It's interesting how our thoughts and ideas run from topic to topic. One idea puts us on to more ideas. It's how a conversation takes place. Ideas are linked.
My neighbor across the street rarely if ever wears a jacket in winter. It got me thinking that high school and college kids did not wear winter coats a few years ago . I guess they thought it was cool.
When it comes to winter clothing I'm a bit of a fussy pants. I've spent a lot of time outdoors hiking, skiing and snowshoeing in the Rocky mountains. I know how to keep warm and comfortable. If a kid was cold usually all you had to tell him is put your tuque on and in five minutes the kid was warm.
This got me thinking about a person in the 1960's who did not wear a winter jacket. But George did wear winter fleece lined under wear and a heavy shirt
Then it got me thinking about who George was. George was a rather well known Canadian. The first big Alberta oil strike was Leduc #1 in 1947 . You guessed it. George was the driller.
George's portrait is a well known Canadian photo. He's pictured with a drill bit on his shoulder. They're heavy. I couldn't even move one let alone pick it up. How many people remember seeing this portrait?
I met George and his family when I was teaching in a town where they lived. George was a drilling supervisor. They moved regularly. Most oil people did at that time. George and his family lived in a small house trailer. George's trailer was 8 ft. wide. Most trailers were ten or twelve feet wide. When George had to move , he just closed the trailer door and hooked it onto his truck and away he went.
George was a large man and so were his kids. We often wondered how they fit in such a small house trailer. When we asked his son, he would just laugh and say they were used to it.
George was a story teller. We heard the story of Leduc # 1 blowing in many times. They were taken by surprise. Most of the holes they were drilling were dry but this time they were lucky.
Now this could keep me going to other ideas but, I'll stop for tonight!
Thanks for the info! I didn't know the drill bits were so heavy. Flannel skivvies sounds cozy! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteAs kids we wore "winter under wear" all winter! They were fleece lined and warm.
DeleteIt is not cool to be coat-less in winter, but it is cold. Lol
ReplyDeleteYes, people could have all kinds of fun with that line.
DeleteYup! Those ideas just keep linking up with each other. The mind is in a perpetual relay race as the baton gets passed around. Just don't drop it Red.
ReplyDeleteMy mind works in overdrive but I'm a very quiet person. Other people can do the talking.
DeleteThat's a great story about George. I never heard of him before, but then again, I'm not Canadian. I only wish I was. :-)
ReplyDeleteGeorge was well known in his day. He was born in 1914
DeleteI don’t remember seeing the photo before but it brought back interesting memories which you shared. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what became of those kids George raised in that little trailer…
When I knew them the oldest son was in college and the youngest son was in gr 12. The daughter was in gr. one . I don't know where they are.
DeleteYou have got a lot of great stories, Red. I didn't know what a tuque was so I had to google it! Now I know! I often learn something new from your interesting posts. Thanks, Red!
ReplyDeleteTuque comes from the French part of us.
DeleteI am wondering if that photo is a Malak Karsh. While he's known for his landscapes, he also did work on people at work.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I know for sure is that it is an Imperial Oil photo. It's a great photo.
DeleteThank you for that interesting bit of history.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy local history.
DeleteI've never seen the photo of George before or read of his story. An interesting, energetic, and hardworking guy.
ReplyDeleteGeorge was actually a low key kind of guy but spoke with authority and conviction.
DeleteI'll take you up on some links here. First, I used to be the kid who didn't wear coats (or boots or anything else) properly for winter. I knew I'd really grown up when I started opting for comfort over "coolness" when going outside in the cold. As for George here, I don' think I've seen that photo though I know of the Leduc #1 story. Indeed, drill bits are huge and heavy and also proof that diamonds aren't nearly as rare as the jewelry people would like us to believe - those bits have diamonds all over them.
ReplyDeleteGreat point about the diamonds on the drill bit...commercial diamonds!
DeleteAn interesting fellow! I have a light weight down parka and I love it, keeps out the wind and cold:)
ReplyDeleteI prefer to use layers.
DeleteRed, thanks for teaching me about a couple of things new to me. First, George, interesting story about that Canadian. Secondly, a brand new word for my 70+ year old vocabulary ... tuque - noun - CANADIAN - a close-fitting knitted stocking cap. I always enjoy a visit to Hiawatha House. :-)
ReplyDeleteSince I've grown up with tuques on my head , I thought everybody knew about tuques.
DeleteAnd that for some reason has got me thinking about the laundry lady where I worked: on seeing some young girls with bare midriffs she said they ought to at least wear a vest.
ReplyDeleteLink, link, link!
DeleteI've never heard of George. But you're right about body heat -- putting on a hat makes a HUGE difference.
ReplyDeleteYes, when we camped in the cold, you always wore your tuque.
DeleteNice slice of history you shared. I go out these days in the cold, I have to dress up warm and would rather overheat than freeze.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting to be a sissy about the cold these days.
DeleteIsn't it funny how one thought leads to another and before you know it you are remembering a great story from your past! Thank you for telling us about George. He certainly does sound like an interesting fellow!
ReplyDeleteGeorge was an authority on oil well drilling.
DeleteI bet they are drilling like crazy today. I find the trailer house story interesting. We had friends that lived in a single wide trailer with five kids. I can't imagine packing them all in small bedrooms. They must have been use to being piled up everywhere. Divorce did happen after the kids were all out of school.
ReplyDeleteThis was a genuinely happy family.
DeleteYes, one idea leads to another, and they can come so fast I forget them. When they start coming, I hurry for the pen and paper to write them down.
ReplyDeleteYou too! Yes, I write things down. My desk is covered with notes.
DeleteWinter clothing? Our son used to wear shorts all winter long when he was growing up in NY, through the cold and the snow and ice. So after he graduates what does he do? He moves to SC where snow and ice are unheard of (and now that he has a job he wears long pants, all through the heat and humidity!)
ReplyDeleteGreat memories of George that came into tour stream of consiousness. And layering is the secret to keeping warm for sure along with those tuques!
ReplyDeleteNot wear a winter coat in Canada? Seriously? I remember kids not wearing a hat in Chicago and there was a story going around that some high schooler got frostbite on his ears.
ReplyDeleteI do love how your mind works, Red.
What a character!
ReplyDeletei enjoyed how you linked up ideas which led you towards George who lived interesting life inn trailer ,sounds cool because i like traveling once in a while :)
ReplyDeleteyes i remember in school days whether it was cool or not girls cared less for warm clothes