From Red Head Cove

 

                                                     From Red Head Cove, oil on canvas, 30" x 64", Steven Rhude


He was born in the Cove. They said he was tough as boiled owl. They were right, but from my own perspective, I saw a different individual. Admittedly, more than one brawl provided a brick or two to his reputation as a solid wall of community respect - but he was young back then. He did a number of things to earn his keep and he was feared no matter what the job was. Once he went shrimping to Greenland and  told a crew member who was praying on his knees in the wheel house during a life or death storm, to "get back to your post." If you crossed him it was wise to leave town, if you were his friend you could sleep at night knowing your traps were safe.

 As a young man he divided his time between the boat and the fish plant up the shore - this is where he learned his real skills. When he matured he met a nurse. Where was she from? ... Ontario I think, they married and had two girls - red heads of course. 

Naturally the girls were a handful, and in blossom were like magnets to the boys up and down the shore. But they had to go through him, and that was more than a Shakespearean hurdle. 

Today, his daughters live in St. John's, but they bring their own kids home to the cove to torment Gramps - he's still tough as boiled owl.


Steven Rhude, Wolfville, NS    

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