When I was 13 years old, I was living in Newfoundland, just outside St.John's. We had been assigned a history project on Confederation, and kids were writing about William Lyon McKenzie King, or the original founders of our Country. I thought to myself, but Joey Smallwood lives right here in St. John's, he is the last living Father of Confederation, why don't I do a report on him. Not content with using the information in encyclopedias (Google it, under 30's), the innocence of youth determined that the best source is right out of the horses mouth. So, I looked him up in the phone book (under 30's see above reference) found his number (can you believe it was listed?) and rang him up one Sunday afternoon. "Is Mr. Smallwood there?" I asked. A brief shuffling and he came to the phone. I told him what I wanted to do, oh yes that would be fine, when would you like to come? I said just a minute sir, put my hand over the receiver and shouted into the living room, "Hey MOM, when can I go interview Joey Smallwood?" "Interview Joey Smallwood? Don't be so foolish, get off that phone!" "MOM, I am TALKING to Joey Smallwood RIGHT NOW and he wants to know when I can come and interview him!" PANIC ENSUES IN THE LIVING ROOM! All I hear is my Mom and Dad jumping up off the couch, running around in circles in the living room (to what purpose I am still unsure) and screaming "OH MY GOD! SHE'S GOT THE LAST FATHER OF CONFEDERATION ON THE PHONE! SWEET JESUS WHAT WILL SHE DO NEXT! OH MY GOD! SHE WANTS TO INTERVIEW JOEY SMALLWOOD! JESUS JESUS JESUS! TELL HIM WHENEVER IT"S GOOD FOR HIM!" Baffled by this unusual display of excitability, I arranged to see him for tea the next afternoon. He invited me for dinner, but I declined. Now, I knew this was an important event because: a) my parents flipped out, and b) I was going to be allowed to skip school tomorrow afternoon! Now THAT was an achievement!
I went merrily the school the next morning, informed Mr. Williams, (Mary Queen of the World GO TITANS!) my grade 8 teacher that I was going to do my project on Joey Smallwood, so I needed the afternoon off, and handed him my note. He said, why do you need the afternoon off to do your project? I told him I was going to interview him, or course. To this he smiled at me, patted my shoulder as if to say, sure you are, and put the note in my desk. Well, talk about Ticked Off! He didn't believe me! I had intended to write down Mr. Smallwood's answers to my questions, but I would show THEM! I went to a library, signed out a tape recorder (again, under 30's see above) and got my Dad to stop to pick me up batteries and a fresh cassette..(OK Feeling REALLY OLD right now) and off to interview Mr.Smallwood I went. We pulled up in front of his house where my Father preceded to chain smoke and wait for me. Now, I know you don't know my Father, but this in and of itself was a momentous occassion. My Father NEVER waited ANYWHERE for ANYTHING. This was the point where I started to understand the significance of what was to come. My Father WAITING in the van!
I was welcomed into the house by his daughter I believe, ushered to his study to a large winged back leather chair facing another, and in walked this small but mighty man. You know how some people just have a presence? Joey Smallwood had it in spades. I was brought tea and biscuits, and I set up my little tape recorder, and went down through the list of simple questions that only the naivety of a 13 year old could think qualified as important. I was there for 3 hours. He regaled me with tales and embellishments as only Mr. Smallwood could do. What a yarn that man could spin. This was the only man who, in the history of the world, had talked a country into seceding its sovereignty. No small feat would be an understatement! (Please keep in mind my Father is outside still chain smoking!)
I thanked him for the interview, regrettably turned down his repeat invitation to stay for dinner,(CHAIN SMOKING!) and walked out to the van, which when to door opened, looked like a scene from a Cheech and Chong movie. My Father said not a word. Just drove me home.
The project was due on the Tuesday, so I spent that night going over the tape and writing my report. I called the report "Because It Was There: A Report on Joseph. R. Smallwood and Confederation" I did this because at one point in the interview I had asked Mr. Smallwood why he had wanted Newfoundland to become part of Canada, and he, in his butter wouldn't melt way, replied. "When Sir Edmund Hillary was asked why he climbed Mount Everest, his reply was, "Because it was there."; THAT is why I wanted Newfoundland to become part of Canada." Oh boy! To my 13 year old ears, this sounded like a perfectly rational explanation, not understanding the significance of his answer, so it seemed as good a quote as any for the title. I handed it in,with the copy of the tape attached, and waited for my grade. A few days later, Mr. Williams returned me my tape, and my report, shaking his head and saying, "unbelievable" A+, if I do say so myself!
I later taped Van Halen over the interview.