National Adult Literacy Database

June 15, 1998

This week, we have a story written by Paul Perreault, from Kelowna, British Columbia. Paul brings a lifetime of knowledge and interesting experiences to his lessons. He has improved his reading so that he can now read the many books he owns, but could not previously enjoy. He has also felt more capable in being able to put his memories into actual written form. Paul is retired after a life of working in mining. He now finds himself with the time to devote to his life-long dream of learning to read and write. Paul deeply desires to write about his life and read to extend his interests. He is active and his soap stone carving hobby provides him with much satisfaction.

Farm Memories

by Paul Perreault

It was one of those diabetes days again. Organizing my health, I don't feel like jumping for joy.

It is hell to be alone. I miss all my loved ones. I didn't want this to happen -- poor Paul.

When I was young, I saw a little finch. She had three eggs. I would look at the eggs every day. Soon she had her brood. They all hatched. I sat out there for days looking at them.

The beaver was a good worker. My dad said the beaver was a remarkable engineer. At the time I didn't know what he meant, but the skill of the beaver seems to go beyond mere instinct, as he varies his construction work to meet the requirements of each new building site. The sturdy dam of mud and sticks holds back the water to form a moat around the beaver's house.

Dad said that the beaver is good help for us and our friends. We had more water than the other farmers thanks to the beaver. He had a good life with us. My dad kept a good eye out for him. We had a lot of wildlife on the farm, so it's good now that I can write about them too.

We had to get the cow every night, so we would play on the way down -- the neighbour's boy and I. We were best friends and you would see us together a lot. His name was Robert Mayer. We grew up together. The last time I saw him, he was eighteen years old and trying to get a job in Regina, Saskatchewan. I got him a job at Sears.

We were good pals from 5 years old until eighteen years old when we went out on our own way.

I was working on No. 1 highway. It was the first time I worked all year. The company was Ramsey Bird Co. and we worked on the Trans-Canada Highway.