cktimes.ca Archives for Notes from a Garage


Notes from a Garage

With John Gardiner

Thoughts of another time, raving about Stratford, an interview with me and In Memory of Glen

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Brought my dear friend Glen home over the weekend. Back up to Hanover to meet with some old friends and to make the walk to the second railway bridge to carry out our mission. We read a couple of Glen's poems from the old days and one of mine – which I will include in this column. Had a good time talking over the old days with old friends and remembering a guy who was larger than life back when we were kids. Life ended up being a hard place for him but he made a difference – even in me. He helped make me the person I am today and I'm not that unhappy with that. I have been blessed in my life to be given a very special gift – the gift of being able to move people with words. Glen sort of taught me how to use those words by opening up my tiny, little Hanover world. Without his guidance, I'm not sure who I would have become, or where I would be. I know I've talked a lot about Glen in the last number of weeks and I apologize for that. But those of you have ever had a friend like Glen will understand and have patience with me. It has been much on my mind in recent weeks. Wondering about the Sixties. Wondering about a different time and a different place. But one so special that you really did have to be there. I know young people are tired of hearing it – but it's the truth.

Well, get ready because I'm about to rave about something. Carol and i made our first trip of the year to the Stratford Festival over the weekend to see the Harper Lee classic To Kill a Mockingbird brought to life on the stage. And I can't rave enough about great theatre. Mockingbird has long been one of my favourite books and the Stratford production was wonderful in the extreme. Peter Donaldson, who's one of my favourite actors at Stratford, was terrific as small town, Southern attorney Atticus Finch. (by the way, current Chatham Capitol Theatre General Manager Daniel Donaldson is Peter's brother – wow!). Anyway, the play is another great effort by the company at Stratford and I'm suggesting you get your tickets soon. Also, while in Stratford, dropped by our favourite eatery, The Sun Room, to say hello to Rob and Frances Evans and to enjoy lunch and one of the greatest creme brules ever created. Now, I mention this because Rob Evans, head chef and proprietor at the Sun Room, was raised in Wallaceburg and got his start in the kitchen at the Oak's Inn. After a stint as head chef at the Ben Miller in Goderich, he and Frances moved to Stratford to open the Sun Room – it's fantastic – but don't show up without a reservation these days. So, we're back at Stratford for our 16th season and I can't wait! First review is in the News section of this week's paper. Check it out! And then visit the Stratford Festival and see for yourself.

Here's a little aside for you. If you're not busy tomorrow night (Wednesday) about 8:00 p.m. and you feel like listening to your computer – that's right, your computer – you can catch an interview featuring yours truly on a website called www.coachoftheairwaves.com. If you visit that website, click on Louise Pickett and then choose the format you'd like to use to listen to the interview. I expect to be talking about my writing, the 1960's, the blues and all sorts of stuff. Not sure what I'm doing on the show (called Our Time on Mother Earth), but Louise seems to think I'm an interesting guy. Strange, but true.

Anyway, I'm going to hew to the line and let and chips fall where they may a little early this week and share my poem for my friend, Glen. Read and remember:

In memory of Glen

I was a kid once away back when
And one of my friends was a guy named Glen
He came from the city – he was really cool
He sat next to me at the back in public school

He was an interesting guy, challenging us all
The times were a changin' and he issued a call
Growing his hair, wearing jeans and such
I know that these days it don't seem like much.

But back in that other time, things weren't the same.
Everybody was expected to play the same game
There was really no thought about doing your own thing
You pretty well knew what your life would bring.

But guys like Glen weren't happy with that
Should be more to this life than another fat cat
Challenge the system, make people think
Make something happen quick as a wink

Remember the Queen's – remember the band
Life seemed so good it was all you could stand
We chased a few girls and drank our first beer
We were children back then, but life was so near

We marched in cadets – I had a polka dot shirt
Grew our hair long; got treated like dirt
Listened to Janis – listened to Jim
Watched them die as the Seventies came in.

Those times changed us all – we were never the same
Some of us had trouble playing the game
But one thing's for sure as I look back
We opened up life even if only a crack

I had a good friend once his name was Glen
He opened my world up away back then
I didn't know what was happening – couldn't figure it out
He showed me the way without any doubt

He had a tough life – not too much fun
Not like back then when he was the one
But some people live long even in a short life
They ride through their lives on the edge of a knife

We've come here today to bid him farewell
To say our goodbyes – to talk and to tell
Go back to your business, your kids and your wife
But remember there were others who helped change your life.

Because those were the days – a whole other time
Those were the days without reason or rhyme
Those days seem so distant and so far away
And I bring him home and he'll be home to stay.



John Gardiner is a 25-year-veteran of the community newspaper business, but he is also a prolific writer of moralistic short fiction he refers to as "emotional thoughtscapes" or "adult fables". Samples of his fiction can be found at:

He has also produced a noteworthy piece of humanist philosophy which can be found at: http://www.xs4all.nl/~aboiten/ad502.htm He welcomes comments on his work.