38. Tell us a memory of your teenage years.

From: Lois Rotella

The following memories of my teenage years are varied. I remember getting a job for the first time. I had to get working papers because I was under 18 years old. I was a tutor for the public school system during the summer, then I was I was a cashier in a supermaket. I think the things that stick out most was graduating from high school and how proud my parents were. My grandmother Gagne even came down for the graduation. Then that summer the astronauts landing on the moon and getting to see them when they had the ticker tape parade in NYC for them. It was very exciting.

From: Joyce Eggleston

I was about 13 or 14 years old. We used to be in Youth Fellowship at Harrisena Church. We used to have meetings every Monday evening. We always had a plan to do something fun. One time in the month of January we got skates and went up on Lake George. We started skating at Warner Bay and ended up in Cleverdale that night, meeting at one of the kids homes. We had refreshments and got a ride home. When I think a bout it, it was kind of dangerous. Most of the time our youth group would go to Brennons Roller Rink. That was fun. I got to be a pretty good skater. We skated singles, couples and raced. I never lacked for a partner.

From: Philip Harris

I had to work very hard in my teen age years. I worked at Branches General Store. There was a time when Puzzy Coon and I decided to run away from home. We were going to his relatives in Middlebury, Vermont. We hitchhiked and got rides all the way to the top of Mendon Mouintain. We walked all night and were freezing because all we had on was tee shirts. It was in July but the nights were cold. We saw a home with a nice tree. We decided we needed to sleep so we cradled under the tree. All at once a vicious dog arrived and drove us down the road. We got a ride the next morning. We couldn't find jobs in Vermont so after about a week we came home and faced our parents. They questioned us but didn't express a lot of anger. We were about 13 or 14 years old. We thought if we went to VT. and got jobs we wouldn't have to go to school. Not a bright move.

I do recall one time walking home from Lake George School after showing a movie. I was President of the Projector Club. It was very cold and no cars passed me on Route 9l. I walked down Bay Road and over Pickle Hill road that was not plowed. I walked through a foot of fresh snow and my feet were frozen. I was totally exhausted when I got home around midnight. My father would never pick us up after school. We either had to take the bus or find a way home.

From: Connie Olson

Wow, thats doing some far back digging in the brain. Nothing much to remember back then. Being a teenager way back then wasn't much fun either. I remember that time of my life as being uneventful. I didn't stray to far from home.

It was a transition from a carefree child to being a young adult. I who still had childlike ideas but was expected to be acting like a young adult. Boring.

l remember the last few years in school. Watching my friends grow into young adults then wondering if I'd ever see some of them again after graduation. Which I didn't. I moved away, married started my family. I didn't keep in touch. So now that I'm older I've often wondered what they've done with their lives.

My 50 year class reunion is next year. They ususally send out a book with updates on the class members who are still living and a list of those who have passed away. So I'm looking forward to reading it and possibly going to the reunion if It's possible for me.

From: Heidi MacDuff

I have to be honest and tell you I don't have many fond memories of my teenage years. I was always the kid that the bullies picked on. The bullies were the teachers, the students, friends and many adults including aunts and uncles, etc... I was called fatty, lard ass, tubby, ugly and anything that relates to all those mean things. Somehow I survived and have worked hard in the last four years to undo the wounds of my teenage years. I am very proud of the work I have been doing to build up my self esteem. It is a daily commitment.