T Rychliwsky

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I was born in Fort William Ontario in February 1962, at McKellar General hospital.

I have heard family history, about living on Simpson street, which still exist in Thunder Bay Ontario. We lived in an apartment, across the street from a local drug store. This is close to what locals called the subway, which is, a way of walking to an area of Thunder Bay called the east end. What you do, is walk beneath the railway yard, in this underground crossway.

I have seen photos of myself with a sling on my left arm. In the photos I am about 12-18 months old. I took it upon myself to explore and climb while my mother was on the phone. I got on top of the refrigerator, and managed to break my collarbone. This occurred while we were living in the apartment.

A story I use to hear was I put on my rubber boots, because they were easy to put on, and cross the street. This street is a side street so it was not too busy. I would wait for someone entering the pharmacy, and enter with those people. I would then wait for a staff member to notice me, and give me a lollypop. Once I received my lollypop I would return home. I still enjoy candy to this day.

My parents and I moved to First avenue in Port Arthur, where we lived with my Baba and Dido, since it was their home originally. I have seen photos of my grandparents on my father's side in the large garden in the back of the house. In some of those photos I have observed a side building, which I have been told housed rabbits. I enjoy seeing these photos of large cabbages, cucumbers, and mounded garden beds. I still enjoy fermented cabbages, and cucumbers.

I vaguely recall my Dido, but I do recall my Baba so fondly! I have seen photos with the old woodstove in the kitchen on First avenue, and my Baba cooking. We were close her, and I. My first language was actually Ukrainian, because we interacted together.

There is another another family story which I love about going to kindergarten and almost not getting in because the teacher asked me to identify a cabbage and I replied in Ukrainian. I guess my love for cabbage has been a interesting one over a lifetime.

I have seen photos, of the house on First avenue, raised onto railway ties, with my father digging out the basement. We have more photos of that basement once it has been poured and finished.

I recall a cat I found and adopted, which we named Marmaduke, after the dog in the comic strips. I found Marmaduke by the baseball diamond along my pathway to school. Marmaduke, was just wandering by the baseball diamond, but he had a ball shaped protrusion in the middle of his body. I thought it was odd and of course had to bring him home. Of course my parents were not to impressed I suspect, but I wasn't told that. Marmaduke became a member of the family. Years later I was told Marmaduke had a hernia, which got repaired. I have photographs or Marmaduke and I in the finished basement.

My first school was Queen Elizabeth public school. I am afraid to say that even in kindergarten, I may not have been the best student. I recall another story about not quite making it to school after a snow storm. I found a friend Anna W who lived on Winnipeg avenue, while walking to school. We did not make it to our kindergarten class that day because we had to much fun playing in the snow. I also recall at Queen Elizabeth school that our teacher put on Hawaiian type music and most of the class did hula type dancing, but I didn't want to be like everyone else so I did some Ukrainian dance steps, I knew. I did not want to conform at a young age. I also recall at Queen Elizabeth school riding tricycles at the front of the school. Our family grew a bit, I had a baby brother.

Our moved to different location in Thunder Bay Ontario, McDougall street. I attended St. James Public school until grade 8. I had to take a school bus to St. James. I caught the bus a block away from home, but the bus ride was about 15 blocks .While attending St. James I recall having one teacher in particular for about 3 years in a row; Miss Klein. I gained numerous friendships at this school, which continued into high school.

Another pair of teachers I recall in St. James public school are Miss Credton, and Mr. Charles, I know it was a split class, and I was in the younger grade. I have a memory of health class where we had to improve a dating situation, I recall this is how I demonstrated my comedic self and gained more life long friendships.

For grade 9 to grade 13, I attended Lakeview high school, which was within walking distance of home. The high school was also within walking distance of Boulevard lake. I skipped school a few times, sorry to say, but I graduated. The toughest subject for me in high school was math (Functions and relations) .

My rebellious nature was truly showing it's ugly face as of senior high school. I also got my first job while in senior high school, I started at Kresge department store, at the lunch counter. I switched employers again while attending senior high and began working at Eaton's in the cafeteria. This is where I met my future husband. He regularly came in for coffee. I asked him out for a date, and we went out a few times, until I moved in with him. My parents were not happy with this behavior form me. I entered Confederation college into the 2 years radiology technician program that August while David and I lived together. I graduated and got married the same month and year August 1983.