Stuff 'n Nonsense
WERE YOU THERE?
- When the sophomore boys’ classroom became uninhabitable due to a horrid, untraceable odor? It turned out to be a dead bird placed in an empty desk and almost worked to get classes cancelled, but not quite.
- When a compactly-folded KOB note was sent sailing on the floor under the Iron Curtain…straight between the legs of Miss Wilde? As I recall, it arrived postage due.
- When Bob Caldwell chose to use a picture of heavily-bearded Bishop Benade to demonstrate proper shaving techniques in Sig’s Speech class?
- When Mr. Gladish broke the land speed record getting to the Boys’ room after spotting cigarette smoke issuing from the window around the corner?
- When the steering tie-rod on Kenny Rose’s car broke and the Sigma had to return from the Water Gap at 10 MPH tied together with a baby diaper?
- When Kirk would ride his bike to school in the rain, decorated with a symmetrical stripe up his back due to having no rear fender?
- When Doug Taylor would begin his French class with “asseyez-vous, doucement.”?
- When rehearsals of Mendelssohn’s “And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth” ALWAYS sounded better in Chorus practice than in the actual performance?
- Ditto with the Mikado Act I closer “With Joyous Shout”?
- When elementary school dance class with the Glue Dripper always began with the boys huddled on one side and the girls on the other…and would return to that after each record?
- When Kirsten brought our rowdy senior class meeting to shocked order by yelling “Faites attention!”?
- When we chose “In Thy Strength Will I Confide,” and then couldn’t actually find it in a Concordance?
- When several of us asked Mr. Gladish on the first Charter Day after graduation if he missed us? He did not hesitate in replying “In many ways, no.”
Love to all,
Harvey
SIGNS OF AGING
There are five signs of aging, writes Hazel Cornett of Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Aging is when?
- the gleam in your eye is from the sun hitting your bifocals.
- you get winded playing chess.
- your favorite part of the newspaper is “25 Years Ago Today.”
- you turn out the lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.
- you sit in a rocking chair, but you can’t get it rocking.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
Diana by Paul Anka?
Honeycomb by Jimmie Rodgers?
That’ll Be the Day by Buddy Holly & the Crickets?
Wake Up Little Susie by the Everly Brothers?
Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley?
Chances Are by Johnny Mathis?
Silhouettes (On the Wall) by the Rays?
You Send Me by Sam Cook?
Kisses Sweeter Than Wine by Jimmie Rodgers?
Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly?
All the Way by Frank Sinatra?
At the Hop by Danny and the Juniors?
Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis?
Get a Job by the Silhouettes?
Lollipop by the Chordettes?
Twilight Time by the Platters?
All I Have to Do is Dream by the Everly Brothers?
Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry?
Chantilly Lace by “The Big Bopper”?
Book of Love by the Monotones?
Good Golly Miss Molly by Little Richard?
Interesting Trivia Stuff
Here are three interesting links to web-sites dealing with 1958
Courtesy of Kurt Simons
ALF SANDSTROM’S BEST & WORST MEMORY
As an émigré from Sweden, fresh off of the boat, my sum total knowledge of American History consisted of some guy named Washington and another named Lincoln, and that was pretty much it. Needless to say I struggled a bit in Sig Synnestvedt’s classes, but I did try hard. Unfortunately not quite hard enough, because my final grade came in at two points below passing, putting my whole high school graduation in jeopardy! Despair time!
You may recall that Sig had a book-list. An approved book report of any book on the list would automatically add two points to one’s final grade.
I had a vague familiarity with “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” so I got that one checked out of the library, and began feverishly reading. Bear in mind that this was only a few days before graduation, so it was do or die to hand in that report to Sig Synnestvedt as he sat in the hallway at Stuart Hall ready to yell "Lights Out" at midnight.
I skim-read the whole book and feverishly took notes. At five minutes before midnight I handed Sig my report, which he read and nonchalantly said: “You pass!”
I think he did that on purpose just to be able to, as a Norwegian, “put the screws to” a Swede!
Speaking of Norwegians and Swedes (and Sig!), my brother Harald recalls being challenged by Sig in speech class with the poem:
Ten thousand Swedes
Ran through the weeds
At the battle of Copenhagen.
Ten thousand Swedes
Ran through the weeds
Pursued by one Norwegian.
I do not know what Harald’s response was, but years later I heard the perfect rejoinder. Always too late isn’t it? Here it is:
Knut Erikson, one of the running Swedish warriors in an interview after the battle responded: “Ja, dat vas because he smelled zo bad!”
Alfie Sandstrom
Gold and Silver Memories by Douglas Raymond Rose
Many years have passed since I recall
Dad’s hair color changed as he got old;
The older he grew, the more he found
“Silver threads among the gold.”
Now that I’m a grandpa too,
I’m finding gray hairs untold —
It seems each year brings more and more
“Silver threads among the gold.”
But as I remember life’s memories,
I find much more happiness untold;
It seems the good outweights the bad —
Less silver — and much more gold!
A Hat Lover’s Lament
by Margie D. Yablonsky
(Dedicated here to Kirsten Synnestvedt)
Why don’t women wear hats anymore?
I often wonder why.
They would get compliments galore,
But maybe they’re just too shy.
When you wear a hat, your outfit’s complete.
It says something nice about you.
It seems wearing hats has become obsolete.
It’s sad, but so very true.
I know some women who feel out of place
Whenever they wear a hat.
But wearing a hat gives you style and grace;
Otherwise your outfit looks flat.
Women wore hats in days of old.
They wore hats with so much pride.
They really were something to behold
Whenever they stepped outside.
I wear a hat more often than not.
When I wear a hat, I feel great.
I wear one whether it’s cold or hot,
And I never deviate.
You don’t have to take my advice,
As I’m told I’m one of a kind.
But wearing a hat, I feel so nice,
And I never leave them behind.
Don’t feel shy if you’re the only one
Wearing a hat anyplace.
After all is said and done,
You’ll look as feminine as lace.
So, gals, try it once, and you will see
How elegant you will feel.
Wearing a hat is a fashion key:
In vogue you will always be!
