Sunshine Sketches

I am from small town Ontario where everyone knows your family name, the type of car your parent’s drive and the pew you sit in at church; it’s like living in a Stephen Leacock novel but it’s not fiction.


I am the daughter of the town merchant who is “Home of the Handy man”; they drop by each day to pick up a paper, chat about the price of pigs and get caught up with the local gossip; the customer is always right and every person in town is a potential customer.


I am from “You would lose your head if it wasn’t attached to your body”; carefree summer days with plenty of pals and no parent supervision; jumping fences, petting horses and running from stray cattle; meandering streams full of odd spawning fish and a salt shaker for the blood suckers; endless days of Barbie Dolls under the cedar tree where I am the Queen and my sister is the servant.


I am from, “Your left hand is the work of the devil” and “Offer it up to the suffering souls in Purgatory”; Ancient Sisters with bad habits; naughty farm boys being strapped at the back of the class; don’t look back or you are next; look, look, look and see, see, see, straight rows, sharp pencils and clean finger nails; stand up straight to read, nervous twitches, puddles under the desk; immunity.

I am from Betty and Veronica and Ritchie Rich and mail order Sea Monkeys that never arrive; Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Ingleside and the learning the fate of dear Anne Frank; genuine tears for Old Yeller and forever wanting a horse just like Black Beauty.


I am from pen pal letters in colourful ink to Swift Current and Corner Brook; hidden locked diaries that big brothers threaten to read; dishevelled bookshelves, stacks of unmarked student papers and listening late at night to correspondence tapes from University Courses. The apple won’t fall far from the tree.


I am from school wide musical productions and bus trips to Big Al’s Talent Showcase; red ribbons at Kiwanis Festivals, piano recitals in smelly old church halls, and intense Royal Conservatory exams; Public speaking circuits and local theatre; always a tune in my head and song in my heart.