While Galveston was being devasted by Ike this weekend, it reminded me of better times on that beach.

As was the custom at Evergreen High School during the mid-late 1950s, the Junior class raised funds to take the Juniors and Seniors on the annual "Junior/Senior Trip."  In my Junior year,  Galveston was selected for the late Spring 1957 trip.  In those days, a ferry was used to reach Galveston when traveling from the East. 

While riding on the ferry, several of us were chatting outside the bus with Mr. Elmer "Boulette" Riche', popular school bus driver and the driver for this trip. There was excitement in that area of the ferry, as several members of the EHS party were taking small pieces of bread and tossing them in the air to feed the seagulls who hovered above the ferry. 

After obsErving the seagull feeding frenzy for some time, Boulette said, "watch this" and flicked his lit cigarette in the air above the EHS students who were feeding the seagulls.  Needless to say the seagull who snatched the cigarette in his beak was surprised to learn what he thought was a piece of bread was a lit cigarette and his reaction was equally surprising to the students below.

Pelican Footnote:  In 1958, the EHS juniors selected Gulf Hills Dude Ranch in Ocean Springs, Ms for the Junior/Senior Trip.