So · This · is · Life

What is life without money? That’s the question my father always asked me when I was growing up. I was born during the 1920s to a very wealthy family. My grandfather, Jacob Silverstar, was born in 1862 in the southern part of the North-Western Territory (modern day Alberta) of the British colony that would become officially part of Canada in 1905. He worked on his father’s farm and apprenticed with the local blacksmith till he was 17. He met my grandmother when he moved to the province of Ontario to find work. He worked in a factory as an engineering supervisor. With careful investment of stocks within the stock market and living very modestly he was able to accumulate a vast fortune.

My father, Nathanial Silverstar, was born in 1888 to my grandfather and his wife. He was the oldest of a family of 6 children. Because he was the eldest son, he had the privilege of attending Queens University for his undergraduate degree in Business Studies and his Masters degree. Upon graduation, in 1912 he started up an oil company because at this time the automobile was becoming quite popular among those who could afford it. He met my mother, Lydia in the township of Kingston while he was going to school. They married in 1913 after he graduated and moved to Hamilton to live and raise their family.

I was the youngest of 5 children, and the only girl in the family. As the only girl, I was often dotted over and received many dolls and pretty dresses. When the depression hit we lost some of our money in the stock market. Although some other wealthy families were hit very hard we managed to fair very well. When the war hit in the 1940s, my father went into ammunition production as well as the oil industry. With my four brothers overseas fighting in the war, I worked for my father by overseeing the ammunition production factories. By now, my grandfather was 78 years old. Under his guidance we were able to make large profits off of both divisions.

Near the end of the war we received the dreaded news that no one at this time wanted to hear. All four of my brothers had died in a bombing raid in London, England. My mother died not long after the funeral for them. It was a sad time really, funerals for seven people in two months. My father insisted I go to business school as I was the only one left that he trusted the company with after he died. I entered Queens University and graduated at the top of my class and entered the Masters program. My father taught me the practical workings for running the business that I had not learned before. Not long after my graduation for my Masters degree, my father passed away. I worked long and hard as it was the only thing that was left of my family.

A year after my fathers passing I was walking towards my car and my sire came and offered me something more. What did I have to loose? My family was gone, and all I had was my work. My child hood friends had moved on to other things and moved to different cities. When he took me to be his childe I went freely hoping that I could continue to build the company my father started.