Memories of Past Times

School Bits…   The Grey Cup Speaking of football, I had another close encounter with the sport. As I have mentioned before, my father had a number of amazing clients. The client that I sold “ souvenir hats ” for, also had the food franchise for the CNE stadium . This included for all Argo football games. It was included any extra games played there, like the Grey Cup . Since had already worked there for regular games, I was offered a “hot dog” job ( selling them ) during the game. I’d like to say that I sold lots of “ Shopsy’s ”, but I didn’t, I was more interested in watching the game. I can’t remember much of the game, but I am sure that it was exciting! I do remember the chant, “ Shopsy’s here, Shopsy’s, who wants one !” I don’t think I worked another football game after that!

School Bits… Our Science Teacher – Mr. Martini Another interesting teacher was Santo Martini . Mr. Martini was our science teacher. Mr. Martini was a big imposing man, and of course, nobody messed with him! It wasn’t that he made any threats, just the opposite. He just exuded power. Mr. Martini was also the football coach ( go figure! ), and helped make the Richview football team an imposing force. I believe they won several championships under his coaching. Two of his students ( brothers ) eventually went on to become professional football players for the T oronto Argos . Little did we know at the time, Mr. Martini had another part-time job, he played half-back ( I think ) for the, you guessed it, the ARGOS !  

School Bits… Glasses and Kathy… I think that it was in Miss Hosford’s class that I discovered that I was “ near ” blind. I was sitting beside this really pretty blonde girl, Kathy , and I was “squinting " at the blackboard, trying to see what was on it. I thought that everyone had trouble reading the board. Kathy saw that I was having challenges and offered to lend me her glasses. Holy smokes, I could read everything on the board! What a revelation! I needed glasses! My parents arranged an eye teat for me, and the results were a new pair of glasses. Unfortunately, the new glasses didn’t help with my school work, but it did allow me to sit close to the prettiest girl in the class! It's funny, I needed glasses (Near and far sighted) for many years. That is, until I turned about 55, then gradually everything became clearer. In fact, I didn’t need any gasses for distance or reading. This was about the time I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  

School Bits… Miss Hosford (continued) Another thing about Miss Hosford , to me and other fellow students, was that she was a “ bit ” odd. She probably wasn’t, but to immature students, she seemed to be. I think that this sense of “ oddment ” was that she could smell “ gum” a mile away. Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but she could smell it from one end of the hallway to the other. Chewing gum in school was NOT allowed, and Miss Hosford was the gum chewing enforcer She took her “ job ” very seriously! If she caught the smell of gum, she’d go quickly after the offender. If you heard her “ squeaky ” running shoes coming down the hall, the offender knew they were in trouble and a detention was ahead! Back in the “ old days ”, teachers were the LAW !  

School Bits… Miss Hosford When I was in school, one of the main subjects was Latin . I am not sure why, but it was! My first introduction to Latin was at Appleby College , but my “ passion ” for learning it disappeared with Miss Hosford . It wasn’t that I disliked Miss Hosford , it was because I just didn’t understand why it was important to be taught and, I didn’t really understand the language. I am sure there was some reason for its inclusion back then, but? (to be continued)  

High School Friends I didn’t make a lot of new friends in high school, but those I did, I really enjoyed, and we had a lot of fun!   Tom McTaggart (a lifelong friend) Tom and I met during our grade 12 year at Richview. Tom’s family had just moved to our area and he had transferred to RCI from Royal York Collegiate. It’s funny, our friendship clicked immediately and we became “ fast ” friends. A friendship that lasted for over 50 years, until his passing a few years ago. I will talk a lot more about this long friendship with Tom, but at this point I will just about this period in our lives. Shirley and I had broken up, and I was ready for a new romance. Tom was dating his future wife, Phyllis. Tom suggested that I join them on a double date. Since I had no female relationship at that time, Phyllis introduced me to her friend, Joy. We went on our double date and Joy and I click, ay least for a little while. We had a lot of fun, but the infatuation faded for both of us. Tom’s and my fri