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Preface

The main source of inspiration in writing this book came from my Dad. He taught me to embrace life through the simple things. Yet, there was a depth and purpose in what he taught me; faith in God, commitment to family, and pride in one’s work.

In a sense this book is a biography of my Dad. It is written ina short story form, in the way that he described life’s events as they happened to him. The book is a small reflection of the man I have known and loved.

Although Dad died on July 13, 1993, he has enriched my life forever. This book, I hope, portrays the person, Alphy, as he was. He wasn’t perfect, and often was non—compromising, but he had the ability to face life’s obstacles ‘square in the eye’ without flinching and never avoided responsibility. Dad was also strong in self expression and always spoke his mind. It didn’t matter if he was right or wrong, he always gave his opinion. It didn’t matter if you were right or wrong, he always gave his opinion.

Dad expected a lot, but he gave a lot in return. There was no excuse for shirking responsibility. Below the rough exterior, there was a genuine depth, and a vulnerability that he seldom ‘gave away’.l was fortunate enough to get a glimpse of this vulnerable soul on a rare occasion, during his eightieth year, when a neighbour died. She was a young mother who had an eight year old son. My Dad related this to his own experience as a child. He told me how he had lost his mother at the age of seven, and as he talked, he wept like a child. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry. It had been over seventy years since he had lost his own mother, Eleonore, yet the emotions were as strong as if it had just happened. The tears trickled down his face, and his body trembled.

If there is but one word that best describes my Dad it is “loyal”. Dad was very loyal to his wife and children. But his loyalty was also very deeply rooted in the past. Perhaps his most profound loyalty was to his mother, Eleonore (Poitier) Doucette. This story begins with her.