Saffrons Rule

Trying to stand up on my sister’s Mozelle surfboard in the pool, was a real challange

Posted on May 17, 2014 by saffronsrule

October 12, 1964, Monday. Went in our new pool.

A lot of kids were mad or surprised when I showed up in school today with my real hair. No more wig! Some actually think I dyed it back blond and pinned my cut-off ponytail back on. After school came home. I really swam for the first time in the pool. It’s so tough! (meaning bitchen!!) It was clear and warm. It’s small, but I’m getting use to it. We put Donna’s surfboard in the pool and I tried to stand up on it. After that I fell asleep, but, got up to do my homework. I can’t understand why Jack hasn’t called back. Maybe he doesn’t have my number or is too busy. Wonder if he has a girlfriend.

Not a lot of people had pools in 1964, so naturally our pool became very popular. It was small, but since it was heated all year, it was actually more fun than a diving pool. I used to take a hot Jacuzzi, than jump in the exercise pool, swim back and forth, then get back in the Jacuzzi until I was so relaxed I’d have to take a nap, or fall asleep in the sun.

My sister got a surfboard for her Birthday this year and everyone wanted to see if they could stand up on it. She could do it of course,

but, I always laughed so hard, I couldn’t keep my balance and splashed into the water. We really had so much fun with that board and the whole family loved playing together in the pool.

My beautiful, surfer girl sister, Donna, got stuck having to always clean the pool. It was her job and she didn’t like it at all. I guess my dad wanted her to have a chore, so that was it.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Little Sisters, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, Beach, Culver High School, dating, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Moselle Surfboards, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Southern California, Surfer Girl, Surfer's Rule, teenagers, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

with our new pool, our house became known as Grand Central Station!

Posted on May 16, 2014 by saffronsrule

October 11, 1964, Sunday.

Went in the pool as soon as I got up. Sandy and Dianne came over, but left to get their bathing suits. I laid in the sun all day. Pearl came over and went swimming. They couldn’t believe how shallow it is. Sandy came back and went swimming too. Jill Perkins was here, than Mary and Granddaddy came over, but Mary never wants to stay, so they left. Pearl, Sandy, Dianne and I drove to Toes and Hermosa Beach. Checked out the Fosters down there. We saw a little kid smoking. Picked up Donna at Teri’s and came home. Nana and some lady were here, so I just did homework. The Backwards dance is next week, I guess I’m not going. Nobody to ask, Jack never called back and I lost his number.

There was never a day that people didn’t call or even just knock on the door uninvited. My parents were party people and loved to get the cocktails flowing, burgers on the grill and music blasting. Their parties often continued all weekend and my friends called our house Grand Central Station, because people were constantly coming and going. Here is my mother, Pauline Williams, so proud of our new pool.

My little sister and brother, Billee and Preston, my sister Donna with our dog Pepsi and Jill Perkins and my mom, out by the pool.

My dad, Bill Williams with Pepsi in a little boat. My dad doesn’t look too excited about the new pool!!!

Nana at 63, still looked amazing in a bathing suit, and though she never allowed sun on her face, she’d often came over just to use the Jacuzzi and of course enjoy the parties.

My step-grandmother Mary and Granddaddy, who at 73 and 69, were newlyweds and he still had his big position at MGM. Mary wasn’t comfortable around all the drinking, loud music and crowds of people, so she’d always say, “it’s time to go Andy,” and they’d just leave.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Little Sisters, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, Beach, Culver High School, dating, Fosters Freeze, Grand Central Station, Hermosa Beach, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Party House, pool, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, teenagers, Toes in Playa Del Rey, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

Our new pool put me back on “the most popular girl at Culver High list”

Posted on May 15, 2014 by saffronsrule

October 10, 1964, Saturday. Went to Long Beach for a football game. XVIII Olympics in Tokyo.

Went in the pool for the first time. It’s so small I hate it. I can walk in the deep end and my head is still above water. Nobody will want to use it. You can’t even dive in it. I laid in the sun all day. About 6:00 Sandy and Pearl picked me up. I wore my own hair. They both wore their Leopard coats. I teased them all night about being Tiger Ladies and twins. I was the only one that looked different. They said I really looked like a Barbie Doll. We went to Long Beach to see football game with San Diego and waited outside the gates for two hours. Richard Cavaliere finally came at halftime. He brought a friend. No one special. After the game we went to Denny’s, (it’s just like home.) Then Richard had to start home. We came home, drove to Toes naturally, nobody was there.

The pool was called a health/exercise pool with a Whirl-Jet Chair in the Jacuzzi. You would sit in the chair, that extended the length of the space and have very powerful jets hit every part of your body. It was for total relaxation. Here is Richard Cavaliere pretending to be taking a bath and scrubbing his feet. My friends may not have been able to dive in the pool, but they loved to play pool games, like badminton or lay on floats and get a tan. Between pool, stereo and my dad’s beer keg, I was very popular.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 57 Chevy, Barbie Doll, Beach, Culver City, Culver High School, dating, Football Game, Long Beach vs San Diego, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Playa del Rey Los Angeles, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School, Whirl Jet Jacuzzi pool | Leave a comment

My third High School friend has to get married!

Posted on May 14, 2014 by saffronsrule

October 9, 1964. Friday. Patty Rodriquez had to get married

Today is the last day I will wear the black wig. I convinced some more people it was my real hair. I’m scared to face them Monday with the truth. When I came home the pool was finished and the water was being put in. Pearl picked me up and we went to a football game and saw Pam Hermanson. She believed I cut my hair and dyed it black. Hope she tells Jerry Booth and Howard Gertz. We left and drove to Jacks, Tiny Nailor’s, the Trees and Toes, but nobody was there, so went to pick up Sandy at Patty Rodriguez Wedding reception, (She had to marry Bob Vargo.) Sandy was “high” from so much booze. We left and drove to Westchester to get something to eat at Tiny Nailor’s. Saw some kids, but they didn’t recognize me in the wig. Some uglies tried to pick us up.

After waiting months for our pool to be done, it was finally being filled with water. I was so excited, that I stepped into the water for the first time, late that night, with my clothes on.

Another 17 year old friend’s wedding…that makes three so far… Shelia, Patty and Joanne. It’s sad, because they have to leave school and become responsible for a baby and a husband. I don’t want to get married until I’m 35. I still want an acting career.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, Beach, building a pool, Culver High School, dating, Flying Jib, high on booze, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, shotgun wedding, Surfer's Rule, the Trees, Tiny Nailor's Westchester, Toes in Playa Del Rey, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

It was the girls who forced the Lost Boys to leave Wonderland and grow up

Posted on May 13, 2014 by saffronsrule

October 8, 1964, Jack didn’t call.

Talked about Jack all day with Sandy. She was going to come over and talk to him when he calls, but she had to go to work. He didn’t call anyway, so Pearl came over at 9:00 and we got out of the house and drove to Westchester. Jack wasn’t home. Nobody was at the “Trees,” or Toes, not even Tiny’s. I figure they must all be at the drive-in drinking. That’s where they went last year. We went to Fosters and Roberts, then came home and ate chicken. Pearl looked so satisfied when she ate the chicken…She was humming.

Guy’s just want to get drunk with their buddies and talk about girls.
Girls just want to cruise around with their friends looking for guys.

Back in school after a long hot Summer, meant getting on the dating circuit again. Guys didn’t have money, or even really want to start dating again. It was the girls who got a guy all worked up, so he’d make the first move and ask her out. I feel sorry for the young Peter Pan, who had to leave Wonderland and and the Lost Boys, to become a responsible, mature man. Some never did.

Here are questions Sandy wants me to ask Jack when he calls me.

1. Is he going Steady

2. If not who has he been going out with.

3. If he is, just hang up.

4. What’s happening this weekend any parties, (remember, Sat we won’t be here! ) Ask him to call you if there any, especially at his house.

5. Ask them to come swimming at your house Sunday.

6. Gradually get to what happened between us. (this is a touchy part, handle with care!!!)

7. Tell him about Phil and Pat Dueanon. Tell him how we talk to her and tell him she really likes him. (Although Phil wouldn’t do the same for me.)

8. Ask if he said anything to Doug?

9. If he says he just likes me as a friend, forget it!!! (I know he’s going to say that.)

10. If you get Jack and I back, I’ll call Dave, ok?

11. Something tells me this won’t work and if it does we’re going to end up hating them.

I’m telling my mom I’m going to the library. But, she knows it closes at 9:00. I hope she goes out. I’ll be there though. If not, call me as soon as you’re through and tell me the bad news so I can get him out of my head.

Thanks, Sandy (“Twinkle Toes”)

(Twinkle Toes was Sandy’s Saffron name.)

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 57 Chevy, Culver High School, dating, Drive-in theater, girls cruising guys, guys drinking, Lost Boys, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Peter Pan, Playa del Rey Los Angeles, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, Toes in Playa Del Rey, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School, Wonderland | Leave a comment

I like one of my Best Friends ex-boyfriends, what should I do?

Posted on May 12, 2014 by saffronsrule

October 7, 1964, Wednesday. Went crazy and called Jack… World Series starts today.

It’s getting better everyday. Kid’s at school are even taking bets to see how long I can last wearing this black wig. People are getting used to me as a brunette. All we did was talk about Dave and Jack and old times today. After school I went shopping to buy my sister Donna and her friend Linda K. their Pledge stuff. Tonight for some reason I actually called a boy. I wanted to get Bill’s number for Sandy, so I called Jack. He was so nice. We talked for a long time. He hasn’t changed a bit. He even told some dumb jokes. He really sounded happy to hear from me. I sorta broke the ice. I think I could really like Jack, but I couldn’t hurt Sandy. I called her later and she almost passed out when I told her I called Jack. She likes him so much. That’s why I will never go out with him.

I Like My Friend’s Ex-Boyfriend

I want to date my friend’s ex what should I do…

Dear Dr. G.,

I am a 17-year-old girl and I’m going into my senior year of high school. I have a serious problem. At least it’s a problem to me. Maybe other girls wouldn’t think it’s a dilemma but to me it is.

My friend broke up with her boyfriend of 6 months about a month ago. I’m working at a day camp this summer with guess who? my friend’s ex-boyfriend. My friend liked this boy a lot. I’m not really sure why he broke up with her. She didn’t talk about it much but she seemed upset when it happened. Now that I’m working with this boy-maybe we can call him Jim-I’m starting to like him. I am pretty sure that he has feelings for me too. He asked me to go to a movie this past weekend but I said no because I was so nervous and confused about what to do.

Dr. G.:Are there rules about a situation like this? I would like to go on a date with Jim but I don’t want to upset my friend and I don’t want other girls to get mad at me. Do you have any advice? I asked my mother and she said that I should write to you. So, I listened to my mom. HELP.

A Confused Teenage Girl

Dear Teen,

You are struggling with a dilemma that women,men,teens and adults deal with throughout life. There is, of course, no simple answer to your question about when and whether or not it is socially acceptable to date a friend’s ex. There are no clear social rules about this but we can try to tease things apart and discuss some unwritten social rules and etiquette.

1. First, how recent is the break-up?

If your friend and this young man broke up within the past week or so then I would suggest that it is too soon to start dating her ex-boyfriend. After a month has passed I believe that you can consider dating him. This allows your friend some time to move on.

2. Second, how close a friendship do you have with this young woman?

If she is a close friend then I would suggest that you talk to her and let her know that you are considering dating her ex-boyfriend. Clearly, she does not own him but you do want to be both a sensitive and kind friend. In my experience, friends appreciate hearing directly from friends rather than learning sensitive information from others. If she is not a close friend then you do not need to discuss your dating plans with her. You also do not need to talk about her ex around her regardless of how close you are or aren’t. Sensitivity is always a virtue.

3. Third, how upset is your friend about the break-up?

If you have a close friend who is reeling from a break-up then you absolutely need to speak to her and talk to her about her feelings about you possibly dating her ex. If you have made a definite decision to date him then let her know that and reassure her that you will date him but will be low key about it

You may also want to find out what went wrong. She may share information that is important for you to know regarding this young man.

If your friend is not terribly upset about the break-up and has already moved on and re-grouped then the coast is clear for you to date the ex.

The answer to your question is that YES you may date the ex but do so with sensitivity and after an appropriate amount of time has passed. In life, we meet and start to fall for people who we are familiar with and that includes the ex-boyfriends and ex-girlfriends of friends

It is a shame that things aren’t simpler but in life all things related to relationships and feelings are complicated. Go ahead and get to know this young man. I hope that you are also able to maintain your friendship with your female friend.

Good luck and let me know how the summer goes.

Dr. G

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Little Sisters, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 1964, 1964 world series, 57 Chevy, black wig, Culver High School, dating, diary, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, Toes in Playa Del Rey, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

Stuffing 11 Pledges in the back seat of Sandy’s car, kicked off Saffron Hell Week in 1964

Posted on May 10, 2014 by saffronsrule

October 6, 1964, Tuesday. Saw Dave Kendal at Toes.

Today I wore my black wig in a new style and this convinced a lot of people it was real. After school, Sandy my sister Donna and her friend Linda K. and I went to Woodies for dinner, than to a Saffron meeting. We had 11 kids in Sandy’s car. All of the Pledges piled in the back seat. Kid’s got their Pledging rules and Pledge Mother, Edna P. Mrs Quartia our Saffron Sponsor, didn’t like my hair, she likes the ponytail! We all went to Fosters and everyone was talking about my hair…some people found out it wasn’t real. Then, we took the kid’s home and went to Toes. What a shock! We saw Dave Kendal and he looked sooo bitchen!! Donna and Linda were stoked over him. He was shocked to see my hair. He’s now living back at home. He left before I could tell him it’s a wig. Now he thinks I’m ugly.

It was a popular prank to see how many people you could stuff in a car or phone booth in the late 50’s and early 60’s. It was a joke, like being in a Clown Car. No seat belts or rear view vision, just screaming, laughing girls cramped in the back seat, with the radio blasting as loud as possible.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, Beach, Car Stuffing, Culver High School, dating, diary, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Playa del Rey Los Angeles, Saffron Hell Week, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Southern California, Surfer's Rule, teenagers, Toes in Playa Del Rey, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

A deathbed vow to my grandmother, gave away the secret of my black wig

Posted on May 9, 2014 by saffronsrule

October 5, 1964, Monday. Wore black wig to school

People almost died, some liked it, some didn’t. I told them I cut my hair and they wouldn’t believe it, especially Lauri, Bonnie, Angie and Vicky, so by the end of the day I told my close friends it was a wig. I’m going to wear it all week I Dianne S. will let me continue to borrow it. They boy’s hated it!! People are making bets to see if it’s real or not. My men teachers didn’t like it and they seemed mad about it. Some friends knew I’d never really cut off my long hair, because I promised my grandmother, Mayme, before she died. I sort of like the color, it’s so tough (bitchen) having long and short hair.

My grandmother, Mayme, (on my mother’s side,) died the year before in 1963. Losing her to Cancer was a terrible shock, because we loved her so much and believe it or not, I didn’t know anyone who’d ever died of Cancer. She asked me on her deathbed, to keep my hair long and I promised I always would. So, of course, my closest friends, including Lauri, Bonnie, Angie and Vicky, knew I’d never cut it off and dye it black.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964 | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, Beach, black wig, Culver High School, dating, deathbed vow, diary, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Mayme, Saffrons Rule, secrets, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

Some competitive Saffrons are happy I’m no longer the cute blond with a long ponytail

Posted on May 8, 2014 by saffronsrule

October 4, 1964, Sunday

Laid out in the sun, it was 97 degrees. Tried to get my face tan. Sandy Block came by and we took my sister Donna and her friend Teri to the beach with us. Sandy couldn’t believe I cut my hair and was happy, because I no longer had long blond hair. When Donna told her it was a wig, Sandy just stared at it and was sick! Sandy, Pearl and I went to Toes. Everyone was at Gary’s, but Sandy was too scared to knock on the door. We went down t the water, than left. I was sad, because I wanted t see if the boy’s would know me. We went to Sandy’s and ate over. Went home and took clothes t the Laundromat, because our dryer broke today.

Pearl and Sandy were both beautiful brunettes with olive skin and dark eyes. They never considered going blond, because dark hair and makeup suited them. I had pale blue eyes, blond lashes and brows, and fair skin with freckles, so the dark wig didn’t fit my coloring. I think Sandy was happy when she thought I was no longer the cute blond with a long ponytail, because as a brunette, I wasn’t be as stunning as she was. After all, she was very competitive and won the Miss Culver City Contest, after I was disqualified for being a professional actress.

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Posted in 1960's Surf Culture, 1964 High School Diary, Chick Secrets, diary, Little Sisters, Maybelline Girl, memoir, REALITY BLOG, Southern California 1964, teenage reality blog | Tagged 1964, 57 Chevy, Beach, black wig, competitive elitist girls club, Culver High School, dating, Maybelline, Maybelline Story, Saffrons Rule, Sharrie Williams, Surfer's Rule, Toes in Playa Del Rey, West Side Surfers, Westchester High School | Leave a comment

It’s officially true…Blonds have more fun!

Posted on May 7, 2014 by saffronsrule

October 3, 1964, Saturday. Wore a black wig today.

Made my sister Donna and her friend Dianne S. wash my car, because they’re Pledges. I wore Dianne’s short, black wig to school today and people couldn’t believe it. I told them it was real. Went to Miss Auto Show and some redhead won. I with I’d entered the contest. People said I looked about 26 in the wig. Took pictures of it in a photo booth and wore it out tonight to see what boys thought about it. Pearl and I went to a dance and saw Fred Okrum and Mike Jannoff. I don’t think they liked my dark hair. We drove to UCLA, Hermosa Beach, Toes in Playa del Rey, and Westchester, but no one good was there. So, didn’t even get to see anyone…”My hair was never seen!” Wanted to run into Howard, just to see if he’d know me… We came home about 11:00…It’s true Blonds Have More Fun After doing a personal test, I officially found out that Blonds do in fact, have more fun! Guys are attracted to blonds over brunettes, according to my field test! Of course that’s just my experience… However next year after I graduate in 1965, I will actually dye my hair black, because my boyfriend said I’d look like Paula Prentiss, I eventually go back to being blond forever.