dimondites

i left my heart in dimond

I met Bonnie via the Dimond Email List, and somehow we connected in a private email conversion which lead to the Dimondites name and a nice pen-pal friendship. She exudes passion for Dimond, you can ‘hear’ it in her words. I feel as if she’s still a neighbor here in Dimond. I know her heart is still here. That’s one thing I’ll bet you a dollar on.

Q + A

Q. When did you live in Dimond?
A. 1950-1967 (Photo is from 1965)

Q. Why did you move?
A. I married a fellow from Oakland High, Gary Figueroa, who joined the Marine Corps. We moved all around, including five GLORIOUS years in Hawaii. Later on, I wanted to raise my kids in a small town so they would have the same roots I do. We ended up in Barstow, California, which is half way between L.A. and Las Vegas.

Q. What are you crazy proud of?
A. My children. I have a daughter who was an associate producer, but she changed career and become an investigative newspaper reporter instead. Believe it or not, that gave her more time to spend with her family. She is a reporter in San Diego. Right now she’s covering the Camp Pendleton Eight (Hamdania) killing. My oldest son is a comedian. He has appeared on Showtime at the Apollo, HBO Entourage (an extra), been on stage with Dave Chappelle and George Carlin, and just hosted the Las Vegas Music Awards Sept 2. He just returned from a road trip. His stage name is Scott Fig. My baby son is thirty now and works at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad. (I can sense that Bonnie can talk about her children for days and days.)

Q. When you grew up in Dimond, what were your favorite things about this place?
A. I loved to go to Dimond Park with the creek. They had a snack bar with “winner” suckers. I used to hide in the Scout Hut bathroom when I ran away from home. I never did get very far. 

Q. How about places to eat?
A. Kasper’s, Jade Palace and Klasser’s Bakery, and June’s Lone Star. I used to love the smell of fresh baked bread at Klasser’s.

Q. Is there a favorite memory?
A. Once there was a flood in the 50’s. Sausal creek overflowed and the water covered the entire park. As high as the ledges on the snack bar. There are too many great memories of Dimond, it is hard to pick only a few.

Q. If you had once chance to repeat an experience from Dimond, which would you pick?
A. The Glenview PTA school picnics at Dimond Park. It brought families together. Also the Vista Street block parties. We used to have that often so neighbors would get to know one another. I’ve heard until recently, people were still having block parties. They should keep having them. It’s good to know your neighbors.

Q. Do you have a funny story about Dimond?
A. My babysitter in the 50’s, Sally Elder, was dating David Carridine. I remember him giving me quarters at the movies to sit away from them so they could make out. LOL. They were both beatniks, barefoot, dressed in black with black berets. (I thought this a very funny story as well. I chuckled again while typing it. I am also very curious if people thought he looked Asian in Kung Fu.)

(Photo: Bonnie and Tom on Everett Ave.)

Q. Do you have a favorite memory about your garden? We have such nice gardens here in Dimond.
A. Yes. My favorite memory is definitely the smell of jasmine and eucalyptus.

Q. What about a pesty memory about the garden?
A. I still have nightmares about snails crunching between my toes.

(Here, I did not think was funny. Some of you may recall, I have this thing for snails and slugs, and it’s not good. Shiver.)

Q. Do you have a tip for the next generation of Gardeners?
A. Make your garden your quiet place, with running water and lots of color. Tune yourself into nature.

 “This is the Glenview Traffic Squad 1960.  Maybe someone can identify the people.  I know Janet and Joyce Wallace from Canon Ave,  Cynthia Glendenning from Everett Ave, and Nick Lerche, forget the street.  Mr. Teague was the principal on the bottom left.”

Q. Do you have hopes for Dimond? When you were here or now?
A. When I grew up there, it was a safe place to walk the streets, even at night. Even though the names of shops have changed, it is still a “neighborhood” where businesses, people and that small town feeling still survives. It still has the feeling of home. That was and is my hope for Dimond. That no matter what stores or businesses come in, the feeling of home always remain.

Q. If you have one wish to grant Dimond, what would it be?
A. To take back the streets, push the criminals out of the area and make it a safe environment again. The recent killing in Dimond Park broke my heart.

(I swear to you, a tear swelled up in my eye. You can feel her sadness with these words, can’t you?)

Q. Do you have any words of wisdom for us new Dimondites?
A. Get to know your neighbors. Be each other’s eyes and ears, so there is constant knowledge of what is happening around you. When something goes wrong, and the police are not available, your neighbors will be the ones to help.

FACTS SHEET

Bonnie lived on Everett, El Centro, Vista and Randolph.
She has 12 grandchildren.
Her one guilt-free indulgence… trips to Oakland.
Does not favor dogs over cats, but favors people over dogs and cats.
Can listen to Margaritaville over and over again.
Favors Dryer’s Cookies and Cream over all other ice creams.
You can’t make her eat her spinach.
Favorite book is Rice Bowl by Ben Fong Torres.
Most passionate hobby is writing.

And…

Her grandmother would roll over in her grave right now if she knew…

“I went skinny dipping in the Dimond Park pool when I was 18.”

 

_{by Kristine Dang
to read previous posting about Bonnie, click here.
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