WATCH WHAT YOU WRITE, RIGHT?

You have a son or daughter growing up and you have to

wonder what they'll do with their lives. I'm sure my parents

thought the same thing about me and how I'd turn out.

I remember my Dad telling me he didn't expect me to

follow in his footsteps. Me being a preacher's kid.

I had graduated with an arts degree leaving many friends

and family to think I'd become a teacher. A good job but

it didn't catch my imagination.

I was visiting a friend in St. Thomas, south of London

Ontario, when he told me the St. Thomas Times/Journal

was looking for someone to write obits.

The editor must have been desperate at the time because

he hired me without knowing if I'd even graduated from

high school.

Writer's comment: Writing obituaries is a good place to

start in the newspaper business. Accuracy is high on the list.

Spell someone's name in a news story, or get the name wrong

altogether and you've started off a fire storm beyond burning

your knickers.