Remembering

John McMillan shares his life story with sincere honesty - every humourous and heartbreaking moment. He was raised on a small farm in southwestern Quebec, the only son of a fourth-generation farmer.His early memories include details, anecdotes, and experiences of family and farm life in the 1950s, including games, holiday activities, and social interactions associated with rural living. Entering his teenage years, his coming-of-age stories detail his awkwardness and amusing dating experiences.Deciding to forego becoming a farmer, John graduates from university with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. As an eighteen-year-old, a chance encounter changes his life forever when he meets a sixteen-year-old girl with an infectious smile, Kathryn Magnussen. Stories of their courtship and subsequent marriage illustrate his struggle to come to terms with falling in love and validating her compatibility as a potential wife, often resulting in funny or embarrassing situations. Adjusting to married life and starting a family provides a profoundly personal, often comical look into love, relationships, and fatherhood. As their family grows, their interests expand, introducing a new dynamic. Dog training, quilting, and auction attendance are hobbies that provide amusing anecdotes and lively discussions between husband and wife.As the couple plans for retirement, they embark on a series of home renovations. The first results in mayhem, reminiscent of a comedy routine, including a plumber falling through the ceiling into the dining room and a worker taking progress payments and disappearing to Europe.John describes the effects of job demotions and company reorganizations on family life, and as retirement draws near, he is confronted with the unexpected, devastating loss of his wife.His memories provide a window into his exploits and escapades as he navigates the roller coaster ride of life, from the amusing and entertaining to the more serious and deeply moving.