The world changed forever in the early morning hours of Tuesday, 26 April, 1960. This is when I arrived on the scene at the old Saint Martha's Hospital in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. For the first 21 years I grew up and lived in the "West River". A community in The County just a stone's throw from the Town limits. This is a picture of my Grandmother Minnie, My Sister Edie and myself the day I came home from the hospital. My mother is standing in the background.
This is my favorite part of the "West River". I remember when I was young my Dad taking me trout fishing. Dad would hook them and then let me reel the trout in. It is near here that I almost drowned when I was really little. I remember Mum took my sister Edie and myself to the river for a swim. It was the middle of July and typical for Nova Scotia at this time of the year to be really hot and sticky. I remember walking backwards and falling on my back. The last thing I remember is looking up at the blue sky through the water. The next thing I remember is waking up on the couch in the living room of our house. Mum told me our neighbor Billy Smith lifted me out of the water and carried me to the house.
I don't remember too much about the 1960's. Some of the big shows on the television at the time were Westerns like Gunsmoke, and Bonanza. I remember one of my favorite shows was Petticoat Junction. When I was little, I liked to watch it for "The Cannonball". But I would have to say Bewitched was my all time favorite. And I personally think "Dick York" (the first Darrin) was the better Darrin. The same as Sean Connery was the best Bond. The first is always the best. About one of the very first things I can remember is watching JFK's Funeral on Television. All I remember about it is seeing his flag draped casket on the horse drawn carriage. The 1960's were a great time to grow up. Mum & Dad did a great job of raising my sister Edie and myself. We had many wonderful times together. The trips to the "Brierly Brook" for Mun and Edie to pick the wild strawberries. And for Dad and myself to catch some trout. And maybe see a train while we were there. Then the best part was getting home. Mum making her Strawberry Shortcake with homemade biscuits and the wild strawberries sweetened with sugar and then poured over the biscuits and topped with whipped cream.
