This is a story I wrote a few years ago. It is dedicated to my Grandchilden Emma, Hanna and Grace

     Our new neighbour, and his dog, moved in towards the middle of July, 2002. Every Saturday he would leave the house with his dog at exactly 8:00 AM to do what errands that needed doing. By 10:30 they were playing Frisbee in the back yard. Every evening at exactly 8:00 PM they left for a walk. He walked brusquely with his shoulders back. The dog, a well-kept mahogany Irish Setter, walked about four feet in front with her tail wagging.
     When I came back from an evening out, my husband told me that he had waited for our neighbour to come back from his evening walk and then asked him over for a beer. He accepted the invitation. My husband found out that his name was Kyle Robinson and he was a lawyer. Kyle pointed to his dog and said this is My Friend. Kyle shared with my husband the story about how he had found his dog.
     Kyle’s Dad had retired the year before. One of the things his Dad wanted to do after he retired was go on a fishing trip. He gathered his fishing gear, some food and the family dog and off he went. He was gone a week and had a great time. He called his wife to say he was on his way home. But, unfortunately he and the family dog were involved in a car accident and they never made it home.
     Kyle was out of town on business at the time of the accident. He was driving back from Kenora, Ontario. It was 10:30 in the evening when he thought he saw a dog and a man in the ditch. When he pulled over he only saw a dog. He was startled to see the dog, as it was just like the family dog he had grown up with. The dog seemed to know Kyle in some strange way, almost like they had been friends forever. Kyle brought her home, intending on trying to find her owners the next day.
     When Kyle got home that evening there was a message on his answering machine for him to call home. He did and that is when his Mom told him about the accident. She also told him that the authorities could not find the dog in the wreckage. He went home for the funeral putting the dog in a kennel. He thought that it would be to hard on his Mother to see a dog identical to the one that had been with her husband the day of the accident.
     After Kyle got home after the funeral he did try to find the owners. But, that was a futile effort, so Kyle had his dog.
     When I got home that night my husband told me the story. I couldn’t believe what I heard, the story ran chills up my spine.  I thought I had just heard a ghost story!
     Summer changed to fall, and fall into winter and still Kyle and his dog went for their daily walks.

     One cold miserable night in January I saw Kyle and his dog leave for their nightly walk.  But, this night I noticed something strange.  Kyle did not walk his usually brusque walk, and he was bent over.  The dog was not walking in front.  She was right besided him and her tail was just hanging, not wagging at all.  They almost looked like an older version of themselves.  I thought it was rather strange, but then it was 50 below with the wind chill factored in.  So, I forgot about them and went onto my evening chores. 

     About 10:30 that evening my husband and I decided to bundle up and take the garbage out to the curb for the next morning pick up.  On the way back my husband remarked “Isn’t it rather strange that Kyle doesn’t have his garbage out”?  He no sooner said that, when we heard a dog barking and crying on Kyle’s doorstep.  We approached his home and noticed that it was Kyle’s dog.  We tried to calm her down by talking nicely to her, saying everything is okay girl.  As soon as we reached the doorstep we could see into Kyle’s living room.  Kyle was there sitting in his big chair reading a newspaper.  His hands held the newspaper high, so that we could not see his face.  Laying on the floor next to her master was his dog, not moving a muscle.  We took a second look, and just then the dog on the doorstep started to vanish.  We looked back at the dog in the living room and she was starting to get up, with the dog on the doorstep totally disappearing into thin air.  The dog in the living room started to bark and wag her tail, she was obviously glad to see us.  Kyle never moved an inch.  By this time we realized something terrible was wrong.  We knocked on the window and rang the doorbell, but Kyle just sat there.  We thought for sure the door would be locked, but we tried it anyway.  It opened and we rushed in.  The dog took my hand in her gentle mouth and led me over to Kyle, as if asking,  please do something.  As I reached for Kyle’s arm the newspaper fell from his hand.  We talked to him, we put cool water on his forehead, but still no response.  I then rushed to the kitchen and found the phone and dialed 911.  We could hear the sirens as I hung up.

     The Paramedics arrived within a minute.  They worked on him for perhaps a half hour, when we were told he would live.  He had suffered a heart attack, and from what they could tell, he had had it that morning!

     Kyle regained consciousness enough to ask us to look after his dog, call his firm, and his Mother.  As the ambulance sped away, we promised to do as he wished.

     At home now with the dog, we found a blanket for her to lay on while I called Kyle’s Mom.  She said she would drive in as soon as she could make arrangements for someone to look after her home.  After I got off the phone with Kyle’s Mom, my husband and I sat at the kitchen table.  We sat there for about 15 minutes, in total silence in disbelief about what had just happened.  Finally, my husband said  “maybe Kyle was telling the truth about when he found his dog”.  I then said “yes, I think so, but just what is her name anyway?”  Neither one of us knew her name, or did we?  We tried all sorts of names, Lady, Lassie, and Brownie.  There was no reaction from her, she just laid there looking up at us.  Finally, I said “well, my friend, you must be hungry.  With hearing My Friend, she jumped up and cameover to me wagging her tail, I repeated it to her, and she took my hand in her mouth gently shaking is as if saying “How do you do”.  We found some left over people food and gave it to her.  She wolfed it down.

     The next day we went to visit Kyle in the hospital.  He looked much better, but the Doctors had told him he would have to have open-heart surgery to repair the damage.  It also was confirmed that he had the attach the previous morning!

     Before his Mother arrived Kyle made us promise that his Mother was never to know about My Friend.  He was still concerned about his Mother’s reaction to his dog.  He hoped that we could look after his dog while his Mother was here helping him recuperate.  We didn’t have to do much thinking about this, as we had already fallen in love with her.

     Thus our lives changed.  We went for walks at exactly 8:00 PM every evening, we did our errands every Saturday morning and played Frisbee after.

     Every night at 10:30 PM a strange thing happened.  My Friend went very still, almost in a trance like state.  You could pet her, talk to her, and yet she did not move.  It could last just a few minutes to as many as ten.

     One day when we went to visit Kyle, we heard two nurses talking outside his room.  One of them said “have you seen that dog?  All the night shift have reported seeing him.  They figure it’s the guy’s pet.  It is a beautiful mahogany Setter”.  10:30 PM the nurses would see a dog at the foot of Kyle’s bed.  The dog and Kyle looked like they were talking, while Kyle pat her.  As soon as a nurse entered the room the dog vanishes.  If they had no intrusions the visit would last about ten minutes. 

     It is a year later now, Kyle is home and life is back to normal.  My Friend is back with her life long friend.  Now we look forward to our nightly visits from My Friend who also loves us.

We Toastmasters come from far and wide,

holding our hands together in pride.

 

May the Chair of the week find lots to say,

for we know that bridging is here to stay.

 

Today, we ask for no ums or ahs,

because, for that, there will be no applause.

 

We strive to make the world a better place,

we accomplish this with confidence and grace.

 

We ask for inspiration when called upon,

and we ask that we don’t ramble on and on.

 

May our evaluators find a nugget for growth,

to help our speakers gain confidence, knowledge or both.

 

No matter where we are walking in life,

we will run up against challenges and strife.

 

But, we are thankful for the opportunity of Toastmasters,

and raise a toast to all of it’s green pastures.

 

Author

Jane Moxam CTM/CL

In August of 2008, my Uncle Clifford (My Mom’s Brother) turned 90 years young.  At the same time my cousin Barry (Clifford’s son) retired at the young age of 60.  Also, all of Clifford’s Grandchildren were in their 30’s.  So a 90 – 60 – 30 party was planned. Jill and Wendy (My Cousins, and Clifford’s daughter’s) asked me to present a brief history on Clifford and Barry at a grand family and friend get together that was in celebration of this great event.  After I presented my presentation many people asked me if they could have a copy.  The following is that very presentation.

 

 

 

When Jill asked me to give a brief history of Uncle Clifford and Barry, I thought to my

self, yeh right, now how can you pack in 150 years plus 6 Grandchildren all 30 something into a brief, I think not. So, I brought my manifest along.

 

The story starts out just about a century ago, when a blue-eyed young lady from Ireland immigrated to Canada.  Margaret Bailey was her name, and little did she know then, but Saskatchewan would be her home for many years to come.  She got off the train in Outlook, a small town just south of Saskatoon.   She was met by her brother, and with

her grip in hand they walked across the railway bridge, with no railings, the Saskatchewan River lashing below.  I can just imagine what she was thinking when she made that walk!

 

She eventually moved to North Battleford, north of Saskatoon, and worked for the Hospital for The Mentally Unstable, as at nurse. 

 

One day, she met a brown-eyed handsome man by the name of Oakley Wood.  Oakley had come west to Saskatchewan from Ontario, on a harvest excursion.  Now he too, was a nurse working for the same hospital.

 

They fell in love, and after a decent Courtship, (after all Margaret was a prim and proper

lady) they married in September of 1917.  But, not before they both quit working for the

hospital.

 

They moved to Hanley because Oakley had relatives there.  After working for other

farmers Oakley had enough and purchased a farm of his own.  This farm was 13 miles

east of Hanley.  With the help of friends Oakley built a home, then moved it onto a side

of a hill, over top of a hole that had been dug for the cellar. 

 

The view from the kitchen window was spectacular, looking south over the entire farm.  The home had all the modern amenities. The cellar, for keeping things cool.  A coal and wood store for heat and cooking, a modern day clothesline, kerosene lamps for night time reading, and running water.  Yes, you ran to the bottom of the hill, filled your pail from the well, and ran back up the hill.  The outhouse was a great place to get away from it all, and catch up on all the latest fashions that Eaton’s had out.  And, of course who could forget the horsepower.   A true Little House on the Prairie!

 

Soon their first-born came, they named him Clifford.  For some reason, likely Oakley’s

love for Margaret and this being their first pregnancy, Clifford was the only child to be born in a Saskatoon Hospital. 

 

There would be five more children born, all at home at the farm, with a midwife present.

Jack came next, who has since passed.  Then there was Mary, then Wilma, who passed

away as a child.  Next came Fern (my mother), then baby Joyce, who has also passed.

 

Oakley and Margaret knew how to work, and they made a great team.  They passed this

trait onto their children.  Clifford being the oldest often helped his Mother churn the

butter, clean it, add the salt, and package it. This butter was later sold, and it is said it was

“The Best Butter Around”.   He often helped his father, who was an avid hunter, skin and stretch pelts that were later sold for a great profit.

 

Once Clifford reach school age, he attended Blue Hills School.  He went by horse, or

sometimes walked.  This was a one-room schoolhouse, one teacher, and many students,

all ages, and all grades.  Later Blue Hills, being a popular school, became over crowed, so Clifford went to Allan Hills, as the Farm was situated in both Districts.  There were ball games, picnics, and neighbour get togethers.  A much simpler time!

 

Now the story goes that once Clifford was in his teens, he met a little gal by the name of

Lilla Ballard, who lived on a near by farm.  Clifford became smitten with her.  He would often go missing in action at the Wood farm, and always came home skipping, light

hearted, and with a great big smile on his face.

 

Clifford could play the violin, by ear yet, and would often entertain his siblings and his

parents.   Soon, it was well know around how good he was, and he would often be invited to parties to entertain.  Now of course Grandma (Margaret) was not to keen on this, she

worried about how late he would be getting home, and just what went on at those

parties?  But, Clifford always, came home safe and sound.

 

Clifford finished off high school by taken it by correspondence.  Can you imagine doing

that now a days?  But, you see, back then, the last few years were not taught at the little rural schools.

 

Clifford continued working for his Mom and Dad on the farm, while taking

correspondence, and for a few more years after graduation.  He received a small salary for his work on the farm.  

 

During this time he purchased a horse, a mare in fact, by the name of Kate.  Now Kate had a walking disability, she did not walk straight, rather crocked in fact.  Clifford often road Kate to go see Lilla, and it would be the strangest sight, seeing them walk crooked across the fields.

 

Eventually, Clifford wanting more money, left the farm to seek employment

near Kenaston.  He ended up working for Austin Miller, where surprise, surprise, was

the same place that cute little Lilla Ballard worked.

 

The Miller’s really liked Clifford, because boy could he work, often from early in the morning, until you could not see at night. Clifford also loved their Ice House, where they stored their cream.  Clifford would sneak in and sample the cream, and yes, it was always perfect, perfect enough to be taken to market. 

 

In 1939, Lilla and Clifford married, while they were both working for the Millers.

They continued at the Millers until 1941, when they loaded up Clifford’s 1928 Ford

Roadster and headed east to Hamilton, Ontario.  Of course money was not in abundance

then, so in the evening they would sleep along the side of the road out under the stars.

 

Clifford got a job with the Steel Co. of Canada and he made a whooping 41 and ½ cents an hour.

 

Now World War II was upon us, and Clifford felt the pull to help, so he signed up for the

Army.  Goodness knows what went on for sure, but in the end he found himself in Germany with the Irish Regiment.

 

Once he returned home to Lila in Hamilton, from overseas, he took up carpentry, and

built houses.  This was another trait of his fast learning abilities.

 

Their children, Wendy, Barry and Jill were all born in Hamilton.

 

In 1955 Grandma and Grandpa Wood decided to retire, and move to a new home in

Saskatoon. So Clifford moved his family to Saskatoon, so that he could buy the farm

from his parents, and continue with his farming background that he knew so well.

 

A few years later Clifford secured a job with the Saskatchewan Council for Crippled

Children and Adults, later called Abilities Council.   Now this was a natural fit for

Clifford, he had the skills to pass on and the patience that go along with it.  Clifford still worked the farm, but now with the help of a hired hand.

 

Now, for me personally, this was an exciting time.  I now had three cousins to play with.

Most of my other cousins were older, or much younger.  I remember trips to the lake,

picnics, and when I got a little older, the best was when for a few days in the summer, I

got to stay with my Aunt Lila and my Uncle Clifford, and of course the cousins.  I felt like a little queen when I went there.  It was always a happy time.   Aunt Lila’s oatmeal chocolate drop cookies are still one of my fond memories.

 

Uncle Clifford never brought his troubles of the day home with him.  When asked how he was or how his day was, it was always TOP NOTCH.

 

A carpenter by the name of Frank, who remodelled our kitchen, reminded me of Uncle Clifford.  One day in particular stands out.  Anything that could go wrong did.  He cut a piece of wood wrong, and spilt paint all over the floor.  Then Frank had a flat tire coming back with fresh supplies from the local hardware store.  But, he felt sorry for us, having to eat out or order in because our kitchen was not usable.  He invited us to his home for supper that evening.  When we arrived, I noticed that he went over to a little tree; he caressed it, and whispered to it.  Then with a big smile on his face, said come on in and meet my wife and children.  Not once the whole evening did Frank mention anything about his terrible day. All conversation was up beat and happy.  The next day I asked Frank about the tree.  He said that the tree was his worry tree.  Every evening he would come home and tell the tree his troubles, and once he told the tree, he was free to have a wonderful evening with his wife and family.  Thus Frank too, was always Top Notch.

 

Now I don’t know if Uncle Clifford had a worry tree, but he had some magical way of relieving his stresses of the day before coming home.

 

Uncle Clifford worked for The Abilities Council for 25 plus years, and continued to farm.

 

After his retirement he rented the farm out, and just recently sold it.  During his

retirement years they have had many wonderful family trips, with Fairmont Hot

Springs one of their favourite retreats. 

 

One thing for sure is that his three children, Wendy, Barry and Jill are his pride and joy.  His six Grandchildren Bindi, Brianna, Carli, Norrie, Brennan, and Bryce are very special to him, and I believe he would fly across the world to help them out.  Aunt Lila and Uncle Clifford have been married, according my calculations 69 years

 

As we wish Uncle Clifford a happy 90^th, we just want to Say THERE IS MORE DOWN CELLAR IN A TEACUP

 

 

 

September 5^th, `1948 was a very special day for Uncle Clifford and Aunt Lila, as they

gave birth to bouncy baby boy.  They named him Barry, now lets see, hey that makes

this baby 60 years old!!  

 

I got to know Barry quite well during my little summer visits, the three children were

always busy practising something.  Wendy her baton twirling, Jill her acrobatics, and

Barry his trombone.    Barry played in the Saskatoon Lions A Band, and later with the

Intensely Vigorous College Nine. Barry had a mischievous side to him, and he loved to tease and teach his nieve country cousin things she aught to not know.  One day while visiting, Barry taught me a trombone song, and it goes like this.

 

“Raw, raw boom dee ay

That is all I am going to Say,

Barry knows the rest,

So leaving it be, is best”

 

He also loved football, and played for the Bowman Bears and later the Saskatoon

Hilltops.  He just could not get enough practising!  Barry I know you tried, but I still can’t catch a football.

 

Barry was a very determined young boy; he would practise and practise what ever he got

into his brain.  When the family would go out to the Wood farm, to do some work, and

check on things, he would practise lassoing a fence post, and he thought he was pretty

good at it. 

 

One day they came to visit my folks.  The three cousins and I decided we

would catch my horse and make a day of it.  Now, this horse  (well, rather a Shetland

Pony, and as Barry would say “not even a real horse”) was a stubborn, smart horse.  He could see 4 children coming towards him, and he thought no way, I am not going to be at their beck and call all day.  And, try as we might, we just could not catch him.  Then the light bulb goes on in Barry’s brain, I know I will get my lasso, and lasso him.  Sure enough first try, he catches the horse, the horse’s leg that is!  At first the horse just looked at his leg, then shook his leg, and then he took off, with Barry hanging on to the rope for dear life.  First Barry ran, then he stumbled and fell, but he would not let go.  The horse ran through the pasture, through some bushes, down the hill, through the creek, and still

Barry hung on.  By this time Wendy, Jill and I are yelling “let go before you get

yourself killed”.  But, no way, Barry kept bouncing along behind the horse.  Finally the

parents heard the commotion, and Barry was told to let go!!!

 

You know, for some reason, I don’t remember the rest of the day, but I do know there was no horseback riding!!! 

 

Barry’s first home of his own was a little house on Taylor Avenue in Saskatoon. 

I remember visiting him there.  By this time he had two big dogs, and he loved

those dogs.  Now you get a couple of people and those dogs in that house, well you just

about had enough room to turn around.  But, he did keep his home neat and tidy.  And, those dogs were well behaved and groomed. 

 

My Mom tells a story about when Barry and the two dogs came for a visit at the farm.

The dogs got into the pigpen and discovered the manure.  Needless to say they were two messy smelly dogs!!!!! Barry demonstrated great tolerance on that trip back to the city.  I bet he was impressed when he realized he not only had to bath his dogs, but clean his car too.  But to him it was an act of love.

 

One day when I was visiting Barry, word had come through from Australia that Wendy and Ross were having their first child.  Barry turned to me in great earnest and said, “I am just not sure if Wendy knows what caused it.”  Barry may have teased his sisters, but he had great compassion for them also.

 

Barry having learnt some great traits from his upbringing, tenacity, patience and determination, left Saskatoon in his early twenties to seek his fortune selling drugs – Pharmaceutical Drugs that is!!!

 

He worked for big names companies such as Norden, Menley James and Pfizer.  You know Pfizer makes Viagra – The Happiness is drug, for men and women.

 

Barry always made history, as he was always surpassing all previous sales records.  I believe they nicknamed him that gambler, as he knew when to sell, when to wait until the time was right and when to walk away.

 

When Barry wasn’t busy selling he had many other interest.  Once he owned a hobby farm raising pigeons, Jack Russell Terriers, goats and horses.  I wonder if he practiced his lassoing techniques on any of his horses!!  They have since sold the farm and now own cats, dogs and Harley Davidson Motor Bikes.

 

Barry always had a love for motorbikes, so it is not a surprise to hear that Barry and Bev road their Harleys all the way to this event from Pennsylvania.  Now that to me is determination.

 

As we wish Barry a Happy 60^th, I want to say to Bindi, Brianna, Carli, Norrie, Brennan and Bryce, that you have wonderful roll models in your Grandpa, Uncle and Dad. 

 

Success is not measured in possessions, but how one lives their life.  Both Clifford and Barry are successful.

 

Now Barry is retiring and in closing, I want to tell you what retirement means:

 

R – Is for Roasting, and I have had fun

E – Eat what you like, in moderation of course

T – Being Teased by your family and friends

I –  Investments – I hope you have lots

R – Rest when you are tired

E – Eat what you don’t like in abundance.

M – Mentoring those youngsters following in your footsteps

E – Exercise

N – Nothing can get in your way now

T – Toasting “As this new chapter of your life opens, may it be a happy and exciting                                                                     

       Time” Congratulations Barry!

When my son Lee, presented me with my very own “Blog” as a retirement gift I was so excited.  Then as time went on (and it has been 6 months) the more I got intimidated and scared.  What would I write, what would people think!  Well, I don’t have any earth shattering news, but I would like to give you a little quote.  “To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world” 

To my sons Lee and Petri – you are my world!!!

Dear Mom,

Congratulations on your retirement!

When you told us you were retiring, and we heard the happiness in your voice, we decided right then and there that we would set up a blog for you. Hence Tanya, Emma, Hanna, Grace & I present to you www.JaneMoxam.com  -Retired to blog!

Why?

Call it a hunch, but the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and if you enjoy writing half as much as I do, then we just know in our hearts you will love sharing your thoughts, experiences, ideas, passions and even dislikes with the world.

I know you have many stories to tell, and the girls & I want to hear them. The great thing about blogging is that your voice can be heard on the other side of the planet, you can affect positive change for your grand children today & tomorrow, sound off on topics you have always wanted to discuss, and you will quickly realize there are many, many people out there who want to hear what you have to say! So we know we are not the only ones who will read your blog, in fact we guarantee it!

So whatever direction your new blog takes is completely up to you.  You might consider publishing your short stories, writing articles about public speaking, Toastmasters, credit consulting, family, love, retirement, life experience, political activism, none or all of the above.

You are retired now… you get to do WHAT EVER you want WHEN EVER you want to do it!!!! Stay up late drinking red wine, and sleep in the next day. Take your kids for a really long lunch on a Tuesday. On a cold winter day say, “Screw This” and take off to Mexico for the week, or start reading a book on a Monday and be finished by Tuesday. You are the boss!

We love you Mom, (AKA Grandma), and look forward to reading and learning from www.JaneMoxam.com. We truly hope you enjoy your retirement.

Hugs and Kisses,

Lee, Tanya, Emma, Hanna & Grace

www.leeraito.com