I went to General Panet High School on the army base in Petawawa, Ontario. Although the school building is gone now, there are still reunions every five years. In honour of the reunion scheduled for this year in May, I submit this excerpt from my book “Camp Follower One Army Brat’s Story.” After a move … More Petawawa: Exerpt from “Camp Follower”
More insights that I could not have imagined while working for a paycheque, taking my youth for granted. Money versus Health? Health. Money represents what we want, what will make us happy, what we strive for in youth. With age, we are happy getting out of bed without a new ache in our back. With … More More Retirement Lessons
It’s above freezing today in Gatineau and Ottawa! Is spring on the way? Here are 5 ways I can tell: 5. Winterlude is over.. 4. We’re still looking at cheap flights south, but maybe think we can hang on! 3. Everyone is wearing new winter boots and coats, cuz they’re all on sale now! 2. … More Top Signs that Spring is coming in Ottawa!
The Olympics are on! I never think I’ll get so excited, but have already started recording and adjusting my sleep and TV watching time to follow them. And I realized, again, that I have more life lessons to learn, especially about retirement. Here is another perk about this new phase of life that I’m learning… … More Retirement Lesson from the Olympics
I didn’t… until I wrote one myself! I always thought memoirs were boring and tedious: “I was born here and lived there…I did this… I did that…I’m more fascinating than you…” Except for very historical biographies, I had no interest at all in reading about the latest celebrity opinions and breakthrough stories of unrealistic people … More Who Reads Memoirs?
Camp Follower One Army Brat’s Story by Michele Sabad has been out for a couple of months. Enough people have been reading it that I’m getting some feedback, and I’m pretty pleased with the response so far. In addition to the verbal comments, I’ve had written reviews on both Amazon and in various publications that … More Why I Wrote Camp Follower: Bearing Witness
In 2018, I will have been retired for 2 years already! Where does time go? Of course, if you read this blog, you know I spent the first year and a half writing and publishing my first book, a memoir, (see stevieszabad.com/books). But lately, before I get rolling on my next writing idea (novel? what … More Retired? Year 2. Surprises
This old grain elevator from Killarney, Manitoba was torn down in 2017. It’s not sad; it was a majestic structure that served its purpose in its day. It makes a dramatic picture, taken with prairie storm clouds gathering behind. I was in Killarney that June day to respect another passing in 2017, that of my … More 2018 is here. Look Forward but Remember Backward.
When I was writing my book Camp Follower, I noticed that the moves of my military life seemed always to be “polar” opposites (pun intended) in terms of the type of weather. Calgary in winter to cloudy Germany. Germany to Goose Bay. Anywhere in the dry prairies to anywhere in humid southern Ontario. But in … More Weather or Not
2017 was a wonderful year for me – I finished my first book, and got it published. (Whew, so much said about that in so few words!) Anyway, I also found time in 2017 to take a few trips (Las Vegas, Virginia Beach, Tennessee, to name the tourist spots; Picton and Prince Edward County for … More My 2017 Reading List
Stevie Szabad, Author 