October 17, 2020 . . .

The 1960’s were truly remarkable to me – they were easily some of the best years, and some of the worst years of my life.
I was down, just about as low as you can go, when I got a job as a labourer in Stokley’s canning factory in Essex, that lasted as long as there were tomatoes to can. I was paid weekly, at 87.5 cents an hour. It was September, 1961, and a month later, I was on a train, bound for Montreal and basic training in the RCAF. My life just got better and better.
Most of the guys in my Flight were very young, 17 or 18 years old, and I was 23, with a new nickname – Pops. I was the second oldest guy in the group, at 23! (The oldest guy a year older than me. He had done 5 years in the Navy.) We had a blast! I can remember climbing up a rope and learning how to do it comfortably – with my feet. And, getting a weekend pass – wow, Montreal! I was ‘awarded’ light duties after breaking a big toe (It happened when we all were horsing around and someone slid a ‘skidder’ across the room, and it landed on my foot.)
Well, I made it through Basic, and we were on a train, this time to RCAF Clinton, for trades training. There were so many young recruits, that we had to wait several months, on what was called ‘contact training’. Every two weeks, even through basic, two busloads, 120 young men and 120 young women, would get into the RCAF and require training.
I was assigned guard duty in the guard house. One of the optional courses I took was a UASF course called ‘Extra-Sensory-Perception’. We were taught self hypnosis so that we could fall asleep anywhere, under any conditions. We had a numbered checker board in the guard house and we would play a game while we were on guard duty. One person would go outside and the rest of us would all concentrate on the same number. That person would come back into the guard house and would try to guess that number. They would get it right almost all the time!
When my time was almost up, I got a job as a ‘Radcian’ on the DEW Line, complete with an appointment for training at USAF Streeter, Illinois, and a letter to pay my way out of the RCAF with six months to go. I had a meeting with my RCAF boss, the STelO, who promptly informed me that the RCAF had recently changed its policy on early release, and that I wasn’t going anywhere. I was an LAC, Com Ground in the RCAF. 
Upon my release, I got a ride with Pete, my friend who was released at the same time as I was, and we got as far as Ottawa, and decided to stay there. (That was after seeing the girls come out of the Metropolitan Life Building at quitting time.)
Well, on that note, I’ll say goodbye . . .
Please be careful . . .
Stay safe, stay well, remember your mask, stay physically distance, wash your hands frequently, get some fresh air if you can, and keep smiling . . .
‘til we meet again . . .