When I was nine years old and I moved to Canada, Never Cry Wolf was one of the first books that my grandfather gave me. He said, “Son, you will devour this book. I know how much you love nature. These stories will give you a good idea of what Canada is all about. When I was a kid in Saskatoon, I went to school with this guy. He had a pet owl and brought a bear to school once. Enjoy!” That was my intro to Farley Mowat!
Never Cry Wolf was the first of many of his books I read. This powerful author made me feel like I was there in the woods, smelling the wet cedar, hearing the owl in the mist, watching a wolf play with its siblings on the early morning permafrost, or paddling down the quiet river…just listening attentively.
Later on, I realized I loved to tell my own stories. My grandfather helped me craft them and coached me to speak clearly and share them out loud. I might sometime fumble on the details, but he said, “Son, never let the facts get in the way of a good story.” That statement made me smile with hope and allowed me to relax…I still use this advice when I tell stories! I believe in just going for it and sharing whatever the message is, just like Farley Mowat did!
It wasn’t until this past week, that I realized my grandfather was quoting Farley Mowat. It was he who coined the phrase, “Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.” Thank you Farley for that and everything else you have given Canadians. You have allowed us to connect with and get closer to what’s most important – our natural world, and inspired us to live boldly, with a strong sense of adventure!
Pinnacle Inspirations 