In 1961, we had a Rexall Pharmacy in our town. The aroma of the elixers and marble counter with four swivel chairs where teens congregated.The book rack where boys and girls flipped through the magazines of the early 1960's.The soda fountain where Mrs. B. added more fizzy water than Coke syrup - the result - when I attempted to impress Marilyn Snell - was to have it propel through my nose spraying the contents of my mouth onto the counter and Marilyn's dress.That wa...

Preston Cunningham is assigned to Vietnam in spite of his 4 year guaranteed tour in Germany. A cryptographer, Preston was assigned via remote status to The office of The Vice President - Hubert Humphrey at The White House.In Vietnam, true to the Army's attitude of "hurry-up and wait", he was ordered by his commanding officer to scrounge (beg - borrow - or steal) whatever necessary to make the war machine tick. Often trading helicopter parts for a skid of booze or choice steaks....

In 1964, I attended The New York World's Fair where Ford Motor Company and Lee Iacocca were about to release the newest driving sensation: The 1964-1/2 Mustang.Like most teens, I was drawn to the car like a magnet, and seeing it at The World's Fair for the first time was one of the most exciting events ever.I was driving a 1957 Ford Fairlane Convertible Retractable Hardtop. I was not in a positon to consider a new car. My dad passed away several months previous and while aw...

The Abenaki Indian Tribe is awarded 15,000 acres in a U.S. Supreme Court decision for land taken illegally by the U.S. government in 1850. Their goal: to construct the world's largest casino inOgunquit, Maine, a quaint New England seaside village of 1200 in winter and explodes into the largest gambling casino in the world.The influx of people required to run the casino and support services (65,000) are absorbed into the bordering towns.Richmond Rand an ex-Marine sniper...

In 1982, The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial was nearing completion when Bob Chapin visited in search of comrades killed in Vietnam.He eventually located the names of his friends, but also found the name of his best friend in high school. Surprisingly, Arvie's name appeared in the depth of field in one of Bob's photographs.A call to Arvie's mother confirmed that he had been killed in a fiery helicopter crash in January of 1969. He was a helicopter pilor shot down by enemy fire. ...

The year was 1960, and I was barely 14 and about to graduate into the 8th grade. Beverly Jones was my neighbor, the most beautiful girl in school and I desparately wanted to take her to the prom.I was a member of a group of 5 geeks who just wanted to raise caine, and girls were not a priority - until Beverly came into my life.I previously agreed to assist in a prank of running a pair of mens underwear up the school flagpole - but when Beverly asked ME to the dance all of th...

It was in the mid 1950's and our mother wanted her three children to receive a Catholic education. It was post World War II and the economy was thriving. The "Baby Boomer" era had arrived and there was plenty of construction of new homes.Our school was located in central Massachusetts and the nuns were of the order of The Sisters of Saint Joseph. However, several of the nuns were from a Canadian novitiate and talked with a slight French Canadian accent.Sister Gabriel was my...

This is a humorous true story about our 18 year old cat who died of a brain tumor. He was unusual inasmuch as he had learned to play dead and together he and I had a routine.First, however, the cat had an encounter with a lobster. On a summers day a number of years ago, my wife and I were going to have an old fashioned New England clambake. Just the two of us. We purchased a lobster and two quarts of steamers and the placed the bag in the foor space under the dash on my wife's side...

This is the true story of an experien ce I endured as a left handed person in basic training at Fort Dix New Jersey in March of 1966.On our second weekend of liberty - spent at McGuire AFB next door to Dix we had the opportunity to drink alcohol and have a good time.I was dressed in civilian clothes and of all things a red bandanna. Why the bandanna I do not know.Upon returning to the barracks it was my turn to wash the Uncle Sam issued white underwear and t-shirts....

The year was 1955, granddad was 62 years old and I only 9. He was a coin and antique dealer in Western Massachusetts and in this year - 1955 he packed me and a lunch into his 1954 Nash Rambler Cross Country station wagon and travel the back roads of New England in search of the elusive 1955 doubled die penny.One bank stop produced 100 of the error coins worth $40,000 EACH - today.

The year was 1954, and living in small town in Central Massachusetts our father was known as the "town drunk". He could not hold a job, was abusive to my mother and seldom home.Mom worked two jobs to put food on the table and the newest invention - the TV had just been introduced. She wanted her three children to enjoy a "bit of happiness", and although our father was unemployed, he somehow managed to purchase the TV.Following three months of Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, T...

1964, Lyndon, The Beetles, gas at $.35 per gallon, bread $.54, a new house $20,000, a new car $200. I was 17 years old and my first job was for Mr. D. at a mom and pop Red & White grocery store.My first car: a 1957 Ford Fairlane hardtop convertible. The aroma of the fruits and soap powders forever burned in my brain.Vietnam, college and now I am 65 years old, and still a poopoofnick...