Rip Van Winkle
(Depression days in Canada)

Northeast of Fredericton, just lonely trails and not much grace,
Far from modern concepts or conveniences,
A desolate, rugged place!
On an old logging road, miles from any human conditions,
An old shack, woods, horse, cow and a few scrawny chickens,
Tiny, speckled eggs...an unfortunate deer...fish from the creek,
Kept all of us in vitals....content....week after week!
All my life, I'd never known......
About cities, cars, factories or a telephone!
We just trapped...cut wood....and fed the stock,
Nothing around to ever create "shock"!
We thought all people lived like us,
Mother gone! No female to fuss!!
For years, no one ventured up our trail,
We'd not ventured out....not even for mail!
Until Dad sliced his foot, with the axe!
I'll try to remember, all of the facts!
On his instructions, with mud and moss....he'd heal,
If we packed his foot well, soon he would feel,
As good as new.....BUT.....this wasn't true!
He died, in three days and now we knew,
That I must go, to tell about our Dad,
It was so difficult! It was so sad!
At the age of eighteen, such a rude awakening!
I hadn't a clue.....was ripe for the taking!
I'd never seen a car, book or picture show,
I was like Rip Van Winkle...this I now know!
Shooting a squirrel, or a bird in flight....or being alone,
Was so very different from luxuries...like an ice-cream cone!
I'd never seen a girl, or a woman before!!
So many surprises, at Civilization's Front Door!

Pauline Banning     W3-916-D8

I find this story, as told by the man who was "Rip Van Winkle" in real
life, so very fascinatiing. As small children, we discover gradually the
world around us, but....this boy of eighteen, discovered late in his life,
all of the things that most would take for granted. It must have been an
overwhelming experience.

It would be almost like going to another planet, where everything was
different from what we have on Earth. Imagine the shock! However, this
eighteen year old was equipped to survive, even in the worst circumstances
and I am not so sure, that most of us could.....if suddenly, the truckers
went on strike and the grocery stores were empty. It would take a lot of
ingenuity and primitive survival techniques to weather life, after global
catastrophy. A real test of our courage!

When I examine both sides of this question, perhaps my concerns should be
for
all of the people, who live in a concrete jungle. Life in the backwoods, is
free
from pollutions, additives, thieves, telemarketing, junk mail, etc.
However, I
would hate to give up books, tapes, telephone and my computer....or the
Medical Clinic, just down the street....and my car, that allows me to
transport
supplies and visit friends. No! I am grateful for all of my modern
conveniences.

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