2

3

Acknowledgements
Dedication
5
6
Prologue
Chapter 1: Dreams…and the angels you meet
- Sing your heart Out
- Dome Light Dad
7
8
10
Chapter 2: Mortality
My Father Taught me How to Fly 13
Ladybugs: Charms of the Heart 16
Angels Around Us 19
The Anniversary Plate
Chapter 3: Our Children, Our Future
I-29
-
I’d Like to Sing for You
How Wise is Your Child?
-
The House Sitter’s Letter
My New Bike
20
24
26
28
29
31
Monkey Bars and Marriage
Chapter 4: Boys and Their Toys
-
Messing Around with Boats
The $400 Fender
The Rabbits
Chapter 5: On the Edge of a Dream
Epilogue
The Gift
The Dress
I touched his ‘Bling’
33
36
37
37
39
41
43
45
4

5
Huge thanks for both Ginger Bennett and Jennifer
Webber. Ginger for both inspiring me and helping me to write in the first place and Jennifer for helping me survive the rough bumps. I truly love you both!

6
It is my pleasure to dedicate this book to the three men in my life: Don, my husband, plus Jordan and Scott, my sons.
These three have been the rock for me when things got tough. Thank you for always being there!

7
My father told me once, “A short pencil is better than a long memory.” That is, any information you may need later, write it down on a piece of paper. This advice is with me every day. I share these words of wisdom with others practically daily.
T here are many reasons to write a book. Some people have imaginations that thrill us to no end.
Others are experts in their field and like to share their knowledge to help us become informed on the topics we deem interesting. This book was written to share the true inspirations I have been lucky enough to experience.
Inspirations are all around us everyday of our lives. The trick is to recognize them and then put them to use for our benefit and others.
My name is Susan Reid. I’m thirty-nine years old. A lot can happen in that amount of time. My years have led me on the most interesting adventures. Like a storm strewn boat twists and turns, such is my life. Luckily I wear my life jacket and know how to hold on very tight when in nasty seas. I always look on the bright side and seem to know that everything will be okay soon. That’s me, the ever optimist.
I thought I would share a few of my most inspiring adventures of late; along with some odds and ends that are just plain fun. So baton down the hatches put on your lifejacket and prepare for the voyage.

Sing Your Heart Out
F or a few years now, national singing competitions have been the craze. This was the case in Canada.
The Top singer competition tryout was coming to town. Or should I say a town nearby, a nine-hour drive nearby. It was during that long drive that Ginger and I became such good friends.
It was Ginger’s dream to become the next top singer, not mine! (But thanks for the complement!) She has a beautiful voice with a beautiful heart, as well. The one thing she didn’t like to do was drive. That’s where I came in. When Ginger asked me to ‘drive’ with her to St.
John’s, I jumped at the chance for the exciting excursion!
We set out on our voyage in Ginger’s car. We were to stay with my Aunt Gertrude, a true angel. All was a go and after a long drive we landed at my aunt’s house.
Early the next morning, I mean like 6:30 AM early, we headed to the line up for the competition. There were hundreds of people. This was going to be a crazy couple of days.
I flipped around here and there, mostly waiting. That was my job. I talked to everyone, including a CBC news reporter. Ultimately, Ginger was on the evening news with reference to the competition. Cool Hey!
8

9
Also, throughout the day, I managed to get kicked off the steps of the venue at least one hundred and twenty five times. I wore the tops off my shoes and became on a first name basis with the head of Security, Rick. He was really a nice guy. I also collected money with Harold, another
‘waiter’ like me, to put in the parking meters for the singers inside, while being followed by the meter man.
Harold waited for Wanda Lee, his daughter. She just happened to be the first in line. (She got special news coverage for that.) This family was truly all ’heart’.
Later that afternoon we found out that both Ginger and
Wanda Lee, our aspiring singers, made it through the competition and were going to be auditioning for the celebrity judges. We were all very excited, but I couldn’t help but see the worried look on Wanda Lee’s face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“We got no where to stay! We only booked 2 nights and we were lucky to get them!” She blurted!
My Aunt Gertrude, who was here with us said, “You are all coming home with me. We’ll make room!”
(See I told you she was a sweetie!)
We had a beautiful evening of singing, laughing and crying. Girls will be girls. Harold enjoyed himself, even though he was the only man. He just sat smiling the whole evening elated with his daughters’ excitement.
The next morning was nerve racking. Everyone excited about seeing the celebrity judges.

10
Originally, I was not allowed anywhere on the set, however, the head of security issued me a ‘Special
Security’ pass. I got to go wherever I wanted. I felt so important. I did my job well and even asked the Manager of the Fairmont Hotel to talk softer because we were taping a show. Sometimes I’m just too brave.
Although the girls never made their stardom this time, it was amazing the open hearts and spirits we all encountered on the way. We will always be grateful to
Gertrude and all of her angels!
Turns out it was truly a blessing that we gave the two a place to stay. They ran out of money and knew no one else in St. John’s. You really meet people for a reason.
My heart smiled that week.
Dome Light Dad
The day started special: all good things to come, that feeling. We were pumped to see the celebrity judges and everything was a go. Ginger our inspiring singer was ready to leave. I was waiting in the car, to pick up her sister Veronica and then off to the Fairmont Hotel. On the way we chatted about the possible outcome of today’s events and hoped for the very best.
During the car ride we started to experience some car trouble, or should I say light trouble. The dome light kept flickering. We all checked our doors and any switch that would affect the light. There were no evident problems.
All the doors were closed and all the switches were set to

11 off. When the light finally faded and stayed off we seemed to forget about it as fast as it came on initially.
We finally arrived at the Fairmont Hotel. I dropped the girls off at the entrance and proceeded to find a parking space. As I turned off the car the Dome light began to flicker again. I had the key out of the ignition and all the doors were still closed. I wondered how I was going to turn of the lights on Ginger’s car, so as not to run down the battery.
I breathed and thought for a minute. It was then that I thought of my father, who had passed away five months earlier. I suddenly get a rush; the dome light still flickering above me.
I said, “ Dad, is that you?”
It was then that the dome light got very bright and then dull again.
I thought to myself, of course he is along for the ride looking to wish us well.
I focussed on the light for a few seconds and then said,
“Thank you, Dad.”
The light shone very bright and then faded away. I knew this was my father wishing Ginger and I our best at the singing competition.
I proceeded to get out of the car and lock the doors without the dome light missing a beat.

12
The light worked as usual until we were driving home.
When we would speak of the story of the light it would flicker again.
I truly knew Dad was with me on that trip. He was surely a “Dome Light Dad”!

13
T hroughout the years I have had the same bad dream. One where I had fallen off a cliff and then awoke to know I was at the very least rattled from the slumbering subconscious. You know you are okay but your body hasn’t gotten that memo yet. When all nerves and muscles are calmed I was always left with the same question: Was someone there to catch me? It’s hard to comprehend sometimes when it comes down to it that, in our lives, would be there to catch us. Our parents are there for us in the early years of our lives. As well, they are there, as needed, throughout our lives during tough grownup moments.
When I think of my parents I was lucky to have three. A
Mother and Father, who will love me forever and a
Grandmother, ‘Nan’. My Nan was my mothers’ mother. I believe that, even though they have all passed on and are no longer with me they will always be the ones to catch me when I fall.
My Father had always been an inspiration to me. He taught me a lot about life, how to live and love, but most importantly laugh. He had a wonderful sense of humour

14 that he carried with him throughout his life and even when he was diagnosed with cancer, and was in a great deal of pain, he would always wear a smile or crack a joke. He was always a very positive man and if I was feeling down or depressed he would always tell a joke or say something to make me smile. He taught me that “It’s just as good to laugh, no good to cry”, as I say.
A few years back my dad passed away with cancer, but a couple of weeks before he passed away he had a doctor’s appointment in St. John’s, which was about an hour away by plane. I decided I would make all the arrangements and fly in with him. It was a dreary November day; it was cloudy, raining and very cold outside. It was one of those days that could just give you the blues.
I called my father to let him know all the arrangements had been made and I would fly into St. John’s with him.
He answered the phone as cheerful as ever. I asked him how he was feeling.
He said, “It was always a good day when you are on this side,” as he put it.
I told him that it was such a “yucky” day that maybe it would be best if he didn’t go outside today because he may get sick or get the flu.
He said to me in his jovial voice, “Susan, always remember one thing, no matter how dark, rainy, or
“yucky” it is outside, the sun is always shining above the clouds.”

15
This, of course, cheered me up right away and brought the biggest smile to my face. I thought to myself, here is my father battling this dreadful illness, in pain every day of his life, never complaining, and he is inspiring me. For the rest of the day when I would look outside and get a little depressed I thought about the conversation with my father and I would smile.
About a week later my dad and I were on the plane, headed for St. John’s. I knew he was feeling a great deal of pain and I felt helpless. I wished I could take the pain away, but I couldn’t. He didn’t show any of the pain he was feeling, he just kept smiling.
During our plane ride I was sitting next to him and as we ascended above the clouds, Dad nudged me and said,
“Susan, I told you the sun is always shining above the clouds.” A bright smile developed upon my face and tears welled up in my eyes. What a wonderful man to have in my life, I thought. I felt so blessed to be a part of him and his life. I smiled during the whole plane ride. Dad had inspired me once again.
Shortly after my dad died. Even though he was not with us anymore I knew that he was watching over me and guiding me through the rough periods in my life. This was apparent about a year later. I had been visiting a friend in Alabama. I was having a hard time dealing with the fact that my mother was also diagnosed with cancer and I was afraid I was going to lose her too. I needed some time to relax so I planned a visit to Alabama, to deliver a dog to our friends, Jay and Theresa; as well as getting away from the pressures of every day life.

16
During my stay there I was doing a little shopping. It was in the month of November, close to Christmas, and I decided to buy a few gifts for my children and my husband. We were walking down the street I spotted a shop and thought; this looks like a nice little store to get some gifts. I knew I had to go to this particular shop.
I went in and looked around for something to ‘catch my eye’, as I say. Something sure did. I looked at a rack directly in front of me and there was a small plaque that stood out. It was a beautiful, sky blue, hanging plaque that read “My Father taught me How to Fly”. My heart raced, tears streamed down my face and I thought about the plane ride with my father to St. John’s just a year earlier and how his positive outlook on life taught me how to rise above adversity and lift my spirits to that place above the clouds. His words echoed in my head and I smiled softly. I picked up the plaque and stared at it for a minute and said to myself, “Thanks for the Christmas gift,
Dad!” I felt that Dad wanted me to have this plaque. I bought it straight away and brought it home with me.
The plaque still hangs on my wall at home and now and then I take a minute from by busy life, stare at the plaque and think about how my Father’s word and positive attitude have changed my life for the better. I get strength in knowing that he is watching over me and these little reminders lift my spirits and takes me to that special place, where no matter how bad things may get, the sun is always shining above the clouds.

17
Ladybugs, to people who are superstitious, are a symbol of good luck. We could all use a little luck now and then, and a little bit of good luck is better than a bit of bad luck, especially when you get some really bad news. This was the case for my family and me. About a year ago my
Mother had not been feeling very well. She had just been diagnosed with cancer. My brother, David, and I wanted to cheer her up so we went shopping for the perfect little gift to lift my Mothers’ spirits, as we would say. We looked all around for something special but nothing was jumping out at us. Finally, David spotted and a tray of small glass ladybugs. They were red with tiny black spots all over their back. There were about twenty in each tray, the cutest little things you have ever seen. My brother suggested that we give these out to all the family to comfort them in knowing that maybe some good luck may come their way. I soon as I saw the tray of charms, I thought they would be perfect. Cheering out Mother up would be great but giving everyone in the family a little sign of hope would make it all that much better. With these small ladybugs they could always have a little luck to carry around with them, in their pocket, in their purse, in their car, in their house or anywhere they may need it.
The thought then occurred to me let’s not just get twenty, let’s get maybe three packs of twenty, because we may not see these ladybugs packaged like this again, and you never know when you are going to meet someone who may need a little luck in their life, family or friends. So, that’s what we did, and everyone that received a ladybug thought that

18 it was a wonderful gesture and appreciated the thoughtful little gift, especially the children in our family, which are our hope for the future.
I brought a few extra ladybugs home and gave them to my husband and children. I poked the rest of them away so we would always have a little luck stored away somewhere.
A few months later, on a beautiful sunny day, I was at an outdoor swimming pool just relaxing and spending time with my children. I brought a backpack along with some towels and other necessities for swimming. When I reached into the backpack to get a towel, I noticed one of the small glass ladybugs in the bottom of the sack just as cute as a button. The first thing I did was to check my wallet to see if it was mine. It wasn’t. I asked the boys if they had put the ladybug in there, and they said no. I thought to myself that this ladybug is in here for a reason, because that is what I believe, everything happens for a reason.
As I looked up there was a lady standing about twenty feet away and I knew this ladybug was for her. Now, she was talking to some other people and I didn’t want to interrupt her. She may think I was crazy, a stranger coming up to her to give her a ladybug, she would probably think I belong to an insane asylum, but I knew I had to talk to her.
I waited for the opportunity to get her alone, so that if she did think I was crazy, it would only be her thinking it and not a group of people and as sure as the sun is above the clouds she walked by.

19
I said,” Excuse me Madam, do you have a minute?”
She said she did and we began talking. I asked if she was superstitious and she said no but I knew that I still had to continue on with my story. I told her the background of the ladybug, how my mother had been diagnosed with cancer and how my brother had found these charms. I also told her that I found one at the bottom of my backpack, saw her and thought maybe this ladybug was for her.
Her jaw dropped, her eyes widened and she gave me the most wondering look as if she was going to cry. She said to me with tears in her eyes, “ My Mother is sick… and she is so superstitious.” She went on to tell me that her mother had battled cancer once before and that this awful disease was back for a second round.
Now remember, I never met this woman before, I don’t even remember her name, and I haven’t seen her since but
I would recognize her face anywhere.
I told her that this ladybug was for her Mom. She hugged me and said thank you. She said she was going to give this lovely charm to her superstitious mother and tell her the story so that it would give her hope, good luck and good health.
After this heart-warming event, I realized that the significance of these ladybugs is not just required by friends and family but strangers, as well. In a world with such chaos and disease I consider these tiny charms to be a small symbol of hope, charms of the heart.

20
Some people believe there are guardian angels around us.
I am definitely one of them. I also believe, wholeheartedly, that our family that has passed on before us visit us from time to time, in different ways.
On the Internet, I found a selection from Dr. Doreen
Virtues book Healing with the Angels, Chapter 12,P160:
“Your angels often communicate messages to you by showing you a series of numbers. They do this in two ways. First, the subtly whisper in your ear so you’ll look up at the time to notice the clocks time, a phone number on a billboard.”
For instance, when a clock might read 1:11 then you must monitor your thoughts carefully and think about something you want. Your angels will listen.
One day comes to mind when I experienced this. It was the boys’ last day of school and they were getting out early. I had to pick them up at 11:15. I arrived at 11:11. I suddenly felt a warm feeling all over me and I new my angels were right there with me!
I got the boys and we went to pick up a movie. We rented one movie. The 4-digit number on the edge of the movie was 1111. Again, I felt a tingling sensation.
We ran a few more errands, and then picked up Scott’s friend Jake. He was spending the evening with us.

21
One more errand was to get some gas. I put the car in park after I arrived at the gas station. I happened to look at the clock again. The time was 1:11.
I told the boys that our guardian angels were with us all day. They asked if Poppy Bob, my father, was with us as well. I said, of course he is.
Jordan asked me to tell the story of ‘Dome Light Dad’.
After I finished they sat wide-eyed all the way home.
They did seem very content. They loved having Poppy
Bob around and have missed him terribly since his passing.
I also think of Dad when it’s 8:08 on a digital clock. My aunt calls this Bob o’clock. I get another warm feeling when I happen to look at the clock at this time. It doesn’t happen too often but it happens enough. I’m grateful for every visit with my Dad.
We often love to cherish what is left to us by family after they have passed on. Not for the monetary value but to have a piece of heritage from our ancestors.
This was the case with a beautiful pink antique plate that came from my great-grandparents. My mother proudly displayed her Grandmothers’ plate in the China Cabinet.
The plate was an anniversary gift my great grandparents received in the early 1900s. It is unknown to me how it came into my mothers’ possession; however, there was

22 always a contention between my sister and I as to who would end up getting the heirloom to display in their own houses. My sister thought, that the first born, should have all, not some, family perks. I, being the middle child, was doomed from the start.
Eventually the day came when the plate, through no small feats, came into my possession. I was both overjoyed and blessed to have this family antique in my house. I relayed this story to my family so they could appreciate the plate’s importance, as they carefully passed by it.
It was about a week later, while I was speaking with my grandmother when I realized that the pink plate was my grandmother’s Mothers’ plate originally. I immediately became embarrassed and said to my grandmother, “I don’t know if I’m the one who is supposed to have this plate.
Who would you want to have your mother’s dish?” I asked.
“Well,” she thought for a few moments, then said, “I would want it with my youngest daughter, Gertrude.”
“That’s what will happen to it then, Nan,” I said.
After we finished our conversation, I thought about the plate and Nan for a few minutes. It is now near the end of
March and Mother’s day is just around the corner. I will give the plate to Nan for Mother’s Day. It will be the perfect gift.
The day came I gave Nan a Birch Box containing the pink plate sitting on a bed of black velvet with two red roses.
My husband built the wooden box especially for the plate.

23
Nan looked at me and mouthed, “My Mother’s”
I mouthed, ”Yes”
Pictures were taken and the memories saved forever.
After all Nan was almost ninety years old and every day was precious.
Eighteen months later, she died in her sleep. She was finally worn out from this world and more than ready to go to the next one. She was very spiritual.
The pink plate sat quietly and secure in the birch box on a shelf in her room. I went to my aunt Gertrude, the youngest daughter and said, “Make sure you take the plate home with you, Nan wanted you to have it.
Gertrude started to cry and said, “No, I want my son
Steven to have it.
There was so much love surrounding this plate because it represented the loving marriage of my great-grandparents.
The pink anniversary plate seemed to find the place where it was best needed at the time and to be passed on when necessary. This circulation of love inspires the place where it lands.
Growing up from the age of eight and on I lived next to my Grandparents. It was great! We were one large close

family. I actually lived in my grandparents’ house for
24 one year while our house was being built. If Mom or Dad weren’t available we would go to Nan or Pop, as we called them.
A few years later, Pop passed away. He was seventyseven and had a massive heart attack. We were grateful he didn’t suffer.
Nan was so used to having Pop being around, she was nervous at night by herself. Although my aunt and uncle lived with her, Nan was still uneasy. My Mom slept with her for a couple of weeks but then said she had to go back home to her family. My older sister was the next to stay with her. That lasted about 2 months. Keep in mind, my sister was sixteen and not home a lot. It was then that they looked to me. I stayed with her until I finished college. I ate, showered, dressed and all normal things at my own home, however, I slept at Nan’s house.
Through my late teens, I was gone a lot too. She didn’t mind how late I came home, as long as I came home. This was great. What freedom! Most times when I got home, she’d wake up and say, ”Oh Susan, you’re home.” was the greeting I got on many a late Saturday night.
She loved asking me about my night and if I met any nice boys or how my current boyfriend was. It was our ritual.
One Saturday, I came in shortly after 2 am. I tiptoed into the house and locked the door behind me. When I entered the bedroom I was shocked to see Nan’s bed empty.
Where was she? Before I started to panic, I realized that
Nan said she was going to the dance tonight. It was then I

25 realized Nan was out later than me. My grandmother was seventy-three years old.
It was then I realized the door was locked. I better unlock it for Nan.
Once I was ready for bed I looked at the clock. It was approaching 2:30.
I got in on Nan’s side of the bed. Put her ‘pink’ sweater around my shoulders. I put on her nightcap, the one to keep your rollers from falling out. I then took up her rosary beads. I mimicked the same position I always found her in, when I came home late.
I heard a car door and within a few moments, I heard a couple of laughs. She crept up the steps, as I did earlier.
She opened the door. She came into the doorway dancing.
She immediately saw me in the bed.
Before she had a chance to say anything, I said, “And where were you my lady until almost 3 am?”
Her reply was filled with laughter, “I couldn’t leave the dance ‘til I danced with everyone!” she said dancing to each syllable.
We both broke out into laughter. Then we quieted ourselves so as not to wake my aunt and uncle.
Nan got ready for bed all the while telling me about her splendid evening.
I’ll never forget the night Nan Missed Her Curfew.

A s I sit nestled on my chaise lounge, I see a scatter of toys from last evenings’ visitors and the sweetest baby, Skylar. Skylar is about 17 months old and visits with me from time to time. We are constantly on the move. Playing with dolls, mostly dragging them by their hair and then placing them gently on the blanket again. Crayon are scattered, she says the same colours over and over Boo, Boo; Skylar’s way of saying blue. I’m thinking that she’s brilliant and has already figured out her favourite colour is blue. That’s the way I am with children. I have the utmost respect for them. They are learning things faster that we could imagine.
I like to feed children’s fascination with the world around them. I like to look into their eyes as they experience something new and celebrate their joy and excitement in the learning.
When I have these interactions with children and toddlers,
I feel like I have accomplished something huge. I believe
26

27 that I have added to their life experiences and maybe left a little of yourself.
As a parent you are thrown into the job of teacher and its sink or swim. I chose the latter. From the moment I found out I was a mother to be, I read books, watched my eating, and got lots of rest. I felt responsible for these children from the moment I found out the good news.
This responsibility was paramount from the get go!
My friend Sharon enticed her children to drink lots of water instead of pop or juice. She told them that drinking water is like a “shower” inside. Too cute. Our body does need water. Another thing Sharon would say was “Don’t be upset if your clothes get dirty, ‘cause that’s what the washing machine is for.” The girls were never upset when they got messy.
That reminds me of one day when my cousin was young she greeted my uncle Jim at the door he said, “Hi little missy!” Jennifer looked down at her shirt and said, “ I’m not messy!” We still laugh at that one today.
It was a beautiful summer afternoon. My eldest son,
Jordan, was at a friend’s house. My youngest son, Scott, was hanging around our house bored. Rarely was he without his brother, his perpetual playmate. They were great pals. Scott looked up to Jordan.
Recently, Scott had shed his training wheels and has matched his brother in ‘two-wheeling’ as they would put it.

28
Scott was five and could not ride his bike by the road without an adult. After completing my chores I told him I could take a walk to the store while he rode his bike.
Scott was ecstatic. He ran to get his shoes and ready for the journey.
We collected the bike from the shop and proceeded on our walk. Scot was riding very well and was quite comfortable with his ‘two-wheeling’.
Once at the store, he was to pick out one treat. He got an ice cream. We sat with his bike until he finished his frozen treat. It cooled him down from his bike workout.
He rode so proud. My pride was exploding. Well, you can just imagine!
On our return journey, we were about half way home when I heard a shrill cry from Scott. He had managed to create a large distance between us but I kept an eye on him the whole time. My pace quickened as I evaluated the recent scene. He never fell. He was stopped cold.
Nothing obvious happened. Only ten more feet and I would hold my baby boy. The question, what happened, kept ringing in my head.
When I reached him his face was soaking with tears. I held him to calm his sobbing.
“What happened?” I asked.
Finally after a few minutes he was able to speak. This is what he said; voice quivering:

29
“I was riding my bike and then I heard a man talking. I looked that way, and that way, and that way, and that way.” Pointing in four opposite directions. “And there was no one there, or there, or there, or there”, as he sobbed and pointed.
What did the man say?” I asked.
Scott replied, “I – 29”.
I started to laugh to myself. The outdoor Bingo was on a loudspeaker by the school. He heard the announcer, and not a ghost as he first thought.
Every time I hear about Bingo, I recall Scott’s frightening experience with I-29!
One day I bought a Karaoke machine; the most entertaining grownup toy in the world. The only problem is when you are watching children perform its hard to know who to look at. The baby girl or boy singing or the
Mommies or daddies faces beaming with pride.
There were a few times over the years I was overwhelmed by the confidence in young children. When I meet a new child I am flabbergasted by the abundance of selfassurance some children have.

I will tell you three different instances when my point is well made.
30
I. Jessica and Alysha
I met Jessica and Alysha when they were five and three.
They were beautiful. They were very high spirited and talkative. They exuded confidence. They were also very musical; both in playing and singing. One day we took out the Karaoke machine and they went to town. They took turns singing. They were amazing. They knew their stuff. It took me three days to get the smile off my face.
II. Olivia
I met Olivia when she was five. Olivia was a blonde haired, curly haired cutie. She was a singer, skater and most prevalent she was a performer! She had a way with people, for sure. Our singing performance was ‘Born to
Be Wild’ with Olivia singing and with me do the exaggerated actions in place of the words. We had such a great time. We are still known to perform it from time to time.
III. Jared
When I started to volunteer for the local hospital foundation I met Jared’s Mom Anna. Shortly after that I met Jared. We had our first outing on Remembrance Day when Jared was just about four. We went to lunch after the parade. My son, Scott and my Husband Don accompanied us at a pizza joint in town. I introduced

31
Jared to everyone, and he said, “It’s nice to meet you.”… Too cute.
We ordered our lunch and Jared proceeded to tell us that he likes to sing. I asked him if he wanted to sing a song for us he said immediately, “Sure!”
He broke into “Twinkle, twinkle, little star…” He was good and loud in his rendition of the well-known children’s’ song. Other patrons stopped to listen. When he finished everyone applauded. There were tears in my eyes. I was overwhelmed to know such a beautifully spirited child. He beamed with pride and simply said,
“Thank you”.
What else can I say but the next time you have the opportunity to have a child perform for you, take it.
You will be amazed on the impact it will have on you and the precious child.
My eldest son Jordan was nine years old when I bought the book, 8789 Words of Wisdom. After reviewing this book for about an hour one day, he wrote down the following eight. I thought he chose well.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
“A leopard cannot change his spots.”
“Fear is a great inventor.”
“Death puts Life into perspective.”
“Every End is a beginning.”
“Anger punishes itself.”

6.
7.
8.
“The best way to teach is by example.”
“Mirrors do not lie.”
“Hatred is blind.”
A couple of boys born with my delight,
Boys were my blessings.
Care and love became my beloved job,
Diapers, Not so much.
Every day, an exercise of exhilaration,
Forgetting what sleep was,
Going for days with little or none.
Happy for this sacrifice.
In our house, we are always playing:
Jokes and pleasurable games
Keep the energy and spirits high,
Laughing, tickling, and loving.
Mealtimes come and go,
Never leaving the kitchen devoid of chaos.
On the floor, lie remnants of the day’s delicacy:
Peas, corn and sweet potatoes.
Quiet falls at dusk,
Replicating the sun’s accomplishment.
Slumber falls on the young children,
Touching then with angel kisses.
Under this spell, I’m drawn to rest.
Visions of my slumber, are captured
32

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With thoughts of love,
Xeroxed in my psyche forever,
Your magnificence,
ZZZZZZZ…
A couple of years back my husband and I took a short trip.
We asked my cousin, Jennifer, to take care of the house and finish a few chores for us. Her Friend Steve was also there to lend a hand.
Jennifer was more like a daughter, I mean younger sister, to me. She was eighteen now and growing up very fast.
When we arrived home from our trip, Jennifer had already left. She left me the following note. It took me a while to get through it the first time I read it. Enjoy!
Susan,
Here are a few notes for ya.
I was getting in the tub the other day and slipped and I grabbed the wooden shelf next to the tub and it tipped a little and one of the glasses broke and something else glass, which I laid on the counter by the sink…I’m sorry.
On a better note…there is a load of towels in the washer at the moment, may be in the dryer by the time I leave.
There were two loads of dishes done and packed away, there are still some dirty dishes in the dishwasher now.

The bed has been stripped.
The plants have been watered (also tomatoes outside).
34
I sent the cheques on Friday morning.
The rock out front was spread on the driveway as we thought it should, however you may need more depending on how much of the driveway you want covered.(They are very hard to drive on though.) There is still a little pile of rock on the side by the ditch.
The soil was spread somewhat for the new lawn until
Steve got sunburnt bad and had to stop. That means the seed didn’t get distributed.
Also the lawn mowing didn’t get done either. The driveway took from 11:00 AM till 6:00 PM with me helping…hard work…Ugh! Haha
Dempsey (120 lb Male Golden Retriever) has a new pond he’s digging out front and the one in the back is getting bigger.
Dogs were fed before I left. Dempsey is tied on and Nikki
(Mild Female German Sheppard) is outside too.
The jeep was tidied up inside from our mess, however, the car wash didn’t get done.
We rented Lord of the Rings, Return of the King on TV, you can take out whatever it costs from what you owe me.
I scrubbed out the Jacuzzi before I left.

35
Floors were swept.
I think that’s about it…Oh, you have to call Jacinta. She called here earlier today.
It’s around 4:00 PM on Sunday and we are leaving soon.
I wanted to thank you again for letting me come down here in Port au Port, I love it, It’s beautiful. Steve loves it here as well.
Also, thanks for leaving me the Jeep; it came in handy with the kids and groceries. It also came in handy when I had to take Steve to the Emergency Department, this morning, because of the 3 rd
degree sunburn on his back.
You can call me tonight when you get home, I may be at home, if not I may be at Steve’s house. Ask for me by my full name because Steve has a sister Jennifer, as well.
If I am not talking to you tonight, it will be tomorrow.
Love you very much,
Jennifer XOXOXO *MUAH*
***
I do love that girl.
The following Memo was given to my by my son Scott.
He was seven at the time. I was so proud of him. He certainly put a lot of thought into getting his new bike.

36

37
There were many occasions when I found myself driving to and from places with the Boys in the car. A great teaching spot because I had their attention and they couldn’t run away.

38
One afternoon, Jordan and Scott (my sons) and I were driving in the car. Jordan was six and Scott was five.
They were your typical blonde haired boys with gorgeous blue eyes.
While we were driving along, I asked them how their day at school was.
Jordan said,” Mom, I saw something that wasn’t very nice today.”
“Oh my goodness, what was it?” I asked.
Jordan explains,” I was on the school playground. There was this little guy on the monkey bars. He was playing on the monkey bars all week. He was finally going to make it all the way across when this other big guy knocked him down. Mom, that wasn’t very nice of that boy. Why did he do that?”
I tried to explain,” Jordan, not all boys are thoughtful like you. You wanted this boy to make it all the way across and that makes you a very good person. You will always meet people that aren’t nice. I think you will be a very nice person when you grow up.”
Scott pipes up from the backseat,” Yes Mom, and Jordan is going to be a good dad when he grows up and gets married too!”
The conversation shifted, as it often does when you are talking to five and six year olds.
Jordan suddenly gets a worried look on his face.

39
“What’s wrong Jordan? Scott gave you a complement.”
“Yaah,” comes from Scott in the back.
“Karla says that I have to marry her when I grow up. Do I really have to?” Jordan pleads.
Before I get a chance to answer and while I was smiling to myself Scott pipes up in the backseat and says, “Jordan, that’s okay, ‘cause when you get up there and the man asks you ‘Do you?’ just say ‘You don’t’.
The conversation went from the monkey bar to marriage.
It was quite a shift.
I barely got the words out from laughing inside. “You’re exactly right, Scott!”
Jordan was content again. Scott was proud to have helped. And I was chuckling all the way home and thought to myself I have two great sons!

M y husband is a nice man, deep inside. He’s actually a man’s man. He has many hobbies including woodworking, boating, 4-wheelin, fishing and many others rugged things, as well. One time, a few, years back, he got a brand new table saw. He spent
3 hours that evening just rubbing the factory oil and just getting to know it. I think you get the point.
When I was halfway finished this book he asked if he could include a couple of his gigantic tales, as well. I was overjoyed with the interest and gladly accepted. Here we go, take it away Don!
40
Quote: “There is no greater pleasure a man get than in messing around in boats”
Unknown
I have been messing around boats since I was two years old crawling about in the bottom of my Grandfathers
Badger riverboat. In my teens I had little chance to go boating as my father had a deep rooted fear of boats as a result of falling out of the mast of a Newfoundland fishing schooner in the 1920’s and having a “bummed up knee” for the rest of his life.

41
However, in university I had a chance to take sailing lessons in an eight foot pram- funny when you realize I’m
6’4” tall. My buddies and I had a ball. I was hooked immediately and started to build an 11-foot Moth. That was in 1975 and I still have the rudder and centreboard hanging in my shed. A year later I built an 8-foot hydroplane that could go faster than my brothers’ cat chased by the Sheppard.
As time passed the lot sunk, or was sold off and I went inland to work construction. However, I always made a yearly pilgrimage to the Armdale Yacht Club in Halifax where I stood mentally spending money I would not make for years. The urge to have my own boat (somewhat larger than eleven feet) grew until the late 1990’s when, after a series of 14-16 foot rowboats I decided it was time to buy my own.
I remember talking over the purchase with a colleague of mine who had just inherited a few thousand dollars and wanted to buy something like a 32 foot Carver. I asked,
“Have you always wanted to own a boat?” “No” was his reply, “only since I got the money,” I told him that unless it was a lifelong ambition, to think twice about it. The responsibility was great. He realized after a few rides in his friends RCMP chaser (twin 250 hp. Cat diesels) that it wasn’t for him and he went for the camper – seems to be happier for it.
In Aug 2000, my newly wed wife and I went on our honeymoon and bought a 38-foot Cape Islander that had been built as a recreational cruiser. The story here is lengthy but in summary my friend and I motored her from
Halifax to Stephenville, between hurricanes, in the middle

42 of October with no radar, no depth sounder and only a handheld GPS. It took us four weeks to get a weather window to take her across the gulf fro Sydney to
Stephenville. Most of this 19 hour trip was at night and neither of us has any experience. Knowing better now,
I’m not sure I do it again but it is one of my best memories and accomplishments.
Since then I’ve been rebuilding what is essentially 12000 lbs of rot and 4000 pounds of engine and pumps. She has beat up a wharf or two, has almost sunk and has gotten us home each and every time. The work progresses with new planking, floor beams, decking, wiring, shaft rebuilds and every other imaginable item that can be stripped out and restored. I am an expert on sump pumps and batteries
(She leaks fierce), east System epoxy and solar panels. I have a good friend that works on my engine for $20 and a case of beer, another that does my electronics for steak and beer and yet another that runs her up when I’m out of town. I also have another friend who guarantees me that if she starts to sink at the mooring he will tow her off to deep water and give her a fond farewell.
All in all I have only one complaint- my job gets in the way of my boat habit. Otherwise I’d spend even more time ‘messing about’ with boats.

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When we look at new car construction and the cost of repairs brought about by accidents involving drivers with cell phones, putting on makeup and listing to the latest from Snoop Dog, $400 to replace a rear fender seems like chump change. In 1972, that same amount of money would pay for a semester in residence and fly you return between Deer Lake and Halifax about 6 times.
The story actually started in 1971 with my first year at
Acadia University. Being 17 and away from home for the first time I was indeed a “green” frosh and pretty clueless.
But it wasn’t long before I met up with the Brogan brothers who took pity on my plight and embraced me into their clan. Although, thinking on it now Jerry was more interested in having someone he could kick out of the room when he was charming a young freshman. But he shared the bootlegging business with me so we were square.
Both the lads were ones for good-looking gals and fast cars. And this is where the story starts – Tommy had a
1967 Galaxie 500, 390 four barrel, slotted chrome reverse wheels and leg burner mufflers you could hear a mile away. She was a beauty and with Iron Butterfly singing
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida on the eight track, I was king of the road – be it in the passenger seat. And considering we drove close to warp speed in those bays, being immortal and all, I was glad enough just to hold on.

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The incident involving the fender started at a party for a bunch of us who worked with the local catering company that ran the campus dining halls. It was one of those
“appreciation” parties where the older guys got to live vicariously through us teens – they were great guys and we were honoured to be in their presence, especially since they were supplying the beverages.
The drink of choice that night was called Purple Jesus, not very reverend but certainly having a lasting impression. It consisted of about 5 gallons of grape juice and 5-10 bottles of anything with 80 proof or higher alcohol. The worse part was that you couldn’t taste that alcohol and got the impression that the grape juice was a bit watered down, which made us drink rather freely. Bad move.
Being immortal and stupid of course, we jumped into the
Galaxie and headed home. After a fairly hair-raising drive
(Tommy had the habit of going about 70 mph in 30 zones, hitting the brakes, slamming the car in reverse, putting the pedal to the metal and spinning into the missed intersection – fun eh Bambi!) we made it – well almost.
We lived in a small cabin in a grove of apple trees. About
50 feet from the cabin, he gave it the gas, fishtailed the car and took out the right rear quarter against a rather large apple tree. So being stupid, instead of calling it a day, we decided to take the car into the orchard, take out the stereo and call the cops to tell them the car had been stolen.
Good plan except by the time the police showed up, we were both passed out. They eventually woke us up and after a severe grilling (face it, I was 17 and scared to death) left with our story in notebook. The funny part was that the stereo was sitting on the kitchen table in full view

45 and after all, how would we know that the stereo was stolen at this stage in the game.
The next day, Jerry being of sound mind gave us an earful and told us to go get the car and fess up. The problem was that we didn’t know where the car was – there are a lot of apple orchards in the area. Eventually, a farmer found the car, reported it to the police and we got her back, less one fender and one stereo. The stereo went back in and
Tommy had the car repaired at a cost of $400.
I always wanted a car like that and 30 years later found one in Ontario. As unbelievable luck would have it, the owner worked on the same shift as my wife’s aunt and she and her husband took a look. Within a week it was back in
Stephenville with me behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the radio didn’t work very well and I drove 1500 miles thinking about old girlfriends, and listening to the odd gospel channel going through the Quebec countryside (en francais).
Two years later, our mill closed and I found a job in
Tennessee. After bringing the car down, I was driving home with my wife and son and wouldn’t you know it, here comes an SUV, with the driver on the cell phone coming down the centreline. And I hit a mailbox, big ol granddaddy of a mailbox and took out the right rear quarter. Same as 32 years before in that apple orchard in
Nova Scotia. And the dirty #%& left the scene.
These days I’m no longer immortal and have bit more sense when it comes to this sort of thing. She’s back on the road now, has a brand new 4 barrel carburetor and a

nice paint job on the engine. I’m still looking for the
46 slotted chrome reverse wheels.

47
“Daaad, Mom saiiid… that if it is OK with you, we can have a rabbit.” Now coming from a 4 year old, this simple sentence doesn’t sound like much – but to the experienced father it is everything. First of all, men are suckers for their daughters, especially before they become teens. The work Daaad, or worse Daaaddy implies this is something I really want and I am playing on your sensitivity to cuteness to comply with my wishes. “Mom saiiiid that if it is OK with you” means that Mom is totally putting this on your shoulders, first of all to be the bad guy (because she really doesn’t like pets) and is hoping, based on past experience that you’ll say no. But if you do say yes, this is totally your baby and you will be responsible 110% to keep, feed and clean up after the rabbit. “We can have a rabbit” means that I can have a rabbit and we (my two daughters) will love and cherish it for at least a week until the novelty wears off.
Well, this was Friday evening and of course I said no. By
Sunday afternoon we were the proud owners of not one but two baby rabbits. And they lived up to their name as being very prolific. Within 6 months we had 8 and by early spring we had 14. And the girls had moved on to new Barbie’s. SO what do you do with 14 rabbits – let them go of course. I figured if I set them free in the spring they’d have lots of time to acclimate to their new surroundings, feed and living conditions. I thought they’d run away – problem solved. Well, they didn’t. They prospered and every so soften a new generation would pop out of the bushes and feed off anything that stuck its head

above the ground. That summer we had no dandelions, or flowers or vegetables – all was laid waste.
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That was until we started seeing the foxes. Being in rural
Newfoundland there are always a fox or two around, but never in the middle of your garden. Now they had a newfound interest and eventually the rabbits started to diminish in appearances. So again, problem solved and using a very environmentally friendly method.
But there was one left. This was the Bugs Bunny of rabbits. I remember one occasion where I was taking to a neighbour at the bottom of the hill to my house. I had a
German Sheppard and he had a Chesapeake retriever. The rabbit came out of the woods and into the road about 50 feet from the two dogs and both took off howling. The rabbit took off as well and headed straight up the hill. At just about the critical moment, where dogs and rabbit came together, the rabbit spun 180 degrees and ran right between the two dogs, heading back down the hill. The dogs hit the brakes in a cloud of dust and rocks but it was too late and our friend hightailed it to the safety of the woods, the dogs exhausted for their efforts.
The winter came and went and we thought we’d seen the end of our furry friend. Then I got a call from another neighbour (lets call him #2) who was complaining that the rabbit was eating his new crop of cabbage. As it turned out, neighbour #3 was feeding Fluffy (my daughters original name for him/her) over the winter and Fluffy discovered the cabbage patch in his new stomping grounds. A couple of days later Fluffy was into our garden again and my wife put her foot down. Get rid of that animal.

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With my neighbour and wife on my case, this had now become an issue for serious firepower. So I borrowed a friend’s .22 and went hunting. Because I was worried about having a gun in the house, I put the rifle in my closet, the bolt in a drawer and the bullets on a shelf.
About a month later the rabbit reappeared on our road and my stepson came barrelling in yelling, “Mom said the rabbit is in the road – get your gun”. By now I had forgotten where all the parts were and frantically began looking around. Finally, I got it together and here Fluffy was, just sitting in the middle of the road behind my truck.
I fired, missed, rabbit ran up the hill and I fired again. By the way, this is a single shot rifle so loading was not that easy. My last shot went clean over the horizon so I thought better of taking another shot and called it a day.
Wouldn’t want to take out a neighbour, at least not yet.
As luck would have it (for me, not the rabbit), we only have a single bathroom residence and every once in awhile I have the honour of, shall we say, communing with nature. During my commune I looked up and here was the rabbit eating a fresh growth of carrots. He/she had now digressed from a pretty family pet to rodent status. I went and got my gun, put on my best Elmer Fudd face, took aim and the problem went away.
That might well be the end of the story except about 6 years later, I remarried and during our reception in the back yard of the house, someone asked me about a pile of rocks in the field. I then told them this story to which my daughter, now 11 years old and never really knowing the fate of her rabbit, cried out in tears “You shot Fluffy?”
No longer the hero of years before, I was cornered in front

50 of 50 guests with a crying and very judgmental, child. I told her that Fluffy was long since gone back to the wild and this was another rabbit many generations removed. I suspect I lied but not really sure of the rabbits genealogy, figured I was on solid if not maybe a bit mushy ground.
All was well and we moved on with the rest of our lives, rabbit free.
A word of advice to fathers – sometimes the anguish created by saying NO is much shorter in duration than the anguish of saying YES. And if a child comes at you saying “Mom Said if it is OK with you...” the correct response is “I just remembered I was going to buy you a new Barbie” .

51
O ften times when we think about giving someone a gift, we picture a neatly wrapped gift with a bow or, more recent a gift bag filled with a lot of little prizes. Even better, many gift bags.
Of course, it was that way for my stepdaughter, Jacinta, when she was graduating from high school. She got many types of presents. Jacinta always knew far in advance what she wanted for Birthdays, Christmas and everything in between that might warrant a little something.
She called me one afternoon. “Hi, I know what I want for my graduation present” was how the conversation started.
She went on almost bursting out of her skin, “I want to go to St. John’s to see The Game, a rap band and…”
I paused holding my breath waiting for what was coming next.
“…I want to bring 3 of my friends.

My breath released ever so slowly. I simply answered,”
We’ll talk about it when I see you.”
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“But we got to get the tickets before they are all sold out!” was the panicked response.
After what seemed like only a short conversation, this is what we settled on.
I was driving nine hours to St. John’s, with my two stepdaughters, Jacinta and Madison, and two other friends
Leah and Brittany. We were all going to the rap concert, me included. We extended our trip to five days to accommodate for the Grad shopping, of course.
We would stay at a nice hotel, overlooking St. John’s.
And to top off the trip Jacinta and Madison had a few hundred dollars spending money.
Go figure. One thing Don and I can be is talked over.
And Jacinta is the person to do it.
The day came and we packed up the car. One suitcase per person is all we could handle. My rule. You know girls they bring everything they own and have nothing to wear.
After all I told then they would shop for clothes when we are there. Such was the case.
After a gruesome nine-hour drive we landed in St. John’s in the early evening. We checked into our hotel and winded down a bit.

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The girls immediately went for a swim. They were very hyper and that’s putting it mildly.
The next morning after coordinating six showers; yes I said six (We picked up Robin ‘cause she needed a place to stay.)
The Dress
Our first order of shopping business was to find Brittany a graduation dress. We set this as our top priority. I spoke with her mom that morning and she was so happy that I was going to help her shop. There was only a month before graduation and Brittany never had any luck finding one so far.
We had passed a dress shop on Water Street when we drove through town. So after we collected ourselves, which took about a half an hour, we headed for the dress store. Our mission to find the perfect dress was paramount on our agenda.
We arrived at the shop and piled out of the car. The first dress I saw was in the window; a beautiful baby blue strapless one. It reminded me of Cinderella at the ball. I had a great feeling as I entered.
Once filed into the shop we spread out in all directions.
There were oohs and awes all over the place.
Brittany had dark curly hair. Her only request was a dress in any shade of blue.

We finally collected a good selection for Brittany to try
54 on. The first couple were only okay. You could tell that
Brittany was getting discouraged. She wasn’t more than
5-foot 4 in tall and felt short and wide in the formal wear.
We encouraged her to try on the final one I picked out. It just happened to be the baby blue strapless from the window.
She walked out, shoulders back and stomach in. She held the dress off the floor with both hands and walked slowly toward her critiquing audience. Her face was beaming with pride. You could tell she felt beautiful in this dress.
All of the girls chimed in at the same time. “Oohs” and
“Awes” were heard throughout the shop. I said, “Brittany, you are gorgeous!” The girls complemented her as well.
This was it. The dress fit her perfect. No more looking was necessary.
She phoned he Mom right away and told her the price.
She Okayed the purchase. Mission accomplished

Later that week, when we got home, Brittany was the last drop off. I told her I wanted to see her parents’ first impression of the dress. I helped her in with her luggage while Brittany carried her dress.
She greeted her parents with excitement and said, “Wait
‘til you see my dress…I’ll try it on for you!” she said as she scurried to her bedroom.

55
While her parents were thanking me for taking Brittany on the trip, She entered the room. Her shoulders were back and her stomach was in while she beamed with the same pride I saw days ago.
Her parents could not believe their eyes. Their baby girl looked like a princess. Her mom oohed and awed as the girls did. Her father, choked back his tears and simply said, “You’re beautiful”.
They continued to thank me again while the sight of
Brittany was all the thanks I needed. I was so proud to have helped and looked forward to the graduation to show
Brittany as a princess. Brittany was a very pretty girl.
Also, she had a sparkle in her eye that only hinted at her abundance of heart.

I Touched his ‘Bling’
After two full days of shopping we finally got ready to go to the rap concert. After all, that was the main purpose of the trip.
We piled into Mile One stadium. The excitement was amazing. The girls had floor tickets and I had and actual seat. Cell phones were my only contact with the group and if they split up, we’d meet at the entrance. The concert was…rough. I’m not a big rap fan.

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After the concert the stories were flying.
By the way we picked up two more Jacinta’s stepbrothers,
Kyle and Alex made us eight.
We made our way back to the hotel. The excitement was over the top.
Robin relayed her exciting story. Apparently, little 5-foot
2-inch Robin squeezed her way to the front of all the screaming fans in the mosh pit. Tough for a little one, hey?
She actually got close enough to the lead singer to touch his ‘Bling’. That’s all we heard, “I touched his Bling! I touched his Bling!”
Apparently latter that week the lead singer/rapper of The
Game was interviewed on a local radio station. He was asked a question about how the local fans were treating him. He mentioned, he was practically attacked at the concert by a little “Brittany Spears wannabe” and how she grabbed his ‘Bling”.
Robin was overjoyed to get this honourable mention. This trip will always be a part of Robins’ favourite moments.
All in all the Jacinta’s graduation gift was a major success.
There were countless thank-yous and even a card of thanks from Leah’s mom Cathy.
Another good deed under my belt and I was more than happy to do it for my stepdaughter Jacinta. Love you girl!

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It has been my great pleasure sharing my stories with you.
I hope it has brought a little enjoyment with a few smiles on the way.
And sometimes when the sun is going down, it peeks through, just a little.
The other fun thing about life is that stories keep cropping up. I am already in the process of thinking about my next book. Until next time!
Susan C. Reid