Week45 Unplugged

Posted on May 20, 2014 under Storytelling with one comment

This story recently appeared in the new publication, The Cape Breton Star. If you happen to be new to this website, this will give you a little background about Week45. If you’re a regular…..suffer!

Why is my column called Week45?  Glad you asked.

My wife Betty and I travel to Florida every November.  We own several weeks in a modest vacation complex; a time share arrangement.  We like this because we see the same people year after year and have become good friends with several of them.  Week 45 is early in November and there is certainly a lively bunch in residence.  What goes on during Week 45 …

Two years ago, on our annual trip, Betty and I had a heated discussion while waiting for our flight from Toronto to Tampa.  I won’t bore you with the details.  If you really want to know what happened, you’ll have to read my book.  It’s the first story and it’s called “You Can Never Be Too Careful”.  This tale, written on the back of a napkin in the airplane, was the first of many.

As far as I can tell, men and women view the world differently (!) and this is a theme that runs through many of my stories.  Betty edits most of what I write to keep me out of trouble.  I started writing in earnest about a year and a half ago and I currently write regularly for The Casket in Antigonish and The Fairview Post in Fairview, Alberta.

Here’s what you need to know.  My stories are short, they are easy to understand (no big words … I don’t know any) and they are mostly funny anecdotes about everyday life.

I grew up in a large Catholic family of ten in Antigonish.  This forms the background for many stories.  Some of you will remember being taught by the sisters and the rigorous preparation for the sacraments.  I have vivid recollections which I will share with you from time to time.  I grew up in a musical family so you will see many references to this, especially the songs of the 60’s and 70’s.  If any of you spent any time in Ingonish back in the day, our family band, “The Escorts”, played every weekend of the summer at St. Peter’s Hall.

Betty and I have four children and three grandchildren who have all inherited the music gene.  There is nothing more fun than finding a way to get them all home at the same time.  It’s the ultimate kitchen party, and there’s usually a story that comes out of it.  Life just keeps getting better.

Like many people, I have had several careers.  I taught briefly, spent many years in the non-profit sector and for the past twenty years I have been a financial planner.  Writing is my next career as I fully expect my business partners, Ron and Shane, are going to put me out to pasture any day now.  I will “not go gently into that good night.”

I am a sports fanatic.  I’ve participated in a variety of athletic activities and ran the Boston Marathon in 2011 and 2012. I am also a bit of a political junkie so you can see that I have lots of fodder for my stories.

Oh yes.  Most importantly, I am not a shopper.  I would rather have a root canal than go shopping.  I always get stuck in the slow checkout and, to keep our marriage together, I no longer shop with my wife … unless she insists.  (By “shopping” he means sitting on a bench with the newspaper – Editor)

Put it all together and you have Week45.  If you like my material you can get regular stories and rants by following my website:  www.week45.com.  Yes, I have been hauled kicking and screaming into the world of social media.  I can also be tracked on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Welcome aboard!

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