It's Great Being Todd!

I am Richard Todd Canton, Todd to friends and family, Canton to the young persons who knew me from school and Stupid to my ex-wife, he he.

I have to tell you I am a happy man. I am certainly a lucky man but mostly I am a man who is blessed. I am also smart enough to realize all of this and to be truly grateful for all I have and pay little attention to what I don't have.

I was born smack dab in the middle of a lovely family and grew up in a picturesque neighborhood. I breathed in fresh air and drank clean water. Summers were filled eating wild blueberries, climbing dog-berry trees and riding my bike across the vast marshes that surrounded our town. Every day was an adventure whether I realized it or not at the time. I learned to love nature but more than that I learned to respect it.

In my early years I formed a great love for the animal kingdom and it has continued throughout my life. I was taught to enjoy a sunset from our front lawn and told that at one time the same sky was filled with the smoke of war and that despite any losses then we all won in the long run.

I learned the true meaning of love in the arms of my mother and father and in the embrace of my siblings, one brother and five sisters, all of whom I hold in high regard. At this age all our childish and immature squabbles are a thing of the past and maybe, just maybe at fifty I have finally grown up. My mother said it would happen one day.

I have some of the most wonderful and interesting friends any man could ask for. I have those were there when I needed them and more that wished they were. That's good enough to me. During my journey I have had the honor of being asked to be a god-father to some amazing individuals. First my niece Sara whom I think of as my own daughter, to Jenna, Jaden and Julissa McIntyre and Kayla MacLellan. I was even the man of honor at my friend Annette's wedding.

I was privileged to be married to the only person I will ever truly love and as a result have remained a solitary man since our breakup at 28 years. Ouch my heart. If I could undo anything I think I might just pull my selfish head out of my ass and take a second look at the decisions I made and didn't make, but should have.

I suffered devastating blows in losing family members and friends to death that should never have happened when they did, starting with my father when I was eleven years old. It left me lonely and sad as a boy and lost as an adolescent. However with the help of an understanding and tolerant mother, I made it. Having so many sisters to influence and spoil me I am to say the least, sensitive.

I was taught at an early age to take every negative thing in my life and turn it into something positive. I do that same thing today but once a while I get discouraged and want to throw in the towel .though I never do it. My mother and her people, the resilient coal mining kind, taught me to never give up, no matter what. And no matter what has happened to me. I have survived having my life turned upside down and shaken with sex charges stemming from my working as a teacher's assistant. Not really sure how I got thru that one but here I am and I am still standing.

I watched my sister who unexpectedly became a widow battle breast cancer like a trooper and she got thru that. All we could do as a family is support her. In fact those of us who found our way into our mother's clutch has had our fair share of crap to face and yet we all seem to get through it all. I think we get a lot of this from her, our mother. A maverick of epic proportion, she, a widow at 43 showed us the way to go. In the end it was up to each and every one of us to decide if what she taught sank in. For some it did and others, not so much.

I am a strong, stubborn and mule headed person but I can be reached. I do not respond well to screaming or hollering and for heaven's sake, do not talk down to me. I am a diligent and competent worker and I hope to work until the day comes when I can do so no longer. I have dabbled in a few different careers but food service is first, last and always in the forefront of what I do best. I am a decent cook but I am much better at eating.

As much as I love eating, I love music. Not a big fan of TV I would rather have music playing in the background. I don't even have to mention anyone other than my favorite singer Anne Murray to explain that I am a fan of flawless melodies and rich voices that sing not only to my ears but straight to my heart.

I am a competitive person but mostly with myself constantly trying to outdo my last accomplishment.

I possess a great sense of humor and I believe I have good comedic timing. But let's be honest, not everyone finds me hilarious. I think if a person takes themselves too seriously they will seriously drive themselves and those around them nuts. However, take your craft seriously and it will seriously serve you well. A good work ethic and a good ethic for life are two very important virtues for any man, woman or child.

I have never intentionally harmed another human being and I am a firm believer in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Take a chance and see what happens. If you fall, learn from that. If you rise, learn from that too! I encourage everyone I meet and I learn something from every single one of them, how to or how not to act. I take the things I have learned and put them in story form and present them to the world. As a result, I have received some serious responses both positive and negative. I prefer the positive ones.

I am happy with who I am and despite any shortcomings, I am a good man. I have gotten knocked down more than once but I always get up again. I have been both a hero and a victim. I am more than all that, I am a happy man.

It really is great being Todd!

Life Doesn't Have to be Perfect to be Wonderful!

Now where do I begin? Well wherever it is I must remember to save my data, I lost a lot due to my own negligence as I am technically declined. However, it made me rethink what I had to say. I hope this is much more interesting. Whatever it is or where it comes from I am setting out to prove that life is really worth living no matter where you are or what you have been through. We have to learn to live in moments rather than time and to cherish these moments because in life we have to face a lot and some of it is not very nice. I do believe that we can get through anything as long as you surround yourself with supportive people and that anything can be handled one day at a time. Just sayin'....

I am a working man. In the last ten years I have worked as a waiter, a store clerk, a television host, an author, a newspaper column writer, and a teacher's assistant and that was all at the same time. I have made a pretty good name for myself by being genuine and kind in business and in life. So you can imagine when my world was turned upside down by an accusation from a student in junior high, just how surprised I was when the whole town rose in my defense, embraced me and supported me. I looked into the lens of a TV camera and stated that I had stood up for every kid in this town and I hope someone will stand up for me and by God above the whole town did, save one or two. I am humbled by the love and generosity sent my way and as a result I am stronger and more determined than ever to reach out...