tugboat

Last week, some coworkers and I went out for lunch in The Toronto Star building. Its cafeteria features a view of Toronto Harbour, and I enjoy looking out the large windows. I get to see the planes coming in for a landing at Toronto City Centre Airport. And there's always the hope that I'll spot some ducks on the walk there.

On this occasion, I watched a tugboat pulling an enormous crane barge west from the port lands. Immediately, I flashed back to one of my favourite books as a child: Tuggy the Tugboat by Jean Horton Berg.



I hadn't thought of the book in a long, long time. I'm going to try and dig it out of storage at my parents' house over Christmas. From what I can remember, the imagery was dark (a storm or inclement weather was involved) but not scary. The city setting (presumably New York) looked enormous to this small boy from the wilderness of northwestern Ontario. And although I grew up around water and boats, the might of a tugboat certainly impressed me.

There are times when my inner child comes back from the dead...

Comments

Anonymous said…
Ooooh, I remember that book!
:)
Anonymous said…
The best part of that book is when he says "I think I can, I think I can!"
Butchie said…
Is that the Canadian version of "Scuffy The Tugboat"?
Pablo said…
I never heard of it. My family was giving me beer and making me watch scary movies, instead.
Anonymous said…
I was more partial to Jean Horton Berg's earlier works, such as "The Noisy Clock Shop." She really began to sell out with the tugboat series.
Miss Thistle said…
I knew that book as Scuffy the Tugboat, too, Butchie. Maybe Tuggy was for the baby gays.
madamerouge said…
NON!

Scruffy was a Little Golden Book title. Tuggy was a Wonder Book title. In fact, I think Tuggy beat Scruffy up. He said, "Scruffy, you got SERVED. Bizzatch!"

And Peter, that was The Little Engine That Could -- another one of my favourites. But you are just trying to stress me out.

Jason: shut up.
The only thing stupider than ducks are tug boats!
Anonymous said…
I hate your tugboat.
The Persian said…
that book looks too freaking cute!!

You just reminded me again how much I miss (and love) Toronto. I swear some day I am moving up there.

:)
Anonymous said…
YJA is such a munch!
Anonymous said…
You can tug my boat anytime.
Butchie said…
If Tuggy said "You got served" it is probably because he beat Scruffy in a tapdance-off.
madamerouge said…
I was waiting for someone to make a "tugging" joke. Somehow I thought it would be Butchie.

Normlr, you float my boat.
Anonymous said…
MLOYD!!! lmao at your float comment. :)
car@ said…
Madame, it is always nice to have that child in us...lol! Hope u have good holydays!! :-D
Anonymous said…
OMG, all this tugging and floating is putting the wind in 'somebody's' sails. =)

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