Age and Time Moves On!

By Norm Richards


I feel as if I've been a bit of a pioneer of computer use. When the Macintosh made it's entry I didn't rush out and buy one but I did ease myself into more automation. I moved from note pages to a typewriter in the eighties. Before that I observed people who used typewriters as people assigned to tasks as part of their jobs. My girlfriend was trained in school and later in the market as a typist and office manager. She progressed and made well of herself. Besides my roots in music, I've gone onto good careers in sales, senior administration and management while improving my skills in many ways.  

Back when, my gal worked for a business form company. She had legs up to here, smart but naive about her own appeal to others. One day, a company salesman drove her home. He tried to assault her. I thought it was funny but it was a warning to me too. Later that year, I accompanied her to her staff Christmas party. Her boss was this well respected affluent man who hosted the party in an upper crust neighborhood. His salesmen and their wives were in attendance. The guy who went after her was there with his wife. I watched for the bastard to look sideways at my gal. I bought a dutch made double breasted suit to accompany her. We stood out. They were old business, smoking cigars and drinking scotch. We were the sober youth among them, as if we were the Beatles mingling with old culture. One look and I was ready to pounce. There would have been blood and I assure you, not mine.

By the early 90's, I used my own typewriter and didn't mind a two finger style or a bit better. I've never gone for formal training in how to type. Self taught perhaps but given help from the gal I eventually married. Yes, the one who's virtue I was ready to defend that Christmas. She could type a mile a minute but had long moved on to more senior business activity in her life. Over the years, I've gotten used to expressing my thoughts on paper first and now, largely on-screen. Funny how times have changed. I'm published now and enjoy seeing my work in hard copy. However, I'm not obsessed. As for my time with the woman I married, we did not survive the virtues I once strived for. We have two great children together and blessings of our own but we live separate lives today. As technology has moved forward, it's remained a strong part of my working career. And yet, I don't have to have the latest toys to be happy. I'm functional and proud of it.

This Weeks New Blog Post!

Had to update my Blog, so I'm doing it. Here it is! Hope you like it?

Didn't enjoy the Grey Cup until the Bombers did their usual thing. They began to come back but it was too late. There is next year now.

On a new diet. I eat better. I eat less. No sweets, less salt. What else do you want, oh ya, exercise! Got to do more of that.

Gonna see the kids for Christmas. I'm excited about that. Excited!

Drums need a good workout. Not enough going on. Unless you drink, how do you pull together enough people to entertain? I'm not sure. I'm looking forward to my trip to The Pas next summer. The town has it's Centennial Birthday Party and our sixties groups have been invited to perform. Symbols of Sound and Three Hairs and A Hat will live again. Here is a story I once wrote.

http://normswords.blogspot.com/2010/09/60s-rocked-in-pas-three-hairs-and-hat.html

So, have a good week everyone, hug your kids, give thanks and be good to others. Cheers!
Norm Richards

Rememberance Day 11/11/11.

I loved my Uncle Roger. As a boy he was a surprise to me and a wonderment too. His youngest son and I are near the same age. But Jeff lived in Winnipeg and Fargo, North Dakota so we didn't see each enough to be real close. Before they moved south from The Pas for economic reasons, Uncle Roger and Aunt Phillis's family lived in The Pas and later in Brandon where uncle was stationed during World War II. My cousins Doreen, Arthur, Ken, Joan and Jeffery were nomads since they moved often.

Nonetheless, Roger loved to come visit us. As my Grandparents got older my folks and I moved next door to live with them. Mom spent much of her time caring for her aging parents. Roger and family came to visit often. We always had big gatherings for New Years. It was more important than Christmas was. I think Roger loved his father, my Grandfather and would emulate him in his life. Early in his life he learned the fur trade business from Grandpa. Our house became the gathering place for generations of family. Therefore, the culture and customs became mine to observe. Roger and Cecile (my mother) were always close. French was their mother tongue so I think Roger enjoyed exercising his language muscle while visiting us. Mom enjoyed sharing her concerns with him.

During the war mom lived in Winnipeg and later lived near Roger's family in Brandon. She told me about seeing prisoners of war disembarking the train while armed soldiers lined the length of the train to watch over them. Mom attended dances on weekends. She saw the best 40's big bands of the day. The commonwealth sent it's flying officers to train in Brandon. Cecile met well mannered young officers at these dances.

Over the years, Roger remained close with mom and dad. He ran his own fur store in The Pas before he retired. He sold and managed fur coats for people. A fur coat always required proper storage in the spring and summer months and he looked after storage for folks.

As both my mother and Roger approached their late eighties uncle kept in regular phone contact with mom. Since she shared things about me, he felt a need to look out for my welfare. He could no longer see and had reached the ripe age of 90.  Roger called me in Ottawa. I was working on the start of a new television network. He said I should forget about this television nonsense and return to merchant trading. He upheld the custom and history we had as merchants. He said since I was of his clan it would be better for me and I would be more successful doing that. Here I was in charge of building a television network from scratch and couldn't be a more professional job. I laughed and thanked him for his advice but I assured him this was a wonderful career opportunity. His call came on Friday evening. On Monday, Mom called to tell me he had past away. If anything, he left me with a sense of courage and strength as I face the future.             

Greening of a North Boy - Book - a Memoir

Just in time for Christmas! This is available for order on-line at McNally Robinson BookSellers.

http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/product/isbn/9780978013608/bkm/true/norman-m-h-richard-greening-north-boy

I'm pleased to sign a copy anytime after Christmas or before. Send me an email at intownfm@live.com.

Californication, the Fourth Season

Yes, the Fouth Season is here on DVD. I'll go back to last season just to brush up tonight. Hank just can't help himself. We'll see what he's up to now. Should be a fine evening. I think it lost a little bit in the third season, we'll see if it redeems itself in the fouth. Do all writers see a bit of themselves in Hank? I do and why not, right?

http://www.sho.com/site/californication/home.do

Amy Winehouse: Official announcement, Lioness: Hidden Treasures

Amy Winehouse: Official announcement, Lioness: Hidden Treasures

I will forever miss this woman's voice and her feel for the blues like no other. Man oh man! Is anyone with me?

Iberry or no berries at all

I'm not sure Blackberry customers have anything to complain about. We put ourselves at risk of failure moving to cell ( mobile ) service over land based telephone service without guarantees. We bought the advertised new way, whole and without assurances. We were over impressed with the technology and so impressed, we were willing to suspend belief the quality of service would sustain and not break down. Applications ( apps ) don't apply. We expected infinite use of our cell phones without fail. I hate to tell you, it's too much to ask. Man made components have never proved to be one hundred percent reliable. In future, we may need to look for backup. Two soup tins and a string might not cut it.