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Received an email from my sister this morning, telling me that is 38 years ago today, that we arrived in Canada.
Left me reflecting back on my life since leaving a small mineing town in the north of England.
Stepping down off a DC3 in Toronto a 15yr old boy who thought he was as much a man as anyone, after all I worked in a coal mine for 8 months 2 miles underground, that in itself should make me all man, right, wrong.
The truth is I was a terrified little boy,in a strange land with no freinds, no job, the prospect of going back to school,o.m.g. what am I going to do."Mom, Dad I don't want to be here" Take me home, back to my dark coal mine and my damp council house, with the leaking roof and the back door that will not close properly, back to the outside toilet with the overhead box that leaked over the top and all over you, if you did not move fast enough everytime you flush.
Back to the labour clubs that would serve you a beer, even though they knew you were not old enough, but with a black coal face and the constant look of exhaustion, gave it to you anyway.
Hold on a sec, the weather is hot, look at that sky how blue it is.
whooooo Dad is that the batmobile you are driving [1960 chev, with the big tail fin's]
Boy this is a long drive to Newmarket Ontario.
School ain't that bad, some guy asked me to shoot pool after school, I said yes even though I don't know what pool is, guy wants me to go swimming with him, hummmmmmmm.
Look at the cars these people have not much older than me, something to this Canada maybe.
Yes I know I talk funny, the girls like it though

So here I sit 38 years later with a wife I have been married to for 31 yrs [ yes the same woman ] a career I have been at for 30yrs. Three daughters, two sucessful, 5 grandchildren. and my fish, what more could a man ask for I still talk funny, because I choose too. My British background, I will remain proud off
I am what I am and that's all that I am, who said that.
Sorry for boring you guy's.
Just wanted to share.
Tom.

[span class="edited"][Edited by tommyc 2004-09-04 16:47][/span]

You worked 2 miles underground, and now you live 2 miles above it!

Glad you are enjoying our little country...feel free to stay a while.

And for what its worth, I was born and raised here, and I talk 'funny' too.

Nice story Tommy, and I didn't find it boring but rather interesting.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Thank you for sharing your story. I found it very moving. Canada certainly is a beautiful country, but nowhere ever feels quite the same as the place where you grew up.

I hope after 38 years you've coughed the coal-dust out of your lungs and replaced it with some of that beautiful Rocky Mountain air. And don't those mountains look dazzling in the sunshine now they have their first fall of snow?

An excellent reflection if I may say so myself. Always a good thing to remeber where you came from. T'ankies for sharing .

^_^

That was very touching, Tommy, thanks for posting it.

A warming anecdote