As Time Goes Bye

About the Book

A story of faith. The story starts from a child's early life on a farm and progresses through the twenties and thirties to outbreak of World War Two. The girl's curiosity drives her through many adventures on the farm. An explosion claims the lives of the young parents, 34 & 39. Her mother succumbs to the burns six hours later her father dies of concussion.

The thirteen year old, eldest of six children, struggles to deal with the aftermath of an estate without a will. She challenges her aunt in court, and the children become wards of the welfare system. They are advised to consider their siblings dead with their parents. Four are placed in separate foster homes. The toddler and a nine year old brother remained in hospital, having suffered major burns.

The narrator describes her sojourn of four years with three foster families. The many real-life adventures she experiences are true and told in detail. Some are hilarious, some are dangerous and life-threatening, but all are building blocks of a strong and down-to-earth character that reflects a part of the growth of the country. The author gives colourful descriptions of beautiful landscapes, of changing skyscapes and endless horizons with seasonal phenomenon of weather.

As a youngster, she was greatly influenced by her father as she followed him whenever possible while her mother and hired girl (nanny) cared for the house and siblings. Her father taught the importance of observation and use of all six senses. Her natural talents surged forth as she tried to capture the scenes and images around her with keen attention to detail. She is attuned to the subtle opalescent lighting of the prairie atmosphere. Dawn, twilight, and daytime colours demand her sensitivities, and nights that are enhanced by the explosion of Northern Lights implanted feelings that are expressed in her paintings, especially the filtered mists and promises of sunlight in her forest scenes. Her father also sets an example of Faith. Faith in God and Man, Faith in Nature and Oneself. Truth and obedience were expected of his family. Above all there was love and the joy of working beside each other.

The narrator has to come to terms with her emotions and concerns. She has to learn to read the personalities of the people she lives with and blend into the atmosphere like a chameleon, to stay in the background and not cause a disturbance that would bring on disapproval, particularly at her second foster home. Her positive nature and faith serve her well, through adventures and responsibilities. She finds joy in nature, animals and people who respond to her ever-present smile and song. Her main concern is the need for an education to fill the desire to fly about in the endless skies; to travel and perchance cross paths with her siblings.

Plans make a quick turn about when Britain declares war as Lila makes her way to Regina and Scott Collegiate. There she sees the door open to her dreams of flying when "The Commonwealth Air Training Scheme" is established in Regina within walking distance of Scott Collegiate.

This book, the first of a trilogy, launches the author into a life of learning, excitement and adventure, at a time when a person treasured the day and accepted whatever tomorrow would bring.
-L.R. (Melnik) Young

About the Author

Lila was born on a farm near Arelee, a small town west of Saskatoon. The eldest of six children, she had to set an example of behaviour. Her talented parents encouraged creativity. Drawing took precedence over her instructions on the accordion. She also loved to dance.

Art remained her major interest followed by reading and writing poetry on a whim. In 1938, Lila was offered a full scholarship to Edinburgh, which was blocked by a travel ban for civilians across the atlantic, necessitated by military use and danger of German underwater torpedo U-boat.

Post war marriage responsibilities took precedence over her art, reducing it to a few shows and well-known commissioned works of trees. Lila's "closet writing" took her to UVIC, where Robin Skelton, an international poet of renown called her a 'lyricist' and she gained a double major BFA in Creative Writing and Fine Art.
-L.R. (Melnik) Young