I can recall with clarity, and a smile, when Father acquired an electric razor.

Father shaved every morning. Being a 24-hour working policeman demanded he be well-groomed. His work and self-discipline justified this routine.

They were "Mom and Dad," and we were the "children," not "kids," showing the respect they felt we deserved. This allows you a glimpse into the times in which we lived, post-war and peace with children who were new Canadians, as Newfoundland had joined Canada. It was a very exciting era.


Now back to the morning of all the activity in the family. Dad was skilled at shaving and shaved early so as not to waste time. The 1960s had begun and the electric razor was popular. Then the method changed but not the ritual.


Mom and Dad never agreed on everything. Mom demanded freedom of speech, and knew the best time to get Dad’s attention was while he was shaving. After that he may have a rebuttal, but she avoided that with great finesse.

For us children this created interesting times. One morning when Dad was shaving in the kitchen, something unheard of before the electric razor, and my younger sister was complaining, I was eating, the dog was barking, the cat was howling, the radio blasting, and Mom was lecturing Dad. But he kept shaving, with his chin stuck up as if mocking her. He knew this was NOT the way to handle Mother. Moreover, she was competing with the drone of the electric razor, as well as everything else that was going on. The bzzzzzzzz continued. Mom's blood pressure rose to quite a high number I suspect.

Before the electric model came Dad shaved in the bathroom and Mom didn't have to compete with the bzzzzzzzzzzz, or observe his posture. A new era had begun and it brought new things, most of which disgusted Mother, who liked things the way they were! And that was that!

"DICK!" She yelled over the bzzzzzzzzzzz, referring to him as everyone did, by his nickname. His true name is Richard, but who knew?

Mom’s verbal attack on Dad caused everyone to come to an abrupt halt! The bzzzzzzzzzz ceased, and silence prevailed.

Dad looked at Mom, and, after receiving his greatest shock since WWII, asked simply, "Yes?"

"Will you stop rubbing that Bumblebee over your face? I'm talking!" she cried out.

They stared at each other, and we held our breath! Then their smiles began, followed by gales of laughter by all of us! That day we came of age over an electric razor! Our family’s sense of humour and strength was fortified once again, and bad times and upsets forgotten for a brief time.

My father is 85 years old now, and still has his shaving ritual, and Mother is now accustomed to the sound. It reminds her of a time long ago, when we experienced something exceptional together as a family unit.

Ah, the sweet memory of the most desirable of moments with young parents who loved and laughed together, and with their children.

A sweet memory indeed!

David Jarvis

  Submitted By: Bonnie Jarvis-Lowe