The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.2004, Síða 36

182
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 58 #4
thanked Mother after every meal. He
couldn't understand when Mother tried to
be the least bit independent. Women were
to be protected. He treated the girls the
same way. I remember arguing with him
about driving the car. Women just did not
drive and that was that! (There were 8 girls
and 4 boys in our family.)
Summers at Gimli: Meeting the 7PM
train was a big event. Pabbi would arrive
with fresh fruit. He always made things so
lively. He loved his wee sail boat. (Our cot-
tage was at #2 Lakefront.) One time when
he was out on the lake, there was a sudden
storm. No Pabbi! He arrived home the
next day. He had a real knowledge of sur-
vival, probably from his boyhood experi-
ences in Iceland.
The Good Templar: Pabbi had a great
compassion for anyone in trouble.
Although he never drank, he would help
the problem drinker. He sensed the differ-
ence between social and compulsive drink-
ing-
His many sayings: “Do not publicize
your good works or they will not count.”
Many times I heard him say, “I have done
my best, the rest I leave to God.” Other
sayings he had were, “Never trouble trou-
ble till trouble troubles you.” and “The
love of money is the root of all evil.”
The Story Teller; Pabbi loved to tell
stories about the early days. He'd tell about
the “White Slave Traffic” he was aware of
when he drove his “Hacks” (taxi.) There
were many stories about Margaret Scott
Mission where he took girls that he found
in distress. (We were always warned,
“Don't take chocolates from strange
men.”) There was no doubt a great deal of
truth to his stories but he loved an audi-
ence. He was a real showman and he loved
to entertain.
The 1918 Flu Epicemic: Pabbi went
day and night. Everyone wanted him when
there was a death in the family. Towards
the end of that time, Pabbi and I were the
only ones at our home who were well. One
night he came home very tired and discour-
aged. The phone rang around 2 AM. I went
down to answer it. One of our friends had
died and they wanted Pabbi. I remember
having to waken him. He said he would go.
Then, he started to sob. “When will it
end?” I'll never forget this. My strong,
beautiful father crying like a child. It took
him years to recover from that financial
predicament. Everyone had to be buried
but few could pay.
Sometimes when I have troubles,
instead of giving up, my father's example
has carried me through.
Svava Bardal Kerr - 1906 - 1989.
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