Hazel (YOUNG) Cumming
My Life So Far:
I left Nelson in 1957. Vancouver was my destination as my brothers Bert and Ray lived there. Shortly thereafter I met Don Cumming, Burnaby boy. We married in 1958. During the marriage we had daughters Lynn and Slenda and son Bill. Company business had us transferred to Toronto in 1963 and London in 1973. The marriage ended in 1976. I then worked in Hamilton and Toronto.
With my Mom getting older a return to B.C. in 1992 seemed a great idea. I sold all my stuff (except my Royal Doultons), packed up the Chevette and drove home to B.C. I house sat for Maureen Paterson for a spell while she was off on an expedition. I spent that summer enjoying beautiful B.C. Reality set in by September ’92 so I had to get a job. My time in B.C. ended in July 2000. Two things, happy/sad, spurred my return to Ontario. Grandson Kyle was born and daughter Lynn was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Both daughters needed their Mom and my one and only grandchild was not going to grow up without his Gramma. The past three years have presented many challenges. I bought a 1927 cottage and have been broke ever since. But what the heck, it is a cute doll house. I’ve learned that gardening is a good thing!
Family things:
Brother Bert stunned us by dropping dead in August 1998. He retired from Kwantlen College on the Friday. Saturday afternoon he died as he stepped from dock to sailboat. I’m sure he had a calm mind and peaceful heart as he set out for a sail from Burrard dock. I miss my big brother every day. He had a marvelous sense of humour! Spending time with him was always fun and usually a learning experience. My Mom, June Young, died April 24, 2003. Mom lived in Oliver, B.C. after leaving Nelson. She was “Good Citizen of the Year 1989” and worked very hard to make a contribution to the community. Through her efforts thousands of dollars wee raised for the local hospital, Kiwanis Club, and any deserving charity. Mom could always think of ways to raise funds. I expect raising three children on her own was a true test of money management skills! My younger brother Ray is retired and living in Sechelt. He spends his days fishing, gardening and bugging his wife, Irene.
Some Favourite Memories:
Growing up in Nelson was, in hindsight, a blessing. My Mom had to work so we three kids had a lot of freedom. Being a “downtown kid” was I think different than being an “Uphill” or “Fairview” kid. Our environment was the waterfront; we hung out at the boat houses and Government Wharf. We walked the tracks to Lakeside Park, and toured the back alleys looking for empty beer and pop bottles. We also got large cardboard boxes from Kelly Douglas and sold them to MacDonald’s Jam for a few cents each. Cardboard egg cartons were worth two cents each at Bradley’s Meat Market. The butchers often gave us cold wieners to munch on. Brother Bert was a good fisherman so we had lovely trout dinners. At our grandparents’ camp at 3 Mile we learned to row and set fish lines for overnight catches. Quite an illegal practice I think! The Civic Centre was also a destination. Movies, skating, hockey games, library, badminton and another source of revenue! Free entrance to Maple Leaf hockey games and all the free hot dogs we could carry if we toured the bleachers after the game to collect pop bottles. We were industrious little people. No money was handed out so if we needed 12 cents for the Saturday matinee we had to earn it. Nelson was a safe place for kids to explore, play in Cottonwood Creek and generally be free spirits. I always knew if I misbehaved someone would phone my Mom. She had this “little bird” who tattled! We also had the Salvation Army Band Sunday evenings at Ward and Baker Streets, and the monument to Nelson’s first Mayor at Ward and Vernon Streets. A cool drink on one side of the edifice and a horse trough to cool our feet on the other side. I like to say I lived in Nelson when there was water in the horse trough and Cottonwood Creek had not been raped.
School days were a chore. I loved to read, but never did get to liking school. I had to be there but my favourite time of day was 3:30, freedom time!
I look forward to seeing you all again and enjoying the wonderful place we were fortunate to call home – Nelson, B.C.
