Life Has It's Moments

I was recently contacted by one of the readers of this blog. He was in grade nine when I was in grade seven thanking me for keeping this blog and putting it together.

He said, " Your efforts have brought back to life many memories of those long-ago days as we, from those days, are now in the autumn of our lifetimes!"

Curiosity got the best of me, so  looked him up in the yearbooks. It turned out I was familiar with a fair number of people who were in his class - Bob Houston, Gretchen Bickerstaff, Darrel Duchene and Libby Stark to name just a few.

I responded back, to tell him I had located his home room class, recognizing some classmates I had known. I mentioned that these days, Bob has definitely come out 'on top' and is a good friend and client of mine and that I remembered the others too.

He expressed a similar fascination that I have, - the interest in seeing how others lives have unfolded since back then. It was clear that he, like many, wish to protect his privacy in this age of hackers etc. but at the same time, enjoy the occasional 'bumping into people (jn person) out of the blue' and discovering who they might be now.

The unique thing that got me to write this entry though, was thinking of Gretchen Bickerstaff.

For the next day or two, the image of her kept coming back, when I had not thought of her in so many years. I was haunted in a most favorable way by a  memory.

She lived down the street from me in Seigniory Park for a little while, having moved over from 'the heights'. If I recall correctly, high school had been a thing of the past for a few years at that time and I was in University.

I remember having my morning coffee and preparing my books to leave, when looking out the front window seeing this vision. You never knew who you were going see, since we lived by an access path to Saint Francis and the bus stops.

Coming down Montcalm, headed my way was a slim young woman, walking - no swaying - she just had this way!

I found myself accelerating my pace, shifting gears, throwing my stuff together in a panic.

And there she was- her! The girl who had always been two grades ahead of me, she, who would pass in the halls seeing me stare, moth to flame, (like so many others) and give, no - bestow- a slight smile, couched in a blush and cast her eyes downward so as not to have me construe the visual acknowledgement, as a greeting where one would actually have to say something. Alas...

I thought, "What the hell! High-school is over now, so why can't I strike up a conversation? opportunities knock,"

I tore out so fast and caught up with her - fear be damned! We walked together to the stop. She was polite, calm and not off-putting. In fact, it seemed that she did not mind a little company, so we sat together on the bus going into the city. Every morning I would wait until I could see her and then bomb out of the house. I would even go to McGill three hours earlier than I had to, just for this morning ritual. There was nothing more than the conversation and morning transit through space and time, over the Pont-Mercier, but then again, there was - for a young man, it was sheer magic.

Of course I have no idea what happened to her, what her life must be like now. According to the gentleman who sent me the email, he had been in touch with her a few years back and thought she was in New York these days.

But why am I writing this? I think, it is because I am fascinated. Literally fascinated, by the power of this memory itself, of someone I deemed to be special. Not someone I was in love with, or anything like that - but someone who seemed magical in her own right.

I'm sure we all have memories similar to this.

I am willing to bet there are some, like Gretchen, who had many admirers. And, for those admirers today, also have special images that occasionally haunt softly, their past, like the caress of a warm breeze, somewhere between moments passing.

For me there are a host of other recollections, not specifically pursuing the romantic, yet, for a young man back then I am sure I had vain hopes, as we all do. But now, in my 'day to day' existence, be it in the financial / investment world, driving in the car, or just doing the dishes, occasionally a vivid memory - triggered by a song or fleeting glance of a stranger on Saint Catherine Street, a memory of someone like this one today is triggered and gives my life in the mundane, a sparkle.

The Next Phase

This blog began as a place to collect stories and jog memories about the old school and Chateauguay, to gently tug heartstrings in order to promote chat on any forum or media from email, FB to Twitter.

The idea of course, was to stimulate some nostalgia which would get people moving to a Reunion. The blog served that purpose twice in fact and was quite successful.

Well those occasions were fun and quite memorable experiences. Having accomplished those goals with the blog, I thought I would then pull the plug on it. I have not written anything since February this year. So I went in to look at the analytics, the counter that tells me how many of you still drop by to peruse the pictures and perhaps read some of my writing or writings of others who made submissions. I was quite surprised.

The place is still alive and kicking. People are still going in - regularly! So I thought - instead of shutting the thing down, let us keep it going but not for the sake of promoting a specific Reunion, rather for those still curious - not just about the past, but the present.

Yes I know FaceBook already does this. But I was thinking that perhaps in addition to what is already in the blog, I might highlight a bio on someone every now and again,  a "where are they now and what have they been up to".. - with or without a picture and answers to a few nosey questions.

If you would like me to enter your picture and my interview with you, let me know.
Also if you are going to visit Chateauguay soon, I might put in a couple of things to check out - like restaurants etc.

Let me know.
 

The Winter carnival

It's snowing upon the darkness...
Big flakes for Christ's sakes and I didn't bring a towel!
I just washed and dried my hair!
Shit... well tough. My jeans are tight and my ...
Into the school..
The darkness of the gym.
The light show is on ,
emulate an acid trip...
fat chance!

boom boom booom

"In the white room with black curtains near the station
( The bass is throbbing.... drums are my heart, feet want to move!)

"Blackroof country, no gold pavements, tired starlings.."
(The girls look marvelous magic fairies! - not like in class and like nothing I've seen before!)

"Silver horses ran down moonbeams in your dark eyes."
(Oh God... there she is!)

Dawnlight smiles on you leaving, my contentment."
(And I,   just look on... captured by her grace her smile her eyes)

"I'll wait in this place where the sun never shines;
Wait in this place where the shadows run from themselves."

(Oh Lord this is the peak of our high-school existence - the magic, the beat ...her spell)

Where the shadows run from themselves....




(Lyrics from White Room / Eric Clapton)

Back in 1963...

Can you identify all participants -Oromocto Trip!

Where are they NOW???

Would be nice to see them again!

Well Alright! Rick Rice is in!

Royalty 1967 Expo Year

Super Couples of Character 1972

Conversation on Teachers Joanne Grimes Wright & Les

A conversation on Teachers and Reunion

(Jaoanne Grimes Wright)

I know Bill Howes is aware of the reunion because he's on FB, but no one has said much about other teachers who have been contacted. 

I thought I had a lead on Ken Kincaid, but he has disappeared from this area, and although I have tried, I have been unable to find him. 

I sent an email to Keira Morgan asking her to forward the link on to her Mother, Jan Morgan, who lives in the Ottawa area, I believe.  In an exchange of info with Richard Rankin, he said that he thought Charlie(?) was looking after the teachers.  Is that correct? 

 Is someone leading the charge to contact them?  I know from the 60's crowd, the Duffs and Gerry Ingram would be teachers that they would like to see, as well as Bob Mearns, who I believe lives in the Dorval area.  I know Mr. Mahabir and Mr. Steeves are still in the area. 

Deborah Mizener has contacted Jan Perry.  If we reach Emily, then we have a lead to Bob Eaman.

Ron Waddell lives up in the Howick area, I believe, and Joanne Rowe Goodfellow knows how to reach him, as she and I dropped by his farm this summer.  Unfortunately, he was not at home.  

It would be so special to have a few of the old teachers there!

(Les McConnell)

Thank you for the encouragement.

Yes – Charlie is known to sometimes play Bridge with Mr. Falcon and others.

He is also to be in touch with many of the old athletes.

He is currently doing what he can.

If we are Lucky, Rick and I will be meeting with him on Tuesday and reviewing all.

Good job! On the contacts you and intel you have. You and I should keep pooling.

I am a ‘friend’ on fb with B. Howes.

My gosh, I have not seen him since Gaspe, where he and his mom lived on the tip of the peninsula – called Ship’s Head.

The year after I was startled to hear that the government (not sure which one) had all the people from that area displaced in favour of a national or provincial park.

I was out there with him, Janice Turner (Art Teacher), Eric Wesslow, (Whose wife Tia , just died two weeks ago. I was chatting with her three weeks ago.) and many others at a “happening” – an arts, literature, music week. This was wonderful... definitely a positive 60/70’s experience. I loved to watch bill sitting on a boulder just above the frothy waves. He would be sketching and writing. I would be back on the shore either sketching or playing guitar.

...oh my. This brings back so much. The times then... the overall ethos of times and youth... nice to touch that memory again.

...The dawning of the age of...

I will be sure to stay in touch with you  any teacher-related news.

Les

(Joanne Grimes Wright)

I remember Eric Wesslow. 

I took his art class in Grade 8 and we both quickly realized that my "talents" needed

to be focused elsewhere!  I guess that's why Emily and I clicked!  I remember the Wesslows moving into a small home in the Heights, on Pine Ave., between Gordon and Dupont. 

 The home was significant to me, growing up, because at the ripe old age of 5 I attended Kindergarten in that home, when it belonged to the Meikles. Mrs. Meikle held the first ever

kindergarten class in Chateauguay, and I went along with Jane Beauchamp, Janice Rowe, Bill L'Ecuyer, Doug Currie and several other kids who were from some of the original Chateauguay families. 

Your mention of Eric Wesslow brought that fond memory, that had been tucked away for many years, out of hiding!

Oh yes...since I moved to Chateauguay in 1950 I have many, many memories.  After spending a few days there this summer, I thinkI liked it better as it was in the 50s and 60s....so rural and beautiful. 

J.

Where are they now?

Where are they now?

Len Van Marck as he is today. 

Aha! I know some of those faces too! from 1968

1966 Student Counsil

Home-Room Grade 8-6 and 8-7 from 1966

Some Grads from 66/67 Year of Expo!

Grade 10-1 and 10-2 1966 and Mr. Howes

H. Gordon Green 1965/66 Year Book

Some Classic shots from 1966 -Enjoy !