Here is a picture of a school bus sitting out in front of Fries School ("Fries is pronounced "freeze", by the way). It's not a high school now, but this is where I went to high school. People used to tell me when I was in school that those would be the best days of my life. While that hasn't proved to be true, they were great days. I have a lot of fond memories from Fries High School and I met some great people there.
I was in high school at a more innocent time, to be sure. I can't say for sure that it was a better time, but it certainly was more innocent. I didn't have a car when I was in high school, so I would start out walking anywhere I went. Usually, someone would stop and pick me up, so I didn't have to walk far.
Richie Pack and I would eat lunch off campus either at Bud Nichols Store of at the drive-in in Blairtown (I can't remember the name of it). It wasn't a long walk to downtown Fries or Blairtown.
I worked for the school system as a janitor. I would stay after school and clean up the cafeteria. We had a jukebox in the cafeteria, so I can remember playing The Rolling Stones on the jukebox while I worked. I would start out walking after work (and usually get a ride home). I later worked at Providence School. It was closer to home. I would ride the bus to Providence, then Greg Rutherford and I would clean the classrooms and the cafeteria. I would then walk home after work.
Fries has changed since the 70s. But it is still one of the best places I have ever been.
