I was lucky enough to be a part of my Grandmother Elizabeth Carsey's last 40 years. We played countless card games, read books, played dress-up and many other games at her house. My family spent almost every holiday with her and Grandpa (until his death in 1985.) She was loved by the entire neighborhood and was often referred to as the Neighborhood Grandma. I held a special pride in the fact that I could call her mine!
Through her simplicity, she taught me the basics of life and the things which make you happy. Love your family, your church and music. The only thing worth crying over is beautiful music. And above all else, approach life with a sense of humor. I have done my best to live up to her expectations and pass those lessons onto my children.
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Worked on papers for three hours. Went to “The House of Rothschild” at night – Almost saw it twice because it was grand! In the afternoon, took a Circumvalacion bus* to Chapultepec and rode halfway around town. Got off at bus station and walked around – Caught bus to town in order to get Carsey to the dentist. Was ten minutes late to the appointment. I bought a pair of hose and some pictures and met him at the usual place – Went to supper at the Manhattan (no music boo hoo!) Thence to the show.
Worked on themes for an hour. Carsey came at 9:30. We had planned to go visit the school of the little girl where he stays. Her English class came at 8:30 so we decided to visit it some other time. Went instead to the Monte de Piedad again. They were so picked over that we decided not to get one. We took a car to Atzcapalzalco and viewed the surroundings.
Atzcapalzalco
Saw the church. Today is the day of Acension or something of some virgin so they were having church. We stayed several minutes and couldn’t hear the priest say a word- only the boys ringing bells so we sat outside in what used to be the monastery garden.
Later we walked around the town, down an old, winding road and ate peanuts! Bought some mangoes and bananas to eat in a park. I spilled the mango quite successfully on my dress and Carsey’s trousers, letting it fall to the ground, so I contented myself with a banana! Came to town about 3p.m., didn’t want any lunch. Carsey went to the bank for some money and they gave it to him (some largish amount) in silver dollars! Had to go to Sanborn’s to get it changed into bills so his pockets wouldn’t drop out. Put bills in my purse and forgot to take them out at night.
Went to Tlalpan on another car! Entered a pretty garden that turned out to be a beer garden so we ordered!——-coffee! And it started to rain – just poured for about an hour. I got cold because I had no coat. Came back to town and decided to see a show. There were no seats left for the “House of Rothschild” and I was loathe to go home we walked down to see Dolores Del Rio in “Madame Du Barry”. Saw Dick Barthelmess in “Massacre” too. Fair. Got home almost frozen, at 11:30.
Went to last classes – skipped Theatre class. Won’t even try for credit there – Maybe? Found out I could leave papers in the office Friday morning – In the afternoon Carsey came and we started out to buy fountain pens – Went to Monte and watched them sell several things at auction but no fountain pens that were suitable. Went to the Plaza of
Santo Domingo Church
Santa Domingo and into the church of the same name – went into the school of Medicine (very old building) saw the building of the Inquisition and the “portal’ where the scribes used to sit and write letters for everyone with quill pens – Now they use Oliver Typewriters of ancient vintage but still write letters for folks and for business men who do not have stenogs – Got on a Churubusco Car and were persuaded to get off at the Convent. The gardens are beautiful – so dreaming and restful. I felt as though somebody ought to play “In a Monastery Garden”
1908 Packard
and the setting would have been perfect for anything! The convent itself is well-preserved. Besides the usual rooms and pictures we saw the parchment song books with large, square, black notes and Latin words – Saw American arms and munition for the Americans and Mexicans fought just outside the convent. There was a goodly array of carriages used by the padres and various presidents; a sedan chair, surrey used by some presidents and different carriages – One old (1908) Packard sedan use by Diaz. It was so tall that Carsey could not reach the top and the wheels were over waist-high to me. The convent had two patios that had the proper “monastic” atmosphere: pretty flowers, a fountain, benches, quietness and coolness! Besides these there was a rose garden! Shrubbery cut into various shapes interspersed the rose bushes and formed arbors. There was a pool where the padrecitos were want to swim – It was old and yet somehow formal – just enough to make it perfectly delightful.
Went to Betsta’s class and cut the rest. Strolled through Chapultepec Park and saw Botanical Gardens.
Chapultepec Park. Mexico City
Ate a mango – Came home to find a letter from Jaimie with $20!!* Went to change it
– Saw Nell Blackstock and that group who were about to go through Natl Theatre – Carsey and I went thru again – Heard the organ! I paid him my debt of a cup of coffee and we came home –
Before going to the Theatre we went to El Monte de Piedad to find ourselves pens but they won’t be sold until Tomorrow!
Fay lost her rain cape yesterday but found it today – She was luckier than I with my umbrella – Got letters from Mahota & Martha Corran.
*(note:$20.00 in 1934 had the same buying power as $353.10 in 2014)
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