excerpt
Life was exceptionally difficult; they developed much of that
land by hand, with both sharing the heavy load. Mom took pleasure
in the work and learned to love the farm very deeply. I can still feel
her sadness when the family made the move back to Glenavon in
1952, to enable the children to attend a high school. Dad was more
inclined to cerebral activity and loved to read, to tinker and to visit.
In the course of twelve years on their farm in Hubbard our parents
developed a modest but solid economic base, always frugal
with their resources and careful with their machinery and their
animals. They also added two additional boys, Jerry and Phillip,
to the family of four boys and ultimately, the long-awaited girl,
called Natalka by the parents and Nettie by everyone else.
A family of seven was not uncommon; what was different was
the plan father had for our future. Father insisted that we devote
ourselves to our studies, and therefore, discouraged any long term
interest in farming. He visualized an easier life for us, one perhaps
more in keeping with his own interests had he been given
the opportunity.
The result was that six of the seven siblings completed one or
more degrees at the University of Saskatchewan as part of their
professional training. John became a teacher and progressed into
the administration of education. Bill, Nick and Phillip developed
careers as successful engineers. Jerry trained as a teacher, then
seized an opportunity to become a professional hockey player in
the World Hockey Association. Nettie also went into education,
as a teacher and a guidance councilor.
Of the seven, I am the only one whose name is not scribbled on
the walls of that venerable institution of learning in Saskatoon.
During a visit to Regina in 1954, curiosity drew me into the RCAF
recruiting office. Before I knew it, I was on my way to a career as a
pilot with the RCAF, retiring some 34 years later as a Colonel,
Group Captain to the diehards. Life is like that!
But it is the memories of life on that wonderful farm north of
Hubbard, the adventures in which my siblings and I participated
and the joys and sorrows we experienced, that are the main focus
of this book.
Libros Libertad 