It was 40 years ago today.....

[EyeManFla]

on this the 40th anniversary of my 17th Birthday...I began my apprenticeship as an Optician learning how to surface glass lenses at the old B&L plant off New York Ave in DC and going to school at the same time. I figure I still got a good 10 years left in me!

[Uncle Fester]

Now shout it all together!!!

It was 40 years ago today-
He ground glass at the wheel all day-
He's been wear'in all the latest styles-
Some will even make you smile-

So may I introduce to you-
The Optician you've known for all these years-
The one and only Eye Man F-L-A-
our Optical anniversary man-a-ann

[SharonB]

Now shout it all together!!!

It was 40 years ago today-
He ground glass at the wheel all day-
He's been wear'in all the latest styles-
Some will even make you smile-

So may I introduce to you-
The Optician you've known for all these years-
The one and only Eye Man F-L-A-
our Optical anniversary man-a-ann

I can sing to it!!!!

[smallworld]

I remember being 18, in the finishing lab, edging glass lenses by pattern. I was too lazy to take the extra step and pin bevel in between sizings and I usually had cut up palms. You could get away with that until you forgot and ended up with alcohol or salt or something getting in there. But I was the first girl in our lab 23 years ago, so I probably thought it made me look tough??

[Uncle Fester]

I can sing to it!!!!

Paul to me Sharon, is not really singing the opening. Rhythmic chant until the slur on the last line? Scares me to think some under 30 may not know the tune.

BTW EyeManFla is that tears or years left? If it were tears I'd be done next week!!!

(My school started 40 years ago this fall- Wow does time fly!!!)

[SharonB]

Paul to me Sharon, is not really singing the opening. Rhythmic chant until the slur on the last line? Scares me to think some under 30 may not know the tune.

BTW EyeManFla is that tears or years left? If it were tears I'd be done next week!!!

(My school started 40 years ago this fall- Wow does time fly!!!)

I started on April Fool's Day, 1970. It was the opening day of trout season in NY. I was torn between showing up for first day of work, and grabbing my fly rod. Obviously, I chose the wiser (?) option.

[EyeManFla]

LOVE IT, FESTER !!!

[EyeManFla]

I don't know, Sharon...I'd be looking for the fly rod......

[SharonB]

I don't know, Sharon...I'd be looking for the fly rod......

RETIRED (or as I call it, tired again). Now April 1st is sacrosanct - if the snow's not flying, and the temps are above 32F, I go! No hatches then, but lots of wet fly activity!

[rbaker]

I started working with AO in Southbridge, MA in 1956, part time, after school. I too had a misspent youth with fly rod in hand on school days until I realized that I could not make a living fishing. I spent the next fifty years with my nose to the grind stone and shoulder at the wheel and I am now long retired in Southern Oregon and the Rogue River is my back yard. We also have all the time in the world to head up to Alaska for some fishing and hunting.

So, hang in there. How sweet it is !

Aerial photo.jpgfish_001_web.jpg

Some days the fishing is too good - now I gotta clean all these puppies!