Daytripping Sept-Oct 2020 Issue

Birthdays
By Agnes Burroughs, Dorchester
As you know,
I have celebrated
more than my share
of birthdays but just
wanted to tell you how it was
sometimes celebrated in the olden days.
I was born and raised in a rural area,
and proud to say, educated in a one
room schoolhouse. There were eight
grades all in one room with younger
ones on the south side and working up
to the older grades on the north side of
the room. We all sat in individual desks
with rows in between the grades.
Come your birthday, for some
reason beyond my comprehension,
the birthday person, aka victim, was
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up to...
Daytripping north on Hwy. #21 to GODERICH & KINCARDINE
forced to run up and down the aisles so
each individual could get a
chance to whack your said
bottom. I know at birth
the doctor sometimes did
this to get your attention
and start you breathing,
but I’m not sure why
this torturous process
had to continue each year
at school. If you were really lucky your
birthday fell on a weekend or holiday
and you were spared this painful and
humiliating torment. Allowing this
bordered on cruelty, because some of
those Grade Eighters were mighty long
armed and could wield a hefty blow on
your backside. Thankfully this practice
did not follow into high school, so that
was a huge relief.
At home we were treated to a birthday
cake with candles, and the usual off key
rendition of “Happy Birthday.” The only
bad part of that was my dad liked lots
of icing but also liked raspberry jam in
the centre of the cake—Yuck, jam is for
toast not cake.
Ah well, eat the cake with icing, and
fain fullness when asked about the jam
part. Sometimes there were presents,
but usually something we desperately
needed like underwear or socks. At least
it was nice to have a special day just for
you when there were so many children
in the family.
Nowadays, I am spoiled with cards
and well wishes from my children,
spouse and now the five grandbabies
who can’t fathom having that many
birthday parties under your belt, and
what I have done with all those presents.
The grandchildren seem to be invited
to one or two birthday parties each
weekend. Sometimes the birthday
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children ask for canned goods instead of
presents—or they donate their presents
to less fortunate children, which I think
is very kind and generous and teaches
them some valuable lessons about the
bounty we enjoy.
It is a rare day when our children
skipped school to watch opening day of
baseball when it fell on their birthday,
but that’s exactly what happened one
year for our son who was enamored
with baseball. He and his dad had
worked out the details and it was a very
special day for them both and I just
delivered the popcorn and drinks to the
TV room.
Some folks go on trips or have lavish
parties on this most auspicious of
days—that’s if you’re rich or famous,
but for the rest of us it is just another
day and you move on to the next,
grateful to have come this far.
Parts of this area are known as Saugeen Country or
Ontario’s West Coast.
Sunset Boulevard would be a suitable name as the view at
night must be among the best anywhere on the planet.
Wind your way up Highway #21 with its beaches,
lighthouses and landmarks, and then come inland to stroll
from one scenic town to another, through the heart of the
Maitland and Saugeen River watersheds.
From
Meaford
Pine River
Clifford
From
Goderich
Gorrie
From
Listowel
Sept-Oct 2020 “Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” - Theophrastus
Page 39