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| Lloydie on wheels. Making good use of my step-brother’s old bike. Sometime in the 1980s. |
I still remember our first glimpse of this man who was to become such an important part of our lives, a farmer and a widower we’d been told, arriving to take my mum to dinner on their first date. Our mum who had never been on a date before, not in our memory anyway. I remember our anticipation, my sisters and I crowding into the bathroom to fix our hair, the knock on the door of our apartment, Lloyd appearing in the living room wearing a suit, topcoat, and hat. We sat on the sofa sizing him up, and discussed him endlessly after Mum ushered him out the door. “A hat! He wears a hat! Like Humphrey Bogart. How old fashioned,” we shrieked. Teenagers are so judgemental. Poor Lloyd.
I remember how we laughed when we heard that his friends and neighbours called him Lloydie. It seemed an odd diminutive for an old fashioned name. And we laughed even harder when we heard that in the small rural community where he, and later all of us, lived there were three men named Lloyd. And everyone referred to them as farmer Lloydie, backhoe Lloydie, and ferry Lloydie. Our Lloyd was “ferry Lloydie” because he ran the farmer’s ferry in the summer. I did too eventually, as a kind of summer-replacement help. But that’s another story, and one I’ve told before.
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| View of the Saint John River from the farmers’ ferry |
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| Part of Lloyd’s old mill, ramshackle once again |
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| Lloyd walking me down the “aisle” at my wedding. Wonder what happened to the rest of his tie. |
I remember their wedding. The reception at my grandparent’s house, my uncles marking the places at the table for the bride and groom with brand new, shiny, matching pitchforks, decorated with pink and blue ribbons. Such jokers, my uncles. Then the happy couple drove off on their honeymoon with one of my sisters in the back seat. They were driving her back to school in another city before heading out for … wherever they went. Where did they go, anyway? I have no recollection. I was too excited about my new kitten, the prospect of moving to the farm, and that tiny back bedroom with its own staircase down to the kitchen which would soon be mine.
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| Mum and Lloyd and the hay wagon. |
What a perfect step-parent Lloyd was. And how seamlessly our two families fit together. To me, as a kid, it seemed such an easy transition. But when I think about it, the huge transformation that took place in both Mum and Lloyd’s life must have been difficult.
Mum, after years as a single parent, moving lock, stock, and barrel into someone else’s house. The endless hours of work she put in sprucing up the old farmhouse, papering and painting, plus adjusting to a new husband after many years alone. And Lloyd, taking on a whole family, a new wife and four kids. Granted my brother was married by then, and both sisters were away at school during term time. The first winter that Mum and Lloyd were married my brother had a brain tumour, and had to be flown home from Newfoundland,where he and his young family lived, to be operated on in Saint John, and then home to us on the farm to recuperate. That would be a difficult winter for everyone. And Lloyd, he just took it all in stride, supported my mum, and made room for one more.
It’s hard to believe that my kind, strong, endlessly patient stepdad has been gone for ten years. But we have so many wonderful memories, that, really, it’s like he never left us.
I thought of him when I heard this on the radio today. A song about cows. You know, as a kid it seemed as if everything was better when we moved to the farm. I guess I think everything is better with some cows around. And I know he thought that too. Have a listen.
I’ve so many stories about Lloyd and our life on the farm, far too many to tell in one post, so I’ll stop now. I’m not writing a book, you know. I guess what I really wanted to say is:
♫ Happy Birthday, dear Lloydie ♫
Wherever you are,
may you always have cows around.
Love,
from Hubby and me.
Thanks to the CBC radio program “Q” for playing that song by the “Hurtin’ Albertans.” I love that show, and I think it’s so cool that the executive producer is the son of my good friend Susan.
22 thoughts on “Everything is Better With Some Cows Around”
Always my favourite posts Sue , your family memoirs – beautiful writing , I’d buy that book . Isn’t it strange how paths crossing can be so important & life changing for everyone . Sometimes good , sometimes not so good . How lucky for you all that they came upon each other .
Wendy in York
Thanks, Wendy. Lucky for all of us that our families were blended. I thing all step-families are not so lucky.
In Alberta we often talk about "Corbie" Lund. Like Lloydie.
Ha. Love that song. And the name of the band… Hurtin' Albertans… I think it was.
I listened to that song as well, and it brought a smile to my lips, as did this loving recollection of your wonderful stepdad.
Thanks, Cosette. I love that song; it makes me smile too.
Such a loving tribute to a "man like they hardly make anymore". My daughter would feel likewise about her stepfather – my husband now. He's been a modern version gem.
That's lovely for your daughter. You must have chosen well:)
Such a lovely post. He seems like the kind of man we mourn to have lost not only himself, but in a larger scope.
And, if you don't mind a somewhat shallow aside, I love the bouquet you carried at your wedding:).
Thanks, Lisa. Lloyd was a stalwart member of our small rural community, that's for sure.
P.S. My bouquet was just daisies and baby's breath with a white silk ribbon. I didn't want a formal bouquet.
What a great title for a post and how beautifully you've written about your stepdad. He always comes across as such a lovely man and how lucky you were to have him in your life. The cow song was a suitably quirky touch!Iris
Thanks, Iris. I think Lloyd would have loved that song.
Lovely tribute to your step-father….the influence of a caring person in our lives is felt for many years whether they are related biologically or not. He seemed to be a gem of a human being and his loss is indeed a true loss. Cheers, Alayne
He was a gem indeed. Thanks, Alayne.
Sweet story Sue. Lloyd sounds like a man with a big heart with lots of love to share! You were blessed with a kind stepfather!
I have memories of visiting my grandparents who live "at the farm". The adventures I had. One fond memory is walking thru pastures, looking for spring flowers with my mom and aunts. The cows were grazing. I was never comfortable with that. I perfered to be on the other side of the fence looking in! Ha!
Have a good one!
Robin
He was the best, Robin.
Re: walking in pastures… my mum never was never comfortable walking where the cows were. Even after 40 years on the farm.
Wonderful stepfathers are such a gift. A man (or woman in the case of stepmothers) who is able to take on a new spouse and child/children with grace and love shows remarkable character. My husband is a stepfather, and it has always amazed me that he sees no difference between his stepson and his son by birth. Three cheers for Lloydie!
Thanks, Lynn. I think that neither David nor I ever felt that Mum or Lloyd favoured one of us over the other. That must be hard to do when one child is your own and the other not.
Always so nice to read about your childhood memories. Lovely recollection of your stepdad-he really seems special, nice and kind man- your fondness of him lights every story.
I liked that song (and cows and horses,when I was little. Now,I'm afraid of them)
Dottoressa
Thanks Dottoressa. Hubby and I have been thinking of you as we watch the World Cup… well… he watches, and I ask for updates. We'd love to see Croatia in the final.
Thank you <3!
Me too!
So long, so good! So proud!
D.
What a wonderful way to honor this brave, hardworking man. Every "step parent" should be so fortunate.
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