Birthday

A short time ago one of this group celebrated her birthday. 70
years ago come 0120 hrs. Tomorrow I arrived on this planet,
( Third rock from the sun ) This event took place in Seal Harbour,
with aunt Maude Carse in attendance.

Tonight on the eve of my birthday, with a celebratory drink of
Chivas by the key board, I go back in memory to some birthdays 
spent far away from that village while I pursued a life at sea, and
of the kindnesses that was displayed by the many people who helped me celebrate.

In 1969 I was sailing in the Canadian Coast Guard ( Garde Coterie
Canadien) as second engineer in CCGS Relay based in Quebec City. My chief was Maurice Gosselin, who lived in Ancienne Lorette. On this particular day we were alongside Quai de la Rien, the CG base. The engine room phone rang around 1030. It was Maurice, who requested that I come up to his cabin, so I got out of the coveralls and boots and made my way forward.

Knocking on his door, I entered the day room to find that Madame
Gosselin was present, she rose, smiled and held out a gift wrapped package, topped with a card, saying "Bon annee, M. Crooks! "
I was stricken dumb for a moment, then managed to thank her in very poor french, and said to Maurice, "How did you know it was my birthday?" to which he replied, "On CG shipsin Quebec, we watch the ships book (log)
and all crews birthdays are observed" After a very pleasant visit itwas time to go back for dinner, where I found two grinning oilers with a 24 of Blue and the chef with a beautiful cake. Made the only Anglo in the crew feel pretty darn good!!

Twenty years ago tomorrow we left Lake Charles, La., with a load
of base oil, for the offshore out of Halifax. I was
chief engineer on "Metro Sun" (now Hamilton Energy) my second was
Fayez (Herman) Ahmad, and it was he who spilled the beans.
Again the oilers came through, with a Texas Mickey of Smirnoff's. 
Not single malt, mind you, but never look a gift horse in the
mouth.

In 1975, I celebrated at Sporstons Wharf in Georgetown, Guyana,
working in 130 degree F temperature in the engine room, while
the turgid yellow waters of the Demerara flowed along the ships side
as it wended it's way northward to the Atlantic.

Good memories of good times spent with good shipmates, so many
years ago.

Don.