Blowing Up Nolan

Our house out Beaver Creek, Port Alberni, BC

Did you have a burn barrel when you were growing up? We had a burn barrel out front of our house on Beaver Creek Rd. (Yeh Creekers).
Some might consider taking the garbage out as a chore. I certainly do now. What am I saying the kids do it I don't have to. Love ya Kids.

Well when you are a teenager and your parents are giving you permission to light something on fire, it is NOT a chore. Nothing is going to stand between you and striking the match. Watching anything go up in flames when you are young is as mesmerizing as anything you have ever experienced. It is like a strong euphoric drug to a teenage boy. Maybe that's why Dad's plumbing torch never had any propane left in it. If it burned we burned it. From making smoke bombs with wooden matches and masking tape, to drawing designs with gasoline and then lighting it on fire, to the fireworks wars we used to have on Halloween. If we thought we could get away with it we burned it. Remember what I said denial is a powerful parenting tool.


Well this particular day of garbage duty probably started off as any other. Take the garbage out to the barrel and light it up. Not hard right. Of course you would have to have a certain amount of accelerant, otherwise where is the oohh aaahh effect. They had to be able to see it from space or it just didn't count.

This is the way i remember it. Clint and I were out getting things ready for the big burn. Nolan was being his regular annoying self. "Let me light it, Let me, Let me." you get the point. We sent him in to get matches. I can't speak for Clint, but I don't remember my intent at this point. The gas was added while Nolan was inside. He came out all gleeful and such. I picture him skipping, delighted at the prospect of lighting the match, but I don't think he ever skipped. The bag was high on the burn barrel, open. He leaned in real close, head in the bag close to block the wind I am sure. He struck that match and put it to the fuel soaked garbage. The rest was literally a blur. It erupted in full force. That poor boy flew back a good fifteen feet rolling over backwards.

It's funny how you remember things. I don't remember getting into trouble. I don't remember being overly concerned or helpful to the little turd at that point. I can't even say i remember Clint's reaction. I just keep seeing him flying through the air and rolling over.

Nolan lost both eyebrows, eyelashes and his hair was singed back to his ears. He was blistered on his nose, cheeks and forehead. We laugh about this now as we sit and tell these stories, but the seriousness of what could have happened is not lost on us as we have aged. All I can say now is that our Guardian Angles worked a lot of overtime.