8191

 

8191 Lanny JR Totton

I have been wondering why I resisted contributing to the Barton Project. Upon reflection, I decided that is important to renew our past relationships.

I thought it might be about “bragging rights” and what did I have “to brag” about? But then I started jotting down memorable moments of my life (which to me is a better way to think of this project). I see this as a legacy project in which each of us tells our story of how we want to be remembered.

My first memory about RMC was when my mother drove the family ’59 Edsel uncharacteristically tearing across the summer fallow I was working. She delivered the telegram that I’d been accepted to Royal Roads. (She thought it was Royal Rhodes. and I never managed to convince her of the correct spelling). What remains though is her excitement about my acceptance.

Then it was downhill when I arrived on campus. I was the youngest-looking 17-year-old to ever grace the premises. The seniors had a field day with me as I was immediately given 4 circles for never having shaved. I gained 20 pounds and grew an inch to a lofty 5ft4 in the first three months. I loved the food and even welcomed circles as a fitness opportunity.

Then it was off to RMC. I did successfully stay in engineering. I considered all my engineering options and chose Mechanical, which was across the street. Electrical and Civil seemed too far away.

I graduated and moved to Ottawa and then to Petawawa.

I resigned after 4 years in the army when I got accepted to the MBA program at Queen’s. After graduating from Queen’s, I joined Ontario Hydro and stayed for the next 35 years. I had sufficient challenges helping to build Nuclear Stations. I planned the Darlington project which was delayed for 4 years during the 3 years that I was there. I quit scheduling and became a supply chain Materials Engineer because OH had overburdened the local manufacturing capacity for nuclear components. I had fun “undoing the pointing of fingers” of engineering, manufacturing, and construction towards each other. There is nothing more stressful than refereeing an angry yelling bunch of senior professionals in a conference room. But we got “stuff” to the sites just in time and I worked myself out of a job.

My next career move was I was elected to become VP of the OPG Local of the Society of Energy Professionals. We joined IFPTE and became their Local 160. I found I was good at convincing the best and brightest disillusioned professionals to run for elections. I could enable those who were good at stirring up professional employees. I am a happy beneficiary of the OPG collective agreement we negotiated.

I must also say I learned a lot at this time from my second wife who was a psychologist. She used me as her testing guinea pig. I found out that I was an intelligent introvert and on the spectrum.

That made me aware of my strengths. I thrive in an individualized research setting, and I am good at critical thinking. I don’t seek the spotlight, and I am very comfortable being a listener. My wife, Brenda, is the balance to my introversion and lack of tact.

After retirement, we built a cottage together on a waterfront lot that looks onto Nottawasaga Bay. We downhill ski at Blue Mountain, and for the past years, we have travelled to over 50 ski resorts with the Ikon and Epic passes. For summer, I bicycle and inline-skate and Brenda is passionate about modern line dancing. 

Our best experiences are while cruising. We have been to nearly every part of the world. We discovered the palmetto geckos in the Namibian Desert and danced with people from Boca da Valeria in the rainforest of Brazil. We rolled down the steps of the Parthenon on our scooter and got lost in Athens. I sandboarded on the dunes of Dubai. We have a photo “notebook” of activities, celebrations, and our various trips that I have compiled for when we need help remembering. 

It would take too many words to list Brenda’s four, my three children, and our twelve grandkids. We are humbly waiting for them to write their stories.

As I look back from the winter solstice of my life, I have been extremely lucky to get an exceptional education, to work with patient people, and to meet a very compatible partner.

I know my generation has created the greatest world calamity - global warming. I am earnestly trying to get off fossil fuels by installing solar power. I hope I leave the earth a better place for the next generations.