They had a fun relationship, socialized with a number of close friends, 
     
     maintained close ties with their extended families and were actively 
     
     involved in the life of their community. They both appreciated traditional 
     
     and old—time music, and on special occasions would go dancing to 
     
    

    
     the music of Les Alexander and his orchestra. According to Kathleen, 
     
     Bill was a better dancer than she, but they equally enjoyed getting out 
     
     to events such as these. They were a popular couple, and had many 
     
     close friends who would drop in for an evening of conversation — and 
     
     cards. They were close to their children and actively involved in each of 
     
     their various activities. They enjoyed life, and one another. Despite his 
     
     sometimes busy schedule, Bill made the effort to come home to lunch 
     
     every day. Michael recalls coming home one day to find them dancing 
     
     around the kitchen. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The one rough spot they encountered took place in the early 1960s. Bill 
     
     had developed a drinking problem, and would on occasion go on a binge, 
     
     sometimes for days at a time. On occasion, the city police would take 
     
     him home, and once Kathleen had to go to Halifax to bring him back. 
     
     She managed to keep the problem largely shielded from their children; 
     
     once, when he failed to return home where they were waiting for him to 
     
     go to the Old Home Week activities, Kathleen took them on her own. 
     
    
   
   
    
     As the problem worsened, Kathleen became increasingly desperate. With 
     
     seven children under the age of 17, and pregnant with an eighth, she 
     
     considered whether she should begin to look for a job in the event that 
     
     Bill might lose his. Despite her best efforts, Bill’s drinking problem was 
     
     getting worse, although she never once contemplated leaving him. 
     
    
   
   
    
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