Life In General | Written Works by Andrew C. Moffat

The Pregnancy of an Innocent

[Original image “Stork with Baby” © Anastasia Popova/Dollar Photo Club]

When, as an Advanced Care Paramedic, I was working in Labour & Delivery in a Maritime Hospital, I had an experience that surpassed all others!

A 36 year old single girl came in who was nine months and twenty minutes pregnant! She was accompanied by her boyfriend, mother and aunt.

Right off the bat she declared that she would not have a sedative – not now and not ever!

At the very first ...

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24
OCT

0

Education, humour, Life in General, Medical, Nostalgia

[“Ink Spots Billboard 3” by Unknown – Ad on page 138 of Billboard 1944 Music Yearbook; also published in ad on page 3 of the Billboard 1943 Music Yearbook. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons; Musical Notes Illustration original image © nmarques74/Dollar Photo Club]

In 1943, when I was 16 years old, I was living in St. Thomas where my father was stationed in the RCAF.

That Spring I had an opportunity to go to London, Ontario, to a concert ...

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20
OCT

0

Education, In The News, Life in General, Nostalgia, Opinion

Chester School

[Original image “Abandoned schoolhouse with red apple” © pictureguy32/Dollar Photo Club]

The day of the one-room country school has long gone.
What a shame!
From the time I was born in 1927 until I was 7 years old I lived on a prairie farm. I started Grade One in a one-room country school when I was four years old, and remained there for 3 and a half years.
...

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27
SEP

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Education, Family, History Lessons, Life in General, Nostalgia, Opinion

My First Flight

[Original image “Vintage military postcard” © Avantgarde/Dollar Photo Club]

In 1932 we were still living on our farm 5 miles NE of Moose Jaw, SK.

One of the post-WWI novelties was “barnstorming” – that is, pilots from the Great War travelled back and forth across the country in their wood and doped-clothed biplanes. They would generally put on modest flying displays – the sort of aerobatics they had flown when in action – and regularly took locals up for short rides.

I ...

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20
SEP

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Family, History Lessons, In The News, Life in General

Light Time in the Officers Mess

[Original image “Canada WW II soldier’s beret and medals” © ericlefrancais1/Dollar Photo Club]

In 1949 I was a Second Lieutenant with 1 RCHA for the summer between my terms at Royal Roads.

The Regiment was on summer training at Camp Wainwright – we all lived in Bell tents – two officers to a tent, and the men were in marquise tents.

Even though we were “roughing it in the Field”, our CO, Lt Col E.M.D. [Teddy] McNaughton, insisted that on every Friday ...

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13
JUL

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History Lessons, humour, Life in General, Military, Nostalgia

The Colour Black

[Original image © lculig/Dollar Photo Club]

When I see all of the publicity these days concerning racial conflict in the USA, I am reminded of my only three experiences with “Blacks” when I was travelling in the USA.

In 1942 two High School chums and I decided to take the short jaunt from St. Thomas to Detroit to see the famous stripper, Sally Rand.

We were early for the afternoon show so we entered a cafeteria for lunch.

It was crowded to the ...

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30
APR

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Family, History Lessons, In The News, Life in General, Nostalgia

A Magic Meeting

When a Cadet at Royal Roads, the Naval College, a Classmate asked me to escort his date’s friend: she would not go without her friend accompanying them and with a date! It was his birthday and he wanted to throw a dance party.

I had never “blind-dated” and refused to then.

He continued to pester me until I finally gave in and agreed to the blind date – he gave me the girl’s ...

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15
APR

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Family, Life in General, Nostalgia, Opinion

A Life of Chance Begins

When I was almost 6 months old I developed a cough that gradually became much worse and responded to no treatment.

My parents took me to doctors in Moose Jaw and Regina and the only recommendation was “steam” – a steaming kettle under a sheet over my head.

This accomplished nothing so I was taken to the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg – where the same advice was give!

The problem got worse!

Mother took me ...

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5
APR

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Family, Life in General, Medical, Nostalgia, Opinion