between a good and a bad haircut. They didn’t make it to Weatherbies, 
     
     until several years later. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Birthdays became significant events. Relatives would come in from 
     
     Kinkora and Emerald. Gifts included mitts, scarves or something else 
     
    

    
     of a practical matter. The birthday cake perpetuated a family tradition. 
     
     If a sting was found in the cake, the recipient might become a tailor. If 
     
     there was a medal, the recipient might become a priest. One custom that 
     
     Kathleen introduced was wrapping coins in waxed paper and placing 
     
     them into the batter. Each piece of the cake yielded a treasure to the 
     
     delight of the recipient. 
     
    
   
   
    
     With such an active and outgoing family, involved in work, sports, travel 
     
     and a host of other activities, it is remarkable they all remained safe 
     
    

    
     and healthy. However, a serious incident involving one of the brothers 
     
     occurred at Easter in 1988. Stephen, who was living in Toronto at the 
     
     time, was driving with his wife Aileen when their car was sideswiped 
     
    

    
     by another car that crossed the median. The other car struck Stephen’s 
     
     Honda just behind the driver’s door, splitting it in two. Stephen was 
     
     rushed by ambulance to the Toronto General Hospital and, because of 
     
     his serious injuries, was admitted immediately to the intensive care unit. 
     
     Miraculously, Aileen escaped unharmed. 
     
    
   
   
    
     When Bill got the phone call informing him of the accident, he called 
     
     Michael, asking him to go to Toronto to be with Stephen. Bill again 
     
     called Michael in the middle of the night, telling him that Kathleen 
     
    

    
     was determined to go as well. They both arrived at the Toronto General 
     
     Hospital the neXt day where their worst fears about the severity of 
     
     Stephen’s injuries were confirmed. Michael was so disturbed by the 
     
     appearance of his brother on life support, bandaged, hooked up to 
     
     monitors, tubes and other medical devices, that he initially had to leave 
     
     the room. Kathleen stayed close by Stephen’s side until eventually he was 
     
     able to sit up in bed on his own. 
     
    
   
   
    
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