School days
It was so sad to hear of Gary's passing. In the 1950's in the little one room schoolhouse of North Star School #1226, we spent our days together in close association. More like siblings than what schoolmates nowadays experience. In that situation we had an effect on each other's personalities, and we were often moulded by our intertwined experiences. I'm speaking of the classes in general.
I remember Gary almost from the beginning of my schooling. He was always up for fun with a lively imagination and sometimes explosive enthusiasm. This often carried into the classroom.
I remember him telling our new teacher that he was born on "July the last", which later turned out to be July next to last. And once when our teacher was trying to teach us basic botany we were stumped as to what we call the tiny little roots. She said, "Baby pigs we call piglets; baby roots we cal...." "Piglets!" shouted Gary. He was a favourite of Miss McFee from then on.
There are so many memories that have come to mind in the past few days. Of the games in the school yard that we invented and embellished as time went on. A day's end tag game we called "Last touch", and softball and sword fights with homemade wooden weapons, all crafted so as not to really hurt anyone, and so many others. Rest in peace, Gary...John5:28,29
Posted by Beth Farquhar
Tuesday July 11, 2017 at 3:14 pm