Page 8 - "The Time We Had for One Another": The Curtis Family & Songs

ISSUE : Issue 55

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1990/8/1

little switch. Well, sometimes it would be Neil boys around home. There would be John there when they'd return. He'd add a lit? tle more to it on the way back in. It seemed that's the way he used to put them together. I suppose he'd write it so he'd remember it.... (You were telling me about the crowds that would come into your home. You were saying it was so crowded that there weren't enough chairs?) Many times, especially during the Christmas holidays--and not on? ly during the Christmas holidays--many times we've seen that: there wouldn't be enough chairs for everyone to sit on. And they'd go out to the woodpile and bring in blocks--big blocks for people to sit on. Sit there around the fire in the winter, and Daddy would sing. (They were) mostly Daddy's generation. But then, too, there were many times when my age group came in. You know, like the Mac- Bay Natural Foods "For Your Health's Sake Buy Natural Foods" Great Selection of Vitamins and Minerals Beer- and Wine-Making Supplies Bulk Herbs and Spices by the Ounce or Pound C. O. D. Orders Accepted by Mail or Phone ( HOME L BAKING J GLACE BAY 35 Commercial Street 849-4387 SYDNEY Across from K-Mart, toward Schwartz 539-6767 NORTH SYDNEY 204 Commercial Street 794-3353 THE HARVEST BIN 222 Charlnttft St Syrinfty 564-8461 _ Boutiliers' Music Shops "We're people you can talk to Dealers for Quality Brand Name Pianos • Guitars • Electronic Keyboards • Dutch Church Organs Angus and his brothers. They loved those songs, too, just loved them. And Jean Burton and John Burton and all those around the Bay. There weren't too many, really, who didn't come in and enjoy. (Was your father usually the centre, or was it your father and your mother?) Well, I think Daddy, much more so. Yeah. There were times when probably a couple of guys would come in with a bottle. And probably Mum would be tired, you know, and she wouldn't probably want to sing, or maybe wanted to go to bed, you know. But he'd stay there and sing for them, till they decided to leave. And he sang much more than Mum did. Because I suppose she was raising a family, she would be tired probably at night. You know what I mean. I'm sure there were times she didn't feel like singing. Although there were thousands of times he sang that he didn't have a drink or any? thing. But I think it was when they had a bottle and--you know, it seemed it was the thing to do. "Let's go to Curtises to hear Jimmy Curtis sing." And if he had a drink, he could, you know, put that much more in it. That was very obvious. If Dad had one or two drinks, he could sing and sing. He could sing all night. No one I've ever met enjoyed a drink like Daddy did. He loved to drink. Although I say he put more in his songs, I think, if he had a drink--I thought so anyway --he never changed. His at? titude never changed, if he had 2 drinks or 3 drinks or 4 drinks--he was exactly the same. Probably'd talk a little more. We sell a complete line of top quality musical instruments and accesso? ries. Visit our showroom and try the products for yourself. You will like 'the variety and price. Layaway plan available. No interest for 2 months.' Music Keyboards Guitars Reeds Strings Horns Violins Bagpipes Ctianters Amplifiers PA Systems All Supplies ~ We're Open Monday through Saturday Cape Breton Shopping Centre 39 Keltic Drive Sydney River, N. S. ,00.00 B1S1P4 >l. stora ??562-0018 Cape Breton's Finest Locally-Owned Musical Outlet PA Rentals Piano & Guitar Instruction (Do you think that method of entertainment kind of excluded women? Am I cor? rect- -that it would be mostly men with your father at that time?) Yes. But, you know, if there was like a gathering of friends or that sort of thing, they always sent for Mum and Dad to come. (Oh, in other homes.) Right. To sing for them. And to enjoy them as well. But they were always included in anything that LeBlanc Siding Ltd. Island Vinyl Siding Ltd. Authorized Dealer for ATAvnAN Aluminum & Vinyl Siding ' Aluminum Windows & Doors Shutters / Softfit / Fascia / Awnings 109 Reservoir Road SYDNEY Professional installation of Aluminum & Vinyl Siding in Cape Breton for over 15 years. Free Estimates forR.R.A.P., N.S.H.C, & C.M.H.C. Programs, and all ottier siding inquiries. Call Collect: SONNY MacPHERSON 539-4626

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