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In 1984 while I was on Katimavik I was stationed in Vancouver for two and a half months. My mother had given me Uncle John's telephone number with the idea that I would give him a call when I had settled in. An uncle that I had not seen in nearly ten years. I never needed it.

While stationed in Vancouver one of my work projects was in a daycare at U.B.C. (University of Brit..blah blah blah). Every morning my group mates and I would take the bus across town to work. Since we got on early in the run we ended up at the back of the bus with nice seats while the masses stood and held on for dear life.

This went on for a week or so when one morning as I was watching people climb aboard I noticed my Grandad's nose get on with a grey haired man I didn't recognize.

I was as suprised as you are while reading this. I watched the man making his way towards the rear of the bus. Sometimes he would be blocked from view by passengers and then re-emerge a few feet closer to me.

I was uncertain what to do. Should I call out John's name and hope for the best? I decided to wait and see if he became more familiar to me as he neared. Nope, the man seemed as foreign at the back of the bus as he did at the front, well except for the nose which by now was screaming at me.

When I could take it no longer I got up and walked over to him saying the customary excuse me's. I asked if he was John Ford telling him at the same time that I was "Rob Dean Colleen Dean's son." as if it were one word.

The man was amused saying that yes he was my Uncle John , how was my mother and that he had just met someone at the front of the bus who was the son of a friend he had not seen in years. He even took my announcement that it was nose that had beaconed, oops, beckoned to me all in stride.

I should of made a casting of that nose.

Comments

Vera Wood said…
Hey Rob,
That story is amazing! And then what happened? You exchanged phone #s? Obviously you kept in touch. I'm so glad that you and Kevin and Fred were so close to Uncle John. I can only imagine how much he enjoyed your company. When I was in Van. for Chris Piggott's wedding, you and Kevin were such a riot. Lucky Uncle John having Grandaddy's nose for you two to 'hook' up.
Loretto said…
Hey Rob:
That story reminds me of the time my family got together before Margaret went down to Cuba to work as a travel rep at a hotel. In the care package she was taking with her was a measuring tape. Well her poor future husband Peter was introduced to the Ford family humour when someone suggested that we measure Dad and Peters noses to determine whose was bigger. I don't know what the verdict was (yes I do, but I won't say) but Peter must have appreciated the humour because he went down to visit Margaret in Cuba and came back engaged!

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