Dowdy and the Englishman were young rascals. Shenanigans and mischief were their trademarks.

Stockyard mishaps, fishing accidents, cellar rat hunting, inappropriate urination, accidental defecation, and exploring O'Brien's bush filled their spare time. Living in Kuroki Hotel with an uncle, a grandmother, a growing family, a variety of guests, and several unique bartenders was ample entertainment.

Toss in a primitive, males-only beer parlour, and there were the makings of a three ring circus. In the tiny hamlet of Kuroki, we made our own fun.

We weren't alone. In 1951, more than half of Canada's population was classified as "rural", either living on a farm, or in towns, villages or hamlets with less than one thousand inhabitants.

We created games with frozen horse turds and Havoline oil cans, toy guns and outhouses, train tracks and marbles, stilts and hockey sticks. We caught bees in caragana bushes, picked beer bottles in ditches, and flowers along the railway tracks.

Then in our early teens we dreamed of the day we would be old enough to drive that '57 Chevy, drink beer legally, and date pretty girls. Enjoy reliving the "boomer" era.

The 1950's are revived with dozens of original photos together with amusing, goofy, nostalgic, and scary true life experiences with loving and sometimes dysfunctional families and friends. .