Douglas

Fran Watson

Let’s welcome our neighbour, Fran Watson.

Hi, Fran! Tell us a bit about yourself.

When Kim asked me to become a “Neighbour,” I really didn’t know what to say, but I told her I would work on something and send it for review.

Although I have been in the valley for 46 years, I am not a native. I was born in Toronto, moved to Hastings (near Peterborough) at 14, to Peterborough at 18 (after I was married), to Ottawa at 19, to Stittsville at 24 (after the birth of our first child), and to Douglas at 30 (after the birth of my third child).

The move to Douglas took place between Christmas and New Year’s (1978-79) with a husband, a 6-month-old, a 4-year-old, and a 6-year-old. However, I soon found myself on my own with the three kids and frozen plumbing —welcome to the valley, indeed.

My in-laws were amazing. Eric and Phyllis Watson helped us out over the next few months with laundry, baths, and meals until the pipes thawed. Dad Eric also brought us a chemical toilet. They continued to be parents/grandparents until they died.

I ended up going back to work for my husband — even though we were separated at the time — in order to pay the bills. Eventually, I worked as a secretary at a public school and then with Youth Employment Services, which is where I started doing career counselling.

My husband and I reconciled for a time, and I had my fourth child in 1983. When he was three, we separated for the last time. I decided it was time to really look at my future. At 38, I started my university degree and finished it 13 years later when I was 51. I was working full-time, and it was important to me to keep my kids in the activities they loved — music, track & field, hockey, figure skating, and drama — so I took only one course per semester. I graduated in 2000, which is also the year that I started dating my current boyfriend, Joe.

For over 30 years, I have been working in the field of career counselling, the last 15 years working from home. I work with people via telephone or the internet, and I work with an EAP (Employee Assistance Program).

I also belong to an organization called Toastmasters. You may have heard about it. It is designed to help people build their confidence in speaking and leadership. I joined in 2002, and have been hanging in for 23 years now.

Over the years, I have done some travelling – London, Hawaii, Crete, Cuba, Florida, Las Vegas, across Canada, and to Taiwan, which was the last big trip I took in 2014. I went there to visit my daughter, and I would love to go back.

I published a book of poetry in 2022 (available on Amazon), and I have been a co-author in 2 other compilation books.

What is your least favourite household chore?

It’s dusting, but vacuuming comes in a close second.

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?

I couldn’t think of the funniest thing that ever happened to me, but I do have a weird instance from when I was 13. Some boys were chasing the girls around with baby garter snakes. I said I wasn’t scared and stood still while they put some on my head. They gave up after I didn’t move. The truth was, I was petrified. I hate snakes.

What is your perfect combination of pizza toppings?

When it comes to pizzas, I am one of the weird people who loves Hawaiian with pineapple and ham, although I can eat most others as long as they don’t have olives.

Which of the Seven Dwarfs resembles you the most?

When it comes to the Seven Dwarfs, I think I have been all of them – just ask my kids!!! Most of the time, I am Happy.

I am blessed with my four children (now all adults), six grandchildren (aged 6 to 34), and one great-granddaughter. I have a sister, and I had a brother who died several years ago. My sister and I exercise together on Monday and Friday mornings via Zoom as she lives in Barrie. We are also writing a book about our mom and dementia. We are combining all of Mom’s various personalities with an old mansion that harbours some secrets.

Thanks for sharing with us, neighbour Fran.

If you enjoyed our chat with Fran Watson, you may want to subscribe below and meet a new neighbour from the Upper Ottawa Valley every week.

Next week, we will welcome Melanie Richardson.