Wayne in BC
New member
outta "right field" i guess this is, life lessons that never go away.
Some time in 1957, in a place known as "Camp Wainwright", about 150 miles east of Edmonton.
I was selling Boy Scout apples. Now this army camp had way too many kids who were Scouts and too few houses, so being slow to start, maybe a day late , i came up with the idea to sneak over to where Dad "worked". This was understood to be off limits to kids and you just did not screw with rules around military camps cause it could seriously redden your brave little ass! Thrice! Once when you were caught, by whoever caught you, once by your old man, and again by your old man after his superior chewed his azz for not controlling his kid!
I still don't know why i did it, although i was a bad little bastard, was sometimes a bit chicken and had just a bit of sense.
I remember walking (sorta) casually up the road to the ordinance depot where Dad ran the show, (though i did not know that yet, i just thought he "worked" there).
I timidly entered the yawning door of the huge quonset, saw the office looking place to my left and peeked in. There was Dad with his feet up on a desk sipping coffee while a number of men bussled around moving all kind of stuff and i was a bit shocked cause he talked about "work" like it was REAL work!
He looked up and said......i quote "why you young rapscallion whatcha doin here!" Cowed a bit i squeaked out, selling Boy scout apples Dad. He said nothing for a few moments then suddenly lunged to his feet and hollered LOUD.....FRONT AND CENTER!!! Well she-it, suddenly soldiers came running from all directions to line up at the door and i cowered some wondering if they was gonna kill me!? As i froze in place and things got real quiet, Dad said , now in a nice conversational tone, gentlemen this is my son and he is selling Boy Scout apples, now i am sure you all love apples (honey dripping from his voice but just a hint of poison maybe?), and would be disappointed if you missed out, correct gentleman? Came a sudden chorus of YES Sergeant!
I sold the whole whack of apples, Dad told me not to say where i sold them and i won the badge Just another lesson learned, first that "officers" were high mucky mucks but did not necessarily run things and secondly in later years that those poor b$stards didn't deserve that. I still loved him though
He passed just after Christmas 1984, age 65 as of Dec 17 and before he could cash his first old age pension chegue and after he supervised me building my first home.
I remember........
Wayne
Some time in 1957, in a place known as "Camp Wainwright", about 150 miles east of Edmonton.
I was selling Boy Scout apples. Now this army camp had way too many kids who were Scouts and too few houses, so being slow to start, maybe a day late , i came up with the idea to sneak over to where Dad "worked". This was understood to be off limits to kids and you just did not screw with rules around military camps cause it could seriously redden your brave little ass! Thrice! Once when you were caught, by whoever caught you, once by your old man, and again by your old man after his superior chewed his azz for not controlling his kid!
I still don't know why i did it, although i was a bad little bastard, was sometimes a bit chicken and had just a bit of sense.
I remember walking (sorta) casually up the road to the ordinance depot where Dad ran the show, (though i did not know that yet, i just thought he "worked" there).
I timidly entered the yawning door of the huge quonset, saw the office looking place to my left and peeked in. There was Dad with his feet up on a desk sipping coffee while a number of men bussled around moving all kind of stuff and i was a bit shocked cause he talked about "work" like it was REAL work!
He looked up and said......i quote "why you young rapscallion whatcha doin here!" Cowed a bit i squeaked out, selling Boy scout apples Dad. He said nothing for a few moments then suddenly lunged to his feet and hollered LOUD.....FRONT AND CENTER!!! Well she-it, suddenly soldiers came running from all directions to line up at the door and i cowered some wondering if they was gonna kill me!? As i froze in place and things got real quiet, Dad said , now in a nice conversational tone, gentlemen this is my son and he is selling Boy Scout apples, now i am sure you all love apples (honey dripping from his voice but just a hint of poison maybe?), and would be disappointed if you missed out, correct gentleman? Came a sudden chorus of YES Sergeant!
I sold the whole whack of apples, Dad told me not to say where i sold them and i won the badge Just another lesson learned, first that "officers" were high mucky mucks but did not necessarily run things and secondly in later years that those poor b$stards didn't deserve that. I still loved him though
He passed just after Christmas 1984, age 65 as of Dec 17 and before he could cash his first old age pension chegue and after he supervised me building my first home.
I remember........
Wayne
Where did you build that first house? That in it's self would make a good story. Great story, I liked it! Please have a great day! Kelley (Texas) 
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