Recently I was reminded of the word 'jinker' as it is used in Newfoundland. I have not heard the word in years so it brought a smile. People are referred to as jinkers when they appear to bring bad luck. For example, a person entering a room where people are playing cards might be told, "You're the real jinker," if the cards seem to move out of one's favour with the person's arrival.
Then there's Rick's grandfather, Ern Smith, who had a fix it shop in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. He worked as a locksmith and often spent hours picking a lock. Sometimes he kicked at the air as he walked out of the shop and up the stairs. In his frustration with a particular lock, he would say, "Get out! Get out!"
When queried about the action, Ern said, "I'm kicking the devil out of the shop."
Apparently the devil likes to frustrate locksmiths.
Finally, Ern did not earn enough as a locksmith and expanded his business to survive financially. He also upholstered furniture, which paid better than the time-consuming and less lucrative locksmithing. In addition, Ern invested in a saw file, and also sharpened skates for the community. He sang as he worked on the saws, enjoying the work immensely.
Strains of the traditional Newfoundland folksong She's Like The Swallow could be heard coming from the basement any time Ern worked on a saw. After his death, his daughter, Marie, swears that she heard her father filing and singing in the basement. She smiled and left him to it.
Thank you to Aunt Marie Smith for sharing the memories of her father. Thank you to Jeff Smith for the picture of the sign.
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