Dedication
My mother, Claire, and father, Alexander, plus my brother, Bob, and two wonderful sisters, Michelle and Denise represent the best companions that a guy could have during those challenging days of World War Two, and the following meager years of Centralville’s Ludlam Street living quarters.
Together, and with the help of President Roosevelt’s family assistance program called Mother’s Aide we, somehow, managed to earn an honest living (at first with only two newsboy salaries and our mother’s beauty parlor proceeds) to eventually enjoy the Mother Hubert world of having, at least, the basics. My father, our primary breadwinner, had died in January 1953, so our family became a recipient of government assistance.
Naturally, we, as French Canadian immigrants, often prayed that, someday, the constant stress of living so close to poverty might eventually become nothing but a harsh learning experience, and that fine jobs and careers would become the norm.
Daily Guidelines
Over the years, I have been fascinated by the words of wisdom that certain figures in human history, going back to the days of Ancient Greece, have bequeathed to us, fellow travelers. The catalog of these comments must range in the hundreds at this point. The selected few, below, are examples of these personal favorites.
“In a journey of one thousand miles, start with one step forward.” – Chinese Proverb
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” – Chinese Proverb
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius Saying
“Sometimes, even to live is an act of courage”. – Lucius Seneca, Emperor Nero’s advisor
Preface
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Lowell Happenings in 1937 and 1938
Chapter 2: Pawtucketville: 1939–1944
Chapter 3: Centralville: 1945-1953 – Saint-Louis de France Elementary School
Chapter 4: Centralville: 1953-1957 – Saint-Joseph High School – Little Canada
Chapter 5: Centralville: 1957-1961- Lowell Tech Years –Bachelor of Science Degree
Chapter 6: State College, PA: 1961-1963 – Early Penn State Years – Master’s Degree
Chapter 7: Afterward – Summary