Rock-a-bye Baby

Ken Stofer-My Life.

FOUL BAY, VICTORIA, B.C. AS A WEE BABY

The telling of this story is not by me, but from memories of my mother's story telling.  It was 1921. At the time my parents lived in Foul Bay, in a rented house right above the beach, on the bank.  Times were tough.   Dad used to go out in a row boat and fish for just about anything he could catch.  He was actually fishing for our next meal. Mom deserved "a break" so I [just a wee baby] always went along with dad in the boat, all tucked up in blankets, practically at dad's feet. 

I was told in later years that the rocking of the boat put me to sleep immediately.  At one time, years later when I could understand, mom told me that I was considered dad's lucky charm.  On one hand I was someone he could talk to, or rather mumble to about the good or bad fishing days, even though my response, if I was awake, was generally just a sort of gurgle.
Whenever I heard that story [and I did hear it many times], I realize what a wonderful experience it was for me, and what a wonderful sleep with rocking of the boat and breathing in of fresh sea air.  It is a wonder I didn't take to the sea and become a sailor. Interestingly enough, I never was fond of the ocean and I never did learn to swim. Many, many years later, as an adult I have never driven by that spot on the Victoria waterfront without recalling all of the story of that time in my parents' life when they were really struggling and I an innocent wee baby in a rocking boat was totally unaware of how desperate they were to make a life for us all; myself and my older brothers, Eric and Reggie.