My Yearly Sunburn

I was born fortunate to have a dark complexion that did not burn easily. I am still like that. But each spring I would get a sunburn. During the winter I wore shirts with collars. At some point each spring – and I do not know the trigger – Mom would change me over to a t-shirt. The next day I would have a sunburn. As I walked the mile and a quarter westward to school in the morning and eastward in the evening the sun would beat on the newly exposed skin. I think it was only in my eighth year of school that I realized what was happening.

Dawdling

At one point there were three boys with bicycles who would travel the side road together. Or at least they would start together. Two were a little older than other and closer together in age. We had lots of time to get home before supper and in the spring there were few chores to get home to. Bicycles are good transportation but they are good for other things as well. If there is a puddle on a road the rear wheel can be used to send a plume of water streaking down the road – and sometimes someone would be in the way – oops!

Bicycles are good for leaning or sitting on when you are just talking. A railroad crossed the side road about half way home. It was at the top of a little incline – but if we were in no hurry it was a good excuse to stop and “rest.” The elders would get talking but the younger would get bored with the conversation or just disgusted with our pace and pick up and leave us behind.

The Shortcut

About half way home our travels took us to within 1/8 mile of my uncle’s sugar bush. On hot summer days the idea of a shortcut through the cool bush was very enticing so we would cut along the neighbours fence line and up into the bush.

Somehow one thing would lead to another and the shortcut always seemed to take at least 30 minutes longer than staying on the road.

The Fountain

A mile and a half can be a long way to walk to school or to ride a bike. Part way along there was a place where a culvert crossed the road to let water flow under the road and into the creek. Water flowed through the culvert quite a bit of the time. The redeeming feature was that the water had to fall quite a few inches down to the creek. On the creek bank there was a spot that was just the right place to stand to get a drink.

Only years later did it dawn on me that the water I was drinking had just made its way across the farmer’s barnyard.

The Creek

The creek was much closer to the school than to home. It was probably just as well that it was out of sight of both places. Actually we crossed the creek twice on the way to school but for about 1/8 of a mile (200 metres) it ran right along the side road ditch. Most of the time it was a tame little flow of water and we mostly ignored it.

Mind you there were times, in the fall, when that mild creek could be a source of fun for the boys and consternation for any girls around. Teasels used to grow at one particular spot. We knew that the teasels could be a very effective way to tease the girls (I wonder if that is the source of the name? – Nayh.) Anyway, you gripped the teasel stem in your shirt and broke it off. Then when dipped in the creek, the teasel would hold a large quantity of water which could be flung quite accurately towards any girl in range.

Spring was the time the creek was in its glory and usually running almost up to its banks. During the winter the creek bed would be filled with snow ploughed from the road. Then in the spring all that snow had to go. There would be large cakes of thick heavy snow hanging up in the flow of water but attached to the road. A heaven made opportunity for little boys to help the creek do its work by pushing the big cakes of snow loose to float down the creek. If we couldn't find a branch we would have to use our feet to push the cakes of snow. I suppose it was also an opportunity for little boys to hasten their way to heaven!

The Mile and a Half to School

SS #2 Hay was located ¼ mile north of home along #4 Highway and then 1¼ miles west along a graveled side road to the school. In those days public school was from Grades 1 to 8 so I made the trip there about 1600 times and the trip home an equal number of times. It is not surprising a lot of stories about the trip spring to mind. Over the years I shared that trip with 10 sisters, cousins or neighbours.

Photo: SS#2 Hay as it is today.