Greater Napanee is greater for many reasons and if Avril is #1 then our men are #2. That’s right, I said it: Greater Napanee has real men. Our independent country spirit raises them right. Our men know how to play hockey, fix the car, and catch you dinner. They don’t disrespect our local business-owners or forefathers by demanding new things because they’re respectful country gentlemen who had Mommas who raised them right.
My new boyfriend Dewain had a Momma that raised him right. He’s a business owner, he installs wood stoves, and lives in an off-grid cabin. He catches most of his own food and takes very good care of his truck because it’s old enough that you can still fix it. Well, maybe you can’t but Dewain can. In his spare time he preaches at his church and paints nature scenes. Those artists from the show Walter took me to could learn from Dewain because when he paints a fish or a duck or a deer or a moose you can tell what it is! It’s just like a photograph, like those paintings at the Canadian Tire checkout. And he always comes home from painting with dinner!
People these days don’t understand that art is just a hobby. There is no money in it or pride. Only when you have been successful enough in life to have spare time to do art and be good at it should you do it. All these people sell their fancy condos in the city and come here with extra money to do art and that’s just a shortcut because art is only for distinguished gentlemen like Dewain. What are they going to do if there is an emergency? Have they developed any skills? Dewain doesn’t even have to use electricity, he keeps an antique diesel generator that he restored for fun but he’s earned that electricity when he uses it.
And here’s another thing, kids these days and city people need an engraved invitation to do anything. They’re always asking “can I do this or can I do that!” They should know that if I have to ask it’s too late! It’s not my job to tell you what to do. You know who knows that? Dewain. That’s why Praise! Traditional Fellowship Family Community Gospel Bible Chapel has him preach every other month. They know that young men these days need good role models and Dewain is the best. He knows what I want even before I know it. And I know who I want protecting me when the grid fails.
That’s the thing about the city: they forget that it wasn’t very long ago when people had to be self-sufficient. Life was hard for my parents and my grandparents. It was so hard that they had to form labour unions and demand their rights from those greedy city people. The same city people who are ruining our country today, thinking they don’t have to work hard for a living. My parents didn’t sit back and make art about their struggle, they didn’t whine about how hard or dangerous it was either. They went to work and did their jobs like good citizens. People used to be tougher and they still are here in Greater Napanee, just like Dewain!
-Brenda
