... the rest of the Boys.
As you have no doubt noticed, I have more or less taken this Summer off. The weather is just too nice to waste in front of a Computer.
This Summer reminds me of the wonderfully hot Summers of my youth.
It also has the effect of reminding me of some humourous moments from long ago.
Take Wheatska for instance.
Wheatska was about our age and was raised on a Dutch Settlement Farm in the Rural part of Brighton. His claim to fame was the trouble he had in getting his '60 day' beginner driver's permit - as it was then called.
On one occasion he was met coming out from taking his latest written driver's exam - all smiles. When asked if he had passed the test he responded "no" but that he had answered "two more questions correctly than last time". Wheatska you see had a plan and he was not easily discouraged.
How many attempts he made in total, I no longer remember but the day did come to pass when he was finally was successful.
It was then onto the actual driving portion of the test.
Word went around that on that fateful day, Wheatska was bearing down on a railway crossing when he saw an oncoming train - as did the Examiner who hollered at him to "stop". It made little impact on dear Wheatska. His response - "hold on, I think we can beat it". And luckily he did - whereupon the Examiner is alleged to have got out and walked back to his office.
I must admit , I am suspicious as to the accuracy of the latter part of this story but can personally attest to the following:
It was the day I passed my driver's exam. I picked early Monday morning when I knew there would be little traffic and few parked cars on Brighton's main street. My parallel parking was not the best and I figured my chances for success were higher on that day and time.
My strategy worked - I got my licence to my great personal relief. But unfortunately a grade 11 class mate of mine - who directly followed me - was not as fortunate. As I returned to the Examination Office, in my father's car - my friend was just arriving in his father's car. The trouble was, he was alone - a bit of a 'no no' especially if done directly in front of your Examiner.
Not to be deterred, he bounced out and enthusiastically announced that he was ready for his Test. The Examiner, just as enthusiastically announced that he had Failed The Test.
How come, my class mate wined? The Examiner just shook his head and then made it clear that he was not to drive the car back home without a licenced driver by his side.
And then there was Gary and his friend Floyd. My life long friend Johnny and I were walking down the main hallway in High School when we came upon these two hammering away at each others shoulders. What's going on we asked? "He beat me in a test" moaned Gary. What did you get Gary? 39% he proclaimed. And you Floyd - what did you get? 37% he shot back with a wicked smile.
Looks to us Gary that you got the better mark. You see John and I were quite adept at arithmetic. "That's just it sighed Gary, we always compete for the lowest mark so Floyd here beat me by 2 % points". We commiserated with Gary and then moved on.
On a sad note, Gary died with his young wife in a house fire several years later. We called him 'Cagey' and while he might not have been the brighest of guys - he was a nice guy all the same and in my book that counts for alot.
As I see it...
'Galagher'
