Mom was faced with an unbelievable load in life when our Dad passed away at age 46, leaving Mom with four children and a farm to run. We were milking cows and looked after sheep and chickens. I was fourteen, Ricky had just turned thirteen, Wesley was three and Hugh ten months old.
We lived in Vidir and our kind neighbours put in the crop that spring and helped at harvest time and brought baking home to us.
Mom wanted Ricky to at least get his grade eight so that first winter she hired a girl from Fisher River to live with us and help with the outside chores. Our Afi Albert lived in a little house in our yard and he was helpful in coming to babysit Wes and Hugh. Our Afi was a very good storyteller and he’d sing and yodel to our delight.
Right from the start Ricky was Mom’s right hand man helping her in every way he could. He was working the fields and doing farm chores side by side with Mom.
Ricky learned to knit and shrink the Icelandic socks as they listened to Lux Radio Theatre and Pepper Young’s family on the radio.
A neighbour friend suggested my Mom should apply for Mother’s Allowance and a woman did come to see Mom. When she was told that any money she received would have to be paid back if Mom sold the farm. Mom wanted no part of that and she managed in an unbelievable way.
I can’t even imagine how worried, stressed and played out she must have been at times. She was our hero and a most remarkable person in every way. And right beside her was a stalwart, thoughtful son who gave her his all from age thirteen on.
We were loved and cared for and have our heroes to look up to.
Elma Kozub
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