Summer 3rd Quarter Journal 1972 July-September

 

JULY

1 July 1972 Saturday

I went into work at Tao Bell at 1 this morning and worked until 8 because Duane Pickett  came in instead of Patty Walls for some reason. It was a pretty busy night. Getting off work I went home to bed and slept until 5:30 then was up for my date with Rosie Medina. We went to the Euclid Loew’s Century 21 and saw “Play It Again Same” with Woody Allen and “Harold and Maude”. They were both extremely good. I didn’t have a nice evening as that Rosie was distant and cool to me all evening. I think now that if anything could have happened between us, it’s over with. I didn’t get home until about 1:30 in the morning.

The other day I gave Duane Pickett  my notice  because my Aunt Marie Williams  was almost positive, she could get me this job much closer to home but as it turned out the deal fell through, so I guess I just better start looking for work again since I gave my two weeks’ notice.

Dear Lord, thou who knows my needs and as I a humble sinner I come to ask for your forgiveness and your help  in this time of need.

2 July 1972 Sunday

I only attended Sacrament, not having the fortitude to go to Priesthood and Sunday School. Before going to sacrament, Elder Christensen called and told me that his companion Elder Fielding was transferred to San Clemente before I was able to say goodbye. I was disappointed to see him go.

So far, I’ve met our extremely wonderful souls, Elders Petitte and Fairbanks, and Elders Christensen and Fielding. I especially like Elder Christensen as he is so gentle and kind to little children  in the ward.

At church I met Elder Bradshaw who took Elder Fielding’s position in the 6^th Ward. He is like an old man all of the age of 19. He is so sober and serious but pretty likeable. I was just cracking up during Sacrament  while I was sitting with the Elders as that Elder Bradshaw, to put it mildly, cannot sing. But Lord does he try. He has a gruff sing-song voice that shouts at the low notes and whispers at the high. It was precious. He was a joy and that’s the spirit to have . Do your best and never be ashamed of it.  

In the afternoon I went over  to see Andy Cunningham at his apartment in the Stanton Plaza. He said that John was mad at his brother James for losing him this good job and probably will move out.

Grandma Johnson wrote a letter to Mom. “  Sunday evening. All well here. My its hot but not as hot as it was at Samford Lake. We went by  John’s . Was glad to see us. Taken us to Crowell and had a good dinner. He had a  new car. Seems he’s doing  OK. We found everything  OK at the lake.  No fishing going on. Just too hot.

Bought 2 boxes of Alberta peaches. Put one box  in the deep freeze  down there and brought one home and one box of sugar pears. So you see I’ve been busy. Wilburn has to have his fruit.

Went to church this a.m. Troy Gardner in Demmitt New Mexico  in a meeting and Luther went  to Steel Hue to preach. At Atlas tomorrow night.

I know Jr. enjoying his self at Big Bear. Is it a youth program or what?

Glad you have a house keeper. I know it is hot and your working in such a place. Glad Charline and Dennis got to take a vacation free of the kids.

Beulah does go a long way to work. I thought she and Ed was both working for Bill. Guess Mrs. Kelly cut them off their allowance, ha. Sorry Mr and Mrs Williams didn’t get to come back for the wedding.

Well Essie at last made it to Tucson . Flew out. Never thought Rachel would let her. Guess she had a poor way helping it.

Haven’t seen John he has only been out once since Kay left. Poor John just an outcast. J.W. and Polly counting the days when they can go see Kay. We want to try to go. Just be the way. They can stay with Guy and Kay but we would have to get a place to stay  and the FBI might not help us. 

I want to put peas and corn in the deep freeze next week. Hope it cools up. Its time we were getting ready for church so will close. Love you all from Mama and Daddy.

Added Material

John Warren an long time friend  took them to dinner and the other John is my cousin their grandson John Johnson. He was divorced from Ginger at this time. Kay is his sister who married Guy Ballard. She had a job in Washington DC working for the FBI in some compacity. Beulah and Edgar Danforth were Dad’s aunt and uncle and Bill Damron was their son in law and Mrs. Kelly was Beulah’s mother.

3 July 1972 Monday

I was up about 10:30 when my sister Donna came over to get the twin bed I’ve been using . She needed it now for the new house she is living at ,over on Lincoln and West in Anaheim. So, I moved the middle bedroom bed into the front bedroom which I am using now. It was a big chore to move it by myself.

When I finally had time to sit down and read the newspaper,  I was shocked and saddened to read that the Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith had died at the age of 95. Now I think President Harold B Lee will be chosen as President of the Church.

            In the evening I went to over to Sheena Clark’s place and there with her friend Keith Andersen we more or less prepared ourselves for our panel report  for this Wednesday. Keith led us in the closing prayer.

After our meeting I went on home because Sheena  said that Mr. Carlyle had canceled our class for the night.

Back at the house I visited with Richard Ventura before going into work at 10. I’m kind of looking forward to the picnic party tomorrow in Riverside. I haven’t see  any of the dormitory gang in about three weeks .

Today mom canned some apricot preserves from what the Elders gave me out of their yard.

4 July 1972 Tuesday

It was a fairly busy day at work, but I took off at 4 in the morning to get home to get a little sleep  before getting up for Janet Walton’s the party. Richard Ventura got me up  at 10 and after getting dressed we were on our way to Riverside by 10:30. I let Richard drive since I was so tired from lack of sleep.

 Traffic wasn’t too bad at all, and we arrived at Janet Walton’s house by 11:30 soon followed by Laura Edmunson, Dave Gubser  who came with Phyllis Lewis and a friend of Laurie’s named Barbara Williams. Paul Blankenship was already there as I think he’s going with Janet now.

Along with the above mentioned were Rosie Medina and her friend Larry, Gail Carphone, Susana a friend of Janet’s, plus Doug and Tom and some music people that Laura knows that I never learned their names. Monte Ventura and his brother Tim came up later.

Until 3:30 we all sat around and visited and then we had a supper of hot dogs and hamburgers. After that we all went to this little park near Janet’s house where we played volleyball and other games. It was fun but hot and smoggy in Riverside around 99 degrees.

 About 7:30 we all went back to Janet’s place  to watch the city shoot off fireworks. Private fireworks are illegal in Riverside. I had to leave at 9:30 to be back home to get ready for work but Richard stayed with his cousins.

5 July 1972 Wednesday

I went into work at Taco Bell at midnight and worked until 3:00 in the morning. It was a busy night  being right after the 4^th of July. Joe Knight never showed up for work, so I called Duane Pickett  and he had to come in at 3:00 to work and he was not happy.

 I left work and came home to sleep  until 1:30 in the afternoon. Then I was up and worked on my paper for the panel tonight. It was at 5:30 but we didn’t really begin until nearly 6.

Keith Andersen  gave an introduction. I gave a talk on a man’s role in the family while Sheena Clark did the woman’s role. We also showed the film, “Man’s Search for Meaning.”  I think we did an excellent job on portraying the LDS family although, during the questions and answer period  we were pretty much under attack. I didn’t really realize how much people hated Mormons. I think we’re going into another period of persecution and misunderstanding as we move more and more removed  from modern society. The major misunderstanding was regarding the role of Blacks within the Church. This might have the same emotional impact on Gentiles today as polygamy had 100 years ago.

6 July 1972 Thursday

I went into work at midnight after just having  a fight with Richard Ventura over the most stupid argument. I guess I was still upset that my panel report on the Mormon family  was not well received.

It was steady all night  long,  but it wasn’t really busy as that I was able to get most of my work done by 8 in the morning when I got off work.

I came home and mom was gone. She was back at work since DeeDee called her back after laying her off. I just went to bed, and I didn’t go to class today. It was supposed to have been in the 100’s today but I didn’t notice it sleeping most of the day.

Tomorrow I’m going to get a haircut  and start looking for work. I hear Disneyland is hiring so I will try there.

Job 8:9 “For we are but yesterday and know nothing because our days upon the earth are a shadow.”

7 July 1972 Friday

 I went back into work at midnight and worked with Joseph Knight although I was the one who had to stay until 8 when Duane Pickett  comes in. The only exciting thing to happen tonight was that about 1:30 some of Joe’s Jesus Freak friends came up to Taco bell with a tuba, a clarinet, a flute, and cymbals  and played songs like “Pop Goes the Weasel” and “When the Saints Go Marching In”.  It was outrageous but fun as all these kids who were hanging out came up and started dancing  on the patio.  It was a strange sight.

When I was off from work, I went and had a haircut which was the first time since last November. Then I went home to change clothes so I could go and apply for a job at Disneyland. After that I just came home and crashed.

 I slept all the way until 7 this evening when Phyllis Lewis called to ask  Richard Ventura and I to come up to Glendale tomorrow to go out dancing. I said sure why not.

 I went into work at 10 and worked with this knew boy named Peter Jones who had only been in the county 7 days. He’s just visiting America  from England where he lives around London.

8 July 1972 Saturday

I visited with Peter Jones util 2 in the morning  when he left an then I worked with Joe Knight  until I got off at 7. This is my last night shift, and it feels like a burden has been lifted, although I’ll miss Peggy and Cindy Paulsen. They and Mark were the only ones I loved working with at this Taco Bell as much as I loved Karen and Jim Gramsted  and Jean Vander Murgal  at Leo Waldman’s stand.

Police Office Hunt  came up  to see me being it was my last night. I always gave him free food grateful that he would patrol the stand once in a while to make sure we were safe. Duane Pickett  always said to feed any police officers who came by. Officer Hunt is a good man  and I hope and pray  God will strengthen and protect him.

 When I left work, I just came home and went to bed. Mom and Dad were getting ready to go to Yucaipa and I guess to spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa Williams.

            I was up by 5 in the afternoon and got ready to go with Richard Ventura to Glendale  to meet Phyllis Lewis and Dave Gubser to go out dancing. A friend of theirs named Sheila Nund came along with us. We went to West Hollywood  to this club called The Bitter End West where they had a live band playing. The place was really kind of weird  and unorthodox  but still it was a lot of fun and as the scriptures say, “If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing and with dancing and with a prayer of praise .” I am not sure if the Lord would approve of the club, but it was real fun and I enjoyed myself.

Phyllis, Dave, Richard, Sheila, and I were out on the dance floor dancing up a storm really having fun in the crowd. Phyllis is a great dancer and when she and Richard start dancing the Boogie Woogie, it is just hilarious.

I met a really nice and charming kid  at the dance club named Craig  Jones. In a way he reminded me of Craig Pugh from last year. We talked for a while, while the others danced. I had a special connection with him that while exciting and was also disturbing as I am trying to put that side of me away.

9 July 1972 Sunday

Bitter End West closed at 1:30 and Dave Gubser still wanted to go someplace but Phyllis Lewis and Sheila Nund  were exhausted  so we all decided just to go to our homes as it was so late anyway. I think Dave was just horny as for why he wanted to stay out.

            Since we were in West Hollywood, Richard and I stopped in at Monte and Tim Ventura’s apartment  since we were in the neighborhood. They were still up when we rang their doorbell. Monte is so funny. Once when we were listing the places where the most homosexuals lived in Southern California it said that West Hollywood had the most concentration and Monte truly acted shocked and said hey that is where I live. I thought it was so funny because I think he truly was naïve. We only stayed until 3:30 because they were tired and actually so were we. Rich and I didn’t get back to Garden Grove and into bed until 4:30.

            Rich and I quarreled again over differences of opinion on the church where he backed me into a corner where I had to defend my faith. I love Richard but I love Christ more and I hope he doesn’t make me chose between our friendship and the church.  We argued over the nature of prophesy and how God leads prophets  to head the church who then reveals the Lord’s will.

            After going to bed I slept the rest of the day never making it to church however at 9 at night I went over to Elder Christensen and Elder Bradshaw’s place and related the events that happened to me a year ago on this day that led me to the church.  I don’t know what they thought about it. I left the Elders about 10:30 so they could retire and came home to read the scriptures out of the Book of Mormon and the Holy Bible until 3 in the morning. As I questioned whether I would have anymore visions of visitations  I felt inspired that I did  not need any more as their purpose was to bring me into his fold.”

10 July 1972 Monday

 I slept in until 4 this afternoon worn out from yesterday. Richard Ventura went off somewhere and we didn’t speak to each other all day. I went to Andy and James Cunningham’s apartment and Mrs. Cunningham was down with her son Stephen to see them. It’s been so terribly long  since I last saw her, over two years ago. We had a nice visit.

11 July 1972 Tuesday

Today strengthened my testimony of the blessings of paying tithing . When I got up at 5:30 because I couldn’t sleep in any longer, I got up and started cleaning the house and cooked Mom and Dad some breakfast before they went off to work. While I was cleaning up the kitchen, Aunt Marie Williams called and said that she has a job lined up for me at $2.25 an hour and as many hours as I wanted.  I couldn’t believe it! Tithing truly works. The Lord will pour out abundance if faithful.

            I went to school at 5:30 for my Marriage and Family Class  and the topic tonight was on dating. Sheena Clark and I were surprised  when we were asked by the class how we would cope with dating  and run aways. I was truly amazed for I thought our message had gone among them like chaff in the wind. But instead, the seeds of the Gospel took root after all.

After class  I came home and watched the Democratic Convention Nominations with Richard Ventura. George McGovern was chosen on the first ballot . I in a way I’ll be glad when Richard goes home this weekend as we have been seeing way too much of each other and we are starting to fuss and get on each other’s nerves. Since we are both out of work right now, we sit around all day and pick at each other. Oh, how it would be different is Richard would respond to the Gospel but alas he’s such a catholic.

The sons that are popular on the radio right now are Bill Withers “Lean on Me”, Looking Glass’ “Brandy”, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway “Where Is the Love”, Mouth & McNeal’s’ “How Do You Do”, Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again Naturally”, Derek and the Dominoes “Layla”, Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose’s “Too Late to Turn Back Now”, Stevie Wonder’s “Superwoman”, Jim Croce’s “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim”, and the Eagles’ “Take It Easy”.  I really like all the songs that are out right now for a change.

12 July 1972 Wednesday

I think my tithing blessings has gone overboard a little. I went over to the Mormon Elder’s residence place at noon since Elder Christensen  wanted to take a picture of me. When I returned, I received an application in the mail from Disneyland for an interview. Now is the hard part to choose between two jobs.

The Raul Jr. Market job pays $2.25 an hour for 40 hours a week and is close to home and I’d be working with Aunt Marie Williams as she is the bookkeeper for them. And it is a sure thing. The minuses are that I’d be working entirely by myself, and it isn’t really satisfying work, and I also will be working under Aunt Marie.

The Disneyland Job pays $2.50 an hour and I’d be working with people in an exciting place, close to either Fullerton or Garden Grove. The minuses are  that I am not positive I will be hired,  its only pat time work and I will have to go back into food services. It really is a tough decision for me that I guess I will put off until Friday.

Grandma And Grandpa Williams were over at the house along with my Aunt and Uncle Bonne and Bill Fagan for dinner. Dad showed some old home movies when we were kids.

At my Marriage and Family Class tonight the topic was on Violence on TV and how it affects children.

13 July 1972 Thursday

 I was up early today because I had a lot of running around to do. First of all, I took back to Mrs. Larsen the books I had borrowed for my Mormon Family Topic. There, Mrs. Larsen  and I had a long visit . I sure do love Sister Larsen . God shall reward her I’m sure for her trials with Kent.

After  I left there, I went over to my Aunt and Uncle Bonnie and Bill in Buena Park where Aunt Bonnie gave me some canning bottles. Grandma and Grandpa were still down staying with them, and I told them all but that I was LDS. I was surprised if not shocked to find out that they have a Book of Mormon in their home that someone gave them Of course I don’t think  they have completely read it, if at all. Grandma told me that her youngest Aunt Elvie Fairey on the Peacock side  of the family was a Mormon which is a fact I didn’t know either.

            After I came back to Dale Street,  I canned up seven jars of apricot jam and also baked two apricot pies from the apricots the Elders gave me from the place they are staying

I went to my Marriage and Family class at 5:30  and took my midterm  which I didn’t do so hot on because I didn’t study  at all.

After class I went over again to see Andy Cunningham and to give him some Apricot jam. I guess Andy and his brother James both are going to give up the  apartment  and move back in with their parents . They said John is making good money and is attending San Fernando State. They said he might move into the dorms since he will be too far from Tujunga  to drive.  I guess the Lord has poured out his blessings upon John and I pray  he might still.

I’ve been in the foulest of moods lately and feeling lonely. I hope I snap out of it soon.

14 July 1972 Friday

Today  on the way home from taking Richard  Ventura up into West Hollywood to his cousin  Monte’s apartment so they could go home to Fresno together, I was in a traffic accident  on the San Diego Freeway  near the Carson Street off ramp. It was stop and go rush hour traffic  and when we picked up speed  all of a sudden, we came to a complete stop . The Pinto didn’t stop in time before smashing into the back of a 70’s Ford Station Wagon which had come to a complete stop rather than rolling. If it had been, I would have had time to stop.

Thank God no one was hurt  but the Pinto was smashed up pretty badly and had to be towed away. The car I hit wasn’t even damaged  just my car. I rode in the tow truck to get off the freeway and then called Mom and Dad to come and get me in Long Beach. I still can’t believe it had happened.

I am so grateful to the Lords that nothing worse happened even though I vex my savior sorely. I’m not worth the effort the dear lord puts in me by the eternal circle of rising then falling then rising again and falling again.

“Behold happy is the man who God corrects therefore despise not thou the chastening of the almighty.” Job5:17

15 July 1972 Saturday’

I was up at 9 so I could help dad answer some questions to All State Insurance about my accident. Mom went down to the beauty parlor for most of the morning to have her hair done while dad built some shelves for the middle bedroom.

For much of the day I stayed in my room and  just quietly sang some hymns of praise and read from the Book of Job. I am also trying to write down my conversion  to the Latter-Day Saints.

I guess here would be a good place to state  some of my positions. I made an oath to God yesterday, before the accident, to cut off bad influences on me so I’m not to see James and Andy Cunningham again as all they do is smoke pot and have sex with girls, they bring home. Also seeing them just makes me want to be with John.

16 July 1972 Sunday

I went to church all day starting with Priesthood  where the topic was on Joseph Smith’s first vision.  In Sunday school we discussed  the Falling Away and Restoration. I  had to give the Elders a ride home after Sunday School. They are such good people. I borrowed Dad’s car all day since mine is wrecked and being repaired. I was finished with Sacrament at 4:30

My Uncle and Aunt Milton and Marie Williams came  over to take Mom and Dad out  on their boat that they bought. I love them all but sometimes they infuriate me with their ignorance selfish and shameful attitude toward politics. They like Nixon and Reagan.

I need to get out of the house, so I drove over to Anaheim to see Cindy Paulsen at Taco Bell, but they were too busy for us to really visit any.   

My sister Donna is going to let me use her car  to go to my job interview at Disneyland  tomorrow. I pray that I might have this job, but His will be done.

I feel a falling away from Janet Walton, Laura Edmunson, Dave Gubser, and Phyllis Lewis because of their attachment to the world. I guess it  was a long time coming as I had changed. I heard form Laura that Paul Blankenship might not move out after all this fall. Well time will tell.

Through the spirit yesterday I realized that I could possibly get my student loan  sooner than September since I am already registered for the fall.

I feel so strange now so confused and mixed up like I am drifting without any direction.  

17 July 1972 Monday

I was up early  in the expectation of my job interview at Disneyland. I was so nervous, and I kept praying to the Lord that it be His will  not mine but  wanted the job so badly because besides now I am really needing it. I gave up the job Aunt Marie Williams had lined up for me.

 I knew the Lord knew how badly I wanted this job, but I kept hearing a small still voice  saying You can’t always get what you want.  You can’t always  get what you want but of you try sometimes you get what you need.”

 The Disneyland interview I thought went terrific. By chance, the kid who interviewed me was in my English class last semester  at Fullerton and he remembered me. He was super nice but said finally that there just wasn’t anything openings that I was qualified for. But he promised to give me a call if anything showed up. It was some sort of consolation, I suppose.

Frustrated and depressed, I went over to Cal State Fullerton where I found out that President Nixon  had changed  the law concerning  Student Loans and it would be sometime  next week before I can find out  from financial aid what the changes mean to me. If I can’t get my student loan, I don’t know what I will do.  

18 July 1972 Tuesday

I didn’t do much today but wait for God’s providence to provide. I’m kind of drifting along right now. God is in his heaven, so I guess everything is alright with the world.

However, I found out from Rosie Medina today that I have been ostracized from the old dormitory crowd and it’s because they say I am a fanatic and carry  my religion with me wherever I go.

I thought how unfair for I never asked Phyllis Lewis and all of the rest of them to qualify themselves  for my friendship,  so why should I for theirs?  But if this is the way it has to be, so be it. I dare not leave my Lord for my friend and friends they cannot be, if they want me to give up my faith that holds everything together for me.   

Oh Lord I know thou brought forth valiant  spirits in these Latter Days for thy divine purposes. May the fulness of the gospel enter my heart  so I may dwell in the tabernacles of Zion someday out of the temptations of this world.

19 July 1972 Wednesday

It was a strange but eventful day. My sister Charlie and the kids were over all morning  doing their washing. I wasn’t in the best of moods and James was being so hyperactive again  that I spanked his behind once to make him mind but to no avail. So instead, I left the mob  to Richard Ventura, who came back yesterday and took off on my bike up to Imperial Bank. There I withdrew $7.12 from my checking account and closed it. I had first opened the account back in August 1970.

After that I rode up to Cypress College to go to Charlene Felos’ ceramic class. There is Kent and I talked finally on very good terms. It was really nice and pleasant. I glazed my cups I had made last June before I dropped out and then just goofed around.

After the ceramic class, I went to my Marriage and Family Class where Mr. Carlyle gave me back our tests. I got an “F”, which I deserved it for not studying.

 Riding my bike home from school,  I saw John Cunningham's yellow Karma Ghia in front of the apartment in the Stanton Plaza. So, I stopped in to see him. The place was a mess, and his brother Andy is so bad off that I had to bless his food for him at least. John and said very little to each other. I don’t know what more we can say but I still long to be with him even if he does not me.

After I left  and later in the evening, Kent called me at home and asked me over to his house on St. Marks. He wanted to tell me about a job I could get.

 So, I borrowed dad’s car, and I went over to Kent’s, and he said he got me a job for two weeks as a Camp counselor for 12 kids at a YMCA camp at Big Bear if I wanted it. The camp is operated by the YMCA of Greater Long Beach. I said I’d love to do it and I am all excited to be working again. 

I am in the back row  between two women

20 July 1972 Thursday

I felt impressed to just record a vision where Zion is troubled by corrupt men in Washington. I was so grateful that the Lord is proving for my needs.

21 July 1972 Friday

I was up early this morning so Mom could drive me down to Bill Berry’s Pontiac to pick up the Ford Pinto that was repaired there as it was ready. I had to borrow $100 off of Richard Ventura so that I could get the Pinto fixed as it cost me $213 altogether but my insurance had a $100 deductible which I had to pay.

After I got the Pinto back, I left immediately and drove up to Camp Oaks. It took about two hours to get up there and its about 10 miles from Big Bear City in the San Bernardino Mountains.

There I eventually saw that the camp consisted of Adirondack cabins, a dining hall, a nurse’s cottage, and the Combs Lodge. There’s a swimming pool and a horse corral also. Nearby was a manmade lake called Lake Kerr.

The first person I met upon arriving was the head camp director named Brian Bost who is a jovial man and also Bobbie Hasenkamp , the girl wrangler. Brian Bost had just been hired to run the camp last year.

 All the long-term kids and counselors were at Lake Gregory when I arrived, so it was in the evening before I met the boys I'm to be working with.

By the oddest coincidence and one I least expected, there was a girl wrangler helping Bobbie and I flipped out when I found out who it was. Denise! From Taco bell! I knew she was working at a summer camp, but I had no idea it was Camp Oaks.

While waiting for the kids to come back I went horseback riding with Bobbie and Denise until 4:30. At 5:00 the long-term people came in. I'm taking Paul Thornberg's place tonight by taking care of his little group so he could get away.

22 July 1972 Saturday

I woke up early for some reason and took a long shower before going to breakfast in the dining hall.

The names of all my kids that I am responsible for now are Brian, a very overweight dull-witted boy, Doug, a little Jewish boy who is shunned by the others but clings to me after I told him I too was from the House of Israel, Dennis, a spoiled rich kid who fights all the time with the others . He's probably the most pathetic because his parents had sent him to camp all summer and then to a military academy during the school year.

George is a little 8-year-old boy who is dependent on the other kids all the time for direction and protection. He’s always dirty like his cohort Marty Griggs. Marty is an 10-year-old who gets caught smoking cigarettes and tries to see how much trouble he can cause.

Next is “Curly” or if you please Steven. Steven resents being told to do anything, but he is so lazy you almost have to threaten him to get him to do anything. Michael is a little angelic blond tot of 8 years who teases Brian all the time by calling him fatso. Last but not least is Mark Chambers, a boy who wants to fight and tease the counselors all the time because it’s his way of getting affection. Eight boys all together and all of them hellions.

23 July 1972 Sunday

I was up at 7:30 as that breakfast is served at 8. We had pancakes and sausages. Later in the morning Paul Thornberg, the permanent long-term counselor for the youngest rangers and I went into Big Bear City  to attend church. Paul is not a Latter Day Saint, so we went to a Community Church for worship. I’m glad I went because it made me appreciate  that Joseph Smith had indeed restored the fullness of the Gospel.

In the afternoon we went swimming in the camp pool. It is so beautiful up here in the mountains. The sky is so deeply blue and the air clean and fresh.

Dave Kempton who is the head counselor of the long-term boys asked me to read a passage out of the Bible for Chapel tonight. The view from the open-air chapel is just breath taking. There’s a pile of stones nearby that one day will be used to build a regular enclosed chapel.

Two twin brothers, Warren, and Bill McFate, of the older long term rangers boys, got in trouble today for coming home from hiking without the others. They were given no lunch nor dinner. I later sneaked them something because I thought the punishment did not fit the crime.

Boy, these long termer kids are driving me crazy. I feel like a punching bag. Michael has started teasing me by calling me “Benji-Boo-Boo” think it would make me mad. I thought it was hilarious and since most of the counselors had nicknames given by the boys, I started using the name Benji as it was similar to the new name the Lord had given me of Ben Israel.

24 July 1972 Monday

I ached  all morning but got up for breakfast and had some French toast. Being in the mountains makes you hungrier than down below.  I then went with Alan Davis  who is the counselor for the older rangers ages 13-16, up to Big Bear City  to do some laundry . That took all morning and we just returned in time for a lunch of ham sandwiches.

            In the afternoon I took the kids swimming  as the other half of the kids went hiking  with Paul Thornberg and Kemp Eick to Broom Flats  to look for Indian artifacts. I took the kids, I am responsible for, out to the Indian Guide Village where the archery range is located  and  had them shoot  bows and arrows. We did that until twilight, and I then took the kids to a campfire that the short-term kids  had made. Seeing the campfire made me think how the early pioneer Saints  who crossed the mountains and plains must have had their camp gospel meetings.

We finally all went to be at 10 o’clock  while I read to them Mark Twain’s “Blue Jay Yarn”.

25 July 1972 Tuesday

I felt much better today than yesterday getting used to the bunk and I slept pretty well but not completely rested.  I then got up and went right to breakfast. We had cinnamon toast. Afterwards I came back to the cabin and let the boys mess around while I tried to rest some more.

When I finally did get up again, I took my kids  over to the craft lodge  where John Rector taught the kids some candle making techniques. While messing around, I sketched a pine tree which Alan Davis liked so much that I gave it to him. When shown to Dave and Gail Kempton, they liked it so much  that they asked me to do a rendering for them also. Then Brian Bost saw what I drew and asked me to sketch the dry lake  but filed with water. All this over what I thought was a crummy little picture I sketched.

Today I had to lecture Alex Phelps some today because I know he is LDS and 14 and he is not acting properly but swearing and being vulgar.

But the really big excitement for the day was when Alan Davis, Dave Kempton, Kemp  Eick, and I caught long term boys John Williams, Jason Phelps, and Marty Griggs with cigarettes. Jason is Alex’s younger brother. They boys were 13 and 12 but it was a serious offense because they could have started a fire besides, the fact  that they were under age. Dave made them smoke all the cigarettes in the infirmary until they were really sick. John was nearly green. I hope they learned their lesson and made them think twice .          John Williams , I know must be a distant cousin somewhere along the line as that his family is from Alabama and he looks like family especially my cousin Larry Fagan.

26 July 1972 Wednesday

All the long termers except for Brian Farley, John Williams, and Michael Emery went on a hike to Broom Flats to look for arrowheads. Those three were being punished. It was a hassle trying to control John Williams. He's 13 years old and is just crying out for love and discipline. I feel so helpless with working with these kid sometimes.

This afternoon,  Denise and Eddie told me that they wanted to get married and asked me if tomorrow when I go home, to ask Cindy Paulsen who worked with both of us at Taco Bell,  to come up, so Denise could talk to her. I said I'd try.

After the kids went to bed tonight, we counselors went over to Dave Kempton's cabin to plan out activities for next week. Friday is going to be fun for we are going to play Pioneers and Indians. Saturday is Paul Bunyan Day when we will do some lumberjack events.

As soon as the staff meeting was over  at 10:30 I drove my Pinto straight home to Garden Grove. I got in around 1 in the morning and I sure was tired.

27 July 1972 Thursday

I was up at 7 this morning with a lot to do. I first called the Orange County Health and Marriage office for Denise and Eddie to find out what they will need to do to get married and then I went over to see Cindy Paulsen  to ask her to come with me up to Camp Oaks  as that Denise wanted to talk with her. Cindy told me she heard that Patty Walls from Taco Bell had been pregnant since last November . No wonder she was so cranky all the time. The strange part is that I never could tell she was pregnant.

I then went to Cal State Fullerton where I went to the University’s financial Aid office, but they still hadn’t heard anything about the government’s changes to the student  loan program. I then went over to admissions and picked up a form saying I’ll be a student  in the fall so that I could still receive health benefits from Dad’s Teamster Union even though I am 21.

I also found out that the new dorms at Fullerton  are opening for occupancy this fall. Who knows maybe I will live there again as my old dormitory friends are drifting away.

I then left Fullerton and drove over to Cypress College where I asked Charlene Felos for some extra clay for the camp kids, and she gave me about 65 pounds of it. I also picked up my ceramic cups that had been fired and were done.  While there I talked to Kent Larsen some and I guess he's coming up sometime next week to be an art and craft counselor to replace John Rector.

At 5:30 I took my Marriage and Family final. It wasn’t too hard and with any luck I will get a C out of the class.

I then went home  at 6 and visited some with Richard Ventura and mom some. Mom said that Aunt Marie called and said I can still get the Jr. market job if I wanted it and this time I will say yes.

28 July 1972 Friday

I was up at 7 and went over to pick Cindy Paulsen up at 8 When I arrived over there, she told me that a friend of hers named Phil also was coming up with us. So, the three of us  had a nice drive  with nothing much happening  until we reached the Camp.

Anyway, I dropped Cindy and Phil off at the Comb’s Lodge  to meet Denise and Eddie and I went to see what my monsters were up to. Believe it or not I actually missed my kids.

In the evening we counselors divided the kids into two groups, Settlers, and Indians, with the Indians trying to capture the settler's gold. All the counselors even got to play, and I was assigned to be an Indian. It was so much fun.

Afterwards we went had built a campfire and I told the boys all about the Donner Party, the lost wagon train that never made it across the mountains.

I never heard back from Cindy and Phil, but they probably returned to Orange County with Denise and Eddie. .

29 July 1972 Saturday

I was up at 7:30 feeling pretty bad like I am stating to come down with a full-fledged head cold. Today is Counselor Kemp Eick’s day off so I took care of his kids for most of the day. His boys, Jerry Chambers, Jason Phelps, and Keith Siff, ganged up on me while I was in my bunk and wanted to wrestle with me all morning. I think they just needed the attention.

Today I found a method of cleaning up the kid's foul language. I make them hold a heavy rock for a while until their arms ache. They don't swear nearly as badly as when I first came up.

            In the afternoon John Williams, Jason Phelps, and Keith Emery  went with me to the Craft lodge  where we had complete access as that John Rector had given me his keys.  I taught the boys how to use the coil method to build clay pots from the clay Charlene Felos had given me.  John made a really nice vase,

            In the evening  we had our “Paul Bunyan Day” activity  with log tossing, tree climbing, and etc. By the time event was over I was pretty sick with a nose cold. The more I blew my nose  the more it bled. 

It seems I still am affected from that time in high school when I was 15 where the coaches made us jump into the pool to mix the powder chlorine up and some of it went up my nose which made my nose bleed from the slightest touch. Even rubbing my nose on my pillow at night  would make it bleed. When I got hot or flustered my nose would bleed and I don’t know how many times I ruined shirts by my nose all of a sudden start to bleed. It was always embarrassing. It’s not as bad now but only bleeds occasionally when my nose is irritated.  Still, it was pretty messy today

I went to bed about 9:30 after the boys were all put to bed.

30 July 1972 Sunday

I didn’t attend any kind of church service today but rather just messed around looking after the boys to keep them out of trouble. It was lightning and raining  almost all morning until in the afternoon  and it was visiting day  for parents  but a lot of them didn’t bother to come up.

When the weather cleared Paul Thornberg and I took the boys out to Big Bear Lake where they went fishing and waterskiing until the sun went down.  On the way back the kids riding in the bed of the truck caught a chill from the weather having cooled down.

Here's a roster of all the long termers, the boys who are up for the entire summer. The Short- termers are up usually just for a week, two at the most.

The boys ranged in age from 16 to as young as 8 years old. The teenagers are the twins Bill McFate 16 and Warren McFate 16, Keith Emery 15, Harry Minamiji 15, Jason Siff 15, Alex Phelps 14, John Williams 13, and Mike Bernard 13.

            The younger boys are Keith Siff 12, Jason’s brother, Jerry Chambers 12, Larry Setka 12, Jason Phelps 12, Mitch Simpson 11, Brian Farley 11, Marty Griggs 10, Mark Chambers 10, Steve Morris 9, George Setka 8, Doug Simpson 8, Dennis Erickson 8, and Mike Emery 8, Keith’s younger brother.

The long-term Counselors are Paul Thornberg 26, Alan Davis 23, Kemp Eick,19, and me 21 supervised by  Dave Kempton 28, who is married to Gail Kempton 27, who brought up with them their two young kids Kevin Kempton 5, and Scott Kempton 3.

31 July 1972 Monday

For most of the day I took some of Paul Thornberg’s kids out to the long termer’s rifle range  to do some practice shooting. In the evening I met the new 3rd cook. His name is Ron, and he seems pretty nice and attractive. Bobbie Kemphauser and I met in the mess hall while I was helping Dave Kempton pack away enough food for the long termers trip to the Kerns River. All are going except the littlest ones that are in Paul’s group.

At one point Bobbie and I started waltzing around the huge dining room as we sang "Shall We Dance!" from the King and me. We've both nuts. It was a lot of fun though. Strange that I should feel like I've known these people all my life since I've only known them for such a short time.

It was humid during the day after all the rain we had yesterday. It was a beautiful night as that because there was no moon out , the entire Milky Way could be seen. It was magnificent.

AUGUST

1 August 1972 Tuesday

I went over to the Combs Lodge and read. We kept expecting Brian and Kent to come in all day, but they didn't arrive until about 6:30. Bobbie, Chris and Ed had gone on an overnight horseback ride and camp out. Kent wanted to go out and see Bobbie. About 7 all of the long termers, Gail, Sue, Kent, Denise, Paul, Eddie, Brian, and I made over 400 sandwiches for tomorrows sack lunch. It was fun and Sue and I had a peanut butter fight. After we were through, the seven long term kids, Kent, Paul, Denise, Eddie, and I rode in Eddie's jeep out to where Bobbie was camping. It was so cold, so we had all the kids bundle close together. Bobbie was so glad to see Kent and it was a real fun evening. My last official day. Sadden by it.

2 August 1972 Wednesday

Brian Bost asked Kent to take some of the short termers on a hike and since Paul wanted to work on his car I looked after the kids for the afternoon. I then went to the mess hall and helped the 3rd cook clean the kitchen since everyone more or less deserted him. When Kent got back from his hike I decided to head on home. I picked up my paycheck and I cleared $56. I left Camp Oaks after saying goodbye to everyone and got home at 6:00. I spent the evening making Chocolate Chip cookies to send to the camp kids.

3 August 1972 Thursday

I got up about 9:30 and took a shower. My cold seems so much better down here than up in the mountains. I sent this afternoon by mail to John Williams the chocolate Chip cookies and brownies I made. I made six dozen so he could share them with the rest of the long termers.

            I went over to Cal Tate  Fullerton University to look at the dorms but was not impressed by what they did to improve them. I hear they are building new dorms so I may look into that. I also picked up a loan application today. I really haven’t had much time to miss camp.  I also haven’t really enjoyed myself a I could have because of my stupid cold.

In the evening when Richard Venture came home, I called Paul Blankenship to find out wat he’s going to do about living arrangements this fall. He said he was on academic probation and might not be coming back.  So, I told Richard this and he said he could  move in with Laura Edmunson’s friends Tom and Doug at the Montclair  if I didn’t move out with him. Spinning wheels got to go round. Up and down Up and down.

4 August 1971 Friday

I was up at 6 this morning to get ready  to go into work.  I didn’t get much sleep last night  because my nephew James spent the night and slept in my bed with me, He hogged the bed and also wet it, so I was pretty tired when I got up.

            I went to the store at 7 but the guy didn’t show up until 7:30 and as it turned out it was all a mix up. I wasn’t supposed to come in until 3:00 and work with this man named Ed Jordan who would train me. So, I left the store at  9 and came back home to sleep some more.

Then I went to work at 3 and worked 6 hours until 9.

 It was pretty busy because it was a Friday but all in all it wasn’t too bad. Ed was a nice man who helped show me the rounds. If it be the Lord’s will, I believe it’ll work out all right. It’s not as exhausting as Taco Bell was. 

Yesterday Richard Ventura and I had a serious talk about sharing an apartment and we came to the conclusion that our personalities are so diverse that it probably wouldn’t work out. It doesn’t mean we couldn’t remain friends.

In the news Rep. John Schmidt of Tustin has been nominated on the American Independent Party.

5 August 1972 Saturday

I slept in until about 10 this morning and when I got up, I really didn’t do anything until it was time to go into work at 3.in the afternoon. I worked with Ed Jordan again until 11. I was a little tired standing on my feet all day but that’s about it. The only incident tonight was that some guys tried to shoplift but Ed stopped them. When I came home, I watched some TV before going to bed.

Mom and Dad had gone up to Yucaipa to have a family get together with Aunt Beulah and Uncle Ed Danforth  before they leave to return to Earth, Texas.

            Richard Ventura, I guess, worked at Judy’s for most of the day.

I am sure melancholic about my boys up at Camp Oakes. I wonder in what previous life John Williams, and I had met before? Were we close in our pre-existence life?

6 August 1972

I didn’t go to church today like I should have but instead went over  to Los Alamitos to see Pam Ludders then later over to visit with Ralph and Brenda Ludders. I hadn’t seen them in such a long time that I wanted to catch up. They were so happy to see me as much as I was to see them.

I was surprised  to find out how little  they knew of church history, so I spent about an hour  just talking about the church with them. Ralph, I guess, now really is my brother. They told me how they’re going to be moving again. This time from Norwalk back to Cypress just down the street from where they once lived.

They had to leave to go somewhere so I left and came back home to Garden Grove where I decided I’d like to go to the show. I haven’t gone in such a long time, and I feel so restful afterwards. I went to the Westminster Edwards Cinema and saw “101 Dalmatians, “The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid” and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Frenzy”.  It was an enjoyable day although I missed going to church.

7 August 1972 Monday

I slept in really late until 11:30  before getting up. I didn’t do anything until in the afternoon when I decided to call my boss Marie and see how many more hours I could get. I talked to Mr. Raul Nunez, and he said that since I trained so well that there was no need of my working  until he takes over the store officially this late August. In other words, I probably won’t be working for another 2 weeks.

            I was really excited over the news because now I’ll have a chance to go back up to Camp Oaks and work there some more. Mom gave me some money and I immediately packed a suitcase and drove on up  to Big Beat knowing not whether  I even could get a job up there now.

I reached Camp Oaks  and went to see Dave and Gail Kempton. Bob Felding was with them too, taking Brian Bosts place for a few days. Bob asked Dave why not let me work a few days  while giving Paul Thornberg, Alan Davis, and Kemp Eick, about 3 days off while Kent Larsen and I look after the kids . And this is what happened. Later after supper of chili and beans, I went with  Bobbie Hasenkamp on an evening horseback ride. It was so beautiful being back in the mountains.

8 August 1972 Tuesday

I woke up over at the Comb’s Lodge and before the day was over, I’d just have soon stayed in bed. It started out all right. Paul Thornberg, Alan Davis, and Kemp Eick were so relieved and glad when Kent Larsen and I said we ‘d take  over all the Long-term kids  for them for a few days so they could get away. I thought at the time that Kent had bit off more than we could chew and I was proven right. After lunch we went swimming and  then had a rest period.  In the afternoon I had taken several of the kids to the rifle rage before it began to rain just a little. At least it was a cool day. After it was cooled off some my boys and Kent’s kids were all restless again and several fights  broke out between the boys. I broke  it up but sill it was a hassle. The in the evening  when we tried to organize a new game for the boys, they all fussed and fought us the whole time until I got so mad  and took all my kids and sent them to bed at 8:30. I was so pooped. It was long rough day.

Joh Williams is really giving me a tough time. I’m so frustrated and depressed. What do you do with a neurotic kid?  

9 August 1972 Wednesday

Today was so much better with the boys that there isn’t any real comparison . We all had a good day. This morning was spent on crafts, the afternoon swimming and horseback riding and in the evening, we had a cookout and played volleyball.

            Late in the evening when All the short termers were out on an overnight campout, we let the log termers  go skinny dipping in the camp pool. They had so much fun, and it turned out to be a really enjoyable day with no fighting or fussing.

            After putting the boys to bed in the bunk house, Kent Larsen and  went over to Dave and Gail Kempton’s cabin where we had a midnight snack with them

One of the camp songs I learned was “We are one in the spirit. We are one in the Lord. We are one in the Spirit . We are one in the Lord. And we pray that our unity will soon be restored. And they’ll know that we are Christians by our love,  and they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

            I feel so much more connected to the God of Zion who raises up prophets up here I the mountains and hope to always have his spirit in my heart.

10 August 1972 Thursday

Today was another enjoyable day with the kids. I was up around 8:30 and all my boys  were still sound asleep, really in a deep slumber. I  had to wake them all up for breakfast. Then I went over to Kent Larsen’s cabin and woke them all up also. We had a nice breakfast  because all the short termers wee out of the camp. So, we had bacon and scrambled eggs and pancakes.

            After cabin cleanup, which is always a chore with the boys, we rounded up all the kids  and put them in the camp truck and headed toward Lake Gregory. I sat with the kids in the back of the truck,  and it was about an hour and a half trip, but it was fun because Bobbie Hasenkamp came along, and we sang songs  the whole time.

            Lake Gregory was such super fun although I did sun burn a bit on my shoulders. I went into the water along with my kids and rode on one of their paddle boards.

We returned to Camp Oakes at 5 and Alan Davis, Paul Thornberg, and Kemp Eick, were all back. I got my Camp Oakes T-Shirt  today even. We had roasted chicken for dinner  and afterwards Kent and I got our stuff together to take bac down the mountain We left about 7 and we were back home about 9:30.

I visited with Mom about all the activities I did at the camp before going to bed. It really was a nice day.

11 August 1972 Friday

It was a busy, busy, busy day. I was up at 9:30 and Richard Ventura had already gone into work, so I mainly visited with Mom again about how the camp is ran. I had to go to the dentist for an examination at 2:15 and that took about an hour. After that Mom and I went shopping for groceries for the long termer’s Mexican dinner I want to fix them when I go back. I spent about $9.50 but Brian Bost said I’d be reimbursed.

            I got a letter from Grandma Johnson and a post card from Phyllis Lewis which was a surprise to me. So, it was to Richard Ventura because he didn’t even get that much in the mail.

            I guess it is pretty much settled that Richard and I won’ be moving in together this fall. I really don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. I’m really in debt now because it will cost me $81 to have my teeth fixed  and I have to pay $80 for my tuition soon. I also have a $90 gas bill for all the driving around I have been doing back and forth. Oh well. God is providing and I’m his.

            At about 77 I picked Kent Larsen up and we headed back up the mountain. Kent actually drove the Pinto so I wouldn’t be so tired. When we were back up at Camp Oakes, everybody was at the show, so we just unpacked and went to our bunks in the Comb’s Lodge.

12 August 1972 Saturday

I spent the night in the Combs lodge before getting up to go to breakfast. Gail and Dave Kempton were glad to see Kent Larsen and me back at the camp. It was kind of a  frustrating day because Kent’s boy Dave Hutchings and Marty Griggs were caught shoplifting in Big Bear City. Kent was really upset for Dave is his favorite kids. The roster of the Long Termers this session are Bill Kam, John Williams, Mark Fluger, Lanny Setka, George Setka, Jason Siff, Keith Siff, Keith Emery, Garrett, Mich Schulman, Dave Hutchings, Trey Glotch, Mike Ferncase, Felix Gonzales, Marty Griggs, Mark Chambers and Jerry Chambers. The long-term counselors are  still Paul Thornberg, Alan Davis  Kemp Eick, Kent Larsen, and me.

13 August 1972 Sunday

Well John Williams is gone. He ran away from camp after being punished for smoking again. In the late afternoon we heard that he made it home to Van Nuys. Poor Little Rich kid. At least  a ghetto kid has his mother, but he has no one as his parents sent him off to camp so they can go traveling and not be bothered with him.  The rest of the day was spent showing the VIP parents around the camp today since it was sort of an open house type situation. However, it thoroughly rained and hailed  for a good part of the day.

In the evening the long termers attended the Kamp Kolers chapel where I gave a lesson  on the “Good Samaritan”. Later when it got dark around 8, we also had a campfire which was really fun.

About 10:30 Dave and Gail Kempton, Kent Larsen and I went into town to try and find some place  where to get something to eat. That was so much fun, and we had a silly time. I didn’t get to my bunk until about 12:30. It was a nice day except for learning that John Williams had run away.

14 August 1972 Monday

I spent most of the day cooking up the Mexican food ingredients  I had brought back with me. The long termers all went on different hikes while I worked in the dining room kitchen. Alan Davis and Paul Thornberg took some of the kids over to Sugar Loaf while Kent Larsen and Dave Kempton took some of the others to Broom Flats where they looked for arrowhead chips.

Gail Kempton  and I stayed behind and in the morning  friend and cooked all the taco shells and after lunch time while kids were still gone  the Spanish Rice.

            About 2 was when we really began to prepare the rest as we planned on having super early around 4. We were finished by then and we had tacos, tostados, Spanish Rice, refried beans, and corn strips. The kids had returned by then and were famished but still they said it was the best dinner we had here at the camp.

            After cleaning up the dining hall, Kent decided to get out of camp, or a while and we went over to the horse corral cabin to get Bobbie Hasenkamp. We took my Pinto and we just drove around mainly through Arrowhead, Aarowbear, Running Springs and Big Bear. It was 10 before we came back to Camp Oaks, and we were pretty tired from the day, but it was a good day. I told Dave Kempton earlier  that I would be going home to Garden Grove on Wednesday Morning.

15 August 1972

All the kids were pretty good today. In the evening Kent Larsen and I took our group out to Big Bear Lake to fish and water ski. We stayed there until about 8 in the evening  then went back to the camp as it was getting dark.

After we got most of the kids settled into their cabins, Kent and I went over to see Brian Bost and his wife Sue’s cabin to see if they were ready to go with us up to Ragger’s Point for the ceremony where we would get out YMCA neckerchief scarves called “rags”. We were getting gold-colored scarves with are given to those over than 15 and who have an “Understanding of others and concern for others.” The neckerchiefs are YMCA symbols used to help campers find direction in their lives.

 

It was a beautiful , clear, starry night out in the woods although there was an autumn chill in the air.

 It took about an hour  for the ragger’s ceremony. It was simple and dignified And deeply personal because it represents a private relationship between himself and God.

Those who participated were teenage long termers Dave Hutchings, Harry Minimiji and Vern Van Mussen. Kent and I were the only counselors there. Brian and Sue Bost performed the ceremony afterwards we sang “Kumbaya My Lord” and other spiritual campfire songs  as we felt a true unity among us. As we left the Point, we returned to camp with a closer bond of affection towards each other.

It was nearly midnight before Kent and O were able to get into our bunks. I had moved into Paul Thornberg and Alan Davis cabin to sleep as they were both gone. It was a very beautiful and lovely night.

The top ten songs for this week are “Alone Again Naturally”, Al Green’s” I’m Still in Love with You”, Tower of Power’s “ You’re a Young Man”, Nilsson’s “Coconut”, The Hollies’ “Long Cool Woman”, The Osmond’s “Hold Her Tight”, Luther Ingram’s “I Don’t Want to Be Right”, The Three Dog Night’s “Black and White”, Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park,” and “Brandy.”

16 August 1972 Wednesday

I woke my kids up and got them off towards breakfast  this morning but I, myself, was late getting there because I had to pack. The boys were all going on a n all-day horse ride, so they were gone from camp by the time I was ready to leave,

I said a few brief goodbyes to the folks I was leaving and headed down  the mountain around 10:30. I didn’t go straight home but rather first went to Yucaipa to see Grandma and Grandpa Williams. They invited me to stay for lunch,  so I stayed with them for a while. Grandma and I went through some of her old picture albums and told me who they were. They were a lot from 70 years ago that she had from her mother.

I left Yucaipa around 2 and was back on the rad heading home through San Bernadino,  Riverside, and Corona into Orange County. It was such a long drive and for some reason I had the hardest time keeping my eyes open. I don’t know why I was so tired perhaps from the letdown of leaving camp.

            When I reached home on Dale Street, I just went in and rested before even unpacking the Pinto. My Aunt Marie Williams called and said I had to go over there in the evening to pick up my check.

I also went to the show and saw “Nicholas and Alexandria and “Cromwell” at the Buena Park Theater because I didn’t want to sit at home. They were both really excellent.  

17 August 1972 Thursday.

I didn’t get up until noon and then I really didn’t do a whole lot all day. Later I decided to get all my college stuff out of the way and finished filling out my student loan application which I took over to it up to financial aid at  Fullerton University. There they said it would be about  a week before I would hear anything about it. I also went ahead and paid my tuition  today from the money I had to borrow from Grandma and Grandpa Williams. It was $80 but I’m glad that is all taken care of.

            I went Alpha Beta today to buy some ingredients to make some cookies for the camp. I am going to send some to Sue Bost and some to Gail Kempton  so they can hand them out as they choose.  I made a batch of Chocolate Chip cookies and a batch of Snickerdoodles.  So that’s what I spent much of the evening doing.

            I visited with Richard Ventura today and he said that Paul Blankenship can’t get back into Fullerton so he’s moving out of his apartment. I guess that settles any notion of moving in with Paul. I’ll probably move into the new Dorms  but who really knows what the future holds. God will guide and direct.

            I need to be a better Latter Day Saint. A prophesy came to me  the other day  that said Rejoice in the Lord  and prepare to gather in Zion and the law of celestial attainment shall be expanded to all men.

18 August 1972 Friday

I started out the day not feeling  really hot. It was ugly and overcast here in the valley. I cleaned up my room pretty good today  and also washed and waxed the Ford Pinto. My sister Charline went the doctors today for a checkup, so I took my nephew James to Magnolia Park  while mom babysat my baby niece.

            When Richard Ventura got off work, his friend Doug called, and I guess Rich will be moving in with Tom and Doug for sure now. We also made plans for our trip to Fresno  tomorrow so he can go home before school starts again. We will just stay the weekend.

            In the evening I went over to Kent Larsen’s house to visit with his mother, Sister Larsen. We talked for a while about Camp Oaks and about Kent. She is so worried about his homosexuality. I really do like Sister Larsen, and she sliced me up some rhubarb pie that I had never had before.

19 August 1972 Saturday

I didn’t do much this morning as I was feeling pretty lousy. I think I caught a nose and head cold from my nephew James yesterday.  I mainly just felt up to washing my sheets , making my bed, and cleaning my room while packing for the trip to Fresno.

            About 4:30 I drove into Santa Ana  to pick Richard Ventura up from his work. I went early  however so I could go to the Deseret Bookstore which is right across the street from where Richard works. He actually didn’t get ff work until 6 and that was when er headed on north. We took the Sana Ana Freeway to the Golden State and then stayed on it until Bakersfield where we stopped at 8:30 to get a bite to eat. We were back on the freeway on our way to Fresno where we got in around 10:30. It’s 271 miles to Richard’s parents ranch at Easton from my home. I drove all the say so I was tired. Mrs. Mary Ventura and his sister Michele greeted us, and  we stayed up and visited until we went to bed at midnight. It was a long drive.

20 August 1972 Sunday

Richard Ventura and I spent much of the day with his sister Michele  visiting their aunt and uncle, Eugene and Marge, the parents of Monte Ventura. They  all seem to be  very good loving people. In the afternoon we went into Fresno to see where Monte’s sister Tami Ventura works and when we came back to Richard’s home in the country, his younger brother Steven was home also.

            Later in the evening  Mrs. Ventura  fixed a roast beef dinner  and Richard’s eldest sister Arlene Yparrea made some homemade ice cream. All of Richard’s brothers and sisters  were over  for supper along with their Catholic priest  who stayed for dinner too. It was an extremely good  dinner, but I was tired and went to bed about 11,

            The Republican National Convention  begins tomorrow. It’s a foregone conclusion that Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew will be nominated  to head the ticket for President and Vice President.  However, God’s mercy , love , and justice shall always triumph over evil men if we ourselves remain pure in heart.

Additional Material-

Richard Michael Ventura was born 26 December 1950 in Fresno and died on John Cunningham’s birthday in 2018 in Miami, Florida. He never married and had brothers John “Jack” Ventura” and Steve Ventura and sisters Arlene Yparrea and Michele Ventura. Hs father John Ventura had been a Fresno County Supervisor.  Richard graduated from Cal State University at Fullerton \and  had a career in fashion and design.  His grandparents were natives of the Azores and were Portuguese.

            His Gay cousin nicked named “Monte” was born Eugene Monroe Ventura on April 8 1948. Monte’s sisters were Sharon Mostsenbocker, Tami Habib, and brother Angelo “Tim” Timothy  Ventura.

21 August 1972 Monday

Richard Ventura and I were up by 10 and Mrs. Ventura fixed us some breakfast. About 11, we went into Fresno to do some shopping and  to look around. Rich wants his mother to make him a bed spread  so we spent a good part of the afternoon looking at material. He is so fussy. By 3:30 we were through, and I think I saw all there is to see in Fresno by our driving around.

In the late afternoon Rich and I picked a mess of blackeye peas  from his sister’s farm,  and I bought 8 pounds of okra for $2 from a friend of theirs to take back home.

            Back at Richard’s house, Mrs. Ventura  fixed us a delicious chicken dinner and then we went over to say goodbye to Monte Ventura’s parents and to Richards other Aunt and Uncle, named Josie and Joe Coito, and also to his sweet 82-year-old grandmother. Richard does have a very nice family.

            Michelle said she might be coming down to Orange County in a few weeks . That would be nice.

            We left Fresno at 9 tonight and arrived home to Dale Street at 12:45 in the morning. We had to stop for gas at Wilshire Boulevard in West Los Angeles  but that was our only stop. Again, in I drove all the way  about 280 miles on Freeway 91 and the 405 Freeway. 22 August 1972 Tuesday

23 August 1972 Wednesday

My sisters Donna and Charline came over this morning to get some of the okra and blackeye peas  I had for them. In the mail I received a letter form Gail and Dave Kempton  thanking me for the cookies I sent and inviting me to a party this Sunday  when they come down from the mountains. It sounds like fun.

In the afternoon I went over to see Sister Wanda Larsen and borrowed her New Era and Ensign  magazines for good reading.

            In the evening it was full moon out tonight with little cloudy skies. I was edgy walked up Orangewood to the Stanton Plaza and saw “the Graduate” and “Sterile Cuckoo” again. They are both tremendous films,  but I first saw them first so long ago with John Cunningham my  once “Saturday Friend.”

            After the show I stopped by Andy and James Cunningham’s apartment  for a very short while to see how they were getting along out on their own. I guess I was nostalgic afterwards. I guess Andy  is going to move back home with his folks in a few weeks to attend San Fernando State.  He also told me about his power struggle dream with John. God forbid.

24 August 1972 Thursday

It’s a very sorrowful day I have to write bout. Jerry Smith called me up to tell me that his mother died yesterday . I just couldn’t believe it as what a shock. She was always a gentle woman and a good mother  to Jerry and his older sister Carma. Mrs. Smith was in the hospital earlier this year for a heart condition, but I never realized it was so serious.  Jerry was the one who found her as she fell dead in the kitchen.

I’ve known Jerry and his family for 16 years having grown up with Jerry  ad was very fond of his mother Joanna. She was only 45 years old and very young looking. It’s just really so hard to believe  that she is gone. But I know that it’s a far better place she that she goes to than from whence she came. She trusted in the Lord.  “Blessed be the name of the Lord For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, because our days upon earth are but a shadow.”

25 August 1972 Friday

It was a warm muggy day outside. Richard Ventura went into work in Santa Ana and my sister Donna is wanting to quit hers. I’ll start Monday at the job my Aunt Marie got me at this convenience store on Katella.

            This morning I had to go over to my sister Charline to babysit James and Denise while she took their car down to get it ready for their vacation. They will be going north  for about 2 weeks. Denis sure is a cute baby and already walking. James is acting jealous again because everybody is making such a fuss over her walking.

In the afternoon my sister Donna wanted me to go with her to Cal State Long beach to pick up a class schedule and then over to Cal State Fullerton to pick up a loan application for her like I did.  She is going to take out the full about of $1500.

In the late afternoon I went over to visit with Jerry Smith and pay my respects. We visited for a while, but he was really in no mood to talk much. Poor, poor Jerry. To lose one’s own mother. The funeral is this Monday at 10:30 at the Westminster Cemetery off of Beach Boulevard.

26 August 1972 Saturday

When Kent came home this evening from Camp Oaks, I spent much of my time over there  talking about our camp experience. I had left some clothes up there evidently and he said they were probably thrown away.

            Kent said that Brian Bost offered him the post of long-term camp director. That surprised me as I wondered if Dave Kempton doesn’t want it anymore. I also wondered if Kent will really take it. I told him that I’d like to be the craft’s director  for next summer. I hope I can get it.

            After a while, we went next door to Tom Johnson house. He drove us over to Dave and Gail’s house to collect some of Kent’s stuff that he had left behind. It was good to see them again, but I really am not looking forward to the party tomorrow at all.

            Back at Tom’s house, we played some board games and talked way late into the night  about literature, culture, art, and religion. It was so good to talk academia once more.

My sister Donna and her friends went to see Leon Russell at the Anaheim Convention center tonight.

27 August 1972 Sunday

I went to church with Kent’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Sandy Larsen today at the Stanford Street ward. They live in the 7^th Ward, and I am in the 6^th. It’s a much prettier chapel then the one used by the 6^th. After church Kent didn’t want to go with me to Gail and Dave Kemp’s party  so I had to go by myself.  I was there from 5 until 7 and it was kind of dismal. Kemp Eick and Paul Thornburg  never came,  and Alan Davis came late. I didn’t much feel like staying any longer and I soon left to go over to Tom and Jean Johnson’s place on St. Marks  to go to the show with them and Kent Larsen.  We went to the Lincoln Drive-In and saw “Bluebeard” which was dumb. I didn’t get to bed until late,

            Kent sure has changed since last year  but then again so have I. he is still highly intelligent plus extremely talented . he is an extremely sensitive person and is now finally using his talents  is a constructive way to befit others, especially these forlorn  love lost boy that are dumped into the YMCA’s custody every summer.

28 August 1972 Monday

When I was up this morning after a restless sleep, I just cleaned up an got dressed for Jerry Smith’s mother’s funeral. It was at 10:20 at Westminster Memorial  Park. They had a Presbyterian service and it lasted about an half hour. The minster read some of the things they found underlined in Mrs. Smith’s bible.

            After the service in the chapel, we drove out to the grave site and the minister performed the last rites there.  I met Jerry’s girlfriend for the first time under these sad conditions. Her named is Linda Cotter. After the funeral I went over to Kent’s house for a while . He said his mother is going to have to go in the hospital tomorrow for an operation  on her tongue.

            About 1 in the afternoon, I came home and slept some before going into work at Raul Nunez’ Convenience Store at 6 where I worked  until midnight  officially but stayed until 1 in the morning doing extra work. The job was kind of boring and a little tiring since I haven’t really worked in such a long time. I do miss working.

29 August 1972 Tuesday

It sure was hot and muggy all day with the temperature of 95 degrees.  I didn’t get going until about noon after having gone to bed so late. My sister Donna was over, and she was using Mom’s tax return for her loan application to show she qualifies for being from a low-income family. She is going to try and get a federally insured loan additionally.

At 2  Mom, Donna, and I went out for lunch  to this Pizza Hut place in Cypress to try it out. Donna said she really enjoys living with her friends in Anaheim, I guess. She is going to just take 12 units at Long Beach and none at Cypress this fall. She has already gotten her Associates  from Cypress, but she was planning on taking a few more courses there. It’s hard to leave Cypress. Mom said she might sign up for a beginners art course. That would be far out.

I went into work at Raul’s Jr. Market at 6 and worked until 12:30 It was super-hot within the store at 85 degrees.

30 August 1972 Wednesday

I was up in the afternoon after having stayed up half the night as it was too hot to sleep as it 85 degrees at night. I’ve been reading the “Exorcist” lately having borrowed it from Tom and Jean Johnson while I loaned them two books of my own.

Today was Richard Ventura’s day off and it was supposed to have been mine but Ed Jordan, the store manager, called me in to train this new kid named Steve. So, I went into work at 5 until midnight with Steve.

I hope I get paid soon because I’m awfully broke since I wasn’t paid for the last time, I was up at Camp Oks as I had volunteered my time.

Mom finally has come out of the bad mood she had been in lately. I don’t know if she is still planning on going back to Texas  for a few weeks by herself. I wish she would as I think it would do her an immense amount of good to get away.

Rich is still planning on moving in with Tom and Doug  as far as I know. What I will do for my living arrangements only God knows.

31 August 1972 Thursday

Today was my day off from Raul’s Jr. Market  and I slept in for most of the day.  I didn’t do much but read  from the Exorcist  which is horrifying when  as we know now how Satan is in complete control of his earthly kingdom

In the evening I decided to drive to Tujunga to find out where John Cunningham actually lives now and pay him a visit.  It took forever  to try and find the place as it was up in a winding hill area. It was 8  before I got there and to my dismay Mrs. Cunningham told me that John had gone on down to Garden Grove to see his brothers.

Oh well, I stayed a while and visited with John’s youngest brother Steven and Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham for about an hour before I left . Since I was up this way, I decided to go on down to Glendale to see what Dave Gubser and Phyllis Lewis was up to. It was late by the time I arrived  there because I didn’t know the area  at all, and I was lost  for several times. I finally went over to Dave’s house first and ended up staying there and visiting before going back to Garden Grove. I never did see Phyllis.

Dave said that Laura Edmunson, Rosie Medina, and  Phyllis are going to Disneyland this Saturday. I guess I will go if I get paid tomorrow  on the first.

It was a beautiful month, this last of August, since I learned to know and love some beautiful people, all but a few have now gone out of my life like a candle’s last flicker. Ah but the remembrance lingers on.

A sad death of a loved one occurred during this month but she is in paradise now so I shall not weep  but rejoice.

I’ve been impressed with a haunting prophecy which tells me that I will gather with the Saints in Zion.

 

SEPTEMBER

 When school started back up in September I was still living at home and therefore was not able to participate in all the activities with my friends from college as much as I did when I lived in Fullerton, Rich Ventura had a new apartment which complex had a sauna which I would often use even when he was wasn’t home just in the hopes, I would see some naked men. I wasn’t quite yet ready to be sexual, but I was extremely horny to see and be with naked men, usually college age guys as they were the ones who lived in most of the complexes near Cal State Fullerton.

1 September 1972  Friday

I finished reading the “Exorcist. It was pretty interesting. At 6 this evening I had to go into work at Raul Jr. Market  and I worked until 1 in the morning. It was a fairly steady night.

            Richard Ventura went home to Fresno on a bus today. I guess he’ll come back with either Monte or Tim Ventura or with his sister Michelle.

            Mom is in a much better mood now than she was. I think she just had the blahs.  I have decided  pretty soon what I am going to do about moving out. Time will tell, I guess.

I didn’t get paid  today so I guess I won’t be going to Disneyland. It’s just as well since I’ll have enough bills to spend my money on anyway.

2 September 1972 Saturday

It was a strange kind of day. It rained off and, on all day, though it wasn’t overcast and dreary; just cloudy.  Mom and Dad bought a new car today. They bought it in kind of a spur of the moment type thing. It’s a beautiful car, 1972 Ford 500 Galaxy, kind of a golden-brown color. It cost $4500 but they traded in their Pontiac for $1300. It is a nice car.

            I didn’t read anything  but “Judas My Brother” today. It’s interesting  but it’s written by a Jew that hates Christianity. The tribe of Judah was always a stiff-necked people, so they say.

The Olympics are on television every day and night. They are interesting  to watch, My old high school Rancho Alamitos has the most kids from one high school  in the I Olympics. Gary Hall won a silver medal again in swimming. He competed in Mexico in 1968. 

3 September 1972 Sunday

I was tempted sorely today

4 September 1972 Monday

I didn’t have to work at Raul’s Jr. Market today because Ed Jordan scheduled me to have the day off. Mom and Dad went over to Frank and Barb Welte to go swimming in their backyard pool and for dinner. I went over later just for dinner. I visited with Cathy Welte and her mom Barb the most. Barbara Ann Welte and Cathy asked if I would take them to Sunday School with  me if I moved back over to Fullerton. I said I’d be more than glad to do so.

After leaving Frank and Barb’s I went over to see Kent Larsen in Eastgate who was over at Tom and Jean Johnson’ s place next door because I was sure they would be back from Kings Canyon National Park,  and they were. Except Kent was at the show with his friend Marilyn from Utah.  So, I stayed and visited with Tom Johnson for a long time. I think he’s terribly misdirected  because he’s a pagan, but I really like him and his wife Jean.

When Kent was back from the show, he introduced me to Marilyn. She is an LDS girl and very nice. I stayed over at Tom’s until about 3 in the morning . It was really enjoyable, and Tom read my fortune  in his Tarot cards while at Barb’s Mom said she needed a Ouija Board

5 September 1972 Tuesday

I worked from 6 until midnight at Nunez’s Convenience Store  but other than that I didn’t do too much of anything else. I went over to Kent’s  house on St. Mark’s for a little while and that was about it.

I guess my sister Donna is getting ready to attend Cal State Long Beach . She’s going to take out a student loan and as soon as she gets it, she will probably quit Mr. Donut at the Orange County, Plaza. 

My sister Charline and her husband Dennis Wachs are still on their trip up north. I don’t know exactly where all they’re going. Mom and Dad as far as I know are still planning on going back to Texas  the first of October. I want to go to Utah with Kent  during October Conference if I can get the time off from work.

 I’m really getting excited about going back to school,  but I just don’t know where I will be staying. Should I move out or stay home and save money?  If I move out where? To an apartment or back into dorms. Decisions, that  I am putting off until later. My only long-term desire is to go back up to Camp Oakes  next summer as a camp director.

 I don’t feel like I have the spirt of the Lord with me anymore.

6 September 1972 Wednesday

Today sure was  a super nice day. In the morning I got up to have my teeth cleaned at the dentist which took to about 9. When I came back home, I called Kent Larsen up to see if he and Marilyn were ready to go on our day trip.

            We left about 1 ad I drove down the Pacific Coast Highway  to San Clemente then took the Freeway  to Oceanside  where we stopped to visit the San Luis Rey Mission. After touring it we then took the Pacific Coast Highway  into San Diego where we went to the Whaley House in Old Town. It’s the first brick home built in Southern California and its authentically and historically documented as a haunted house. Kent, Marilyn, and I actually witnessed  the meat cleaver in the kitchen swing slightly on the wall. Just fantastic. 

By the time we reached Balboa Park to go to the Zoo it began to rain on us, but we didn’t mind. We spent the entire day in San Diego, and we didn’t get back to Garden Grove until 10 at night. After taking them home I immediately came back to Dale Street and went to bed to get some sleep for the big day tomorrow.

            Horrible news. They say all the Israeli Olympic team is dead.  

7 September 1972 Thursday

I was up at 6 this morning very tired but I went into work at Nunez Convenient store at 6:30 and worked until 6  when Steve came in to relieve me. It really wasn’t all that bad except that my legs ached from standing for so long all day.

            Aunt Marie Williams was working at the store as a bookkeeper and she and I had lunch together. I have a lot to be grateful to Aunt Marie for getting me this job.

            When I was home from work, I was so tired,  but I also didn’t want to just sit at home, so I went to go see Andy Cunningham at his place in the apartments at the Stanton Plaza.  Not much is happening with him, and he said he’s moving back in with his parents in Tujunga  on the 13^th. I gave him a Book of Mormon before I left.

            The Olympic Games are what is mostly in the news  what with the whole Israeli Olympic Team being slaughtered by Palestinian guerillas. It’s absolutely insane. I am disappointed that the Munich Olympics haven’t been cancelled. Israel is bombing guerilla outposts in Syria and Lebanon in retaliation for the massacre. Oh Lord protect Judah.  

8  September 1972 Friday

It was a very pleasant day even though I was irritated by the heavy traffic I had to drive through. Anyway, after I was up, I went over to Kent Larsen’s so he, Marilyn and I could take off to go to the Huntington Library in San Marino. Kent asked if I could pick up this kid named Dave Hutchings  and take him with us. I said sure even though it was way out of the way. I had to take the San Diego Freeway to the Harbor Freeway south to pick up Dave and then north to Pasadena. We didn’t get to spend as much time at the Huntington Library because its only opened between 1 and 4.

            Marilyn loved it  and she is really a nice person.

            The traffic was unbearable  coming home during rush hour,  and I was even a half an hour late getting to work because of it.

Ed Jordan wasn’t mad though, in fact he was rather nice about the whole business.

            I worked at Nunez Convenient Store form 6-30 until midnight.

            Richard Ventura’s mother and sister are down from Fresno, but I haven’t had time yet to go see them yet. They’re here to help Richard move some of his things to the Montclair apartments.

            In the news Israel is bombing the Arab countries.

9 September 1972 Saturday

Today I spent much of my time with Kent Larsen. He gave me some stuff I could use while he as cleaning out his garage room. I went into work at Nunez Convenient Store at 6 and worked until after 1 when I closed up.

10 September 1972 Sunday

Anew week began today for my life , to shape and build and mold it into anything I want. We have the power to male “the Mountains sing or make the angels cry.” When I think back  a year ago and how I was wresting with that “old deceiver from the very beginning” I shudder how I was almost over come into a life of sin. It was awful how at the first of August he had me I his grips, squeezing the very life out of me and the horrible thing was that in my innocence I knew not my adversary.  With the power of God, I threw that old liar out even though he still is here to taunt and tempt me even now. Only to Christ’s cross do I cling for I know his blood was spilt for me, even a sinner such as I.

            Today I had to work at Nunez’s from 5 until 1 in the morning. I wish I would get paid soon  so that I might pay some of my debts.

11 September 1972

No Entry

12 September 1972

Black and White, Saturday in the Park, Daniel Boone’s Beautiful Sunday, Alone Again Naturally, Neil Diamond’s Play Me, The Moody Blue’s Nights in White Satin, Mac Davis, Baby Don’t Get Hooked On me,  Main Ingredient’s Everybody Plays the Fool, Hot Butter’s Popcorn,  Leon Russell’s Tight Rope

13-18 September 1972

No Entries

19 September 1972 Tuesday

There is a time for all things and there is God’s love for all time. Today is Grandpa Johnson’s 71^st birthday.

20-21 September 1972

No Entries

22 September 1972 Friday

I fasted for most of the day for the forgiveness of my sins

23-24 September 1972

No Entries

25 September 1972 Monday

The first day of Fall instruction began  and I am taking 20 units this semester. Seven of those units are at the Institute of Religion so I won’t get official credit toward my degree, but I am taking 13 at Cal State Fullerton University. At the university I’ve signed up for a Hebrew Language class for 4 units, the 453A the History of Mexico to 1910 for 3 units,  and a 341 Tudor and Stuart England History class for 3 unites . I am also taking a History of Motion Pictures as a night class for three units .

            At the Institute of Religion, I have A Pearl of Great Price class taught by Bro. Bennet

Today I had my Pearl of Great Price at noon, my Hebrew Language class and tonight I went back to campus for my Movie Class which I think will be kind of fun.

26-28 September 1972

No Entries

29 September 1972- Friday

Mom and Dad left tonight to go up to Yucaipa to spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa Williams. Tomorrow they will all go back to Texas.

30 September 1972-Saturday

 I waited most of the morning for Nancy Wilton to come over so I could help them move. They came about 1:30 pm and the pick up after all because last night they moved most of the heavy stuff. They have a nice 2-bedroom apartment on 4th Street in Santa Ana. In the evening I went over to Tom and Jean Johnson’s and went to the show with them. We saw “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” and The Salzburg Affair. They weren’t very good

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