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The Gas Station

“Ding-ding”… The sound of two quick rings of the bell as my bike rolls over the hose… I grew up in “down town” Arichat… when there were 2 hardware stores, a grocery store, a motel, a couple of clothing stores, a take-out, a laundry mat and Lorenzo’s garage. The garage was the hub for kids on bikes; kids walking the shore; kids going to Emile’s for a treat. I can still hear the bell ring as my bike passes over it driving the attendant crazy. “Ding-ding” Lorenzo’s was where I heard some of my first political discussions between my father and Lorenzo who certainly were not of the same persuasion! He was the only person who called my mother Margaret instead of Peggy. We had moved from Ontario, then Dartmouth to Arichat where mom worked in the school system and dad opened a pottery.  Lorenzo and my father were far apart on many things – politics being one of them. But they had a love of airplanes in common – dad had flown in the Navy and Lorenzo worked on “Cansos” in the air force, an amphibious float plane. I know some of these things because Lorenzo spoke to everyone – even the rag muffin artist kid – like they mattered. Because to Lorenzo, everyone did matter. The love and passion for community lives in his kids, his grandchildren and I am sure the generations to come. Many will remember the walker, or the engaged political citizen… I remember the gentle gas station owner who in a time before drop in centres and hyper organized families gave a daytime home to curious, mischievous kids who were part of his Arichat. “Ding-ding” God bless.

Posted by John Ouellette
Friday February 17, 2017 at 7:18 am
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