Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Uncle Norman was a man of few words who was very kind.
When I was a kid my mother (his niece) Marlene, my father and I would head “down home” nearly every summer from Toronto.
The annual stop in Odessa to see Aunt Elsie and Uncle Norman was always the most anticipated, the place had everything, including a stuffed bear, a pool table and the horses of course.
As a city kid just standing at the side of the track watching Uncle Norman train the horses would have been enough…but I can remember vividly Uncle Norman bringing one particular horse close over to the side of the track and telling me to get on with him. I rode around the track with Uncle Norman teaching me to make those “kissing noises” you would do for a dog to “get her to go faster”. I don’t know if it worked but it sure felt like it.
He would show me how to get the goat to rear up on her hind legs and come down inches from my feet and play with me for hours.
As I got older (and far too big to double ride a horse) Uncle Norman would bring out one of the four wheelers and let me bomb around the property for hours. On at least on occasion one of the boys had to come out to the road to start it up again as I had stalled it. I was never made fun of or razzed and I was always welcome to take it out every time I visited.
Aunt Elsie, Uncle Norman and their family treated me so kindly. Thank You. All of you and your home hold a special place in my heart.
Uncle Norman you will be missed. Say hi to my Nan for me.
