School Story:
I entered Central School as a 5th grader. We lived on South Rodney. It was a great place to be a kid. Does anyone remember when Gary Cooper came to visit the school? Central had been his grade school I believe. Also, Hugo Aronson, the Galloping Swede, was governor then and his daughter Reka was in our class. I was invited to lunch at the Mansion. My mother was very impressed! She wondered what we would have for lunch, it was Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup! During 6th grade Krushchev was in the news, pounding his shoe on the desk, our teacher Miss Carlson, was outraged. We had no doubt of her politics! I loved Junior High. Up the middle stairs, down the end stairs. I loved Orchestra, played 1st chair violin until 9th grade when Yvonne Miniati moved in and unseated me! I also remember Mr Hays, good art teacher. In High School it was lots more music. I was asked to accompany for the Starlighters as a Sophomore and sang with them as well under Mr. Gail Harris! We did well entertaining groups and winning awards. We did the musical "Damn Yankees", ah, Doris Marshall! Regrets: I did not get to take the class, "Word Clues". Would have loved to, as I love words. I hated not graduating with our class of 300+, but did graduate in a class of 21. You know, "big frog in a little puddle" was not so bad in many ways.
I love my Helena memories and we return often. My baby brother lives there yet, " Special Ed's Auto Service" in the valley.
