Sunday, July 04, 2010

SOME OF THE OLD 1960'S GANG GETS TOGETHER:))

DSC_0021
THE OLD 1960'S GANG.....FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, GARY BURTON, AL BOSSENCE, JOHN EIFERT, JIM EIFERT, & HELMUT HELL (seated)

DSC_0026
GRAND BEND COTTAGE 1962 (LtoR) JIM EIFERT, AL BOSSENCE, JOHN EIFERT & CRAIG WILKER. The 3 girls had the cottage across the road from us.
Today turned out to be a special day for me which began with an email this past winter while we were in the southwest.  One of the 'old gang' from high school had tracked me down.  We all have best friends from our old high school & beyond days & over time best buddies & pals often drift away & are never heard from again.  But today, thanks to one of the guys, 4 of the old gang were re-united here at our place in Bayfield.
DSC_0029
MY BUDDY JOHN & ME IN OUR SUMMER MILITIA UNIFORMS ABOUT 1962....JOHN'S THE GOOD LOOKING GUY ON THE RIGHT
It was quite an afternoon of old memories & stories.  We had all changed over the years but the voices & the eyes were still the same & after a short period of time we all started to look normal to each other again just like we did in the 60's.  Well, sort of.  We had a lot of laughs & remembered a lot of old friends.  Some still here & some gone now. 
DSC_0030              DSC_0018   
AND THIS JUST GOES TO PROVE THAT SOME PEOPLE DO GET BETTER LOOKING WITH AGE (HELMUT HELL)
Helmut Hell (yes, that's his name) was the fellow who pulled it all together.  Helmut was originally from New Hamburg Ontario & became part of our Tavistock gang in the 60's when he married a Tavistock girl.  Gary Burton was another Tavistock guy along with brother's Jim & John Eifert.  Gary, Jim & John, Helmut's wife, Mary Linda & I all lived within 2 blocks of each other in those days.  Yes, Tavistock Ontario was definitely a small town!!
DSC_0017
JOHN & I GETTING READY FOR OUR 'BEST BUDDIES' CLOSE UP:))
John was my best buddy of all times as we spent those crazy, wild, difficult, & zany teenage years fumbling our way through first cars, first dates, first drinking bouts, & first......well, you know what I mean.  There were a lot of 'firsts' in those days:))  They were growing up years & they were maturing years.  The were 'American Graffiti' years & for us Canadians they were our Tavistock Ontario years. 
DSC_0010
LOOKING AT OLD PHOTO ALBUMS ON OUR FRONT PORCH TODAY....GARY & JIM
Jim I had not seen since the late 60's.  He spent 38 years working for Chrysler in Windsor & retired just a few years ago.  I still remember driving his Mustang convertible back from Windsor the day I dropped him off at his new job & hotel room near the Chrysler plant.  Just found out today Jim ended up living in that room for the next 2 years,  John & I hadn't seen each other for many years either & Gary I hadn't seen since last summer when he rode his bicycle into our driveway one day & knocked on the door.  Turns out Gary lives in Bayfield now as well but at the other end of town.  Strange that we hadn't run into each other in the supermarket over the last few years.  Helmut, (the organizer guy) had surprised me one time back in the mid 80's when he walked up to the counter of the camera store I was working at in Stratford.
DSC_7784
NO, THIS IS NOT ONE OF THE OLD 60'S GANG BUT WE OLDER GUYS KINDA MOVE ABOUT THE SAME SPEED AS THIS FELLOW SOMETIMES
By the late 60's alcohol had a firm grip on my life & I was doing a lot of stupid things. (didn't we all)  My best buddy John had enough of my antics & after awhile we just drifted apart.  All these years since then I have felt bad about those times & a couple of years ago I said to Kelly, of all the people I wished I could say 'sorry' to from those days, John Eifert was at the top of my list.  Today, in my own way & in my own words, I got to finally say 'sorry' to John. 
DSC_0002-1
WELL, WHILE THOSE OLD GUYS OUT ON THE PORCH ARE YAMMERING AWAY I'LL JUST STAY INSIDE & PLAY WITH MY TOYS
A big thanks goes out to my buddy Helmut Hell for making today possible & for sure we will all stay in touch & probably meet again.....for round two & three, & if the wives aren't around......maybe round four:))
DSC_7787GROANER'S CORNER:((  Did you know that inside every older person is a younger person wondering..... what the hell happened.  And, did you hear about the Italian alter boys confession......?? 
'Bless me Father, for I have sinned.  I have been with a loose girl'.  The priest asks, 'Is that you, little Joey Pagano?' 'Yes, Father, it is.'  'And who was the girl you were with?'  'I can't tell you, Father, I don't want to ruin her reputation.'  'Well, Joey, I'm sure to find out her name sooner or later so you may as well tell me now. Was it Tina Minetti?'  'I cannot say.'  'Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?'  'I'll never tell.'  'Was it Nina Capelli?'  'I'm sorry, but I cannot name her.'  'Was it Cathy Piriano?'  'My lips are sealed.'  'Was it Rosa DiAngelo, then?'  'Please, Father, I cannot tell you.'  The priest sighs in frustration. 'You're very tight lipped, and I admire that.  But you've sinned and have to atone. You cannot be an altar boy now for 4 months.  Now you go and behave yourself.'  Joey walks back to his pew, and his friend Franco slides over and whispers, 'What'd you get?'
'Four months vacation and five good leads...'
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened
OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/ (a work in progress)
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

14 comments:

  1. Al, you are such a hoot! I'm glad you liked my abstract art photos. :)

    I'm glad you had some good memories and good times of growing up.

    It's too bad the body has to age as the mind "matures." :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gives me hope that the friends I've left behind will still be friends in years to come. Thanks for the post. It helped me feel better since this was my first holiday without friends to hang out with.

    -Nellie
    P.s. my numbers have been down the last few days too. Reading what you said makes sense!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gives me hope that the friends I've left behind will still be friends in years to come. Thanks for the post. It helped me feel better since this was my first holiday without friends to hang out with.

    -Nellie
    P.s. my numbers have been down the last few days too. Reading what you said makes sense!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great reunion and time to reflect and reminisce. I love the old pics and new pics, what a great way to show that everything is the same.. really.

    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ooooh, I like that Judy..."it's too bad the body has to age as the mind "matures." Very well said!!

    I too am glad you were able to get together with the "gang." There is nothing better than old friends and old memories to share together. I am also glad you were able to make things good with John.
    Good for you!!

    Hope you have a great day!
    Mike & Gerri (happytrails)

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great day for all of you. Thanks so much for sharing the pics and the stories about everyone with us. Old friends are the best friends, that's for sure. Even when we've done stupid things, they seem to stick by us in the long run. I'm glad you had this opportunity to reconnect and mend sore feelings.

    Have a great week ahead, Al.

    ReplyDelete
  7. How great is that.. to meet up with old friends you have not seen for long. It must have been really nice.

    ReplyDelete
  8. When I first opened your blog tonight and saw the top picture, I though maybe you were one of the "Chippendale's" in a former life?? What the heck happened to you??

    Like you, I still have a load of friends from high school that I've never seen since - don't really know why either. Next year is our 50th Grad Reunion. I've never ever been to one reunion and I'll most likely skip the 50th too.

    Maybe a guy like your friend "Hell" will show up here to get some of us "Island Guys" together at last!

    Glad to see you all had such a good time Al and that you finally got to make amends with your best friend!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow what a great post, and being able to get back together, with your teen years buddies, I to wish someday I will see some of those bygone friend's,I left my hometown for the Navy and then after I got out I was 900 miles and another career away. Of course the Viet Nam war took a bite out of my list too. Seems like the working class supplied the majority of the cannon fodder back then, You are a lucky guy to be able to relive some of those memories. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Helmet Hell...That is what I call a "bad hair" day..LOVED the old photos...Al, are those jailhouse PJ bottoms you have on in the photo from Grand Bend Cottage??
    The 1960's were a great/scary time to be a teenager...We all did stupid stuff, and didn't tell our parents till we were 30 years old..if then. How lucky to be able to hook up with a best friend..Isn't it funny how the older we get, the more important past relationships become??? Keep on bloggin...I'll just keep on readin'!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think you guys seemed to have aged pretty darn well. You aren't getting older, you are getting better! I'd give a lot to look and feel younger, but I wouldn't want to give up all the knowledge, good sense, and wisdom that I've acquired along the way!

    ReplyDelete
  12. After all that, what can I add? I still have one old friend from grade school days. My family moved away from the old home town when I was in fifth grade, and then I went to a Catholic High School many miles from home. The one friend is now A Jesuit priest teaching at Gonzaga University. He'll be joining us for our 50th wedding anniversary party at the end of the month.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is a great post that emphasises cherishing your friendships. I lost 4 best friends in one year and I don't make friends easily. I have been a loner since day one and I find meeting people a little awkward. I have Carol who I love dearly and we have been friends for 28 years. I cherish her and her wonderful family.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hey Guys

    Got the info for your BLOG from Brenda.
    You all look great for A bunch of old farts.
    Love to see you guys sometime.

    Jim Parkinson

    ReplyDelete