We'll begin the second part with the summer of '76. First came the Bicentennial. No, don't cringe! We have to tell about every historical event whether we're sick of it or not. Actually July 4 itself wasn't bad. Des Flames held its largest parade ever. (Those with sunburns for two weeks afterwards know that.) Thousands of family outings, followed by the annual Lake Opeka fireworks topped off the day.

Next came the Democratic National Convention. Jimmy Carter was nominated that party's Presidential candidate with virtually no competition. Only a few days later Viking I completed its 10 month trip and landed on Mars. Stories and first photos of the surface of Mars made the front page of nearly every newspaper in the nation.

July ended with the Summer Olympics. Nadia Comanechi was hailed as perfect; Bruce Jenner won the decathalon; and Olga Korbut didn't perform nearly as well as many had hoped.

August saw a battling Republican National Convention.

Gerald Ford won only after days of arguing and "demonstrations" that sounded more like Times Square on New Year's Eve. Just before school began we saw Viking II also land on Mars.

This past school year saw louder than usual seniors. They usually are the quietest class. Also, to the juniors' surprise they had serious competition for the spirit jug by the sophomores. Do you remember being able to walk directly from E-wing to C-wing while passing S-201? We're sure those of you

with lockers in the concourse area remember "moving day." Then came the days of the C-wing doors being locked, then the E-wing doors, then the C-wing doors again. All of this in -40 wind chills.

Jimmy Carter was elected and inaugurated, and now it's his turn to get the "putdown" treatment. We again saw another rowdie fifth period lunch. Not even the coldest weather in history could quiet them down. (You can't stop tradition.) That cold spell seemed like the end of warm weather forever. It's hard to imagine now, not being able to comprehend temperatures past 30 when the wind chill was ‑72. There were some bad things. far worse than the cold ‑ the "L" disaster, the jumbo jet collision, and the Washington, D.C. terrorism.

Recently we've had ridiculously hot weather. How many remember back in February when meterologists said that the summer would be as hot as the winter was cold? They were right. At least we had some fire drills to cool us off a bit.

The future promises to be interesting not only just to the Class of '77 but for everyone. Large families will be nearly impossible to handle, at least economically. Some realize this already. By 1980 you may be spending $.20 just to mail a letter.

In 10 years there will be no such thing as aerosol or Fahrenheit. Your children will ask, "What is a mile?" or "What does a penny look like?" (The penny may go out of existence by then.)

To the Diamond Jubilee Class of 1977, good luck; and we may see you again in 10 years.