Hard times after 9/11

… Reggie had been in Toronto since 2001.  At that time, when Reggie announced one day that he would like to go to Toronto, I was very excited and couldn’t wait for him to leave.  He went up by the bus, and within a few days of arriving, he started to work at Toronto Island Airport.  He was driving a fuel truck.  He would phone and tell us that he liked his job and had a very good chance of getting work there (on Toronto Island), working at what he was trained for – Avionics Electronics.  We were hoping that things were finally starting to change for Reggie and Helen and I were very happy.

Shortly after 9/11, Reggie’s world came tumbling down.  He had a criminal record from the drug days and when his employer checked his records, he was terminated.  It was just downhill and hardships from then on for him and us, especially his mother.  There were many long and soulful calls. He started bouncing from job to job.  When he would get hired, he would not tell them about his criminal record and they would find out and let him go.