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Every chapter in My Life Story includes information about me, my work, my family and my friends.It also includes information about events that took place locally and nationally, etc. that I thought important enough to include. You’ll also find that I’ve included films, musicians and recordings/videos, in addition to books that were released in a given year.
While I have included many personal photos, most of the graphic content included below is borrowed from the Internet. I do not claim to own this material. I am just adding it for educational purposes. If the owners of any of the content in the “My Life Story” series want their stuff removed, I am happy to oblige. My email address is jrdiaz@arizona.edu. Thanks!
I had a rough time during adolescence. It really sucked. My eyes were a mess, I felt ugly and fat, and I was very lonely. My home life wasn’t great, as my mom was sick a lot, and my brother Fred and I fought all the time. He was Mr. Cool, had lots of girlfriends and was good looking and athletic. I was the exact opposite. The only thing I had going for me was school. I continued to do well in my classes, and I continued playing the cello. By the end of the 8th grade, I was pretty good at it.
My brother Fred, “Mr Cool”.
I was a late bloomer physically, but emotionally, beginning in the 7th grade, I was discovering that I was more attracted to boys than to girls. I hid my desires, of course, and had girlfriends throughout my time at junior high, but they came and went. I really fell head over heels for two boys in particular, one each year I was in school. They will remain nameless, because I don’t think they ever knew how I felt, and I wouldn’t want to embarrass them in any way. I never “wanted” to be attracted to boys, and I fought it with all my might, but my feelings would not change. This drove me crazy, and I was quite unhappy and felt totally alone with nobody to talk to about it. I even had a couple of episodes where I could not stop crying. I was a such a mess. The one person that did help me through some of these rough spots was my dear sister Becky. She came over to the house once while I was having one of these little dramatic breakdowns, and she held me and told me it was all going to be okay, and that we were all in this together. I’ve never forgotten and I’ll be forever grateful to her for her kindness and support.
My sister Becky
One day as I was riding my bike home, a couple of boys started throwing rocks at me. I usually tried to avoid conflict at all costs, but on this particular day, I decided to confront them. I rode back toward them, got off my bike and told them to stop it. One guy, the taller of the two, had on a pair of heavy boots, and he decided to kick me right in the groin. He missed his target, however, and kicked my thigh instead, and boy did it hurt! I got really angry and started to fight him. I wasn’t good at fist fights, but we tumbled on to the ground and somehow I managed to grab onto his boots. I was a hefty kid, and stronger than I realized, and I picked him up by his ankles and I started to swing his body against the fence, which was covered in privet bushes, as hard as I could. I swung him like a bat into the fence, smashing his face right into it, time and time again. His friend stood there watching and wanted to jump in, and I yelled at him and told him two on one wasn’t fair, and, luckily, he backed off. The guy who started the fight was pretty badly beaten up by the time I was done. Once I thought he’d had enough, I got on my bike and went home, while they both yelled that they were going to get me again. When my brother Fred saw me, he told me I looked like I had gotten into a fight. I replied that he was crazy, but he just laughed like he knew that I had. The next day I saw the kid in the hallway, and his face was all bruised and scratched up. It was a mess. He tried to lunge at me, but the hallway was crowded and he stopped. I never saw him again. This was the only other fight I ever got into as a kid. I lost the one in grade school, but this time I fought back and won.
While I had a rough time, I must admit it wasn’t all bad. I did have fun playing in the orchestra, and I enjoyed learning. I also started reading more and I learned how to play the organ. I spent a lot of time too with my sister Irene and her kids, and with my friends Ernie, Roman and Oscar, and enjoyed listening to music. I also spent a lot of time with my brothers Rudy and Charles, who had started new families in the early 70s. They both lived in the Pueblo Gardens neighborhood, which was close to our house on 22nd. I was never made to feel unwelcomed, and being with them gave me a sense of comfort and safety. Even though I felt alone, I really wasn’t.
My brother Charles and his wife Elaine
My brother Rudy
My brother Rudy had a beautifully framed copy of this print of the Beatles in his living room.
Thank goodness I survived.
Mansfeld Jr. High School
The best part of the new school year was that we could buy new school supplies. I loved shopping for this stuff. It was the one time of the year my parents would actually let me indulge in stocking up. Now I’m a bit pack rat when it comes to pens, notebooks, paper etc.
My 7th grade Spanish textbook. Mrs. Rodriguez, whose photo is below was our teacher.
Back in 1971 I had no idea I would graduate twice (1982 and 1986) from the University of Arizona or that I would be spending the bulk of my adult life working there (1992-present). I started attending classes in 1977, and I’m still here 46 years later…
Ernie Carrillo, one of my best friends growing up. We are still in touch, after all these years and remain as close as ever.
This is what the corner of Park Ave and University Blvd. looked like back in the early 70s. I rarely made it to this part of town, ever.
My 7th grade portrait. My lazy eye got even lazier during adolescence. I would get an eye operation the following year, but it didn’t help much.
My brother Charles took us to see this when it was showing at the Jerry Lewis Theater. He wanted us to learn about social issues like race and class and he thought this movie would help.
From the Tucson Daily Citizen, October 16, 1971.
Released on October 24, 1971. I knew all the lyrics. I’m sure a lot of kids knew this song. It was very popular.
7th grade orchestra cello section Members were Lori Fibel, David Boyer, Becky Baldwin, Susan Matte and me.
7th grade. The entire orchestra, led by Mr. Lauritz Bjorlie.
This is one of the many songs we played in the orchestra. The melody is so sweet. This version isn’t exactly the same, of course.
The auditorium at Mansfeld. The orchestra practiced on the stage, and had one big concert here at the end of the year. This is also the space where we would have our “Blue and White” socials, our student assemblies, and where we ate lunch.
I clearly remember borrowing this book, titled “Louis Armstrong: A Self Portrait”, from the public library downtown. Armstrong was well known among the general public. I would see him on television all the time and of course knew he sang the song “Hello Dolly”. I didn’t know about his long career in jazz, however. I was much too young and didn’t know anything at all about the history of jazz at this point in my life. This book was my introduction to the topic. Armstrong died on July 6, 1971. I believe this book came out shortly after that.
11-16-71 Tucson Daily Citizen. Ike and Tina Turner in Tucson!
Laura Nyro released Gonna Take a Miracle on November 17. 1971. It featured the voices of a group called Labelle, which included Patti Labelle, Nona Hendrxy and Sarah Dash. The album is filled doo-wop, oldies and Motown soul. Next to Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, it’s my favorite Laura Nyro album.
Wow. This is so damned good!
This film premiered on television on 11-30-71. It was so sad.
I remember this like it was yesterday. A bunch of us went to Randolph Park and had a blast playing in the snow. My brother Carlos and his new wife, Elaine were there as were a few other family members and friends. The last time we had snow like this was back in 1964. It was a rare treat indeed!
My report card, 1st semester, 7th grade. I was in the honor roll all throughout junior high.
Harold and Maude premiered on 12-20-71. It would take me another 10 plus years to get to see it, but wow, what a movie! It’s one of my very favorites, and it had a huge impact on me when I finally did see it. The song that follows is the movie’s theme song.
My brother Rudy bought this when it was released in 1971. His wife hated the record, but we couldn’t help cracking up every time we heard it.
Occupied America, but Rudy Acuna, was first published on January 1, 1972. This publication is not in it’s ninth or tenth edition, and is considered a classic of Chicano history. I didn’t read it until I got to college. I still have my copy of the original edition.
This is from the introduction to Occupied America:
“Mexicans – Chicanos – in the United States today are an oppressed people. They are citizens, but their citizenship is second-class at best. They are exploited and manipulated by those with more power. And, sadly, many believe that the only way to get along in Anglo-America is to become “Americanized” themselves. Awareness of their history-of their contributions and struggles, of the fact that they were not the “treacherous enemy” that Anglo-American histories have said they were-can restore pride and a sense of heritage to a people who have been oppressed for so long. In short, awareness can help them to liberate themselves.” (p. 1)
I bought this 45 and played it to death. It was released in late 1971, reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on January 15, 1972 (my birthday!), and earned a gold record. The song is linked below.
The following month, in February, 1972, a group called “Malo” released one of the most memorable songs of the era. The group was led by Carlos Santana’s younger brother Jorge. I remember this song was later played at our “Blue and White Social”, an annual dance held towards the end of each school year.
This album was a huge hit in the Mexican American community. The cover art is by Jesus Helguera, one of Mexico’s most popular artists. His calendars have become collector’s items and are quite easily identifiable and well known.
I was not very sophisticated when it came to music. I mostly listened to what was on the radio, and to the albums my brother Rudy had. Being in the school orchestra did, however, make me want to learn more about classical music. I remember we took a field trip once over to Palo Verde High School to listen to the University of Arizona orchestra perform. Slowly, but surely, I did start to get more interested in classical music.
One day my sister Becky brought home a stack of classical albums that a friend had given her. I listened to all of them, but this one was my very favorite, and continues to be to this day. Nobody plays Mozart like Ingrid Haebler! Both concertos follow.
Still, I loved certain popular songs. The following two were favorites of mine.
This was released on April 21, 1972.
One of my favorites songs, released on May 18, 1972.
Mrs. Rodriguez, my 7th grade Spanish teacher. She was the best. I continued to take Spanish up until the 11th grade. By the time I got to college, I passed the foreign language proficiency exam with flying colors.
Mr. Bjorlie started teaching me the cello in the 4th grade all the way up until the end of the 8th grade. He was a very patient and talented teacher. Unfortunately, when I switched to catholic school in the 9th grade, I had to give up playing. I took up the saxophone instead.
My 7th and 8th grade English teacher, Mrs. Virginia LaFraniere. She taught us English grammar mostly, and gave weekly quizzes. I always aced them. And she always wore a wig, every single day.
I loved this space. It’s the front entrance to the school. The doors on the right lead in to the auditorium. .
I was a klutzy, chubby geek, but at least I did well academically.
My report card, 2nd semester, 7th grade.
There’s an interesting story behind the following two certificates. I didn’t really deserve them. I think I played in one basketball game and one football game the whole year. I had other things going on, like being in the orchestra. However, at the end of the year, when certificates for participation in various extracurricular activities were being given out, I went to the head P.E. teacher, Mr. Tripp, and politely insisted that I be given certificates for having participated in these two activities. He balked at first, but I held my ground, so here they are, and after all these years, the truth has been revealed. Ha ha ha.
Santana and Buddy Miles Live was released on June 7, 1972. This was Carlos before he found his spiritual awakening. The music was recorded live in January, 1972.
My buddy Ernie and I joined the boy scouts for a short while in 1972. We went on a big hike up into the Catalinas and later participated in the Boy Scout Pimaree. See the article below.
Ernie in the 8th grade. We were in the Scouts together.
We went to Ft. Huachuca to participate in the Pimaree. I didn’t have a very good experience. There were bullies all over the place.
I used to love reading through these merit badge books. Being a boy scout was an expensive hobby and I never had the money to fully participate. No merit badges for me…
Levy’s at El Con had a complete selection of Boy Scout clothing and accessories. Like I said, being a boy scout cost money!
Our troop also went to Tombstone, and I bought this photo from a man who claimed he was Chief Cochise’s grandson. It turns out, I learned much later, that he was a fraud.
Another memento from our Tombstone trip. I still have the newspaper that came inside this envelope. It’s a reproduction, of course, but in good shape still.
I received a scholarship to attend music camp at the University of Arizona in 1972. My friend David Boyer, pictured with me below, also attended. It was a memorable experience and my first exposure to the University campus.
My friend David and I in the 8th grade.
The legendary Tejano group, The Royal Jesters released the album “Yo Soy Chicano” sometime in 1972. Many years later, I would play the title cut on my radio show all the time.
My I.D. card. My brother Fred had one too just like it. I have it now.
My eighth grade portrait. I was out sick a lot, and had my eyes operated on at around this time. I had high blood pressure and got put on a diet at one point. I didn’t lose much weight until later in high school.
I loved this movie. It came out on t.v. on 09-24-72.
I sold greeting cards, and this is the only one I have left.
I didn’t become a Joni Mitchell fan until I was in college, but I quickly grew to love her and her music. For the Roses was released on November 21, 1972. It’s a brilliant record. One of my very favorite songs, The Judgment of the Moon and Stars, follows.
Our Christmas tree, 1972. I started playing the organ at this point in time. It was a Magnus “chord” organ, and I learned it all on my own.
This is exactly how my organ looked. Mine didn’t have legs, however, if I remember correctly. I also had several music books, and learned a lot of songs from different eras of American music.
I had a ten speed just like this one. I would ride it to school early in the morning to attend algebra class at Tucson High School. The class started at 7am, and I was always late.
Our algebra class was held at Tucson High School in the Vocational Education building.
This was my Algebra I textbook.
Considering my home life still wasn’t very stable, I did well. My mom was sick and spent a lot of time in the hospital.
Bruce Springsteen’s debut album was released on January 5, 1973. My sister Becky’s husband to be, Paco Sharer, went to high school with Springsteen, and when they moved to New Jersey, he introduced Bruce to my sister. I didn’t get into Springsteen until much later, but I do love this album. I have all of Springsteen’s stuff.
I would love to go to the carnival at Southgate. I would usually go with my sister Irene and her kids. Below is a photo of them taken at the carnival. From the Arizona Daily Star, February 23, 1973.
Anadine, my sister Irene, Michelle and Belisa.
During my last semester of the 8th grade, I had to write a “research paper” for my social studies class. I decided to write it about alcoholism. I went to the library and used the “Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature” to find sources for my paper, but the library wasn’t that well stocked with magazines, so I ended up writing a personal testimonial about my mother, who was an alcoholic. She started drinking around 1956, a couple of years before I was born, and it got her very sick over the years. She’d spend months at a time in the hospital in the 70’s, and would attempt to quit several times, but never could completely. I loved my mother dearly, and would do anything for her, but her drinking took its toll on everyone in the family in one way or another. It made life at home quite difficult. When I had my eye operation around this time, she showed up to the hospital quite inebriated, and I burst out crying, begging my dad to take her home. I was coming out of anesthesia at the time, and was quite messed up. I have always regretted that moment. Her drinking eventually killed her. She died of cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 64 in 1988.
We played this song in orchestra.
I bought this book while in the 8th grade. It had a profound effect on me, and marked the beginning of an awakening to the world’s social realities.
I bought these tarot cards through the Scholastic Book program. I still have most of them. This is but a sampling. I never knew what they were really for. I just liked the artwork.
More Tarot cards
These were also bought while I was in junior high. I never did read Dune and I gave it away a long time ago. I’m not a big science fiction fan, but I still have the music books.
More stuff I read. This author wrote a whole series of books about troubled youth.
My final junior high report card.
Getting six honors put me way at the top of my class. There were just two or three other kids who had more than that.
Have I mentioned that adolescence was rough? I carried this book around everywhere I went at the time. Oh god…
I spent countless hours watching this stuff. As alone as I felt, at least I had something to keep me occupied.I think back on it now, however, and wonder what I might have been able to accomplish had there not been any tv.
A great movie to close out the summer before the start of high school. Released on 7/16/73.
Stay tuned for Part III of My Life in Pictures: High School, 1973-1976…Coming soon!
2 thoughts on “My Life Story: Junior High School, 1971-1973”
I enjoyed your biography. I was great that you continued to play the cello. I played the piano since I was 5 years old, and still do. I think that Junior High School was difficult for many of us. I was part of growing up.
I wish I’d known these stories back in 1973 and onward. Knowing a history informs our actions and beliefs. Though I think, in the end, our own history together has shaped a strong and understanding friendship. One I cherish daily.
I enjoyed your biography. I was great that you continued to play the cello. I played the piano since I was 5 years old, and still do. I think that Junior High School was difficult for many of us. I was part of growing up.
I wish I’d known these stories back in 1973 and onward. Knowing a history informs our actions and beliefs. Though I think, in the end, our own history together has shaped a strong and understanding friendship. One I cherish daily.