where I finished my
medical examination. My TB test showed negative, and my smallpox shot I guess
is going to take. There were lots of kids milling around on campus probably
checking things out as I was. When I came back to Bob Wimberly’s apartment in
Long Beach, I worked some more on the police department paper as this weighs heavy on me because of
my commitment and that I cannot get interested in the subject. I’m afraid
without God’s help I will fail in completing it. Nothing else much happened
today. I just contented myself with relaxing
at Bob’s apartment , listening to his wonderful collection of classical
music. Music sweetens the soul The weather here in Long Beach seems to be
cooler and breezier than Orange County. It was 80 degrees today. I must take
inconsideration that I am only about 3 blocks from the Pacific Ocean. I also
went through Bob’s collection of male magazines and photos again that I seem
drawn too. I felt melancholic for most
of the day as I am so lonesome as I have no friends any more like John Cunningham
or Craig Pugh whole could cool this lonesome humor. At least I have consolation
in the love of God and my one true friend Jesus Christ.
26 August 1971 Thursday
Today I was up at 9:30 and then cleaned up Bob Wimberly’s
apartment by doing some dishes and sweeping. I left in the afternoon, and I am
not going to spend the night there but rather at home in Garden Grove. Back
home I called Jerry Smith and we talked awhile about his trip to Washington
DC and New York City over the summer. I
guess he had a fantastic time. Later I spent some time over at Ralph Ludders
where I saw his sisters Pam and Vickie, and Mrs. Ludders was over visiting him
and Brenda. They haven’t changed and are
still good people even if Republicans. I feel like I am coming down with a cold
or something as I do not feel well at all. The weather is warm at 85 degrees. Oh,
how I can’t wait for the birth of my sister Charline’s baby. I hope she names
her Elizabeth. I love little James about all earthly creatures. He is the one
love of my life. If it pleases God, I hope and fervently pray that he grows up to be a strong, kindly Christian
so that his immortal soul shall live in heaven with those who love him
dearly.
27 August 1971 Friday
I was up
at 10 and by 11 Ralph Ludders came over and I went with him too see his doctor about
the physical he have to have for his
college registration. Later in the after I went back to Long Beach to fix up the apartment some before Bob Wimberly
returns. In the evening Nancy and Sandy Burns
had some of their lesbian friends over a Bob’s place for a spaghetti
dinner and they asked me to join them, and I did. I mainly helped with serving
the dinner so the girls could enjoy their company. I had never been around this
many lesbians and they were fun and seemed like to have had a good time and
were nice to me as I think they thought I was Gay. Sandy served oysters also
and I was embarrassed by all the crude jokes that were made about them. The
dinner party was nice, but I wasn’t feeling all that well like I’m coming down with a cold. God forbid. Anyway, the party
lasted until 11:30 then after everyone departed, I locked up the
place and came back to Garden Grove. When I came home, I saw that Mom and Dad
were home from their vacation and were already in bed. The weather is warm inland,
but cool and breezy near the ocean. 80 degrees.
28 August 1971 Saturday
I woke up at 9 today and got up. Mom and Dad
went shopping for most of the afternoon. My sister Charline, Dennis, and nephew
James were over today. I played some with James . Dad had bought him a turtle
for pet. Charline said that if the baby is a girl, she will name her Denise
Elizabeth and if it’s a boy Dennis Ray
Wachs. I didn’t do much this morning except in the afternoon Ralph Ludders, and
I went up to Cal State Fullerton to look
around campus, really just for something to do. Back in Garden Grove we went to
the Magnolia Cemetery as I had never shown it to him before and showed him all the pioneer graves, I had
done my report on. Before going home, we talked
awhile about life, and I reminded him
of his duty to God. I told him about my angelic visitation vision and
the glory that waits the faithful. I
hope to bring him to God’s kingdom for his and Benda’s sake. In the evening
Dennis and Charline had barbequed
chicken with us we watched The Unsinkable
Molly Brown which was rather entertaining.
The weather is war, again with a mild Santa Ana Wind condition bring the heat
down through the canyons. It was 95 degrees. I have to go on a diet again. I am
at 175 pounds when I should only weigh
160 at the most. With God’s help I shall not fail.
29 August 1971 Sunday
I went to Church in Brea this morning. I led this
hymn, “Praise Him Praise Him Jesus our Blessed Redeemer. Heavenly portals loud
with hosanna ring. Hail him Hail him, highest archangels in glory. Praise Him Praise
Him Prophet Priest and King Christ is
coming Over the world victorious. Power and glory unto the Lord belong. Praise
him Praise Him Tell of his excellent greatness. Praise Him Praise Him ever in
joyful song. This afternoon when I was
ready to drive over to Long Beach to Bob Wimberly’s apartment, I saw John
Cunningham on Chapman driving his Karma Ghia towards his house. A wave of regret
and morose engulfed me but soon I put it behind me. What is done is done. God’s
glory needs to be manifested in righteousness. There is no time for sorrow only rejoicing. I stayed at the apartment on
Hermosa and waited for Bob and Gary Bassin to come home which they did at 10. Nancy and Sandy Burns came over also and we talked about nothing “and threw our empty glasses down.”
Sandy is leaving for Pennsylvania to go to school.
30 August 1971 Monday
I got up late at 11. Ralph Ludders came over in
the afternoon and we went to Cal State Fullerton to look at Othry Hall, the college dorms.
Ralph and I were shown around the place by this very nice girl. She gave me a
much better perspective of what dorm life would be like. The College catalog stated
that Othry Hall can accommodate 561 married student s in the two-co-ed
residence hall. Rooms are four-person occupancy, and each room has its own private bath. The buildings are air
conditioned and carpeted. Food is served in the College Commons on campus. The
rest of the afternoon, before Ralph had to leave, we talked about religion . I
am trying to bring the love of Jesus Christ
to him, but I don’t seem to be reaching him. He is doubtful and
skeptical. He isn’t willing to accept God’s salvation plan . He is searching
though and hopefully God will give Ralph a sign , one of love. I am failing in
my missionary efforts to bring people to
the Church of Christ. I don’t understand
the general lack of interest in God’s word. My sister Donna fell off her ten
speed today and she is really banged up
and hurt badly, especially with cuts to her legs. The weather was warm today.
85 degrees.
31 August 1971 Tuesday
I got up at 11 today. In the afternoon Jerry
Smith came over to go over to Cal State Fullerton. I am taking care of my
nephew James, so I took him with us. After checking out the campus we came back
to Garden Grove and Jerry left so I could take James to the Magnolia Park on
the corner of Magnolia and Orangewood where James likes to swing on the swings
if I push him. My sister Charlie had a dentist appointment, and my sister Donna
was really laid up with her cuts and is all wrapped in bandages. She won’t be
able to go into work all this week, My brother-in-law
Dennis Wachs is thinking of changing
jobs because he may be laid off
where he works now. I heard from my cousin Larry Fagan Mom, Aunt Bonnie,
that Karen Gramsted finally quit Taco
Bell . I guess she found another job. Sweet Karen was quite a woman and we
worked together for nearly a year and a half. In the evening Jerry Smith and I
took in a show though I had seen both of
them before. We went to the Lincoln Drive-In
and saw the “Summer of 42” and “Wait Until Dark”. Both are really
excellent movies. Oh, I hope my student loans will come in soon. The weather is
warm and clear. 85 degrees.
SEPTEMBER
1 September 1971
Wednesday
I got up at 10 today though I didn’t do
anything in the morning. In the afternoon, I drove over to Cal State
Fullerton’s library just to read some. I
read some more on the teachings of the Mormon Church of Utah which I find
blasphemous and dangerous. It was well into the evening by the time I left the library,
and I went the over to Taco Bell to pick up my last check from that place. I
made $27.86. While I was there, I talked to Jim Gramsted and Vickie O’Neil. I
guess Jim took over all his sister Karen’s hours. It isn’t the same anymore. Oh
though, there used to be such good times there.
At
home, my uncle Milton and cousin Gregory
were over for some reason. Marie and Stephanie weren’t with them. I then
went to the public library and got some books about Alexander Campbell, Thomas
Campbell, B.W. Stone and other restorers of the Christian Church. I mostly
ready today. Autumn is in the air, although we will have one more hot spell before
fall really comes. 80 degrees. Today is my cousin John Edward Johnson’s 26th
birthday. He was born in Amherst, Texas like me.
The
Top Ten Songs on KHJ are “Liar,” The Undisputed Truth’s “Smiling Faces
Sometimes,” Aretha Franklin’s “Spanish Harlem,” “Riders on the Storm,” The
Dramatics “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get,” Bill Withers “Ain’t No Sunshine,”
Olivia Newton-John’s “If Not For You,” Rare Earth “I Just Want to Celebrate,”
Lee Michael’s “Do You Know What I Mean,” and “Mercy, Mercy Me the Ecology.” My
favorite songs right now are Rod Stewart’s Maggie May, Paul McCarthy’s Uncle
Albert, Sweet City Woman by the Stampeders, and Joan Baez’ The Night They Drove
Old Dixie Down.
2 September 1971 Thursday
I got up at 10 today to work on my paper for
the Garden Grove Historical Society. I got most of it written now, except that now I have to type it up. I
spent most of the day on it and now have
a headache from it. Mom says Granny Rose is still in the hospital from a heart
attack she had yesterday. She is 96 years old bless her soul. My sister Donna
is starting to slowly recuperate from her accident. She still can’t get around
very well and she and I have been agitated with each other. I’m not feeling
very well myself. I’m fighting off my cold and if God so wills it, I won’t
receive one. Nelson Sage came over today but as I said I wasn’t feeling well so
I could not have been much company. My aunt Bonnie Fagen is in the hospital for
her back I believe. She has been in such ill health since that car accident
seven years ago, The weather was cool today 75 degrees.
3 September 1971 Friday
I got up at 8:30 today. I went to Sears at the
Buena Park Plaza in the morning and picked up my bed spread and Peter Max sheets
I bought for the dormitory. I also bought a sleeveless pull over sweater vest
and some other stuff at Akron on Beach
Boulevard like a book holder and some candles.
When I came home my registration packet
from Cal State Fullerton arrived today. I’ll register September 21 at
4:40. Jerry Smith said his registration
isn’t until the 22nd. Later in the afternoon I typed up 11
pages of my Garden Grove Historical Society paper. I don’t think it’s going to
be very long about 20 pages at the most.
That’s not much at all. It took me most of the afternoon to type it because I’m
a very slow typist. I called Ralph Ludders today and he wanted me to go with him tomorrow on a
police field trip. I said I would. Jean Horan came over to the house some today
to visit with Mom. I guess she and her husband Tom are getting along fine. She
is so slim and trim now. The weather is still cooler now then what had been. 75
degrees.
4 September 1971
Saturday
A year ago, Ralph Ludders and I went shopping
for clothes to wear at his wedding. I was his best an, so I bought a nice sport jacket for $48. The
first time I wore it was to the Jose Feliciano Concert. I took Karen Gramsted
to go see the concert at the Greek Theater. The Edwin Hawkins’ Singers also
performed. It was a nice time. Today I got up at 10:30 and then didn’t do much
for the rest of the day. I went over to my Uncle and Aunt Milton and Marie at 3
to visit and have dinner but left at 5 because Ralph Ludders and I were
supposed to go to the Church of Synanon for a study he is doing for one of his
classes but at the last minute he canceled out so instead I went to the movies.
I walked to the Stanton Plaza to the
theater there and saw “the Doll House and “Student Nurses’ They were above the
run of the mill of those kinds of movies. The weather is still sort of cool at
80 degrees. There is a fire in the hills of Saddleback. I guess our fire season
is about to begin again. My Aunts, Marie Williams, and Bonnie Fagan are feuding
about something.
5 September 1971 Sunday
I got up at 8:30 to get ready for church today in
Brea. I took my nephew James with me, and he was pretty good all throughout the
service although he was getting restless towards the end. The service was just
on the institution of the church given by Brother Jack. In the afternoon, I drove
over to Long each to see Bo Wimberly, but he wasn’t home so instead I went over
to Nancy’s apartment. We visited for long time about life before I had to
leave. I was shocked when Nancy changed into some clothes in front of me and I
saw her completely naked. I had never seen a naked girl before and I tried not
to blush as she was so nonchalant about it. I know Nancy and Sandy Burns are
lesbians but still. At home I worked some more on my paper for the Garden Grove
Historical Society. The weather is pretty out with blue skies, and it was very
pleasant at 85 degrees. Oh, Thou who knows all that dwells in our hearts and
loves us even when we fail.
6 September 1971 Monday
I got up at 10 but didn’t do much in the
morning but in the afternoon and evening
I finished writing my paper on the Garden Grove Police Department and typing it
up. I am so glad to get that out of the way as it was a bigger obligation than
I thought it would be since it was not for any college credit. Mom and Dad took
my nephew James to Knott’s Berry Farm in the afternoon but then later they went over to visit with
Frank and Barb Welte. I went with them to go swimming in their pool. It was
very hot and humid today with the moisture just hanging in the air like a wet towel.
It felt almost suffocating at 97 degrees, at night around midnight I went up to
the Tic Toc Market where Bob Wimberly works for a while to get out of the house.
He works the graveyard Shift. While I was there, I saw some police pigs beat up
a kid in the parking lot for no reason I could see. I was so upset and mad. The
police here in Orange County think they can do anything they want. Bob asked me
over for dinner this Thursday and also on Sunday he is having a house warming
arty finally. I got a letter from Pam Huskey today. She said she likes her
dorms at her college pretty well, I guess. I also received a card letter from
Sally Johnson that ha a cowboy wrangler on the front of it.
She
wrote to me, “Dear Edgar, I am finally getting around to answering your letter.
It’s been so hectic here up until a few days ago. That everyone at Tower Falls
is still recuperating from the summer rush. Now business is trickling down to
nothing and by the end of the season, I’m told that we will actually be happy
to a tourist come int the store. I went
to Boseman about three weeks ago to see
my department head about a job and I was purely amazed at what I saw. Kids
dressed about like the kids at Cypress.
I actually saw a guy in bell bottoms who swished out of the education
department. I can tell you that made me feel quite at home. I only saw one
cowboy hat while I was on campus. How
about that. It’s turning into late summer here now and the park is really
beautiful. The sunsets here are really something and each one is quite
different from the rest. It rained on
toward evening a week or so back and from our dorm we could see a full arch
rainbow-just at dusk. That was really something to see let me tell you. Hope
your summer is as beautiful. Sally.”
7 September 1971 Tuesday
I got up at 11 today. My sister Charline was
over today doing her laundry. I took my nephew James out for an ice cream bar
and my sister Donna said she would baby sit James tonight when Charline and Dennis
go to court to pay his speeding ticket. In the afternoon, Ralph Ludders and I
went to Cal State Fullerton to get department permissions to enter some classes.
I wanted Historiography, History of Christianity and Introduction to Secondary Education. When
I came home, Grand and Grandpa Williams were over visiting Mom and Dad. My aunt
Bonnie I guess got out of the hospital and is feeling better. Kent Larsen called me
today. I guess he is home from Utah for good now and will be attending Cypress
this fall. In the evening I went to my Garden Grove Historical Society meeting and turned in the report on the
police department. My former instructor Mr. Reeve was visiting tonight, and I
was glad to have seen him again. Marge Swenson took my paper as Don Dobmeier
wasn’t in attendance tonight So I will have to get back my paper on the
Magnolia Cemetery rom him some other
time. It was hot and humid today at 95 degrees.
I
began my college career in the late summer of 1969. I had applied at Cypress Junior
College for admission in June and
received an acceptance and a registration date in late August. In the fall pf 1969
the first permanent buildings were completed
while most classes were held in temporary units. These first building
were The Fine Arts , the Vocational Technical Building, the Business Building,
the Library, and the P.E. Complex. The buildings were part of the college’s
“House” Plan which college president
Walker innovated for Cypress, the first in the nation. Arts
and Humanity students were part of the Bernstein House located in the Fine Arts
Building named for Leonard Bernstein. The Vo-Tech students were assigned to the
Edison House e named for Thomas Edison, and Business students were assigned to
the Carnegie House named for Andrew Carnegie. President Walker’s concept was to
place people together who have majors in common and each building had its own
food court and House officers besides the College Student Body Officers. I was
made part of the Bernstein House because my history major made me fit into the Humanities
group. When I first attended Cypress, the place was so new that there was no
landscaping just dirt and dust until
grass seeds were planted along with Olive trees. Registration was done in the most grotesque fashion as it
was not “first come first serve” but in
alphabetical order. John Cunningham who was late registering with everything
was able to get into all the classes he wanted just because he was a “C” and I registered
3 days after him because I was a “W”. There was hardly any classes still opened
by then to choose from and the classes I did get had 3-hour gaps between them. Besides all that, they made
us wait in these horrible long lines which took hours to even get up to the
registration office and we never knew if the classes we signed up for were already filled even before we entered
the registration office and when they were we had to scramble and find
something that was still opened. It was traumatic especially for we
Freshmen who never done this before. Many
in line were on the verge of tears and
all were thoroughly disgusted and complaining all due to the ineptitude of the
college registrar office. When I finally got my schedule , it went like this;
History of Western Civilization with Mr.
Reeve at 10 on Monday and Wednesday and
also a seminar on Monday at 12. I had U.S. History 1B with Mr.
McLeod at 11 on Monday Wednesday and
Friday, Cultural Anthropology with Mrs.
Fouste at 3 on Monday, Wednesday, and
Friday at 3, Guidance with Mrs. Melom on
Wednesday and Friday at 1, Volleyball at 9
on Wednesday and Friday with Mr. Pecchia and English 1 A at noon on
Tuesday and Thursday at noon with Mrs.
Yamada as the instructor. I was scared to death in Mr. Reeve class because he
assigned all this reading for the first week but later, I learned that this is
a ply some teachers use to get kids to drop out and reduce their class sizes. On
his first test I only got a C, and I was so afraid that I was going to fail college,
so I really studied hard for the next test. When he was handing them back after
grading, he said only one student in all his time teaching had ever gotten a 99
percent on any of his tests which were difficult. Everyone was looking around
to see who that might be and to my great astonishment it was me! He later
confessed that I actually got a 100 percent but on the map portion I had put Nineveh
on the wrong side of the river, and he said his ego couldn’t allow anyone to
get a 100 percent on his tests. It didn’t matter because from then on, I was
his favorite, and I could do no wrong. Mr. Reeve was an extremely competent and delightful teacher although he gives terribly hard tests. This Western Civilization class was
the only worthwhile class I had although
I did enjoy Mr. Mcleod and awful lot. I spent most of my time between classes
in the college library and I became
quite familiar with the stacks. At the end of my first semester, I received an
A in Western Civ., an A in US History, a C in Cultural Anthropology, Credit for my Guidance Class, a B in English 1A and an A in PE. I never had
those kinds of grades in high school. I didn’t do well in Cultural Anthropology
as I didn’t care much for the class although I liked Mrs. Fouste.
The
Spring Semester for 1970 was so much
easier because this time it first come first serve by appointment and I
made sure I was one of the first. In the Spring of 1970, I took Art
Appreciation taught by Terry O’Brian at 10 Monday Wednesday, and Friday,
Volleyball at 10 on Tuesday and Thursday with Mr. Mercadante, U.S. History 1A
at 11 on Monday Wednesday, and Friday taught by Mr. Magnusson, Geography I took
as a night class on Tuesday and Thursday at 7 taught by Mr. Hahn , Western Civilization
1B at noon on Tuesday and Thursday again
with Mr. Reeve, and Political Science at noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
taught by Mr. Boyle. I carried 16 and ½ units that term and got B’s in Art, Volleyball,
U.S. History, and Political Science, a C in Geography which was a science with
a lab and was hard, and an A again in Western Civilization.
Cypress is a beautiful school . It was small , not crowded and there was no parking problems at all. Lots of times John Cunningham and I
could park next to each other in the Fine Arts parking lot In the Spring
semester of 1970, to save gas I paid John to take me to Cypress since I was on
his way. In all I thoroughly enjoyed my Freshman year at Cypress. But it will never be the same
again
8 September 1971
Wednesday
I got up at 11 today and didn’t do much other
than go to Cypress around noon to meet Kent Larsen and Wendy Warner in the
Bernstein House. Bev Berge came up later and we all went over to the Tastee
Freeze for lunch. While it was good see some of the old college gang again, I
didn’t feel connected to Cypress anymore. Kent asked if I would come over to
his house on St, Marks later to help him get some lumber for a project he is
doing. I said I would. I left for home at 2 but at 6 went over to Kent’s
parent’s house. After getting some lumber we decided to go to the movies, and
we saw “Carnal Knowledge and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf.” The latter was the better of the two films.
It was around midnight when we were
out of the show, and we drove around down
to the beach while Kent told me some of his problems about his homosexual
feelings. I couldn’t offer any advice, so I just listened to what he had to say.
We stopped at Tic Toc where Bob Wimberly was working to see him who could
advice Kent better about being a homosexual as Bob is flagrant one. After taking Kent home he had
me so depressed about my own feelings for John Cunningham and Craig Pugh and
how I am fighting those feelings I went back over to see Bob again just for the company. I stayed at the store
with him until 2:30 in the morning then
I went back to Garden Grove because I
was so tired and confused about life. The weather was hot again although not as
humid as a mild Santa Ana wind is
causing the weather to dry out at 90 degrees.
9 September 1971
Thursday
I slept in until 1 this afternoon having gone
to bed so late after staying up at Bob Wimberly’s work. I cleaned the house for
Mom and around 3 Larry Jaeger came over to visit. We went up to McDonald’s on Dale
Street and Katella to get a coke and sit and hang out. We talked for about an hour,
and I told him how I’d like to form a colony and leave the United States for
Brazil. He was very interested in the idea but was going into the army next
month. Later in the evening I got ready to drive into Long Beach to pick up
Nancy to go to dinner with Bob Wimberly and Gary Bassin at their place. Bob fixed
corned beef and I brought some Boone Farm Strawberry wine which I think is
pleasant. It was a nice dinner and Nancy and I stayed until Bob had to leave
for work at 11:30. Earlier today I wrote letters to Sally Johnson and Pam Huskey responding to theirs.
It is still very warm at 95 degrees. Oh, how I love Jesus because he first
loved me.
10 September 1971
Friday
Today began as a very ordinary day but fate
meant it to be extraordinary. As I was getting ready to go over to Bob Wimberly,
a boy on a ten-speed bike waved to me but I at first couldn’t place him then I realized
that it was John Cunningham’s younger brother James. So, I stopped him and
talked to him for a while. I said I ‘d pick him up at midnight when he gets off
work and we would talk some more. That
night after meeting up with James I found out that John, James, and their brother
Andy Cunningham didn’t move to Tujunga with their parents from Capri Street but
instead moved in together into the apartments
across from Alpha Beta at the Stanton Apartments. John’s address is
Apart 6 Court Lane in Stanton. James said that John is going to Cypress for another
semester and has been working at the
Grove Theater on Garden Grove Boulevard for most of the summer with James. John has
changed his major from political science to sociology. I saw a glimpse of John in
the window as I brought James home from having taken him out for dinner. Only
James and Andy have found girlfriends with John still being a loner. Oh, how
I’d like to just see John or talk to him once more. James seemed as confused
about life as ever. I told him if he’d receive Jesus Christ into his heart all his confusion would be lift as a veil.
11 September 1971
Saturday
Today is my brother-in-law, Dennis Wach’s 25th
birthday. A year ago, I went over to Ralph Ludders brand new apartment off of
Katella and Western where I got drunk on
vodka as it was his last night as a bachelor. I was so sick that night from
eating black olive pizza that I
never touched anything stronger than
wine ever since and have never been drunk again and with the grace of God I shall never again. Today I was so sick to
my stomach. I think I either have the stomach flu or got sick from eating over at Bob Wimberly’s
yesterday. I felt so weak that it was
hard to stand up. In the evening Donna and I went over to my brother-in-law, Dennis’
trailer coach for his birthday. We didn’t stay long because I felt so bad. It was extremely hot
today like an oven. It was 100 degrees.
It was just so hot. Bev Berge, Wendy Warmer, Kent Larsen and I are going to go
to Bob Wimberly’s house warming tomorrow together. I bought a nice lamp for then that the gang chipped in for.
12 September 1971
Sunday
Today is the first anniversary of Ralph and
Brenda’s marriage in Anaheim, California. I had a sleepless night because of my illness but it passed by
the morning. I still didn’t feel well enough to go to church. In the afternoon
I picked up Bev Berge, Wendy Warner, and Kent Larsen and drove them into Long Beach for Bob Wimberly’s
house warming party. I was feeling much better by the afternoon. Over in Long
Beach at the party were Michael Fiore and Charlotte Smith, some other Gay friends
of Bob and Gary Bassin I didn’t know,
Nick Kelsey, Ernie Sauter, Kim Martin, and the I brought. In all about twenty
people came. Oh, yest Nancy was there too. It was a very nice time, but we left
at 6 . On the way home the Ford over heated on the freeway because it was so
hot outside at 100 degrees. We got back to Garden Grove home all right and in the evening the weather
had cooled down considerably and it was a real nice night out. In the news
Nikita Khrushchev died yesterday of a heart attack at the age of 77 in Russia.
13 September 1971
Monday
I got up
early today to go to Cypress Cooler. I knew that if I didn’t go early, I would
never have found a parking space in the Bernstein parking lot. I arrived there
about 8 and I stayed until 1:30. I saw a lot of the kids I hadn’t seen in a
long time. While on campus I helped Kent Larsen and the Bernstein House hold a
book exchange drive to raise some money
. It was working pretty good by the time
I left to go to the bank and sign a promissory note for my student loan \from Great
Western Savings and Loan. It was suffocatingly lot and smoggy today. The air was
terribly dusty and stagnant. They said
it as 107 degrees. In the late afternoon Ralph Ludders came over to the house
and asked me to go with him to Cal State Fullerton in the evening when it was
cooler. I said I would at 6:30 after helping the gang at Cypress with an
opening social at the Bernstein House. I went out for a bite to eat afterwards
with Bob Wimberly and Gary Bassin, but Kent Larsen didn’t tell Ralph that I
would be right back, so he didn’t wait for me which made be and at Kent. I
didn’t see the one person I was hoping to see although I did see John
Cunningham’s karma Ghia in the Bernstein House parking lot. I hope tomorrow
won’t be as hot as it was today. These damn air conditioners blasting cold
air have made my shoulder ache like
bursitis. I felt rather sad and melancholy
being at Cypress knowing I won’t be there this year, but I am excited to
be at Fullerton.
14 September 1971
Tuesday
Today is Craig Pugh’s 19th birthday.
He was born in Utah. I went to see Bob Wimberly around midnight at Tic Toc Market. I didn’t get to bed until
4:30 after talking with Bob. I was so depressed I needed a friend to talk to
about my feelings. I felt so lonely today. I need someone to love me instead of
me always being the one to give, all of the time. Oh God where is there love
for me I am heartbroken today because I realize I must give up my affection for
John Cunningham. It is God’s will that some of his children are meant to
sacrifice for others and I am willing to sacrifice what I dearly love above all
else to achieve an inner grace. I have the knowledge that God loves me and when
this life is over, I shall be with those I love if not for this life. Only if I
wasn’t such a low creature maybe one day,
I will understand why John and I can’t be together. “Look At all the lonely
people. Where Do they all come from?” Does the Lord really love me and does he even
care? The Lord God Ruler of the Universe , Creator of Angels and Men, King of
Glory, Almighty Counselor am I counted among the Saints despite my weaknesses? God
Is Love but I must not go the way of the flesh. I must love all in as much as I
live myself is the great commandment. If I say I love God I must love others. I
need to find my path. The more I try to analyze the peculiar relationship I had
with John Cunningham the more I am grateful that God paced him in my life even
if for a short span of time. Until I met John
was a very average, somewhat dull
person in high school. I come from a very rural faming heritage and there was
no one in my family could really talk to about life. I was actually starving
for intellectual companionship which
John filled the bill to perfection. I came out of cocoon ad realized that there was a world I never dreamed of.
John fille me where I was void and naturally, I grew to love him. Where I
failed as a human being was that I was
too emotionally immature still to differentiate the difference between physical and spiritual love. I do now
but the price of that lesson was dear. I am now , I believe, a partially
rational human being who is liberal
minded on most issues. I actualized
myself with John and for that
I’ll always be eternally grateful to both he and God.
15 September 1971
Wednesday
I slept in until 11 today form not getting to
bed until 4:30 this morning from staying with Bob Wimberly at his job at the
Tic Toc Market. I was so depressed, and
I needed a friend to talk to. I have been depressed and moody ever since
learning that John Cunningham had not moved away to Tujunga with his folks but
has stayed in Garden Grove living with his two brothers, Andy, and James. When
I left the house, I went up to Cypress to see Kent Larsen and Wendy Warner and
visit some. I am missing the friendships I had at Cypress, and I was hoping I
might run into John. I didn’t. I decided to go see a movie at the Lowe’s Century
21 Theater in Anaheim that Kent suggested. There I saw the most intense emotional
movie that I have ever seen. Of all the movies I’ve seen this year, I think
none can compare with it. It was extremely sad but spiritually uplifting at the same time. The name of the movie was Fortune
and Men’s Eyes which was advertised as a “Prison Scandal.” Wendall Burton who I
first saw in the Sterile Cuckoo” with
John was tremendous and is now my favorite actor. In a way he reminds me of
Andy Cunningham in looks but of John Cunningham in his gestures. The movie was
about a boy wo was sent to prison for smoking pot and is thrown in a cell with
homosexuals. The second feature was “The People Next Door” about a girl who
trips out on LSD. Anyway, the first film was just great, and the title comes
from a Shakespeare Sonnet. "When in disgrace with fortune and men's
eyes". Anyway, it brought up deep feelings for John Cunningham I have
tried for so long to get rid of. But I am so lonely . I need someone to love me
back instead of me having to give all the time. Where is there love for me? I
am so confused. It is so unkind that John is back. It is not fair. It’s not
fair when I trying to do God’s will.
16 September 1971 Thursday
When I got up this morning , I straightened up
the front room and kitchen for Mom and then I went up to Cypress College to
pick up those of my text books which didn’t
sell at the book exchange. At Cypress Kent Larsen played a dirty stinking trick
on me by calling me out of the Bernstein House office just as John Cunningham
walked by. I was so angry with Kent as he knew about my feelings for John and
how painful it was to just see him. In the afternoon Leo Waldman called and asked me to work this Friday and I said I
would. Nom found out from my Aunt Bonnie Fagan that Larry was fired. I called
Linda Sparks, this girl I knew from high school
to let her know that tomorrow I would go with her so she could register
for her classes, and I could then also see how it’s done at Fullerton. In the
evening I went to the show with Kent, Wendy Warner, and Arthur Johannsen. Actually,
I didn’t want Kent to come but knew that Arthur wouldn’t go with me without him. So, we went to Century
21 and saw “Fortune and Men’s Eyes which was just as excellent the second time
seeing it. I love the music which is so haunting set to a Shakespeare sonnet. After
the show on the way home, Kent and I got into a huge argument. I was just still
really upset with what he pulled this morning. Oh God why does John do this to
me? Please give me the strength to avoid temptation and to keep my Christian
charity even towards Kent. The weather
was extremely different than what it had ben . Overcast and cool at 75 degrees.
I
first saw John Cunningham on August 29 driving his, Kara Ghia on Orangewood But
I thought he was just down for the day reminiscing. Then on the 10th
of September I found out, by what fates I do not know, that he is back, and I hope he is happy for I am not. I wished
to Gid that he’d had stayed away. Maybe I am being punished , I don’t know. All
I know is that I hurt. I hurt deeply and am so lost without him. So, I cry and love above for consolation for the loss
of John’s sweet love. I shall cry in the arms of Jesus for in my love of God, will I quiet my fears
of the love I have for John. I feel like I need to sacrifice my love for John
to the great Jehovah. John’s feelings for me have turned to hate because of my
having said I loved him
17 September 1971
Friday Nothing exciting happened much today. I
was up at 10 and it was cloudy and overcast outside. It looked like it might
rain for most of the day. At 11 I went over to Linda Sparks house to take her
up to Cal State Fullerton so she could get departmental approval for some of
her classes. After that around 3 I went to the bank to see about my student loan
process. The loan officer said the school had the loan, so I drove back to
Fullerton where the administration loan
department said they didn’t have it. So, I don’t know where the hell it is . I
just hope someone will find it for me before Tuesday. So frustrating. At 4:39 I
had to go into work at Taco Bell . I worked with Jim Gramsted and this new girl named Joyce. She is really nice,
but I doubt whether I will get to know her. Karen Gramsted came up to see me
and we talked a while about what is going on in our lives. Jim told me that he
thinks Larry was fired for missing money from the cash register. Jean Van Der
Merghal came in at 7 and I talked him
into working the rest of the night for me if I worked for him this Sunday. He
agreed so I then took off and went into Long Beach to see Bob Wimberly, but he
wasn’t home. I drove back to Garden Grove, and no one was home there either. In
the news the 10 hostages at the Attica Prison were killed in the crossfire of
the police storming the prison. In all 40 people were killed from the Prison
revolt. Horribly shocking. Our prisons are a shame and disgrace.
18 September 1971 Saturday
In the evening Kent Larsen called me up and
wanted me to go with him, Wendy Warner,
and Bev Berge to Silverado Canyon jut
for something to do and see the fall colors. I didn’t have anything else to do
so I said I would, but Kent only calls me when he wants to me to drive him somewhere.
We drove all through the canyon and then out Laguna Canyon down to Laguna Beach
and too the Pacific Coast Highway home. It was good to get away from the city. I
feel sorry for Wendy as I know Kent is just using her to keep up appearances. This
is Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29. When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I all
alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in
hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, Desiring this man’s
art and that man’s scope, With what I most enjoy contented least, Yet in these
thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think of thee and then my state, Like
the larks at break of day arising, From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven’s
gate, For they sweet love remembered such wealth brings, That then I scorn to
change my state with kings.” This sonnet strikes a chord deep within me about
my feelings for John Cunningham and yet despising myself for having those
feelings.
19 September 1971 Sunday
Today is my Grandpa Johnson’s 70 birthday born
in Commerce, Texas. I slept in late for some reason, so I did not get up intime
to go to church. In the afternoon I brought few items over to Othry Hall and
picked up my key to my dorm room. I spent much of the afternoon moving into my room
with Ralph Ludder’s help . At 6 in the evening, I had to go to work at Taco
Bell as I said I would work for Jean Van Der Merghal. I worked with the new
girl Joyce who is really nice until 10:30.
I drove them back over to Othry Hall and spent my first night there. My new address is 601 Titan Drive Room 123 in Fullerton. My dormmates haven’t moved in yet. The weather is off at 80 degrees. This is Shakespeare’s Sonnet 31. Thy bosom is endeared with all hearts, Which I by lacking have supposed dead; And there reigns Love, and all Love's loving parts, And all those friends which I thought buried. How many a holy and obsequious tear Hath dear religious love stol'n from mine eye, As interest of the dead, which now appear But things removed that hidden in thee lie! Thou art the grave where buried love doth live, Hung with the trophies of my lovers gone, Who all their parts of me to thee did give, That due of many now is thine alone: Their images I loved, I view in thee, And thou (all they) hast all the all of me.
 |
| Othry Hall |
20 September 1971 Monday
I was up
at 10:30 and I slept miserably from the hard down bed. I guess it’s the getting
used to a new bed that is hard. In the morning I went home to Garden Grove to
pick up a few more items for the dorm room including a night stand. I spent
most of the afternoon cleaning up my old bedroom. In the late afternoon Ralph
Ludders came over to the house and we
went up to campus to see which classes have already closed. None of mine so far.
While we were over there, I registered to vote . I registered as a Democrat of
course. After that Ralph and I went to a Taco Bell on State College Boulevard
to get something to eat and while there I filled out a job application. I am
positive I can get a job there. In the evening I went over to the Cypress library and read some more of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
I saw Wendy Warner, Bev Berge, and Kent Larsen
there also when I was in the Bernstein House. After I came back home to Othry
Hall, Bob Wimberly called and said he wanted to visit with me. Gary Bassin and
he came over to the dorms and they said that Gary’s father is really giving
them a hard time about their relationship . Bob asked me if I would stay with
him at Tic Toc all this week during his graveyard shift because Gary’s father had threatened to kill him
for living with Gary. I said I would, so I left with them and didn’t go to bed
at all. It was 78 degrees, and the weather was cooling off.
21 September 1971 Tuesday
I came home at 8 this morning from spending the
night with Bob Wimberly at his place of work. I went right to bed and slept
until noon. Ralph Ludders came over in the afternoon to see how I had fixed up
my dorm room. Linda Sparks came over t 2:30 and then we all went over to the
campus to get ready to register. My appointed time was at 4 in the afternoon I was able to get all the classes I wanted which
were Christianity, The Reformation, Shakespeare, Education, and Historiography.
Ralph registered at 5 and Linda at 6 so I was there at College
registration for most of the day. I even
saw my high school friend Ross Weishaar at the registration office. I managed
to pick up my student loan for $1500 finally today and bought all my text
books. After registration I went back to the dorms and slept until 11 until Bob
Wimberly came to pick me up. I spent the night over at the Tic Toc Market
again. In eh news the draft laws have been restored in the Senate. Also, all
college deferments were ended. The weather was hot and humid but cold in the
evening. 75 degrees.
22 September 1971
Wednesday
Today begins the last 100 days of 1971 and
everything is so different for me compared to the beginning of the year. I came
home from the Tic Toc Market at 8:30 and went to bed and slept until noon.
Jerry Smith called and wanted me to go with his to register for his classes
which I did. His appointment was at 2 I
was there with him until 3:30. Afterwards I went home to Garden Grove to do
some wash and but my check into my bank. I bought a few wall posters today in
the college bookstore to decorate my room. The one I really like is of
President Nixon and Spiro Agnew riding motorcycles like in Easy Rider with a
Captain America banner flying behind Nixon’s bike and Agnew wearing a helmet that said The Mouth
That Roared. My first dormmate moved in this afternoon when I was asleep. His
name is Rick Davis and he’s 18 years old and from Lancaster. He seems a nice
and friendly kid and we should get along great. It’s the first time he’s been
away from home and he’s a freshman. At 11 Bon Wimberly came to take me to his
work place again. This is starting to wear on me as I am so tired staying up
all night.
23 September 1971
Thursday
I got home from Tic Toc Market at 8 and slept
until it was time for Rick Davis to register
at 12:30. I went with him because he had never done it before, so I went
with him to show hum the ropes. Afterwards we went a nearby coffee shop to get
some lunch. In the late afternoon Rick and I went shopping as I had a car, and he
didn’t. I bought a portable TV for $125 which I really can’t afford but if I go
back to work soon, I shouldn’t have too
much trouble financially. Most of my student loan is for paying for the dorm
room and my tuition is $64 since Reagan reinstated tuition on all colleges and universities.
I don’t have to spend the night anymore with Bob Wimberly because they now don’t think Gary Bassin’s father is going to bother them
anymore. So, I went to bed rather early because I am exhausted. The weather is
starting to turn nippy at 70 degrees. The nights re really cool. Well, it’s an all-new
life here at Othry Hall. I pray to God for forgiveness and guidance.
24 September 1971
Friday
I got up tired but not as dead as I have been.
Rick Davis and I went to the college book store and afterwards we went out to
lunch as the Commons hasn’t begun serving meals. We ate at the Fiddler’s Three
in La Habra then in the late afternoon I took Rick down to the Greyhound Bus
depot so he could go home to Lancaster for the weekend, After that I went back to Othry Hall and got
ready for Bob Wimberly to call me for us to go out. When he did, we decided to go to, and early show and Gary
Bassin came with us. We went to the Anaheim Fox Theater and saw “Night of Dark
Shadows” which was terrible. We saw Nick Kelsey and Ernie Sauter at the show, and we visited for a bit. Ernie
said that he heard that Craig Pugh was going on a Mormon Mission. I was back at
the dorm by 8 and my other dorm mate had moved in. His name is Jim Dalton, 24
years old, a Vietnam vet from the Navy and from Tustin. So far, he’s been an
extremely likable kid. We will get along great. He’s blond with a great full
mustache. It was warm today but cooled off at night. I guess it’s going to be
an early autumn. So far, I have been lucky with my roommates. Glory to God.
There is a crisis they say in Red China believed to be over a power struggle
there over Mao Tse-tung’s leadership.
25 September 1971
Saturday
I woke up at 9:30 to get ready to go to Yucaipa for Grandma and Grandpa’s 50th Wedding Anniversary reception. I went over to Garden Grove and rode up with Mom and Dad. The reception was held in the Church of Christ building at 1 and all of the extended family was there. My uncle RL and Aunt Jerrie was there with his ward Colleen. My uncle Wallace and Aunt Mattie came out from Texas and all of my cousins France Ann Griess, Marilyn Stevens, Gary Williams, and Terrie Williams were there with their families. Aunt Bonnie and uncle Bill Fagan was there with Larry and my uncle Milton and Aunt Marie attended with my cousins Stephanie and Gregory. My Aunt Minnie of course was there. Uncle Ed and Aunt Beulah Danforth were also out from Texas and Dad’s cousin Norman Danforth and his wife Betty, and their kids Beverley, Barbara and Alan were present. Grandpa Williams’s sister Nell and his Aunt Nora came as well as our neighbors Tom and Jean Horan. All in all, I would say around 75 people were there including many of Grandma and Grandpa’s church friends. Since most of the family was there, we had lots of professional group pictures taken. After the reception we all went to the Yucaipa Park where we had a huge family reunion. It was probably the last time that the whole extended family will ever be together again. At the park there was plenty of food, so I took some of it back to the dorm for Jim Dalton and me. It was 7 in the evening when I left to go back down to Orange County with my sister Charline and Dennis who took me to Garden Grove to retrieve my car. It was a beautiful day though in the late afternoon the wind picked up and it turned chilly at 65 degrees. All in all, it was a very nice event for Grandma and Grandpa. In the news Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black died and Justice Harlan has retired giving Nixon two positions to fill on the Supreme Court.
26 September 1971
Sunday
Today is Grandma and Grandpa Williams actually
50th anniversary. They were married in Spur, Texas. I got up at 9 to get ready
to go to Church in Brea. Jim Dalton had to go work at the same time at the
Builder Emporium store on State College Boulevard. At church Br. Mickey gave
the lesson and afterwards I went to Garden Grove to do my washing at Mom and Dad’s
house. I
spent most of the day watching TV and reading the newspaper over at Mom’s. I
stayed there until 3:30 then returned to Othry Hall. I went to Builder Emporium
where I saw Jim and then waited until it was time to pick Rick Davis from the
bus depot. the weather was smog less with clear skies, dotted with fluffy white
clouds. It a beautiful fall day although nippy out at 70 degrees. My meal
ticket for the dorm’s Commons came today. The Commons is nearly in the center
of campus and is quite the walk from the dorm.
27 September 1971
Monday
Today was the first day of class of the Fall
Semester at Cal State Fullerton. I woke up at 6:30 when Rick Davis woke up, but
I didn’t get up until 10 when Jim Dalton did. I didn’t have a class until 1
this afternoon. On campus there were thousands of kids compared to Cypress. I
couldn’t believe how crowded it was. I saw Dave Osterman and Linda Sparks my former
classmates at Rancho High School but that
was about it. My first lunch in the Commons was a hamburger and French fries.
My first class was Historiography with Dr. James Jordan. It sounds like it’s
going to be a bear. At 2 I have my Reformation Class with Dr. Danton Sailor. I
don’t like this class at first impression. At 3 I have my Shakespeare Class
taught by Mrs. Alice Scoufos. There are only 9 people in that class so it
sounds like it will be an interesting class if it holds. I paid for my parking
fee today which cost $13, and I also paid for a subscription to the L.A. Times.
In the evening I took Rick Davis driving around because he was looking for an
electric blanket for his bunk. Later back at the dorm Ralph Ludders came over to
visit with me. the weather was nice and warm and then later it turned cool.
28 September 1971
Tuesday
I got up at 10 and walked over to campus. At 11
I went to the Commons and had lunch. Breakfast is stopped being served at 10. I
had a Reuben Sandwich which was good and afterwards I went to my Christianity Class
taught by Mr. Charles Frazee. I really am going to like that class. After that
I saw Ralph Ludders on the way to my education Class. In that class I have, in
about 3 weeks, to go visit some high school class rooms and take notes while there.
It seems like it might be an interesting class. After that I went to the dorm
and Rick Davis, and I started to take one of the bed’s apart since there are 4
beds and only 3 of us in the room. We also paid for a refrigerator for the room
to keep snacks in. I went to Garden Grove in the evening to get some of Dad’s tools and also to get some money. Today is Rick
Davis’ birthday. He turned 18 years old. The weather was still warm in the day but cool in the evening 70
degrees. Ralph Ludders came over in the evening and we visited for a while. I
think I am going to drop my historiography class which is the study of
historical writing.
29 September 1971
Wednesday
Today Rick Davis was late for class because he
over slept. Jim Dalton petitioned to enter two classes and I dropped Historiography
because I think it will be too demanding. I still do not care much for the instructor in my Reformation
Class, but my Shakespeare class makes up for it. Mrs. Alice Scoufos is so
brilliant, fascinating, and interesting. I think she going to make my
Shakespeare Class my favorite class this semester. After classes were over Rick Davis and I walked together over to the
Commons for supper where we had Chicken ala King. Later in the evening Mom called and said Cathy Welte ran away from
home. Frank and Barb don’t know where
she is at all. The rest of the evening I spent watching “Bewitched” on TV and
reading some of my homework. In the news they started up the draft again. They
expect to draft 17,000 men for the rest of the year. Chou En Lei apparently won the power struggle in China.
The weather today was the same as it has been all week. Warm days and cool nights.
70 degrees
30 September 1971Thursday
This morning was cold and overcast . 60 degrees
but in the afternoon, it burned off. This morning I did some laundry in the dorm’s laundry room, but it will be
cheaper to go home to do it. I went to my Christianity Class and Dr. Frazee was
very interesting. Later in the afternoon Ralph Ludders was over and we visited
for a while as I finished my laundry. Then later Rick Davis and I went shopping
for groceries. We bought a lot of stuff to fill the refrigerator. In the
evening we went to dinner in the Commons where we had ham and yams. After that I went to Garden Grove to pick up a few things for the dorm room. Mom
and Dad gave me a Mobile gas credit card that I will be responsible for the monthly
bill. Jim Dalton is thinking about
adding my Shakespeare class . I hope he does . It will be neat having someone to share the class with. I had
the family Williams history xeroxed today and also had two copies of my
Magnolia Cemetery report copied.
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