Jul 3, 2011

UNCLE LOUIS' STORY


My mother had 11 brothers and sisters that survived past infancy. There were several more that sadly did not.

One of her brothers, my Uncle Louis told me a story once about when he was just a little boy. Now I won't tell it the way he would have because as people have said to him "do we have to pack a lunch for this story".

The way I remember it was that back in his youth, around 1928 maybe, he was walking down the street in their home town in Manitoba. It was near Winnipeg, perhaps Transcona.
Uncle Louis looked down at the ground and found a nickel. That was more money than he could ever hope to have.

Oh my goodness what would he do with this fortune. He thought about it and thought about it. After all he has so many brothers and sisters. He went to the store and spent his nickel. He bought a can of sardines. Not candy. No. Simply a can of oily sardines. And do you know what he did with his treasure? Wrong. He went and hid in the attic and ate the whole can himself. You know what. I can't blame him. They lived in such poverty and this was his one selfish act to have the prize all to himself. To not have to share every waking and sleeping moment with the others.
Canned sardines in salt waterImage via Wikipedia
Now Uncle Lou could have told this story much better than I could but then we would have had to pack a lunch and all the sardines were gone.

I am joining in with Chari @ Happy to Design for Sunday Favorites where were get to repost something from our earlier blog days to  spare up some valuable time on a Sunday for other things.

Enhanced by Zemanta

11 comments:

  1. Who can blame him! That was just the way it was for that generation.

    I hadn't done any family research in a while so I spent the day on Friday digging. I found way more than I expected. Amazing, just amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Lori...

    My friend, I really enjoyed the story about your Uncle Louis. Times have really changed, haven't they! It's hard for me to think about a can of sardines as being much of a treat...I would have went for the candy! Hehe!

    Happy to see you for the Sunday Favorites repost party today, dear friend! I hope ya'll are having a fabulous weekend!

    Love ya,
    Chari

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love old family stories like that. You should record as many of them as you can Lori and do a book. Your family would love it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great story Lori.

    Can't say I'd have chosen sardines though!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I remember my Mom saying that the entire family of 14 shared one orange every Christmas. And considered it a real treat, life is so much simpler now...

    Great story. And I didn't have to pack a lunch, LOL.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love Uncle Louis' story. I think I would have done the same and hid out in the attic with my treat, but I would have bought a romance book, chips, pop, candy and so much more. I know my goodies are more than the five cents, so I would have asked someone else for another nickel! lol Diane

    ReplyDelete
  7. People today would likely find it hard to connect with a story like that - a can of sardines as a treat. But growing up in the depression, and having large families, would really make this into a big deal for your uncle Louis. My dad (b. 1924) told of working every day after school as a youngster of 12, earning a quarter for the entire week and having to turn it over to his father ! There were 14 children in his family.

    How times have changed. Great story, Lori.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cute story my friend....hugs to you for a great new week. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is a really amazing story, Lori! I love old stories like this.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love this story! A man after my own heart---only I'd have bought chocolate!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think your Uncle Lou would have been proud of how you told his story. Stories like this make you re-focused on what you have, from what you wish to have. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate every one of them and respond to all.

Labels

911 (1) ABBY STOKES (1) ABORIGINAL (1) ACCOMPLISHMENTS (1) ADS (10) AFRICA (1) AGASSIZ (1) AGE (1) AGING (7) ALL ABOUT YOU LISTS (add your list too) (1) ALLERGIES (2) ALVIN (1) ALZHEIMERS (1) ANIMALS (6) ANNIVERSARY (8) ANTIOXIDANTS (1) Antique (1) ANTIQUES (4) APOLOGY (1) APPLE PIE (1) APPLIANCES (1) APPRECIATION (1) APPS (2) ARCHITECHTURE (1) ARCHIVES (1) ARIZONA (1) ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS (29) ARTISTS (4) ASPARAGUS (1) ATTA GIRL (16) AUCTIONS (1) AUTISM (1) AUTUMN (3) AWARDS (31) BABIES (1) BABY SHOWERS (2) BABYSITTING (1) BACK PORCH ANTIQUES (1) BACON (1) BAD BEHAVIOR (1) BAD IDEAS (4) BAD LUCK (1) BAKERY (1) BAKING (1) BALSAMIC VINEGAR (1) BARBECUE (3) BARN HOUSE ANTIQUES (1) BARNYARD BASH (1) BASKETBALL (2) Battle of Princeton (1) BB GUY (9) BEANS (1) BEARS (6) BEEF (15) BERRIES (1) BIG FEAST BISTRO (1) BILL OLIVER (1) BILLS (2) Bird (1) BIRD HOUSE (1) BIRDS (4) BIRTHDAY (9) Blog (4) BLOG BUDDIES (5) Blog problems. (2) BLOGGERS (4) BLOGGIE AWARDS (3) BLOGGING (6) BLOGS (56) BLUEBERRIES (2) BODIES (2) BONSAI (1) BOOKS (2) BOXING DAY (2) BOYAN SLAT (1) BRAGFEST (1) BREAKFAST (2) BREAST CANCER (1) BRITISH COLUMBIA (9) BUCKET LIST (1) BULLYING (1) BURGERS (1) BUTCHART GARDENS (2) CABBAGE ROLLS (1) CABIN (15) CABIN STORIES (25) CALENDAR (1) CALL CENTRES (1) CANADA (5) CANADA DAY (5) CANCER (5) CANDY (1) CANNING (3) CANUCKS (2) CARNIVAL OF GENEALGOY (2) CARS (5) Cat (1) CATS (6) CATTLE (1) CELEBRATIONS (1) CENTENARIANS (1) CHANGING TIMES (1) CHARITY (3) CHEESE (2) CHEESECAKE (2) CHERNOBYL (1) CHERRY TREES (1) CHICKEN (11) CHILDHOOD (1) CHILDREN (4) CHLORIDE (1) CHOCOLATE (2) CHRISTMAS (26) CINCO DE MAYO (1) CLARK LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHY (2) CLEANING (1) CLOTHING (2) COALMONT (1) COCKTAILS (1) Coffee (2) COFFEE GROUP (22) COINCIDENCE (1) COLDS (2) COLLECTIONS (48) COMMENTS (10) COMMERCIALS (3) COMMETS (1) COMMON SENSE (1) COMMUNICATION (1) COMMUTE (1) COMPUTER LESSONS (5) COMPUTERS (30) CONCERTS (2) CONTESTS (12) COOKING (56) COPING WITH CHRISTMAS (1) COPYRIGHT (1) CORNUCOPIA (1) COUGHING (1) COUNTRY (1) Crafts (2) CRANBERRY SAUCE (1) CRIME (1) CROSS STITCH (1) CRUELTY (1) CUPCAKES (2) CURRY (1) CUSTOMER SERVICE (1) DANCING (5) DANGEROUS (2) DARVONDA NURSERIES (1) DARWIN AWARDS (1) DAYLIGHT SAVING (1) DAYLILY (3) DEATHS (3) DECORATING (6) Decorative Painting (1) DEER (1) DENNIS HOPPER (1) DESSERTS (6) DIAPER CAKE (4) DIAPER MOTORCYCLE (1) DINNER (5) DISSATISFIED (1) DOCTORS (2) DOCUMENTARY (1) DOGS (16) Dogue Brasileiro (1) DOING WHAT IS RIGHT (2) DOMAINS (1) DR. OZ (1) DREAMS (1) DRINKS (3) DRIVING (3) DRUNKENESS (1) DUNCAN (2) E COLI (1) EARTHQUAKE (1) EASTER (1) ECOLOGY (2) EMAIL (3) EMPANADAS (1) ENDERBY (1) ENOUGH (1) Eric Burdon (1) ETHICS (1) EXHAUSTED (1) F-BOMB FRIDAY (2) FACEBOOK (6) FACEBOOK BUSINESS MANAGER (1) FAERIES (2) FAIRS (1) FALL (8) Family (7) FAMILY BIBLES (1) Family tree (1) FAMILY. (10) FARMER'S MARKET (3) FARMING (1) FATHER'S DAY (1) FAUJA SINGH (1) FAVORITE (1) FEATURED ARTISTS (1) FERRIES (1) FERTILIZER FRIDAY (1) FETA CHEESE (1) FIREPLACE (1) FIREWORKS (1) FIRST NATIONS (1) FISH (4) FLAGS (1) FLORIST (1) FLOWERS (7) FOG (1) FOLLOWERS (1) FOOD LOVE (1) FOOD POISONING (1) FOOD STORAGE (1) FOOD. (8) FOODIE FRIDAY (34) FOREST FIRES (2) Fourth of July (1) FRIDAY (1) FRIDAY FUNNY (3) FRIENDS (22) FRIGIDAIRE (1) FRUIT (8) FRUSTRATION (2) FUN (4) FUNDRAISER (7) FUNKY JUNK (1) FURNITURE (1) GADGETS (3) GARAGE SALES (2) GARDEN (9) GARDENS (28) GARLIC (1) GARLIC BREAD (1) GENEALOGY (39) GEORGE CLOONEY (1) George Washington (1) GIFTS. (7) GIFTSTORES (1) GIFTWRAP (2) GIVEAWAYS (17) GLAMOUR (3) GOING WITH THE FLOW (1) GOOGLE (1) GOOGLE READER (1) GREAT GATSBY (1) GREEN MEN (1) GREEN TEA (1) GUACAMOLE (1) GUEST WRITER (4) GUITARS (2) GUNS (1) HACKERS (1) HAIKU (2) HAIR (3) HAIR JEWELRY (1) Halibut (2) HALLELUJAH (1) HALLOWEEN (2) HAM RADIO (1) HANGOVERS (1) HAPPY (2) HAPPY 101 (1) HARRIS' STEAKHOUSE (1) HATERS (1) HEALTH (20) HERBS (2) HIGHWAYS (1) HINTS (2) HISTORY (6) HOCKEY (4) HOLIDAYS (3) HOLLYWOOD (1) HOME AND GARDEN (36) HOME BUYING (1) HOME OFFICE (1) HOME. (6) HORSES (3) HOT ITALIAN SAUSAGES (1) HOUSE DAMAGE (1) HOUSEHOLD TIPS (2) http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifOUTDOOR WEDNESDAY (1) HUDSON RIVER SLOOP (1) Hummingbird (2) Humor (26) HUMOR. (81) HUMOUR (93) I SAY HMMMM (1) ICE FISHING (1) INSECTS (2) INSPIRATION (4) INSURANCE (1) INTEREST (1) INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (1) INTERNET (3) INVENTIONS (3) IPHONES (1) IRONY (1) ISSUES (2) ITALY (3) JAM (2) JANUARY (1) JAPAN (1) JAZMIN (1) JELLY (1) JEWELRY (1) JOBS (1) JOHNNY DEPP (1) JOKES (1) JOSH JENKINS (2) JOURNEY (1) JOY (1) KARL MALONE (1) KATZIE BAND (1) KEEPING IN TOUCH (1) KIDS (5) KINDNESS (2) KOBO READER (1) KREATIVE BLOGGER (1) LAKE SUPERIOR (1) Langley (1) LASAGNE (1) LAUNDRY (2) LAW (2) LAWYERS (1) LEAKY PIPE (3) LEFTOVER WINE (1) LEMIRE (1) LEPP FARM (1) Library and Archives Canada (1) LIFE (98) LIMBERT FARMS (1) LINDA GUMMER (1) LITTERING (1) LIVING (1) LOTTERY (2) LOUIS HEBERT (3) LOVELY BLOG AWARD (1) LUNCH (4) MAGAZINE (3) MAMMOGRAMS (1) MANSIONS (1) MANTLE (2) MARIE ROLLET (1) MARIJUANA (1) MARKET (3) MARKETING (1) MARRIAGE (2) MASSAGE (1) MATH (1) MATTHEW WATT (1) MAXINE (7) ME EITHER (22) MEDICINE (2) MELLOW YELLOW MONDAYS (4) MEMES (180) MEMORIES (5) MEN (5) MENTAL ILLNESS (1) Mesothelioma (1) METABOLISM (1) METAMORPHOSIS MONDAY (15) Metis (1) METIS. VETERANS (1) MEXICO (1) MICE (1) MIGRAINES (1) MILITARY (1) MOANS (1) MOLES (1) MOM (2) MONEY (1) MONIQUE LUM (1) MONSANTO (1) MOOSE (1) MOSAIC MONDAY (23) MOSAICS (2) Mothers (1) MOTHERS LINE (5) MOTIFAKE (1) MOTORCYCLES (1) MOURNING JEWELRY (1) MOVIES (3) MOVING (8) MOZEY-ON-INN (1) MR. ROGERS (1) Music (4) MUSIC. (4) MY GUITAR PAL (1) MYSTERY PERSON (1) NAMES (1) NATURE (9) NEIGHBOURS (1) NESTING (1) New France (1) NEW YEARS (2) NEW YEAS EVE (6) NEWPAPERS (1) NEWS (4) NICK BRANDT (1) NIGHT SKY (1) NOTE TO SELF (4) OCEANS (2) OLD AGE (1) OLD PHOTOS (1) OLYMPICS (3) ONLINE SECURITY (1) ORANGES (1) ORGANIZATION (1) OSTEOPOROSIS (1) OUTDOOORS (1) OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY (32) p (1) PACKAGING (1) PAJAMAS (1) PARADES (1) Parenting (3) PARTY (2) PASTA (1) Patio/Deck (1) Pets (1) PHOTOGRAPHS (10) PHOTOGRAPHY (9) PILOTS (2) PINK PUMPKINS (1) PINTEREST (1) PIZZA (3) PLAGIARISM (1) PLASTIC SURGERY (1) PLAYING FOR CHANGE (1) POACHING (1) POEM (1) POISON (1) POLICE (2) POLLS (1) POLLUTION (1) POND (1) POPPIES (1) PORK (10) PORTLAND (3) POSITIVE MESSAGE (1) POSTCARDS (1) POWER OUTAGE (1) PPS FILE (21) PRIDE (1) PRIME RIB (1) PRIVACY (1) PROBLEMS (2) PRODUCT REVIEW (2) PRODUCTS (1) PROTEST (1) PULLED PORK (1) PUMPKIN (1) PUMPKINS (5) QUARANTINE (1) Quebec (2) RACCOONS (1) RAIN (1) RANDOM (77) RANT (9) RATS (1) RCMP (2) READING (1) REAL ESTATE (1) RECALL (1) RECIPES (26) RECOMMENDATIONS (2) RELATIONSHIPS (1) RELAXING (1) REMEDIES (1) REMEMBRANCE DAY (2) REMINDERS (1) REPEAT POST (7) REPORTING (1) REPOST (3) RESEARCH (1) RESOLUTIONS (1) RESTAURANTS (8) RETIREMENT (1) RIBS (1) RICE (1) ROAD TRIP (8) RoadTrip (1) ROCK AND ROLL (2) ROCKAWAY REST HOME (1) ROCKS (1) ROMANIAN (1) ROOSTERS (3) ROSA'S CUCINA (1) ROSES (1) ROYALTY (1) SAD (2) SAFETY (1) SAISON (1) SALAD (5) SALSA (2) SAN FRANCISCO (4) SANTA (61) SAUCES (2) SAUSAGES (1) SAVINGS (1) SCAMS (2) SCHOOL (2) SCIENCE (3) SCRAPBOOKING (3) SEAFOOD (1) SEARS (1) SEASONS (1) SERENDIPITY (3) SEWERS (1) SHAME (1) Shopping (10) Sidney British Columbia (1) SILLY SUNDAY (2) SINGING (1) SISTERS (5) SIXTIES (1) SKY (1) SKYTRAIN (1) SLEEP (6) SLEEPOVER (1) SMALL TALK SIX (3) SMOKED MEAT (1) SMOKERS (1) SNORING (1) SNOW (3) SNOWMOBILES (2) SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (2) SOCIAL MEDIA (5) SONS OF ARTHRITIS (1) SOUP (1) SOUPS (4) SPAM (3) SPINAL CORD INJURY (1) SPORTS (3) SPRING (5) SPRINKLERS (1) STAINED GLASS (2) STARS (1) START UP (1) STATS (2) STEALING (1) STORIES OF MY ANCESTORS (2) STORMS (3) STOVE (1) STRESS (1) STUFFING (2) STUPID PEOPLE (2) SUBSCRIPTIONS (2) SUCCESS (1) SUFFRAGIST (1) SUMMER (4) SUMMER SUNDAYS (1) SUNDAY FAVORITES (41) SUNSET (2) SUNSHINE AWARD (1) SUPERIOR SCRIBBLER (1) SUPERSTITIONS (1) SURPRISES (1) SUSHI (1) SWANS (1) Swartz Bay British Columbia (1) TABLESCAPE THURSDAY (9) TAG (2) TAILGATING (1) TANDOORI (1) TARA JEAN POPOWICH (2) TATTOOS (1) TEACHERS (3) TECHNOLOGY (4) TEENS (1) TEETHING (1) TEMPLATES (1) TGIF (1) THANKS (1) THANKSGIVING (5) THE CAMINO (1) THE VOICE (1) THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GIGGLE THURSDAY (1) THINKING ABOUT YOU (1) Thomas Cadwalader (1) THREE OR MORE TUESDAY (3) THREE OR MORE TUESDAYS (23) TOLE PAINTING (15) TOMATO SAUCE BASE (1) TOMATOES (1) TOTEMS (2) TRAGEDY (1) TRANSIT (1) TRAVEL (9) TREAT YOURSELF THURSDAY (5) TULIPS (1) TURKEY (2) TV (1) TWITTER (1) USA (2) VACATION (4) VALENTINE'S DAY (2) VANCOUVER (4) Vancouver Island (8) VEGETABLES (12) VIDEO (3) VINTAGE (7) VIRUSES (4) w (1) WALL WEDNESDAYS (2) WAR (1) WATERCOLOR (1) WATERY WEDNESDAY (4) WEATHER (7) WEDDINGS (3) WEDNESDAY WORDS (3) WEEDS (1) WEEKENDS (1) WELLNESS (1) Whale watching (1) WHALES (1) Wii ADD ONS (1) WILDLIFE (3) WIND (1) WINE (15) WINE JELLY (1) WINNER (1) WINTER (4) WISDOM (1) WOMEN (8) WOOLWORTH (1) WORK (14) WORLD (1) WORLD TRADE CENTER (1) WREATH (1) WRITER'S CHALLENGE (19) YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND PHOTOGRAPHY (1)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...