Susan Gramentz:
CLASS OF 1960
San Fernando Junior High SchoolClass of 1960
San fernando, CA
Pacoima Junior High SchoolClass of 1959
Pacoima, CA
Susan's Story
Hi old friends and school mates:
an open book to anyone that wants to hear my life story.
spent some time living in the projects in Pacoima 1957, so I only went to Pacoima Jr. High for one year. shortly after the plane crash. My poor sister Judy Wilson and a group of other kids, besides Richie Valens were in the Jr. High School Auditorium so no harm came to them during the plane crash. I wasn't far from the school myself and heard the crash. Shortly afterwards' "yeah I got to go to "Jr. High". I got to see Richie playing his guitar and singing during recess usually sitting on a school table. I spent a year in Arizona living with my mom's sister Aunt Clara and my Uncle Archie I missed home and my mom horrible. My Mom "Olive" and my step father Frank Rico moved us kids too San Fernando. In 1959 and part of 1960 I was going to San Fernando Jr. High we moved three times in a short period. The last time I went to school was San Fernando. I wasn't allowed to graduate with my class of 1960, for my grades were very poor. I would have gone to San Fernando High School my time for graduations would have been "1963." At that time I was living next to the L.A. wash; which ran along the Speedway for car racing on the week-ends.
The last moved sent my butt up to Kegel Canyon. Since I was hurt and felt betrayed by the school system, by not being able to graduate with my class back in 1960 from Jr. High I quite school altogether. What wasn't a smart move on my part. My teenage years were rough coming from where I lived.
The sweet age of 11 I met my childhood sweetheart Walter an Indian and married him at the young age of 17. I remember one guy that I truly respected his named was "Champ". Walter and I hadn't found each other after I had gotten back from Arizona and I was still in the projects living when I met Champ I was a mere 15. Champ was in a gang back then called the Rebels and wore a black leather jacket, which he would put around me when I was cold or let me wear. I have never forgotten him and have always wondered who was the "lucky girl" that ended up with this night and shinning armor. Like I said, I ended up moving to Kegglo Canyon and "Walter" had found me and Champ made his last attempt for me to go back to him. I know at times we wish would could turn back the clock. I was happy that mom finally moved to North Hollywood was 16 that summer.
When I married I wasn't in love any longer, but was carrying a child you know the gun shoot wedding. I was home not in school and playing house. My mother had to work and I had a baby sister to take care of. My sister was sweet and easy to care for, so why couldn't I have my own? Not realizing I was being selfish at the time and didn't know anything about life, but thinking I knew it all. I had no insight to what bringing a child into life really meant. I was a child having a child and now see it all the time on T.V. and wish to God I could reach just a handful of these kids and let them know. Their hurting them selves and one special Little Soul that is totally dependent upon a MOTHER and FATHER. To let them hear my life story.
I wanted my child back then u had no idea if u were having a boy or a girls. What happened to Susan her family and grandchildren her children and grandchildren?
only think of having my own child my baby sister was so sweet and cute and easy to take care of.I wanted this baby as teenagers will reach out for love by thinking their doing the right thing and yet we think we know everything and know nothing yet. the saying goes still wet behind the ears. Before the age of 22 I had a son named Walter Jr. 1961 a daughter Julie 1963 and the baby named Nancy 1966. I had been living in North Hollywood, but two of the children were born in San Fernando Hospital. When Nancy was a year old I moved to Burbank. Some of my old friends still came around from the Project of Pacoima to see me. NICE I haven't forgotten them just don't remember names anymore. O.K. I lied one would be Champ
I have lived in Placerville, Cal since moving from Burbank in 1979 moving to the country. yes I have always been a "Lit Bit Country." Once again I know for a fact I mess up my relationship with Randy Cole by my drinking and using drugs. I was already out of two marriages and wasn't over my last one with Jim Graye when I met Randy. Drinking heavy using drugs working I don't know how? I was a terrible mom and it took a toll on all my children. I ended up trying suicide twice back then. Randy for some reason hung in there until I got myself sober. I would get home from work and find a business card ...Expand for more
up on the mantel. It was a card I would throw away many times finding that sucker back up on that mantel again and again. The card had a phone number on it for me to reach out and get some counseling. That would piss me off more then anything. Randy asked me one night if I wanted to get drunk had no idea what was up his sleeve at all. Randy took off came back with all kinds of booze, man was I ever looking for a good time I thought. I was never to bright naive for sure. Will I got good and drunk with mixing all that different alchoic. The very next day I begged Randy to take me to Camarillo. I knew what I had done that night before, but told him I was in a blackout. I wasn't a blackout alcohol, but has sure wished I had at times. I was a mess that was for sure had been drinking at the age of 15 anyways back to wanting to go to a mental institution. Randy told me to get Randy I was just to physically and mental ill. I was going just as I was sicker then I had ever been in my life and finding myself telling God you help me out once again and I'll never do it again promise I promise. Randy had to make a stop by business and pick up a truck load of plants. I was setting in the home of a business partner of Randy's father. Randy came walking by in the living room and I begged him to hurry and him not feeling to kindly towards me at the time told me off. So by the time Randy was willing to leave and take me to the mental place I wanted to go home. I finally asked Randy to help me get help. The man was called whom name was on that business card and he took Randy and myself to an A.A. That was March 10 1976 Randy started taking me to meetings and dropping me off sometimes would pick me up other times I had to find ways to get home. I wasn't a very friendly soul in A.A. I didn't speak for the first 9 months once I got that chip for nine months I wanted all of them at the same time that 30 days chip too. It took a lot of guts to get in front of 200 people to top it off we had a podium to walk up onto and a open mike. My fears were overwhelming I couldn't talk with people, I wasn't the drunk being so friendly with everyone. Since of guilt, shame I had no idea who I was. The girl that couldn't hide anymore behind the drugs and booze it was gone out of my life. My first job after getting sober was working down at the corner bar my bar, more often then not I made a fool of myself. Treated people in my life with pure self-centeredness. I thought for sure I was a kind loving person, but to find out I was truly thinking only of me. What happened to that person I know that was the clown and a nice personality where was she. I had never truly knew who she was. Feeling much pain remorse hiding in my own shadow intense fear of all people. Women I didn't care for only men I thought.
My step-father had molested me at the age of 13, then at the age of 21 I found out I had cancer and was raped shortly by a brother in-law and one of his best friends I had grown up with the both. of them. I had already left my first husband and not treated my self with any self respect since I was a teenager. One more rape by my sisters brother-law and I sent his ass to jail. My sister didn't talk to me for a few years and that was painful in it self.I ran off leaving my two children at the time. Ran only knowing my way of running into another mans arms. Don worked at the same place I did making airplane parts. My boss wanted to talk with me one day and he was deaad siceres when he spoke with me letting me know how I needed help in my life. I wasn't sure why he was telling me this, but my distaniy waaas to hook up with Don that just happened to me a musican in the middle 60's. Rock and Roll I was already a free soul I felt yet I couldn't leave me kids. I went vback to that jerk that beat me having to go to the hospital because of the abuse of nailing me with his fistafter living in a single apt complex got a job nad of coussre find a boyfriend what else used them and wanted to hurt them I thought.with charm, my cutnessmhad one girlfirend and we both drank together we stay firends for over 30 years to find out we were never truly frineds either.like men I jsut walked on, but was faith ful to my second husband. My additud was after we broke up was hurt them first so u don't get hurt. So Randy really got the evil sexy young women who would paint a picture of a weaven taptsrynot quite a Lady yetwhich often I made a fool of myself.out going personility being the clown and I felt likesince of humor the funny girl that would get so drunk Once I truly got involved with the program adn
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