Chapter X

I've always loved my mom. In 1971 there was a song on the radio called, 'Sweet City Woman' by the Stampeders. It always reminds me of her. She did a great job of raising 2 kids on her own. She'd date once in a while, but Katie and me were her life. She did find a serious guy around 1974. His name was Paul Kalnassy. He was younger, and European. He had a little culture about him. He moved in with us and became a father figure to Katie, who was still very young at the time, but I was 14 and I would have none of it. Paul and I got along most times, but it was never a father/son relationship. I do talk sincerely with him now whenever he comes to visit from Calgary. It honestly is nice to see him when he's here.

Around 1975 or 1976 I started to not be around as much as I used to. Girls and music were my life. First there was Sandy Adams for 1 1/2 years, then it was Lisa Herbert for another 1 1/2 years (with a couple in between).

I always did well in school, but I didn't have the discipline that I should have. My first year of high school, at Sir John A. MacDonald was a disaster. Skipping classes, getting lousy grades. Dreaming mostly of being a rock star. The one thing I did do well at that time was write. Write songs and music.

My mom and me started to drift apart. I started to resent my sister as well. She was growing up, so she didn't need her 'big brother' as much. Maybe it was just me who thought he didn't need them.