Sitting outside Garrison Golf Club waiting for the GM to show up so I can join the Club. This is where it all started for me. 1977 I was posted to 1CSR as a Cook. What I didn't know at the time was how fortunate I was to have been posted to Kingston. An Alberta country boy at the tender age of 17 going from the family farm to the big City. Ok, not as big as Edmonton or Toronto but compared to Hylo Alberta, Kingston was big enough for me. It didn't take me long to get comfortable with my surroundings before the end of the year I was a frequent guest at both the Junior Ranks Mess and Muldoons an Irish bar down by Kingston Marina. Over the next 4 years I would have the time of my life. In my opinion Kingston was the quintessential jumping off point for a young soldier providing ample opportunity to explore the beauty of the 1000 islands and serve as a dedicated soldier in an army environment. This lad needed and thrived on army discipline. Over the next 4.5 years I would take part in many field exercises and be part of European Reforger Exercises, Mapping and Charting expedition's on Baffin Island and Rendezvous 81 in Gagetown. Kingston is where I met and married my beautiful and wonderful wife of the past 40 years. Coming back here last year was as much sentimental as it was to support her father whom I might add has as much zest and energy today as he did 20 years ago. Probably one if not the best man I have ever been fortunate enough to know. He retired a Sergant Major after 38 years in the service. I still call him "Sir."

Its getting on to 8 am here I'm off to find the GM of Garrison write him a hefty cheque and with luck I'll be on the links by 8:45. Cheers to all, hope you're staying vigilant, healthy and safe.

Dan