Lynn's Comments: I had fun showing a family of Japanese descent serving Tacos for dinner. This is part of the fun of living in a country where culture and cuisine are shared easily and often.
Lynn's Comments: This was based on our neighbours in Lynn Lake, who had an elaborate train set in their basement. When I saw it, I thought it belonged to their eldest son, but was surprised to discover that it was the dad who had set it up. This was long before my husband built a model train you could actually ride on! What is it with trains, anyway?
Lynn's Comments: I had a friend in North Bay who would take her zucchini door to door. She had so many growing in her garden that she didn't know what to do with them. It makes me smile now when I go to the grocery store and see tiny, meek little zucchinis for quite a price. I used to get huge ones for free!
Lynn's Comments: When we lived in Lynn Lake, Manitoba, the growing season was so short that people would sprout vegetables in their houses, and when it was safe to do so, would transfer them to heated tents outdoors. We called these determined folks "the intense gardeners." Every year, we had a vegetable growing contest and one year, first prize went to an enormous cabbage proudly submitted by our friend, Thelma. She was soon accused of having purchased the celebrated choux in Winnipeg and smuggling it north for the fair. A loud and frenzied fight had to be broken up right there in the community centre. Yes, if there wasn't enough entertainment in the north…we made our own.
Lynn's Comments: In Ontario, the growing of enormous pumpkins is more than a hobby. It's an obsession. Friends who had a small hobby farm would trade, buy and sell seeds to grow the most prize-worthy "breeds." Vines would be tended with care and the competition was serious.
Lynn's Comments: In the real world, my son was becoming interested in everything from girls to driving to life on his own. He was growing up, and it was getting harder and harder to follow "Michael's story" without including material that might be too close to home.
Lynn's Comments: When the pregnancy story was coming to an end, friends of mine decided to throw a surprise baby shower for my "imaginary baby." I was spirited away from the house long enough for them to cover the front lawn with flamingos and a big stork carrying a baby in a bundle. When I went inside, there was a party all set up with gag gifts, munchies and an open bar. It was a great success. The funny thing is…I never had a baby shower for either of my REAL kids!!
Lynn's Comments: Yup…another bad pun. I often wondered why my editors didn’t ask for a revision. Maybe they were sympathetic…they, too, were controlled by relentless deadlines.