| In '58 They Saw '70 This Way... |
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| The ancients put great stock in dreams as a means of foretelling the future. Well last night I had a rather fascinating dream. I dreamed that I fell into a deep-freeze and was projected ahead to the year 1970, at which time I found myself back in Parrsboro after an eleven-year absence. There I met nearly all of the 1958 graduating class. The first day I was in town I paid a visit to the Parrsboro Regional High School which had been completed in 1959. The first teacher whom I saw there was Joan Willigar. Joan was patiently teaching towards her pension because she felt she couldn't afford both a career and a husband. I learned from Joan that Elizabeth Puddington was giving Highland Fling lessons to the High School pupils, dancing having become one of the courses of the curriculum. Due to the influences which he had come under during his Grade XII year, Raymond Ells had gone to Normal College and had specialized in music. He was now the leading music professor in the Regional High. Recently he had purchased a car and had passed up even a new Cadillac for a blue Consul. As I passed through town I was told that a large wedding was scheduled for that day. Upon further inquiry I found the happy couple to be none other than Doreen Brown and Jim Pettis. Both had become successful teachers and after ten years Jim, an Economics teacher, had convinced Doreen that two could live as cheaply as one -- or at least, almost -- besides, he needed protection on the class trips. Oh, yes, I recalled that the Class Trip of 1958 had been the beginning of several new romances, including this one. When I passed by the Auxiliary Hall, I was surprised to see Sydney Varner nervously hurrying into the building. I recalled the number of times Sydney had gone into that building in 1958-59 with the hope of securing his driver's license. This time, however, he was wearing the uniform of a Motor Vehicle Examiner rather than the haggard look of an unsuccessful candidate. I soon found out that he had cause to look nervous -- he had just been driven half-way up a telephone pole by -- no, it couldn't be -- but it was! Anne Ogilvie, or rather, Anne Atkinson -- upon inquiring about Anne's successful activities, I learned that she had made a fabulous success of her two new books entitled, "How to Comb a Wig in Ten Easy Lessons" and "The Joys of Country Life." Sydney told me that Lloyd Phinney was the new Anglican clergyman. Lloyd was also directing a flourishing orchestra as a sideline -- a carry-over from High School days. He even had as his star singer his pretty wife, the former Martha Lamb. The next person I met was none other than Wayne Eaton. Wayne was the best-looking mountie Parrsboro had ever seen, but since his appointment, the crime wave had increased rather than decreased. Speed limits were being disregarded, stores were being looted, windows were being broken -- all by the female element who were oh, so willing and anxious to fall into the arms of the law. I learned from Wayne that Douglas Manzer had established an outdoor theatre on the outskirts of town, and, still an unsympathetic soul towards a certain popular pastime, he had also established a system of "anti-smooching" flood-lights. I entered Parrsboro's new hospital to find Margaret Ripley pertly sitting behind the receptionist's desk, and smiling at Dr. Boyd Morris. On her finger I noticed a glittering diamond, almost as large as our old waste paper basket had been. Boyd had graduated from Medical School and was now Parrsboro's leading surgeon. Nobody went to Dr. Morris, however, unless they were sure that they really needed an operation, for it was said that he stood in the waiting room, scalpel in hand, waiting for his next victim. Margaret told me that the number of patients had greatly increased due to the staff addition of a pretty blue-eyed nurse, famed as a handholder and comforter. I could well understand this as I saw nurse Joan Guilderson sitting beside a bedside and holding a patient's hand. On clearer inspection, this patient turned out to be Randy Morris. Randy had been visiting a friend in the hospital, and I really don't know what he was watching but he had fallen from the top of the steps to the bottom and there he was enjoying his convalescence and holding hands with Joan. Randy told me that he had become an English teacher but was still working on his old theory that all teachers and text-books should be abolished. Since this was Old Home Week in Parrsboro, I decided to visit the fair grounds. There, to my surprise, I saw a large poster featuring "Dawn on the Flying Trapeze." The picture resembled the Dawn Brown of our High School days. I decided that this was one act I must see. As I watched Dawn soaring high in the air, I remembered the many times that the teacher had asked her to "come down from the clouds." I learned from Dawn, when she finally came down to earth for a few moments, that Douglas and Roy Willigar had established quite a partnership. Roy had become a brilliant doctor and Douglas was Parrsboro's youngest undertaker. I understood that between them they were doing a booming business. Roy had felt that he couldn't break hundreds of hearts, so consequently, he was still a handsome bachelor. Douglas, however, had been unable to withstand the charms of a certain redhead and had married his former school chum, Anna Gilbert. Anna had taken a business course and was acting as Doug's secretary -- a very convenient arrangement! As I wandered about the fair grounds I saw a Fortune Teller's Booth and there sat Madame Insight -- or rather, Barbara Best. When I recalled her love of fortune telling, her career did not surprise me. She was still in pursuit of Eric Smith but didn't seem to be doing too well. She told me that Eric had become a successful farmer and was now supplying Parrsboro with enough pigs to meet the Slabnik craze, which had originated in the L'l Abner Comic Strip in 1958. Leaving the fair grounds, who should I meet but Anneita Tyrrel. Anneita, home on vacation, had become a foreign correspondent and was now writing a series of articles on "The Advantages of the Canadian Banking System" and "The Disadvantages of Being Engaged to a Banker." Anneita told me that her sister Annette was now giving art lessons in Paris. Anneita also told me that David Roberts owned and operated a super-swift bus line between Sackville and Parrsboro. When I thought about his interests in Sackville during the 1958-59 college session, I was not surprised. Anneita informed me that Carolee Harrison was lecturing at Mount Allison University. Oddly enough, David's bus hours and Carolee's college hours coincided amazingly well. The next person I met was Mary Kendrick. Mary, too, was just visiting in Parrsboro. She told me that she was now living in Springhill where she was managing a large shoe factory. Of course, this factory was concerned primarily with the manufacture of white "bucks." When I recalled Mary's High School love of Springhill, and a certain "Buck" this seemed natural enough. Mary told me that Theresa Canning was also living in Springhill and was writing a series of articles in the Springhill Record entitled "Advice to the Love Lorn." I had noticed a poster advertising a musical play which was to be held that evening. The star singer was Miss Rossetta Nightengale. When the curtain rose, Miss Rossetta Nightengale proved to be none other than our former school chum, Lois Atkinson. Lois had become so popular that she was now traveling under a stage name. The big surprise came, however, when I met Lois's husband and manager of the play, Reginald Wheaton. Reginald was as charming and suave as ever and he explained to me that shortly after graduation the grand reconciliation had taken place. The next day I decided to visit the large new chemical plant on the outskirts of town, owned and managed by David Read. When I was finally able to get an interview with David, he offered to let me look around at will. In the first laboratory I found none other than John Harrison. John told me that he and his assistant, Diane Milton, were striving to perfect a new bleaching agent for removing lipstick without also removing the handkerchief. I understood that a great many experiments with his pretty assistant were necessary and that a great many handkerchiefs had been used for this very worthwhile project. John, though somewhat discouraged, said that he would work on this problem as long as necessary for he felt he owed it to humanity -- John had not forgotten his Grade XII days! Diane told me that Beverly Willigar was the owner of the snappy little cafe which stood beside the Chemical Plant. When I recalled our Grade XI days I remembered that Beverly had always wanted to own either a Snack Bar or a Coffee Shop. Now she had a combination of both. The mere thought of food made me hungry and so I decided to visit Beverly and have lunch at her new and modern cafe with its attractive sign "Have a snack at Bev's before leaving for outer space." As I left the Cafe I saw Elaine Patterson approaching. She told me that she was now designing dresses for Parrsboro's new and exclusive Ladies's Shoppe. I learned from Elaine that Sylvia Welton had become a lab technician and was working in Parrsboro's new Research Centre. As I walked down the street, who should I meet but Marilyn Smith, trailed by four little boys, all anxious to become ministers like their daddy. I hadn't seen Marilyn since our 1958 Graduation Dance! Marilyn told me that Donna Gilbert had gone to Spain on a much needed vacation after she had been teaching for a few years, and while there she had met and married a wealthy Spanish bull fighter. I entered the large, new Beauty Salon on Main Street to find Donna Babineau creating beautiful hair styles on otherwise hopeless cases. Diana told me that Gordon Sencabaugh had built and was operating the new ferry "Green Nose" between Parrsboro and Wolfville. As I left Diana's salon I met Brenda Brown hurrying along the street. Brenda told me that she had been teaching school in the North West Territories where her husband, the tall, dark and handsome Romeo of her Grade XII days, was selling electrical appliances, including refrigerators to the Eskimos. Then I awoke from my fascinating and prophetic dream. The ancients would have been convinced that the future had been truthfully foretold. However, regardless of what the future does hold for us, we must always remember as we go through life, to uphold the high standards and ethics which have been instilled is us during our youth. As the great English essayist, Carlyle, has said "Perhaps the most deceptive garment of life is the notion that we have a right to be happy, that the world owes us happiness or pleasure -- the reality is not happiness, but work -- the privilege of doing." Thank you, LYNNE ACKLES |