A Classic Perspective in a Disposable Age – today is our birthday!
It’s the third anniversary of The Broken Typewriter as you see it today.
We’ve grown over the past three years, from my original three local subscribers to hundreds of subscribers throughout northeastern BC, Prince George, Alberta and even some in the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Not bad for a publication that only writes about the BC North Peace!
Along the way I’ve tried different ways to expand and improve, like by adding sports to the list of topics covered – but sports aren’t my jam, sorry. But instead, local financial planner Brad Brain brought his column Smart Money to The Broken Typewriter – a column that you may remember graced the pages of the Alaska Highway News for years before its parent conglomerate shut it down in 2023.
Speaking of newspapers, anyone who used to read the Northeast News back when Bruce Lantz was publisher, just might remember that there was a column in that paper called . . . The Broken Typewriter!
My kids were little at the time, one of them a baby, but I missed writing and wanted to keep my hand in – Bruce embraced the idea of having a column by me, even though it wasn’t something I’d done when I worked for him at the Alaska Highway News and The Northerner. The Northerner had a couple of columnists back in the day – remember Shannon MacKinnon’s Slice of Life, and Gail Lundquist’s Peace River People? I’m not anywhere near as funny as Shannon – I loved her work – but it was a fun thing to do.
And so, The Broken Typewriter was born.
When I stopped writing that column for Bruce – he ran for Mayor of Fort St. John and won in 2008 and had to step back from journalism – I carried on with The Broken Typewriter as a blog, with not just columns, but political opinions and gardening challenges thrown in.
Fast-forward to 2023 when the present incarnation of The Broken Typewriter presented itself to the world.
Since then, you have been with me as I reported on a wide variety of topics and events in the community – from the time the PRRD Committee of the Whole meeting had to be shut down when over 2,000 members of the public showed up to express their concerns; to the efforts to save the North Peace Fall Fair; to the rebirth of the Alaska Highway News when reporter Todd Buck bought it and brought it back to life; to the City’s takeover of the pool project . . . you’ve read what I wrote, shared it and subscribed.
So, I have a couple of Broken Typewriter birthday presents for you, my devoted readers – first up, one of my favourite original columns from the Northeast News – but you’ll have to read to the bottom for the second present!
How does one define a classic? All through school, we’re told that Dickens and Shakespeare are classics. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never read Dickens, although I can spout off some of the more famous quotes. And Shakespeare, well, everyone had to read him, as hard as he is to understand, and I can see where that would be a classic – it’s certainly passed the test of time. But my definition of a classic is somewhat different.
We went to the library the other day. The kids got out nine books, and in addition to the books I got for myself, I borrowed another, which I’d first read when I was about eight years old.
The book is Owls in the Family, by Farley Mowat – my plan was to read a chapter to the kids every night before bed. But that plan changed by the end of the first chapter.
I’d forgotten exactly how funny the book is. I mean, I knew it was funny, in fact, it was the first novel I remember actually laughing out loud at, but right from chapter one, it is hilarious.
The whole family busted a gut, at the part where the one kid put crow’s eggs in his mouth, so he’d have his hands free to climb down the tree. Of course, he fell. It’s a gross image, spitting out pieces of crow’s eggs, but it was just as funny this time, as it was the first time I read it.
Chapter One flowed naturally into chapter two, so I read it too. But when I got to the end of that chapter, they wanted another. Read another chapter Mum, please, they begged. How could I refuse?
I managed to stop at the end of chapter three, after Billy had brought Wol home. The next night, it was the same – but I only read two chapters. They thought it was hilarious, when Wol discovered that “cats make good foot-warmers”, and him hitching a ride on a Shepherd and tearing chunks out of the dog’s ears with his beak, even more so. I can’t wait to see their reactions when we get to the bit where Wol brings a dead skunk home for dinner!
Owls in the Family, is a true Canadian classic. First published in 1961, it’s been around longer than anyone in our house – so it’s old. Yet it’s still hilarious and is a work both kids and their parents can enjoy.
It’s been over 20 years since I last read it, yet it still cracks me up, just as it did the first time. Like Dr. Seuss, it sticks with you and is a much more entertaining read than Shakespeare. I hope Owls in the Family is a book kids are “forced” to read in school – it’ll give our kids a great excuse to read it again. And again, and again, just as I did.
Published in the Northeast News – August 29, 2007
How many of you have read Owls in the Family? Or any of Farley Mowat’s other hilarious works? To this day – and it’s been close to five decades since I first read it, Owls in the Family never fails to crack me up.
But now for the second birthday present – for the next week, all new paid subscriptions are 15% off!
Thanks as always for reading, subscribing and supporting The Broken Typewriter: News & Views in the BC North Peace - I couldn’t do this without you!