When I was five, I was asked which elementary school I wanted to attend in the near future.  A daunting task for a five year-old.  At that time, the city of Presque Isle, Maine had two elementary schools teaching Kindergarten through Fifth grade, Pine Street and Zippel.  This is because Presque Isle is surrounded by a few smaller towns, with many people living in that grey area in-between.  I lived equidistant from the schools so either option would work.

My mom had gone to Zippel as a child and remembered the school and it’s teachers to no be all that great, so she urged that I choose Pine Street instead.  My dad, on the other hand, had gone to a third school that had existed, named “Gouldville”(It probably closed because it was named “Gouldville”), but all of his neighboring friends had gone to Zippel, and good friends make for good memories.  I ended up choosing Pine Street, the obvious choice with its giant grass playground and newer swings.  It also didn’t help that the kids at Zippel had a “Children of the Corn” vibe.  I made many friendships that lasted the years and had fun, every aspect left a great memory.