December, 2021
The Smiling Storyteller Linda Rakos
L
inda understands the beautiful simplicities of life and was blessed with a twin sister who is her best friend to this day. The girls were special because they were the first babies to be born at the new Coaldale hospital and it was the doctor’s first delivery. He would remain part of the family for their lives. Humour, authenticity and honesty are attributes that have served Linda well all her life. Growing up in southern Alberta, Linda, her twin and older sister rode their bikes, played with their toys and broke a few windows with the baseball. Life was an adventure. Their father eventually built them “real” ping pong table after they used hard cover books for paddles and a net strung across the chrome kitchen table. Hand-me-downs, dress-up and role-playing were part of growing up. Linda was quite shy, but she always found moments to make people laugh. That was her coping strategy. As a teenager, their lives changed.
When her father was involved in an accident and confined to a wheelchair, the family lost their home and during that time, those hardships taught Linda the value of health, safety, and learned experience. Linda has used many of her and her family’s personal experiences in her writing. Her first novel was inspired by one of her two sons. Linda continues to write and always uses her humor to teach. As a student, she was a “whippersnapper” who wanted to become a teacher. She loved playing basketball and the University of Lethbridge team won nationals one year. She met her husband through a group of friends in Lethbridge at the college and they will soon be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. The two of them feel they have won the lottery because they get to care for their two grandsons. When the couple were raising their own boys, Linda recalls many incidents when the boys’ friends would come over. They knew the rules about no swearing and she taught a few of
Seniors — Winter 2021
them lessons that they later recalled as adults. One particular time when one of the boys brought his friends over, they marched past her without saying a word. When they were set to leave, she stood in their way and explained, “I guess I have to get an appointment to see the doctor.” Concerned, they asked her why. Her simple explanation was, “I think I’ve lost my hearing because I didn’t hear one of you say hello or goodbye.” Her direct, yet humorous way of teaching was effective on many occasions. Linda’s advice to others is not to judge and to live truthful lives. Sometimes the path we end up on is full of stops and bumps, but when we get knocked down, we have to get back up and learn from what happened and stay positive. Her grandsons know the rules and that delayed gratification, fair punishment and respect will be learned as they grow up in the love of their grandparents. She will have many stories to tell.
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