One Decade Hence by Grandpa

(Below is an essay written by Grandpa Gibson. I have typed it exactly how he wrote it, wrong spellings and all, and have included a scanned version.)

One Decade Hence

        Ten years from now, will we have changed, what about our homes, our town, our country, the world. Will peace or chaos and confusion reign? To most people as to me this remains a huge question mark, a riddle which only time will solve. Bug straightening my crystal ball I shall endeavor to, by exploring the far reaches of my imagination, construe this town and its people in ten years. I shall risk any liable suite (by the chamber of commerce) that I might suffer because of my statements for the sake of my english theme average, which incidently will probably be put to the dogs merely because of my feeble attempts in it's behalf.

        But enough of this filly fallying around, let us get down to business.

        The huge six engined transcontinental air liner was at that moment unloading its bevey of passengers at the Cedar City airport. An extremly scholarly looking man at this moment descended the ramp, undoubtedly a professor, and Walter Gibson's waiting parents quickly decide that that was not their boy. A huge brawny many muscled brute then steps down, he is teething with vertible power and strength and it only takes Mr. and Mrs. Gibson one look to decide that he was not their awaited son. Suddenly a cry issues from the elderly ladies lips as she points out her boy and the couple's eyes settle on a pale droopy tired looking individual coming toward them lugging a light portfolio.

        With a maximum of confusion the trio finally succeed in collecting the baggage and getting in the sleek new plymouth, and getting out there.

        The first thing in line for the new arrival was a sight seeing tour of their city. This observant young lad had already observed the apparent growth of the city, that the airport was many times larger, and that the western foothills were becoming subdivisions. The increasing number of light private planes with a few small helicopters had been observed and remarked upon.

        The car sped out into the valley going north west and after 2 or 3 miles had been traversed through heavy traffic along a well paved road the oil well section was reached. Derricks dotted the immediate surroundings and the horizon was blotted with some completed and some under construction. The test drills made in 1947 had been successful and Cedar had became a veritable boom town. This had been apparent before Walter left in 1950 for college in Salt Lake.

        All around the edge of the oil feild were hundreds of shanties, tents, and dirty muddy kids and cats. The slums of Cedar.

        The sightseeing family crossed the huge new transcontinental highway now under construction that was to have run up the outskirts of the town but found itself in the middle.

        A wide circle was made and the business district was reached, extensive building was under way in this part of town. They passed the huge new library and civic center on 1st west, and finally after passing the highschool and the B. A. C. (wich had vastly expanded and has become a four year college), home was reached.

        The Gibsons had a large new home under construction on the vacant lot adjacent to their old one. A house with the new electric eye door opener, the automatic kitchen and the automatic car parker and washer.

        A dinner out in the Cedars newest cafe and a show afterwards in the huge new drive-in theater followed. What did it matter that their son had managed to get home twice a year since he had left home. The old couple were still glad to see him. In fact he was the only one, other than one girl, in the family that had not married and settled down and the old couple was quite concerned over this.

        All this and more passed through Walter's cluttered brain before the familiar z-z-z-z-z resounded through the still night which was broken only by the noise from the automatic humidity modifier.