If I’m dreaming… don’t wake me up
Posted March 27, 2008 by Terry Fallis
The Leacock Medal is a pretty big deal in Canada having been awarded to many of my literary heroes including Roberston Davies, Mordecai Richler, and Paul Quarrington. Earlier today, I found out by reading a Google News Alert that The Best Laid Plans has been named a finalist, along with four other books, for the 2008 Leacock Medal. I am stunned and immeasurably grateful for this completely unexpected recognition. (I didn’t even dare contemplate the possibility.) The winner will be announced at a luncheon on April 30th in the Leacock home. I’ll be there, likely still walking around in a haze of incredulity.
Here’s the photo from the Orillia Packet & Times. This is how I discovered the news… by noticing my photo on the board.
I hope to be able to construct coherent sentences and touch back down to earth in a few days. But until then, I just can’t believe it…
Congrats Ter! A well-deserved honour to be sure:)
Wow, that’s incredible! What an accomplishment! Congrats Terry!
Awesome news. Way to go Terry, you deserve it.
Be proud. Be very proud!
Already said this in person, but I had to stop by here again to tell you how incredibly warming and exciting this news is. As far as we’re all concerned, you’ve already won – the nomination alone is just an utterly phenomenal thing to have happened, Terry – and it truly couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke.
I know I have seen Ter., a number of times since the great news …but I just can’t help feeling a very warm sense of pride and happiness for Terry.
It really couldn’t have happened to a nicer Lad.
Cheers, and good luck
Hey thanks for the kind words Steve. See you at the rink!
For that matter, thanks everyone for your good wishes.
Terry, I read TBLP pretty much in one sitting. What a pleasure. I laughed til tears streamed, my breath became ragged; I guffawed, chortled, chuckled (at one point I seriously considered stock investments in Depends undergarments), and enjoyed every page.
Having cut my teeth in the Regressive Preservative party, graduated from Mac with an English degree (Hons’83) and worked more than 8 years in the Engineering faculty here, I could identify with everything you wrote. Congratulations on such a fine work.
** um… did you really mean “reap what they have SEWN” ???
Rebecca Clifford
***
Terry, I don’t know if you remember Professor Brian Ives. I think you must. He was a gentleman Engineer with a penchant for correct English usage. Thought you should know about his passing.. RC
Subject: Brian Ives – The Death of a Gentleman
It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that Professor Brian
Ives passed away on the evening of April 16th after a very gallant
struggle with Cancer. Our deepest sympathies go to his wife Daina and
their close friends.
Brian’s long career at McMaster was characterized by his strong sense of
duty and his professionalism. He served as the Chair of the Department
and as Associate Dean of Engineering. He played a crucial role in ASM
International, including serving as President. He also organized a wide
variety of educational initiatives for the university and for the
profession. To all these activities he brought a sense of dedication and
of team spirit and the ability to motivate and inspire others.
Brian achieved much by hard work and by treating everyone with respect.
He was indeed a gentleman, courteous and careful in all his dealings
with students, staff and colleagues.
His humour, his love of the English language, his laughter and his deep
sincerity and honesty will be missed; and they will be remembered by
many who had the privilege to know him. His legacy will be written, as
he would have wished, in the lives of the students he taught and the
staff and colleagues who worked with him.
Once information pertaining to his funeral arrangements are provided, a
message containing all the details will be forwarded to you.
Thank you.
***************************************************************
David S. Wilkinson, PEng, FCIM, FACerS
Dean, Faculty of Engineering
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for your kind words. Of course you’re right, “sewn” should obviously be “sown.” I’ve found a couple of other little errors as well. Thanks for letting me know about Brian Ives. I’m so sorry to hear this news. What a shame.
I’m glad you enjoyed the novel. I sure had fun writing it…
Ter
[…] head shot. Then I very nearly passed out. You can see the photo above and read my reaction in the blog post I wrote later that night.   Trying not to be too melodramatic, it was a day that changed my […]
[…] might think, having been blessed with a Leacock Medal already, (here’s my post from March 27. 2008 when TBLP was shortlisted), that the thrill of being a finalist might be somewhat moderated the second time around. […]