Chapter 12: The Future Was Ours

As wise King Solomon of old once pointed out, there’s aseason for everything. There’s a time to plant and a time to pluck up what you’ve planted, or as Aunt Lena liked to put it, there’s a time for fooling around in school and a time to get down to brass tacks.

The seasons changed for the Class of ’56 when we marched in to “Pomp and Circumstance” and they promised us that the future was ours and we waltzed right back out to “Pomp and Circumstance,”Verse Two, and took them at their promise and didn’t get home till five in the morning.

They say what you remember least about your graduation is the speeches. That is true, but I’d add that you also don’t remember much about your graduation night, especially if you spent a good part of it in a Pocatello establishment. What sticks in your mind are the gifts: things like pictures and ties and books and clocks and cigarettes.And most of all, family histories.

Gary Albrecht gave me a picture he borrowed from his big brother Cat’s collection. It featured an excellent view of Betty Grable’s backside, except that it was covered by a swimsuit.

Grandpa and Grandma Unruh gave me the cigarettes and tie. Grandma had sent Grandpa downtown to buy me a regular gift,but he got sidetracked down at Boswell’s and spent Grandma’s money.Then he decided humor- ous gifts were just the thing for me, so he wrapped up a half-finished pack of Lucky Strikes and his favorite tie, the orange glow-in-the-dark number with rhinestones and a picture of a horse’s head, and sent Grandma over to do the honors. When I opened the package I showed genuine surprise and joy and Grandma showed genuine surprise without the joy and the marriage of Jake and Lizzie Unruh went through another difficult stage.