Memories of Past Times

School Bits… During the early years of my life, television played a big part. When I was really young, it was cowboy shows, Hopalong Cassidy , Roy Rogers and Gene Autry . Later, it was Laugh-in , Ed Sullivan ,  Red Skelton and I love Lucy . However, the biggest event TV spectacular was the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. I was in grade 12, and just getting out of history class, when the news of the assassination was announced. The whole school became quiet, except for many of the students and teacher crying. The world was in turmoil.  (to be continued)  

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...

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! Bruce Saracini (continued)   During that time period CBC ( I think it was CBC ) had a program similar to American Bandstand. The Canadian one was not as popular, but had great music. They would invite different high schools to be one each show. For one of the episodes, Richview Collegiate was invited. Bruce and I jumped on the chance to go. We had a great time and for an “instant” we become “ TV ” stars! Our school was never asked back, was it our dancing “ skills ”, or “ lack ” of them?

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! Bruce Saracini One of my close friends was Bruce Saracini . Bruce’s father was in the development and construction business and was very successful. Bruce and his family lived in a large home that backed into a well-known golf course. Strangely, we only took advantage of the golf course a few times. Our main focus, back then, was not golf, or surprisingly girls, it was music! Bruce and I were quite the pair. After school we would go to his house, choose some records to listen to and then, put them on the record player and turn up the volume! As the music gyrated, Bruce and I would sing into " imaginary " microphones and play our “ air guitars ”. I am sure that if anyone looked in at us, they would wonder what these two “goofs” were doing. We didn’t care, we were having fun and enjoying the music, the Four Seasons , The Teddy Bears , Lou Christie ,...

The Rest of the Story… The Police  (continued) This time, a little louder. It was quiet for a moment and then the light went on. Richard’s father opened the door, a towering figure, asked us why were here. We all looked up at him and “ jerkily ” told him that Rich was in jail ! We were expecting anger and profanity, but that’s not what happened! Instant, Mr. Lambert started to “ laugh ”. I don’t mean a small “ chuckle ”, I mean a full “ belly ” laugh! To say the obvious, we were stunned! This was not what we had expected! After Mr. Lambert had stopped laughing, he told us to go home and that he would take care of it. Richard never told us what punishment he was given, but the argument with Liz was completely forgotten. After that there was no more liquor involved in our “ double dates ”. ( or COPS! )  

The Rest of the Story… The Police  (continued) You might remember in a previous Blog, that I told you that Richard’s father was very stern , with little, or no sense of humour. The three of us were terrified at what Richard’s father might say or do. Richard was our friend, and we needed to get him out of jail. The only person who could do that was, of course, Rich’s father. After leaving Richard in the custody of the police, we drove, very slowly, to Richard’s house. It was quite late and very dark. The lights at the house were all off. It appeared that all the residents in the house were asleep! We all “ crawled ” out of the car and “ tiptoed ” to the kitchen door. We were all dreading how Mr. Lambert would react! We knock lightly on the door, “ no answer ”, “ no lights ”! We talked about just leaving, and letting Richard “ fend ” for himself. Cooler heads ( or fear ) got the better of us and we once again knocked on the kitchen door.  (to be continued)

  The Rest of the Story… The Police  (continued) The officer told him to get out of the car. Richard was “ frisked ” and told that he was under arrest for lying. His argument with Liz was quickly forgotten. Now he was about to be “ carted : off to jail! Liz, Shirley and I started to panic! The cop was going to let us go ( not Rich ). But we were going to have to back to Richard’s house and tell them that Richard had been arrested and was in “ jail ”! (to be continued)

The Rest of the Story… The Police (continued)   As I mentioned, we had been drinking Sherry . Not wanting to get caught with an open bottle of liquor ( we still under age, plus having an open liquor bottle was illegal ), Richard decided to throw the bottle into the ditch. He thought that he did it without being seen, but unfortunately, the cop did see him throw out the bottle! The police officer came up to the car and I opened the window. He asked me if we had been drinking. We all said “ NO ”. However, as I said, he had seen Richard throw the bottle out of the window. He then asked Rich what he had thrown out of the window, into the ditch. Rich, “ instantly ” lied and said, “ nothing ”. That was it for him!  (to be continued)

The Rest of the Story… The Police As I said, here’s the “ rest of the story ”! The four of us, Shirley, Liz, Richard and me, were on a double date. We had decided to stop at a restaurant for a bite to eat. We had had a few “ sips ” of sherry before going into the restaurant. In the restaurant Liz and Richard started to have an argument. It became quite heated and Liz stomped out of the restaurant. She was going to try to walk home in the dark. She lived several miles way. Shirley, Rich and I decided that we better go after her. Liz had gotten to the main road by the time we got to her. She was still very mad and upset. We pulled up on the side of the road, just behind her and eventually convinced her to get into the car, beside Richard. As she was doing this, a police car , with its lights flashing, pulled up behind us.  (to be continued)