Wayne Addison

I have many high school memories, some good, some not so good, but if I had it to do over, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm still surprised that as many of us 'guys' have survived and grown older as did.

I was at the final reunion with my '59 Ford Galaxy for the car show. It was a great day.

My family was in Otterville and most of them are still there, in the cemetery.

I was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Norwich for a number of years. Sadly, the lodge had to fold up due to dwindling membership, but happily it amalgamated with the lodge in Delhi.

I have a house in central Kitchener, no mortgage, and my part time accounting and consulting business in my house. That keeps me busy about 1/2 days average. It's great not having to commute anywhere to work, especially in winter.

When I was at the end of high school days, I was in grade 13 and not doing well. Mr. Klassen, my guidance councilor, helped me make application to Conestoga College, a new school. I fortunately was able to attend the college and got a business diploma and a job with an accounting firm right after graduation. I started working then right downtown Kitchener and, now I'm winding things up at my age, and I am still living and working within blocks of where I started. Man, where did all those years go?

I have been blessed to have done that one big thing left on my list. In 2014, in celebration of turning 65 yrs, I did a 14,000 km solo motorcycle tour to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. I tried to do another tour out to BC in 2016. I ended up cutting that tour short while I was in the Rocky Mountains when the weather turned wet and prolonged, so I turned toward home. I now believe that the climate has already changed for Canada for the worse. Long distance bike tours no longer appeal to me - too dangerous.

In the nice weather months, I do a lot of riding out around the townships' countryside. In the colder months, reading, playing some dobro on a regular basis, walking my dogs.

I don't feel anywhere near the age my birth certificate states. Being in my 70th year, I have arthritis issues, bad back from an old injury while working on a tobacco farm and so on. I try not to let these things stop me doing something.

Yes, it's almost all grey, both hair and beard. The colour of my hair doesn't matter as long as the hair doesn't fall out. So far, so good.

Yes, some called me "Shifty". It wasn't a reference to my character, it had to do with the 3 transmissions I blew out whilst misbehaving in my old '59 Ford.

Water, black coffee and tea. I rarely drink soft drinks, fruit juice or anything containing alcohol. It's also a lot easier on one's waistline and dental bills.

I like almost all kinds of music except jazz and much of heavy metal rock.

Played on the same bill as Miles Goodwin and April Wine and lead singer of Trooper, Ray.

Yes I do - once you get over the hill, you just pick up speed, so enjoy what you've got while you've got it. I try to remember the words of Frank Zappa "life - nobody gets outta here alive".

Yes, but only once in my 70 yrs. She was a very nice young woman, but each of us had a completely different viewpoint on damned near everything we talked about. It was a long evening not worth repeating.

Yes, many times over the years. Many strangers have helped me enormously while out on one of my bike tours. It seems we humans like to step in to help out a person in need.

Yes, about twice in high school. I never made a habit of it - it was too much work to pick up the new material taught while skipping out.

No, just a few occasions where I was 'temporarily disoriented'. I never had fears of getting lost in south or central Ontario as long as I had over a half tank of gas.

No! Too many ways to end your days there.

Yes, once.

No.

I can't recall that ever arising.

No

Yes, back in my alcohol drinking days.

No,

Yes,under duress.

No

Yes, when I was much younger.

Once.

Yes, but that was sitting on my motorcycle in a rain suit.