Several of you asked about my younger sister, Mary, who grew up to be a college professor teaching mostly English and Speech. She received a PhD in her favorite field, theater, and she also works at a Seattle theater. Mary doesn’t draw much anymore, but she is still a wonderful and witty writer.
I want to clarify that I was not nearly as popular (and hopefully, not quite as mean) as Mary portrays me in her books; in fact, I was pretty miserable in high school. Most of the stories in the books are based on real events, but they are also embellished and influenced by Mary’s 14-year old perceptions, as well as her natural inclination toward sarcasm (a Dellasega trait).
To demonstrate that Mary nailed the hair every time, here is my senior photo from Volume I, for which I may have used an entire can of hair spray, and. . . .
the short hairstyle from Volume II, where I seem to be smoking a cigarette in every drawing.
The History of Martha Dellasega, Volume II
Written and Illustrated by Mary Dellasega, 1966-67
Oh this is hysterical – I’m sorry your sister doesn’t draw much anymore, she certainly has talent! Glad to know she’s still writing, I love her sense of humor. That was so fun!
Hysterical! I had no idea the first story was actually about you!! So, did you know she was writing these at the time and what did you think of it? Thanks for sharing, these are so funny!
These are just the greatest things ever!
Again. Too funny!
That letter with spelling errors from Edward is the cutest! These stories are so humorous, Martha! I hope there are more.. lights up my day/week!
Thank you for the smiles 🙂
Wow, it’s fun looking at this online. I remember when you described that telephone conversation with Eddie (isn’t that what you called him? I wonder why I called him Edward). That progression from “No, I don’t want to break up” to “No, I don’t think I want to break up” to “Well, yeah, I want to break up” was exactly the way you described it! The drawing gets a little bit more sophisticated with each one, but I’ve never been good at hands and really had to do a lot of erasing to get those telephone drawings right. I love that strapless gown I had you wearing to go out with John in the first volume; I’m not sure I ever got any of the clothes right. It’s true that I did better with the hair.
This made my day!!!!!! Oh how it makes me laugh! I just love her drawings and her sense of humor! Mary you rock!!! Is there, dare I ask, a volume 3? Are you gals from Pennsylvania too?
Thanks for sharing the joy!
Hugs,
Mickie
Martha, I have just now had time to read through the entire ‘volume’ and I laughed out loud! I wish Mary drew embroidery designs – she really can make a dead-on expression with just a few lines! Thanks so much for sharing these with us!
Haha, these are so fun! What a fun keepsake! 🙂