Robert Blezard:
CLASS OF 1991
Forestburg High SchoolClass of 1991
Forestburg, AB
Grant MacEwan Community CollegeClass of 2014
Edmonton, AB
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Class of 2001
Edmonton, AB
Grant MacEwan Community CollegeClass of 1994
Edmonton, AB
Forestburg Elementary SchoolClass of 1986
Forestburg, AB
Robert's Story
Life
I came to Forestburg at a very young age, moving across-country from a little town in Manitoba called Wawanesa. (I was born in another little town in Manitoba called Altona.) Life in Forestburg was... hard, as I had never wanted to leave my friends in Wawanesa. Plus, I was considered an outsider in Forestburg, at first, which I never got over, while living there.
I graduated in 1991 and Moved to Edmonton, where I've been ever since. For the first few years I lived with my parents in a small two bedroom apartment while I went to Grant MacEwan Community College (1992-1994). I learned a lot at GMCC including what it meant to have "real" friends.
Since 1994, I've bounced around from job to job, all the while remaining in Edmonton, in order to stay close to my family. My parents are now divorced, my sister and I share an apartment.
I tried going back to college (NAIT) in the late 90s but it didn't go well. (Programming is not for me.)
I've never really been happy with any job I've had and not because they didn't pay well. I just wasn't happy working in the computer industry. Now, I've decided that I "must" do something more creative with my life, and would like to become a writer. (I've already done some paid writing work, but nothing that pays the rent.)
While going to NAIT, I went through several medical emergencies. First, I developed a blood-clot in my left leg, and then, after recovering, I was hit by a car while crossing an intersection. These injuries compounded with previous injuries and my weight struggles has lead to a hard way of life over the last 7 years.
I've gone through chiropractic, physiotherapy, and attempts at physical exercise programs in order to improve my way of life. I also had to come to terms with severe depression and a mental collapse brought on by inactivity, isolation, and stress. Plus, I've been on social assistance for some time now, as physical pain and mental stressors have made it near impossible to get through the day, let alone work.
While all this may awful, it isn't all bad. I have the support of my family, even if it is now fractured into two halves. I owe my sister more than I can ever repay her, as she has put her life on hold in order to help me from sinking even deeper into depression and isolation. My father lives nearby and I know I can always count on his support as well.
My mother has gotten remarried and she and her new husband, Ken, live in southern Edmonton. She gives me all the support she can handle, while balancing her many responsiblities.
Note: My brother, Dale, had been living in California for 10+ years and was "forced" to return to Canada. He passed away recently due to some health issues with his heart. His death has saddened us all. Rest in Peace, bro.
I have also had several accomplishments that I am quite proud of. I have done freelance writing work for the pen and paper roleplaying industry including a book I co-authored called "White Robes, Black Hearts: Enigma of the Arcanexus". I hope to do more freelance work soon, and I'm planning on going back to college, at MacEwan, to take a Professional Writing course.
I am still struggling to get healthy. I went through several bad months in early 2007, and have been struggling even more than usual. Chronic limb pain has severely limited my ability to function and I now suffer from panic attacks, as well. My doctor has order a daily routine of swimming and I've had cut down on how much I eat.
I am single, and happy to be so, although I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't considering my options. I'm not one for marriage, as I believe that a person needs to be ...Expand for more
willing to change in order to be married. I am not that person, and have become jaded when it comes to love. I do believe in passion & lust, however.
I spend most of my free time browsing the Internet, working on writing projects, going to movies, playing pool, swimming & walking, and spending time with my friends.
Robert Blezard
School
How do I put this without sounding rude and bitter?
Hmm...
Going to school in Forestburg was hardly the highlight of my life. I arrived in 1979 as an outsider and I remained an outsider until I left in 1991.
At the time, I blamed everyone else but myself. It's amazing how age changes how you view the past. It was true that I was picked on for whatever reasons children have for picking on one another. I was fat, I was unpopular, I was a killjoy, I was the Minister's kid, whatever.
The truth was that I was an angry child with a bad temper. I didn't have any control over my emotions and the ruled my mind. I was powderkeg with a short fuse. Later on, in high school, I went to great lengths to avoid any social situation in which I might blow a gasket.
No one was more afraid of my temper than I was. It still scares me to this day. To anyone else that I frightened, I am sorry.
There wasn't much that I looked forward to when it came to school, but were some exceptions. Mr. Young's Social Studies class was usually the highligh of my week. He'll be happy to know that I have become entralled by ancient history and mythology.
Mrs. Marchand's English class was also a favorite of mine and I've become a prolific writer, although most of what I write she would likely find "simple" or "inappropriate". (I love fantasy and science fiction and a lot of my writing has a dark, twisted edge to it. I have two websites two blogs, and a messageboard. If you want to find it then simply type "Walk the Road" into an Internet browser and you should be able to find it.)
I liked Mrs. Knodel's class too, but not because of anything she taught. She was hot, IMO. No, you read that right, I had a thing for one of my teachers. I've always had a thing for attractive women with intelligence.
I guess that's why I had such a huge crush on Carla. When I discovered she wanted to be a teacher, i gained a great deal of respect for her. I was already head-over-heels in lust with her, but after discovering that she was as smart as she was beautiful I became completely entralled by her.
I'm sure that doesn't come as much of a surprise to some of you. I doubt that it was the Great Secret (TM) that I thought it was, at the time. The Lord knows I was never very good at hiding my emotions. My face was a open book full of pain, anger, lust, and sadness.
Hmm... what else.
Well, I would definitely NOT do high school over again. Once was enough, thank you very much.
I don't have any stories from high school worth repeating. Most of what I still remember I wish I could forget. I've already blocked most of it out of my mind.
I guess that's the reason why I don't go back to Forestburg anymore. (That and the lack of an easy way to get there and back.) There is just too much hate tied to my soul and those haunted halls. The few times I've stood in that building, since leave, has left me unnerved. Like a sinner in a church. Like a preacher in a brothel. Like a... well, you get the picture.
Yes, I used the word hate, but that doesn't mean I hate Forestburg or the people I went to school with. The hate is for me and how I handled my time while there. I am a different person now, but those halls still haunt me to this day.
I wish I could forget, but I can't.
Robert Blezard
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