Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Monday, March 18, 2013

Counting Noses

Excuse me, Sir . . .

Census.
That process, every few years, when the Government gets to perform ‘roll call’.
So to speak.
In 1981, Mom applied for, and was awarded, the job of Census supervisor.
The job entailed working closely with a team of women who quickly became her friends.
The work was, for the most part, fairly mundane, as each of the women went door-to-door, collecting information on who lived there.
There were a few ‘hold-outs’.
And one or two downright nasties.
But the group managed to get the work done.
Noses counted.
And reports filled out.
It was time to celebrate.
Mom suggested that they all go out for a commemorative Chinese Food dinner.
Reservations were made.
The women gathered.
Eating and hilarity ensued. Mostly at my Mom’s expense as her co-workers proceeded to ‘roast’ their good-natured and long-suffering boss who had become such a good friend.
The end of the meal approached and fortune cookies were duly delivered to their table.
Each person seated there selected one.
Then they made a game of standing and reading their fortune aloud.
Finally, it was Mom’s turn.
She got to her feet.
There was a breathless pause.
(Hey, it’s my story; I’ll tell it how I want . . .)
Mom grinned. “Oh, this is entirely appropriate,” she said. “It’s time to make new friends.
Who says you can’t find truth in a fortune cookie?

9 comments:

  1. Your mom sounds like someone who made friends wherever she went...much like my own mom. I'd like to think they have met up somewhere in the great beyond.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure they have! Maybe my mom was conducting a census?

      Delete
  2. Good one!

    We always end our Chinese fortune with the words, "in bed". They are usually funnier.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I didn't know how miserable people could be at census time until Kristi took on the job. She was assigned to go out in the country and she stopped at the farms of people she knew and got the chilly treatment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People can be so strange. That's why I like them so much . . . they're interesting!!

      Delete
  4. That is a job I would not want to do. People confuse their feelings about the census with their feelings about the census-takers. Your mom's fortune cookie was excellent cosmic timing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think counting heads is an annoying intrusion, but I see the necessity so just answer the questions and mail the form back. My problem lies with the government not doing much with the information. For instance, with several thousand new people in an area who all intend to stay, don't you think they'd realise an upgrade of infrastructures would be necessary? But nothing gets done, roads are not rebuilt or repaired, public transport is not increased, schools are not upgraded, etc

    ReplyDelete
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