Jim E. Beer
Bio
I was raised outside of Ancaster, Ont. I write about what I know and what I've survived. I hope you enjoy what you read. Leave a comment and feel free to tip. There is an option to do so at the end of each story if you feel so inclined. Jim
Stories (21/0)
Fishing
Jim’s Woods – Fishing. Fishing was a big part of my childhood. Not because I needed to catch fish for food. Not even because I liked catching them to eat them at all, but just because it was fun. It was fun and it gave me a reason to get outside and interact with nature. Even when we lived in the city, I took every opportunity to go fishing that arose, as few as those opportunities were.
By Jim E. Beer2 years ago in Wander
Up the tracks and back the tracks and SF's
Jim’s Woods – Up the tracks and back the tracks and SF’s. Since we now lived in the country, I'd prefer to just wander about, or sit and listen to all the different bird songs and calls. The ‘chirr’ from dozens of crickets all at once and far-off cows lowing. The haunting sound of a train whistle, miles away in the distance. I'd often wander down the tracks, inhaling the evening smells of fresh mown hay, distant cow manure and the spicy odors of wild herbs and wild flowers growing alongside the tracks in the ditch. It was dreamy, it felt like a dream...
By Jim E. Beer2 years ago in Wander
Disco Boy
Jim’s Woods Summer 1978 – Dunmark Park, Jerseyville/Alberton Area. Disco Boy. In case you hadn’t caught it in my last tale, I used to be into disco. I was ten years old and the movie 'Saturday Night Fever' had left a big impression on me. Huh? What? I'm not the only one? Phew, good okay, now I don't feel so embarrassed. Anyway, one day my Pop had come through Jerseyville to pick me up, so that we could spend time together. It always felt surreptitious to me, when my Pop would pull into our driveway with his Volkswagon van. I still love the sound of those engines, when you grow up with them, it is a very familiar and heart warming sound. My Pop, Randy, drove nothing but VW beetles or vans since I was little, until he moved to Thunder Bay, then he switched to a Lada, cuz they could handle the winters.
By Jim E. Beer2 years ago in Confessions
Hitch Hiking
Hitchhiking: Part 2. Summer 1983 From 2625 Jerseyville road west, to C.H. Bray elementary school, Ancaster On. Yes, by the following summer, hitch hiking along Jerseyville road, was well established by ‘me’ and myself alone. I never, ever, saw anyone else hitch hiking on the road. Saw a few people walking, or riding bikes though. One of the few people I’d often see walking along the road was Richard Klimowski. He was the guy that if you’d honk at him driving by, he’d stop walking, grin and point at you as you’d drive past. His finger following your car. Always made me laugh as a passenger...still does, just thinking about it! He romantically, brought my mother a hand picked bouquet of flowers one early summer’s eve...sweet, but he knew damn well my mother was married.
By Jim E. Beer2 years ago in Wander
Hitch hiking
Hitchhiking: Part 2. Summer 1983 From 2625 Jerseyville road west, to C.H. Bray elementary school, Ancaster On. Yes, by the following summer, hitch hiking along Jerseyville road, was well established by ‘me’ and myself alone. I never, ever, saw anyone else hitch hiking on the road. Saw a few people walking, or riding bikes though. One of the few people I’d often see walking along the road was Richard Klimowski. He was the guy that if you’d honk at him driving by, he’d stop walking, grin and point at you as you’d drive past. His finger following your car. Always made me laugh as a passenger...still does, just thinking about it! He romantically, brought my mother a hand picked bouquet of flowers one early summer’s eve...sweet, but he knew damn well my mother was married.
By Jim E. Beer2 years ago in Confessions
Jerseyville Hill
Every summer they held the 'Strawberry Social' here at Jerseyville United Church. I think it was $2 or less to get in for the supper. All you could eat turkey, potato salad, mini-marshmallows In Jell-O etc...and huge amounts of Strawberry shortcake with whip cream for dessert. There were games and hayrides... Mr. Calder would fire up his steam tractor to pull a hay-wagon for us kids to ride around the village and up Fields road. We'd know he was ready to start on his way to the church from up Sunnyridge road, because we could hear the whistle blasting loud and clear.
By Jim E. Beer2 years ago in Wander
