I remember feeling that life was real and earnest in those far-off P.R.A.L. days, yet it had its lighter moments too. I suppose someone who had driven 50 miles on the Alaska Highway on a dark January night to attend those meetings might think of them as dry and too businesslike, but we were all learning then and growing with the organization - the Peace River Associated Libraries - we were all so proud of. If our minds seemed too much filled with statistics of books in stock and books circulated and how many more people read them this year than last, and with the presentation of annual reports and treasurers' reports and accounting for revenues and expenditures, and the details of every public library activity one could imagine, it was because that was the way we saw ourselves. We did what we thought had to be done and did not realize that it was all part of coming of age, a preparation for the day we could build a better mousetrap, forever and ever, amen.

Anita McWilliams was vice-chairman of the P.R.A.L. for half of 1969 and all of 1971. She was chairman for the latter half of 1969 and in 1970, '72 and '73. At the very end of that farewell address in April the following year, perhaps feeling the emotion of the moment, Anita faltered. Intending to finish her talk to the dinner guests from around the Peace country by saying "and all good success to you!"; she stumbled over the words and said "and all good sex to you!";

Realizing her mistake and too shaken to ignore it, Anita blushed scarlet and gasped, "Oh, my God!";

Looking around at the blur of delighted faces, she sat down in confusion, amid prolonged applause and cheering.