Part 21

which is really the next part of Part 19 which I skipped over.  It is hard trying to keep track of what is put to paper -  particularly since I don't post every day.

In any event  -- going back to what happened after a discussion took place about teaching -

It was suggested that I contact AR who appeared to be in charge of the curriculum.  He was not a chiropractor.  In fact, as I recall he was a chemist by training from Europe.

In any event after a short conversation, I was directed to the Dean to have an in person meeting.  I remember clearly attending at this office.  He was on the phone and directed me to have a seat.  (the usual nonsense from people of importance).  While he was chatting away, I spent the time observing all of his photos of military aircraft.  I was actually quite impressed.

When he finished his phone call he apologized.  I told him that it was not a problem and that I was enthralled by the photos particularly since my uncle had been in the air force.

That was sort of enough.  It turned out that HV had also been in the air force and proceeded to describe in detail his term of office in the military.  It went on for about 45 minutes after which we concluded the interview by him offering me the position of lecturer and telling me it was about the best interview he had experienced  -  probably since he never asked me a question.

I was told that I would be teaching a course on jurisprudence.  For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why chiropractic students would need to learn jurisprudence since the definition of jurisprudence is basically the study of law (or its history).  Only later did a jurisprudence course get defined as subject matters involving tort law etc.

After creating a number of lectures on the Napoleon Code, Civil Law, etc did I get sent a previous course outline dealing with intentional torts, negligence etc.  So I started writing the lectures again.

By the first day, I was full of vim and vigour.  I actually thought that I knew what I was talking about.  I was received with curiosity but more importantly with some of fear - a lawyer in a class room of 150 potential doctors.  

 Part 20

My journey into CMCC and chiropractic:

I was to start teaching in September of 1976.  I was 27 years old.  A large group of students in the class were the same age or only a few years younger.  

I actually wrote out my lecture - showed up in class and started reading the lecture.  Very occasionally I would be asked a question or be questioned on the information that I was presenting.  I quickly learned that the key to success is sincerity and once you can fake sincerity you can be successful.   I also learned that never show fear when teaching.  A large number of the students in the class of 1977 went on to become leaders in the profession.

I survived the first year and as I recall I was then asked to assist in the business course in the next year.  The students were not very happy with the course material which included how to write a cheque.

By the third year I was teaching both the jurisprudence course and the business course.  They became two hours lectures each and were back to back.  I began every lecture when the clock struck 12 and ended exactly when the clock struck 10 before the hour.  The lectures began with the words -  It's showtime!   And I wasn't kidding.

I began inviting guest lecturers to assist with the course material.  This involved the lawyers for the regulatory body, the defence insurance company, bankers, accountants, planners, etc.  I would sit at the back of the room and it would be about 15 minutes into their presentation when I started asking questions that would be pertinent to the students' future as practitioners.

I made sure that students understood that while they were professionals, they could only be successful if they could properly operate their practices ensuring that everything from starting up a practice, accounting and billings were done properly.

The most memorable event that occurred in the first year took place in December of 1976 at the CMCC Christmas party.  There were a lot of sick people the next day  - at least those who ate the potato salad.  I don't eat potato salad so I was in great shape.

 Part 19

The next very major adventure in my life started in about the spring of 1976 just before or just after I got called to the bar.

The history of the event goes back a number of years but jelled while I was in law school.  I had a serious what I considered an ear ache.  I went to the doctor who decided that it was probably just tension and prescribed valium - albeit the lowest dosage.  With the benefit of valium I was able to focus on studying even though the ear pain - which was more like neck pain - persisted.

When I cam back to Toronto in the spring of 1974, my friend AG thought that he might be able to assist me with my problem.  He was going into 4th year at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.  When he started his internship I visited the college clinic.  The first thing was providing a history, then the physical examination and an x-ray.

I was advised that I had a subluxation.  Obviously, being ignorant, I asked where I caught it and did I have to tell my wife to get checked.  It got a laugh.  I was told that I would benefit from an upper cervical adjustment and all I remember is being told that besides relieving me of pain it would move some joints.  I don't listen well after hearing any health care diagnosis.

So I provided my consent and AG was to provide the adjustment.  I am not happy with anyone touching me anywhere. I was told to put my head at the top of the table.  I did but was then told that I had to lie down on the table.  You can try and figure out what I was doing  -- and that also got a laugh.  I take instructions very very literally.

AG then tried to provide the adjustment.  Once, twice and three times, but I tensed up every time he touched me and told me to relax.  He left the room for a couple of seconds and then came back with his supervisor.  A licenced chiropractor, BK whose nickname I later found out was "killer".

Dr. BK asked AG what the diagnosis was and the suggested treatment.  BK then took my head in his hands, didn't both to tell me to relax and then gave me my first upper cervical adjustment.  I saw stars and jumped to my feet - their expressions were probably priceless.  I asked what they had done, asked who owned the building in case of a lawsuit and then realized that the pain had instantly gone away.

Apparently, my pain was not caused by stress -- it was caused by years of bending my neck over a desk and reading, reading and reading textbooks and studying.  It was amazing!!!

I then asked AG what was next.  He indicated that I would likely need at least 8 more adjustments, and I asked whether I could get them at the same time.  I was serious but that also got a laugh.  We booked all of the appointments.  They were all necessary and many more but a little while later I found out why 9 visits was important - a patient would only be defined for the purposes of the intern's clinical requirements if there were nine visits.  

Many people who may be adverse to seeing a chiropractor use the excuse that once you see a chiropractor you will always see a chiropractor.  My reply, is -- of course.  Not unlike seeing a dentist.  The chiropractor allows a patient to maintain a level of wellness.  There is acute care and there is maintenance care.  But I am not going to deeply into the importance of the profession and what services they provide.  There are plenty of articles and publications dealing with those subjects.

So after I calmed down, I asked AG and BK who taught the subjects concerning consent to treatment, privilege information and other legal matters affecting chiropractors.  They told me that the individual, actually a chiropractor, had retired.  They asked if I had any interest in teaching and when I said yes, they gave me the name of the individual to contact - AR.

And that is where the next part of the adventure began.

 Part 18

So while I was waiting for the grade to be changed for Real Estate Transactions I moved into the next course which was Income Tax.  It was no small feat to learn tax from Monday to Thursday and write the exam on Friday.  Again, I had some perverse liking of income tax.  I did fine on the exam and then had to endure Estates and Trusts;  Corporate and Commercial and then Family Law  -- the order is kind of blinding in terms of what came after real estate and tax.

I ended up passing the course and was "called" to the Bar with about 900 individuals on April 8th, 1974.  I was allowed four guests so my wife, father, mother and grandfather.  (as an aside - I didn't mention anything about the graduation ceremonies at Western - they were pretty uneventful and I don't recall crossing a stage since there were thousands of graduates from law, medicine, business and engineering - or something like that).

Anyway, after the bar ceremonies were over, I mentioned to my family I was now a lawyer.  My grandfather being a very astute individual mentioned the fact that to my wife I was a lawyer, to my parents I was a lawyer but to another lawyer, chances are I wasn't a lawyer  -- at least not for a while until I could actually and really practice law.  Again, very astute.

I now went back to my daily routine.  It was in a two storey house which had been partially used by a psychiatrist.  I had his office which had white and blue wallpaper - very soothing.  Soon renovations were started (actually while I was at the bar).  By the time I was full time renovations were completed.  I recall that fact because the day after the call to the bar, a bottle of champagne was opened in the office library.  A momentous occasion because the cork just about took my ear off.

I ended up with an office on the second floor with a very large picture window and a very nice decor.  

 Part 17

And when articling, I was working about half a day  -- that is from 8 in the morning until about 8 at night.  Not unusual for articling students.  Weekends were for research at the law library.

In September, Judy gave birth to Darin and it was the beginning of me spending no less time at the job leaving Judy to figure out how to raise the baby.  It was the same thing when Ryan and Mitchell came along.  Not good.  Not nice and literally no excuses.

Near the end of my articling experience the law partners indicated that they would like me to join the firm.  So I went immediately from finishing my articles to working part time while going through the bar admission course.  Obviously I did not have the common sense or resources to consider that my life style was not conducive to a sensible life style.  If I was to do it all over again - I would probably do the same thing because I am what I am!  Only psycho analysis could provide an answer and that is definitely not an option.  

Articles were supposed to last 11 months.  Mine never ended.  Since I started on May 5 or so -  I could have been finished the first week in April.  However, that was not to be.  The two partners asked if I was interested in staying with the law firm after the bar admission course.  It was not a hard decision to make.

I agreed to be part of the firm, and even more, I continued to work full time right to the start of the bar admission course and while at doing the course, still working part time.   So I would go to downtown Toronto for classes from 9 to 12 and then go to Richmond Hill from 2 to 6 or 7.  That doesn't sound too bad until it is noted that courses went from Monday to Thursday with an exam on Friday except for a couple of courses that went for two weeks.  

Since I had spent a great deal of time doing real estate transactions I was ready for the first exam on the first Friday.  The exam was held in an armory at Jarvis and Dundas in Toronto.  It had a track above the floor and was manned by proctors.  I recall about 1100 students taking the exam.  

After we finished we could go to Osgoode Hall at Queen and University and see the answers to the questions.  When I did the review I almost fainted.  I had about a 55 on the exam.  60 was a pass.  I was distraught along with a number of other individuals including FK who stood 2nd in law school and eventually became a judge.

We set up a meeting with the course instructor and reviewed the exam.  Apparently the course instructor had delegated or abdicated his responsibility in preparing the exam.  One of the junior lawyers in his firm prepared the exam.  He obviously was neither a real estate lawyer or a rocket scientist.  

We were able to correct about 75% of the answers.  I ended up with about a 75 which did not make me happy.  It turned out that the less you knew the better you did.  They did not bother to lower any of the marks of persons who had passed the exam.

and that was my introduction to the class of '76 bar admission course.

 Part 16

So, I survived law school and getting married.  So how hard could articling be.  It involved everything from review of files, attending court, closing real estate transactions, incorporating companies, preparing wills, taking the bosses car for a wash, picking up laundry etc etc.

I finished law school and started articling about 4 days later.  On my first day I was handed a file for a trial that was to take place on Friday, five days after starting.  I recall that it involved a sick horse.  Anyway, it was a "trial by fire" for me.  I had a great case but the judge was an "ass".  I would not normally say that, as I have great respect for the judiciary but history proved me right for a couple of decades later, the judge resigned just prior to being taken off the bench for having received a contempt order involving his divorce.  As fate would have it, we came face to face again when I was acting for an estate and he was a beneficiary.  The matter went on for about 4 years and it gave me great pleasure to give him no indulgences whatsoever.  Karma is truly a bitch!

My articling experience was amazing in that I was involved in such things as a bankruptcy hearing to which I was sent because it was an absolute loser.  I actually won the case and was trying to hold back the laughter when the Bankruptcy Registrar was giving his judgment.

I did a mental incompetency case involving an elderly individual.  I never met the person and only had to deal with the doctors on whom I had to rely on as being truthful in their diagnosis.  It was kind of sad.

I had a couple of criminal matters.  One involving "bad cheques".  I had to meet the person at the Don Jail.  Because there had been a riot a couple of weeks earlier, I had to meet the client in his cell.  It was quite an experience when the shut the door cell (locked of course).  It has been the only time that I have been behind bars.  (I did get called to the bar).

I acted for a native Canadian of about 19 years of age.  He had gone on a break and entering spree in York Region even partially destroying a bowling alley.  I was sent to have him plead guilty.  The matter was held in courtroom 20 on University Avenue which is the big courtroom.  This is because of all the victims.  I recall there being approximately 20 charges.

Since it didn't matter how many pleas of guilty that would be agreed to, since the penalty would be the same, the crown agreed to my client pleading guilty to one charge.  The only case before the judge involved my client and that meant the dozens and dozens of people in the courtroom were the victims.  Anyway, the case was called and I stood with my client while each charge was related to the court with details of the crime.  My client was then asked how he plead and I instructed him to plead not guilty.  The people in the courtroom were not happy.

The same scenario took place for charges, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.  When charge 13 was read, I instructed my client to plead guilty.  The 14, 15, 16 etc etc etc involved a not guilty plea was rendered.  I have a rather sick sense of humour.  The victims were not pleased.

The judge had accepted the guilty plea and the crown withdrew the other charges.  The victims were not pleased.  The judge then ordered a pre-sentence report and the case was adjourned.

However, I had an experience few defence counsel receive.  I was allowed to leave through the judges exit -- because the victims were still not happy and like most situations if you can't kill the message then try and kill the messenger.

That was my experience in criminal law until many decades later.  A story for another day. 

 There are sayings:  be careful what you ask for   and   a lawyer should never ask a question that he doesn't know the answer to.

That being the case  --  this blog has been getting a serious amount of hits but not one comment in two years!  I guess fear is a great detractor  ;-)

allan

 Intermission

Before I get to the next posting regarding articling and beyond I have to comment on an event that took place in June, 2024, about three weeks ago.

While most of my experience with the chiropractic profession will be set out in detail in future posts, I have to comment at this time, on the event that took place at the convocation ceremony by the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College at the Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto.

Since, the late 70's I have been general counsel to CMCC; its Board of Governors and its President.  My position, as its lawyer, was at the pleasure of the President.  There was never, nor is there now, a contract of any length of time.  Simply, I could be dismissed at will, or leave whenever I pleased (subject to professional rules).  Since, as I indicated, I was working at the pleasure of the President, Dr. Wickes, the President of CMCC, "requested" my attendance at convocation.  I had missed his first and this was to be his last attendance.  When he asked me why I was not at his first convocation, I would joking answer that I didn't think he would last a year.

Anyway, I showed up, took a seat in the vip section, took off my suit jacket and proceeded to fill in the daily sudoku puzzle.  I was half way through when Dr. Wickes began his Presidential address.  He is a great orator so I was paying attention.  

I recall only being surprised a couple of time in my life, and this was one of the times.  Dr. Wickes informed everyone in attendance that there was to be an honour bestowed on someone in attendance.  I have to apologize if I don't get the entire incident correctly, but as I recall, he started listing off the attributes and history of the individual.  It didn't take long before I realized that he was talking about me.  I immediately turned to Margaret McCallen, who knows everything that goes on at CMCC and asked if she knew about this.  She feigned a lack of knowledge.

The presentation went on for what seemed way too long.  It was announced that I was being given a Fellowship in the International College of Chiropractors.  This is an organization that has been in existence since about the 1920's and has a total of about 1900 members of which there are about 75 in Canada.  I was in shock.  There was a standing ovation for what again seemed like way too long.

I am truly honoured by the appointment.  When convocation was over, I was greeted with many congratulations and a couple of individuals asking why it took so long or why I didn't get an honorary doctorate.  My reply was that the nominator for the appointment was still probably debating whether the application would be taken serious.  As afar as an honorary doctorate, I often get referred to as Dr. Freedman, and anyone can get an honorary PHD  - few people have the designation FICC.

My thanks to the Board of Governors and to Dr. David Wickes.  I suppose as legal counsel I should be happy to know that the Executive Committee of the Board is able to keep a secret.

So that was last month.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

 Part 15

It has been a wild few weeks at work.  Like most professions and trades the business would be great if it wasn't for customers.  I love them all but......

Anyway, back to law school.

After almost giving a first year tort professor a heart attack and sending my family law professor to the hospital, what other trouble could I get into.  Since I was secretary of the student council, a student rep at Faculty council and the student member of the admissions committee I really had to try and behave myself. By third year, all a student wants to do is finish and get to the articling position.

In my case, I decided to try something different.  I contact the business faculty at McMaster University.  They have an MBA co-op program.  Three or four months of classes and then the same time in a work environment.  I thought it would be a great opportunity to teach, get an mba and article all at the same time.  And it was a great idea.  Unique in all ways.  The interview with Mac went well.  I wouldn't have to pay any tutition and I would be teaching their business course.

Except, we were dealing with 1974!  That should be enough to explain why it did not happen.  The law society said no.  They wanted 11 months of articling at a law firm and nothing less.  My mentor in law school who became a court of appeal judge and was a bencher at the time, appealed the decision on my behalf without success.  Conservatism at its worst.

Today, such a proposal would likely be received with flying colours.  I guess I was borne a couple of decades too early.

The interesting thing for me was that I sometimes wonder how my life would have changed if I had been admitted to McMaster.  I would have lived in Hamilton and likely never started teaching at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College or have a relationship with CMCC that started in 1976.

So I started my articling interviews which were a serious pain in all parts of my body.  Some were interesting, most involved meeting with individuals whose egos were the size of a large automobile.  One interview in particular involved meeting with two individuals in a large boardroom who proceeded to tell me that it would be a privilege if I received an offer.  I told them I didn't deserve such a privilege and left the meeting.

At another interview I was asked if I had a licence.  I said yes, not realizing that they were talking about a pilot's licence.  I didn't, but received an offer anyway.  My last interview was on a Saturday at a two man law firm north of Toronto.  We met in a small diner that looked like something straight out of Saturday Night Live with John Belushi.  I really really liked the interview.  I received an offer and grabbed at it.  There would be two of us articling.

I advised the downtown lawyers that I was not accepting their offer and you would have thought that they had never been told no.  More arrogance.  

I finished law school the last week of April and started articling the first Monday in May.  Just like finishing high school and starting university and then finishing undergraduate and starting law school with no travels or adventures.  What a stupid idea.

One last thing about law school.  I ended up receiving the Dean Ivan Rand Honour award along with two other students.  One who went on to be a judge and the other who stayed and taught tax law.  I ended upon on the dean's list.  I didn't both going to the awards banquet.  While most people think that I strive for attention, it is quite the opposite - if the attention grabs me, so be it, otherwise I am running in the opposite direction.

And after ending up on the dean's list, my parents were amazed and asked me why if I did so well in law school I had to go to summer school in high school.  I told them that the answer was simple -- going to summer school meant that I didn't have to get a summer job!  Seemed logical.

 Part 14

For most students, the major risk in attending law school is having a nervous breakdown (there were some in my class), or packing the bags and getting out of town permanently.  But I always look for new ways to have an adventure.

My family law professor JM and I would have a weekly squash game.  Friendly but still involving full body contact.  One winter night (I remember it being winter since it was snowing and snowing heavily.)  during one of our "friendly" games I hit the ball across the court and he proceeded to hit it straight back at his position.  Not one to shy away from an attempt to return the shot - I reached for the ball  -- JM tripped me - though he denied it --  and my racket tore open part of his arm.  I strained, sprained or did something to my ankle.

I had to call Judy who drove to the athletic building and collected me and my sparing partner and took us both to the University of Western Ontario Hospital on campus.  We were in our shorts etc and the snow was coming down heavy!  When we got to the hospital his arm was covered with a towel with evidence of blood and I was hoping on one leg holding on to his shoulder.   It was a quiet night in the hospital and as soon as we walked in a couple of nurses burst out laughing.  We made one heck of a sight.

The next day, he came to school with his arm in a sling and I went in on crutches.  It didn't take long before the entire school heard about what had happened  - our at least each of our version of the events - mine obviously being the correct version.

The school came out with an edict that faculty and students should not participate together in any sport activity.  

However, while knowing only the elementary rules of chess, I started a chess tournament which involved faculty and students.  I made sure that chess was not a sport!  I did however arrange the matches and for some unknown reason, a faculty member won the tournament.

And that is my story, and I am sticking to it. 

 Part 13

We arrived safely back in Ontario.  I give my dad back his car, we filled my car up with wedding gifts and headed to Cherryhill Blvd. just a couple of miles south of the Law School.

I now had to find a summer job that would help pay the rent and the tuition.  I was given an opportunity to work at the London Post Office and learned a second life lesson when going for the interview.  I was dressed appropriately and was ready to behave and answer all of the questions in an appropriate fashion.  But I had not anticipated the one question that has never alluded me to this day  -- in this case it was "who was the postmaster general of Canada".  I didn't know and I should have been prepared for the question.  And since that day, my simple adage is "hope for the best; plan for the worst and expect the unexpected".  So, if I was going to apply for any job - and with AI it is very easy, I would be prepared up the yin yang  -- and if applying to the post office, I would make sure that I knew what the cost of a stamp was.

I did get a job.  At London Life Insurance.  It was basically filing old files.  The more important part of the job was putting together the banker boxes.  I became quite efficient in creating the boxes which is something that I continue to do to this day.

I recall coming home from work the first day.  I walked in to the apartment and Judy was grinning because she made our first meal together.  I stopped quickly and asked and then demanded to know what we were eating.  She said a surprise but when she saw the look on my face she relented and said chick cacciatore.  I said no way, no how.  Stop it and take the chicken out of the pan or pot and wash it off.  She thought I was crazy until I explained that to this day I can still remember and even smell the stewed tomatoes that I was forced to eat in nursery school or kindergarten.  It was an experience that ranks right up there with an episode of SAW.  

To this day, Judy has never cooked stewed tomatoes.  I don't mind pasta sauce and love Italian cooking, as long as the sauce is not merely stewed tomatoes  -- it needs pesto, garlic, etc etc etc etc.

Then it was back to school.  I was elected as secretary of the student council so I got a key to the offices.  I took notes of meetings and sat on faculty council.  I was then appointed to the admissions committee. All were great experiences.  Anyone who simply goes to law school has no idea of what can be gained from the total experience.  There may be only 24 hours in the day, but it is a sin to waste any of it.  This sage advice comes from someone who is a tv addict.   That is why quick reading helped me immensely.  That and the fact that I could type like a whiz.  I took typing in grade nine when all the other guys in the class took wood working.  I had a vision of losing a couple of fingers.

I learned on a manual remington to music as in 1, 2, 3 and hit the return bar.  And then came the electric and then the ball and the automatic front and back.  By the time the word processors cam along I was typing all my own stuff and saving a heck of a lot of time.  I still do.

Judy, on the other hand, besides her day job, was doing typing for law students at a reasonable rate of remuneration.

I was taking the usual subjects, ie. labour law, family law, real estate etc.  The real estate course came with a real live incident that caused me to visit the professor and explain why I should be thrown out of the law school.

Things happened this way  --  There was the usual examination.  When I opened the exam book I noticed that the first question looked very very similar to the fact situation in the case of Otis Elevator v. The Bank of Montreal.  (you can check it is real).  So I answered the question and even referred to the case.

About a week later I was call into Professor WR's office.  He wanted to know where I got his exam.  I told him I didn't.  Then he wanted to know how I knew that the first question involved the elevator company.  I explained that I had read the case.  He basically said - no way.

We then journeyed to the law library.  I took him to the soft cover Ontario Law Reports.  Back then they were soft covered and then put into hard cover about every 4 months.  I showed him the Report that contained the Otis case.  He was shocked.  He apologized and said that in 15 years no one had ever ever done that.   I got a great mark in the course and gave my oldest son his middle name.

The next great adventure involved Family Law and a trip to the hospital.

 Part 12

We end up at the Cavendish Motel on the north shore of PEI.   Quaint and perfect.  That is our stomping ground for a few days in PEI.  We drive to the northwest corner of PEI and most of the area.  We have a Sunday meal at St. Anne's Church and the highlight was me watching swimmers in the St. Lawrence and thinking that it would be a great day to swim.  wrong.  I ran into the water and instantly froze.  It must have been a set up from locals to get someone from Toronto to run like heck from the freezing water and looking quite ridiculous.  it worked.

Our next journey was to Nova Scotia and straight to Sydney on Cape Breton Island.  Fantastic.  We did the trip into the mines and saw the fort at Louisburg.  Then down to Halifax and a visit to Peggy's Cove while it was still in its natural state.  I have been back to Peggy's Cove a couple of time and to Cavendish once -  unfortunately there is now a serious tourist area in Cavendish with an amusement park.  It is not amusing!

After the stay in Nova Scotia we travelled to New Brunswick.  We had to visit the magnetic hill which really is strange.  Then in St. John were were at the beach when I decided to travel out to the water's edge.  It seemed like a good idea until the tide came in and I found out that I was standing on a little hill.  I had to walk back to shore in  water up to my waist.  Clothes and all.

And then came an experience which radically changed by life.

While travelling in a residential area of St. John on a Sunday afternoon, smoke came out of the hood of my dad's car.   I pulled over in what someone from a middle class family Toronto might think of as a working class area.  That was my first thought.  My second thought was that I was screwed.

A number of people were sitting on their front steps.  I am not sure if they were smoking or drinking beer with the men in tshirts (what used to be called by another name that I never liked).  Anyway, a few of them came to the car to see what was happening.  The hood of the car was lifted and vapour escaped.  The initial diagnosis was a water pipe had ruptured.

There appeared to be a gas station at the end of the street.  The men agreed or simply told me that they would push the car to the gas station.  I was still freaked out since I had little cash on me and only a gas credit card while driving a big new Buick with Ontario licence plates.

As I said it was Sunday but the gas station was open  --  turned out to be the only gas station.  The owner took a look and told me that he might be able to repair it.  We pushed the car into an empty bay and waited outside.  I started counting dollars in my head.  He finally came out and said that he didn't have the parts but would send his son to hopefully find some.   More dollars in my head.

While the son was driving around the City I told the neighbours who had grown to about a dozen or more about us being on our honeymoon, from Toronto, me being a student, and driving my dad's car.  All the while, me thinking of how I was going to pay for the repairs.

The son finally returned without any parts.  The owner then told us that he would try and make a temporary pipe to deal with the issue.   More $$$$$.   After about 30 minutes, the owner came out and told us that he had taken care of the entire problem and that we could be on our way.

I sheepishly asked how much I owed him.  That is when the life altering experience took place.   He said there was no charge!!!  I was mortified at my having thought that I was going to be taken advantage of.  My love for easterners happened at that moment together with my deciding to pay forward that kindness for the rest of my life.

I had a few dollars so I bought everyone a soft drink (.25 cents).  

As an example of paying forward the experience, during my teaching, I was asked to swear declarations by students in 4th year with respect to licence examinations and registration.  Over the years, probably 30 years times 150 students time 2 applications.  No charge.  Lawyers are able to charge and many charge $25 or $50 per any declaration that they sign.  I could have used the money but the service was much more important.  That is just one example.

And then we ended up back in London Ontario at our new apartment and the beginning of a 52 year run.

 PART 11

The next big chapter in my life starts on June 18, 1972 - 52 years ago.  As I tell it  -- much to Judy's consternation -- we have been married 52 years because we have a perfect marriage  - we are both in love with the same man  - me.

Anyway, I had a stag before the wedding.  It was in a synagogue so we all had to behave ourselves - except, as I recall it -  I did well at the poker game.  They probably let me win.

I remember driving to Hamilton with my brother and his girlfriend, listening to the theme from the Lone Ranger.  It is amazing how little things stick in the mind.  It is the big things that get lost.

The wedding involved about 16 ushers and bridesmaid, a tuxedo hand made by my father-in-law the tailor; and about 400 or so guests.  I wanted a small wedding.   My parents asked me if I thought it was better to meet people at a wedding than at a funeral.  Since I don't like going to funerals since the person who died is not coming to my funeral -  I had to agree to the logic.  So, the parents and Judy wanted a big wedding and I didn't much care.

It was a nice affair and even had a band that had been the band at my bar mitzvah.  The Rabbi and I didn't really see eye to eye on much of the tradition that he tried to get me to agree to, such as double ring ceremonies did not really exist in the orthodox faith.  

Judy and I left at about 11 pm.  We decided to travel to the east coast of Canada on a road trip for our honeymoon.  It was expected to be quite different.   We almost ended up in a divorce with 15 miles of Hamilton and before the marriage was consumated.  

My father had generously agreed to lend me his Buick for the drive.  We almost got to the QEW from the 403 when Judy told me she had forgotten her luggage.  Being a relatively patient and quiet individual - NOT - the conversation didn't go very well.   I had to decide if I was going leave her at the side of the road or turn back and get the luggage.  I obviously went back for the luggage.

We spent the night at what was the Hyatt at Yorkville and then we went to my parent's house to let the dog out to do his business.  That went about as well as the luggage issue because she took off.  We went looking for her but had to wait about 2 hours for her return.

And then we headed west (actually) going to Niagara Falls and then heading east.  The first night we stopped and decided to see the movie Pornoy's Complaint.  It was restricted and they did not want to let Judy in since she look about 16 at the time.  They thought her id was phony.  I think the wedding ring finally got us admission.

Then the next day we were at Montreal - then Fredericton and then Moncton where I almost started a riot after eating at Cyr's.   I was expecting to see a tidal wave.  When the water cam trickling in, I persuaded the crowd that we had been ripped off.  The RCMP persuaded us to behave.

Next day was a trip to Antigonish to wait for the ferry to PEI.  Now you can drive to the Island for free.  You just have to pay to leave.

 Part 10

I was thinking whether anything else of interest happened in first year law school.  I do remember having a great admiration for the librarian - Margaret Banks - who was famous among law schools.  She was able to help me a great deal with research and knowing how to make great use of a law library.  And back then it was important (no computer, no internet and definitely no chatgpt).

Other than that, it was always nose to the grindstone.  It is true that: first year law school - they scare you to death; second year they work you to death; and third year they bore you to death.  It was just like that, except in first year they scared and worked students beyond what should have been allowable.

I had survived the snoring of my roommate, moot court, assignments and everything else that could be thrown at us including the fact that we had to attend at a class after the previous class had income tax such that the room smelled like a locker room from the "sweat" of the students.  The room really smelled of "fear".

So now it was exam time -- ie. hell on earth.  We were all paranoid but as the saying goes  -- that does not mean that the world is not out to get you!  Reading, making notes, reading some more, guessing what would be on the exam, more reading and more notes.  

When it was finished I moved back home.  It was the beginning of May.  I had a job working in a metal factory.  To this day I can't get the smell of steel and oil together, out of my brain.

I was getting married on June 18th and waiting for my grades.  If I was not successful in first year I was contemplating getting in my car and heading out of town, permanently.  So weeks went by with no results.

It was now the second week of June and I was so paranoid that I tracked down the personal phone number of one of my professors and begged to know if I had passed first year.  I must have been very persuasive because he actually told me I had passed.  

I had previously gotten hold of the wedding invitation and replied that I would be there if I had nothing else arranged.   Little did anyone know that I was serious.   I received the grades on the Friday and got married on the Sunday.

 PART 9

I have to set out an incident that happened in first year Torts Class.

We had an interesting professor who came from South Africa whose initials were HJ.  Now, I believe that if individuals were not going to be lawyers they were going to be actors of some nature.  Particularly law professors.

One particular class that comes to mind involved the case of Palgrave v Long Island Railway (I can't believe that after 50 years I can still remember certain cases.  Ms Palgrave was suing Long Island Railway because she was injured when a conductor helped (pushed) a rider to get on the train.  He dropped a package which exploded and caused damage to Ms. Palgrave.

The professor came into class with a package.  It was obvious that at the appropriate time he would drop the package.  I sat in the back of the class with MB.  I had with me a small new years eve pull string that would let out a bang with streamers.  When the professor dropped the package I pulled the stream which let out a very loud bang.  The students jumped and the professor grabbed his chest and sat down.  

Everyone let out a roar and MB and I quickly collected the streamers under the desk.  The professor wanted to know who had done it.  No one pointed at me and I did not volunteer to admit to the act.  He didn't suffer a heart attack, even though I initially thought that I might have killed him.

Looking back, it was a dangerous move that could have gotten me kicked out of school.  But it was great.

Other than that, I sort of behaved myself during first year.

 Part 8

No it wasn't a condom -  no way, no how.  Besides I drove a Mustang!

After she froze, Judy opened the box and it was an engagement ring.  I was in school, no money, not much of anything, but I was engaged.  Oh  - she said yes.  Then I had to deal with all of the fallout - as in announcements, parents get togethers, and the new found obligation to behave myself as best as I could through the last year of university.

We agreed - or our parents agreed - that we would get married in June 1972 - which  would be after my first year of law school  -- maybe or maybe not a wise choice depending on whether I was going to be going into second year or otherwise deciding what my alternative occupation would be.  There were two engagement parties -- one in Toronto and one in Hamilton.  I stayed out of the entire scenario right up to and including the wedding.  

But back to school.  I received an early acceptance letter to Windsor Law school and held it for a couple of weeks and then received early acceptance to Western which I grabbed.  I had gone to public school literally around the corner from my house, junior high down the street, high school just a little further walk and then York University about 4 miles (at that time there was no metric) down the road.  I had to get out of town before I was buried in a cemetery just another 3 miles down the road.

I had to prepare to move to London, Ontario and share an apartment with a distant cousin who snored like a train!  I was there a few days before the start of school.  My next door neighbours were two very cute girls who came from Sarnia.  But I was engaged which was like or more serious than marriage.  Absolutely no fooling around!!

I knew at least one person who I had gone to high school with and had no problem speaking with the other poor souls who were going to give up their freedom to law school.  We quickly found out that while the usual class size was 150 weeded down to about 125 - our class was filled with 175 students.  we were given the usual line on orientation  - that look to your right and look to your left - one of you will not be here in the spring.  They actually changed it to read - look to your right and look to your left it is likely that one of you will not be here after Christmas break.

The tuition was about $650 a year - the texts cost a small fortune and weighed a tone.  You learned very quickly that the most important thing about law school was to stay healthy.  If you missed one day of school you fell behind for what seemed like a week.  It was the socratic method of teaching which meant that the students had to sit in a preassigned seat and the professor had a picture of every student in the appropriate seat  -- which also meant that you tried to sit as far down in the seat as possible and pray that you were not called on to answer a question.

If any of this sounds draconian -- then watch the movie "Paper Chase".  It came out at the same time I was in law school and you were swear that they were filming our class.  I can still picture John Houseman throwing a dime at a student and telling him to call his mother and tell her he was coming home.  

You read the cases, you tried to dissect the case and prayed that you were not called on to do the oral presentation - which generally lasted about 30 seconds until the professor interrupted and suggested that you go back and obtain a degree in sociology or something other than law.

Our professors at Western were the authors of law books in contract law, real estate, etc etc.  They were in many cases also practitioners and if not were scholars who could successfully debate with the devil.  we were outnumbered and outgunned.

At Christmas there were examinations.  We were given a promise that they were not going to count to our final grades.  Thank goodness.  Not one student passed the constitutional examination which had one question - as I recall - was about 20 pages in length and involved the dispute between the Maritime Provinces and the federal government over fishery rights.  The exam started at 9 am and there was no time limit - you could stay as long as you wanted but when you left the room the exam was over.  There was no such thing as academic accomodation in the 70's.    I last about 4 hours.  As I said, no one got a passing mark.

I also achieved a 10 out of 100 in property law; 15 out of 100 in criminal law - a mark not worth mentioning in evidence and I may have passed contract law but it is a blur.  On one fellow student the professor actually told the student to quit and try and get a partial refund on his tuition.  The only thing that kept me going was that I had no other place to go.  It was brutal and a few students took the advice and left running not walking.  The rest of us just took solace in our study groups.   Looking back -- it was fun!

 Part 7

So now I have to get a summer job between first and second year.  There was a Toronto day camp doing a job search at the university.  Myself and a friend applied.  They had two types of positions - counsellor or maintenance.  Much to the shock of the interviewers, we applied to be maintenance men.  We realized it pays better; we don't have to deal with the campers; and there were some serious intervals during the day when we could just veg.  We were the most educated maintenance men they ever hired and we did it for two years.

At the same time, I was now travelling to Hamilton on a regular basis and sleeping on my girlfriends couch.  We were now, what was called "exclusive".  I travelled with her family to Montreal for a wedding and we spent almost every weekend together.   When we were not together, we actually wrote letters, and when we could afford it we called each other long distance.  That was the end of the 60's and beginning of the 70's.  Something that no other generation will ever experience.

During my first and second year, I volunteered in the psych department for psych experiments.  One involved being an air traffic controller and being hooked up to a machine which registered tension.  I think I broke the record on how many planes could crash within 60 minutes.   My second project involved tension control -  which proved to be very useful during my studies and thereafter -- considering that (while not being diagnosed) it was evident that I had HDADD  -- being translated to attention deficient disorder, disagreement, disruptive, disputive, disagreeable,and all other dises - but when paying attention it is in High Definition.

Second year was pretty non-eventful other than increasing my knowledge of having to get much better grades and being a better poker player.

At the second year, I had a wonderful experience when Judy's father sat me down and asked me what my intentions were with respect to his daughter  -  there was no shotgun, but I was surprised by the conversation.  I just kept nodding my head.

The most important adventure between second and third year involved my taking what was referred to as the "Evelyn Wood Speed Reading" course.  There were about 25 people starting the course, but diminishing over the 8 week course.  We were told that most people read at 150 words a minute because they verbalize and can't speak faster than 150 words a minute (I recall that JFK was alleged to be able to speak 300 words a minute).   

Once we were taught to get past 150 words a minute - the next hurdle was about 350 wpm an then 700 wpm and then 1500 wpm and then whatever.  By the time we were at 1500 wpm there were only 3 of us left  -- myself, another student and a university science professor.    We were finally tested at over 3000 wpm.

I used the skill --  which is really "effective reading" and not speed reading.  You will have to do your own investigation about the process since I could write a book on the subject - as there have been -- including Effective Reading by Adler (I think published in the 1920's).

Anyway, I had done well in all my subjects earning 4 A's and 2 A pluses.  In one course, I had received a 70 out of 75 and had one examination.  It involved two texts that I had not read.  I decided to test the effective reading skill by sitting outside the Tait Mackenzie gym an hour before the exam and begin reading the texts.  I ended up with an A plus in the course.

Going back a few months, I had to write the LSAT.  I decided to take it in October of 1970 in case I had to write it again and to avoid the paranoia of all of the individuals taking the test in the spring.  At that time it was an 8 hour exam  - before and after lunch.  To prepare, I went to a party the night before.  There was no preparatory course that now exists.  By the time lunch was over we had lost about a third of the individuals taking the test.  

I had applied to law schools, waited for the results, did ok and then waited for acceptance or rejections letters.

Late in April, Judy and I drove to Princess Point in Hamilton.  While enjoying the moonlight, I took out a small box and gave it to Judy.  She told me later, that she thought it held a condom.

 Part 6

I am now in my first year at York -- taking sociology and psychology courses -- easy choices since I can't do anything else.  Actually, I am specializing in "poker" and making sure that I get home in time to watch Jeopardy.

By April, I am ready for the finals.  In one course we have a take home exam.  Three questions.  That being the case, I am coordinating with my friend.  He is delivering his answer to question 3 to my home.  He walks in and behind him is his girlfriend and her cousin who are on their way to an engagement party.  The cousin comments on my car.  That is another story and takes us back to September of 1968 when I enroll in university.

My parents had always said that if I get into university they would buy me a car (definitely not new).  Since I achieved that goal with the help of my father, he was able to get me a 1965 triumph spitfire for the sum of $600.00.   It was a great little car that could be moved in the driveway with the assistance of four people just picking it up.  It was obviously a standard so I had to learn how to drive stick shift, via a volkswagen beetle much to the dismay of the driving instructor.  I only blew one clutch with the assistance of my sister.

At the end of the summer, I finally persuaded my mother to go for a ride in the car.  I was zipping along the 401 and took the Avenue Road exit at which time I did a 360 degree turn.  When we got home my mother told my father that she was no longer, cooking, cleaning or washing until the car was gone!  

My dad took sympathy on me and sold the car for $800 and purchase a used Mustang (red with black stripes).  I then proceeded to put in an eight track tape deck so that you could hear music about 300 yards away.  The doors would vibrate with the music.

Back to the exam.  The cousin whose name I found out was Judy, said she loved the car.  I told her that if she wanted I would drive her to the engagement party.  She agreed.  I was in blue jeans with no shoes.  While driving to the party I offered to drive her home.  She said she lived on Gary Avenue which I knew was at Bathurst and Lawrence in Toronto.  My mistake, it was actually Gary Avenue in Hamilton.  Crazy me  -- I actually still drove her home.  A couple of weeks later, she asked me out on a date to her cousin's engagement party in Kitchener.   I agreed to go.

First I had to meet her parents.  I drove to Hamilton and her parents were at their next door neighbours' house.  Every group of people have a person who is a "comedian".  The husband next door was the comedian.  He started interviewing me.  What was I doing, what was I going to be and then what did my parents do.  To the last question, I quickly answered that my parents were in the "iron and steel business".  "My mother irons and my father steals."  Word got around Hamilton very quickly, that everyone should be careful about getting into a coversation with me.

 Part 4

I was able to escape from high school (and summer school) with a desire to go to university.  When I was rejected from York U my father wanted to try and change its position.  He contacted the Dean and was able to get us an interview.

I had been exempt in all courses except math and with the summer school mark I actually had a decent average over 70%.  I took my transcript with me to the interview.  The Dean had my application and wanted to discuss grades.  He asked me how I did in History  --  I told him I didn't take History.  He asked how I did in French - I told him I didn't take French.   I told him my marks in chemistry, physics, english, geography and math.  He made no attempt to hide his confusion.  He looked at my transcript and indicated that he had the grades of another applicant by the same name.  Another example of my travelling through the "twilight zone".

He asked me the question that - if I was admitted to first year at York would I be a student who would make York proud.  What a stupid question.  I lied and said yes.  I was admitted to first year, one day after the commencement of the academic year.

It took about 6 weeks before my true nature showed its face.  The entire first year class was required to take "Modes of Reasoning", being a course in logic, as in "if a equals b and b equals c then a equals c."  Very logical.

Students were present in Stedman Hall for the lecture in person and many more students had to view the lecture by tv in other rooms.  The professor was British and not very dynamic.  No one asked any questions, and he merely read for the 50 minute lecture period.

No questions, that is, until I decided to ask a question which took everyone including the professor by surprise.  The question was "why do we have to take this class".  His answer was a curt "because it is a required course".  My not being satisfied to then just sit back and take it - I put my hand up for a second question.  When asked what my question was, I brazenly asked:  "then why does it have to be so boring".   All hell broke loose with students yelling at each -- the professor trying to get control and finally the class being dismissed.

I had to walk from the Stedman Hall to Vanier College for my philosophy class in the Don's room with ten or so other students.  When we all got there the only topic of discussion was what had happened in the previous class, and even the Don enquired as to what was being referred to as a riot by the first year class.  I did not offer any opinion and kept my identity a secret.

After everyone else left, I confessed that I had been the perpetrator of the discourse and I actually felt bad about how I had acted.  It was suggested that I apologize to the Professor which I did almost immediately.

It was ironic that of all the courses that I took in my undergraduate studies, the only course that had any relevance to my law studies was "Modes of Reasoning".  If I had only known, maybe I would have done better than a C in the course.