Synopsis

In this new book, McKee takes readers on a journey through his childhood, adolescence, and teenage years from the mid-40s to the mid-60s, in the small, then industrially-polluted town of Elmira, Ontario, Canada—one of the centers of production for Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

McKee’s vivid descriptions, dialog, and self-drawn illustrations are a study of how a young boy learned to play and work, fish and hunt, avoid dangers, cope with death, deal with bullies, and to build or restore “escape” vehicles. You may laugh out loud as the author recalls his exploding hormones, attraction to girls, rebellion against authority, and survival of 1960s’ “rock & roll” culture—emerging on the other side as a youth leader.

After leaving Elmira, McKee describes his intensely searching university years, trying to decide which career path to follow. Except for a revealing postscript, the story ends when he accepts a volunteer teaching position on the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia.

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Excerpt

Excerpt from Chapter 15, Existential Leaps

The pilot shouted over the din of the airplane engine, “It’s time. Get ready!”

I mouthed weakly, “Okay.” He seemed to have a smirk on his face, daring me. I don’t think he could hear me but he could probably read my dry lips.

Then I tilted my head downwards and to the right. Because the door had been removed, I could see the wheel and the small step, the two places where I had to put my feet, as instructed. In addition, at St. Thomas Parachuting Club near London, Ontario, the trainers taught me how to push off into the air, wait for the chute to fully open, steer toward the target, and roll when I hit the ground. That’s what I had practiced on the ground during the previous three Saturdays, and it all seemed kind of theoretical, until now….

I blanked out all other thoughts and swung out, grabbing the wing brace and placing my feet firmly. I glanced past my running shoes to the ground, a half mile (805 meters) below. The wind whipped me as I waited for the command to push off. Time seemed to slow down, almost stop.

Then the pilot, holding my small camera, shouted, “Get set… go!”

For a few seconds, black and white checkered patterns passed before my eyes, no time, no space. Images of me as a child, our house, my family, friends, warm blue water, mountains and sun. I floated in infinity—then snap!—as my parachute opened. Perched like a king on a tall tower, I inspected my realm. I remember feeling quite pleased with myself. My whole body vibrated with excitement. Late October’s brown fields came into focus below. I breathed in cool pure air.

I saw the buildings of the airport and remembered how I should pull the strings of the chute to steer toward the red and white target my instructor had placed in a nearby field. It reminded me I had a date with the Earth. But I found it difficult to concentrate on something so specific. I continued to float a little too freely and the wind took me about 100 yards (30.5 meters) off course, right above the tarmac. In the last 15 seconds, I tried to maneuver toward a grassy area, but suddenly my knees buckled and then, “bump!” I forgot to roll onto one leg and side to absorb the shock. A rude welcome back, landing squarely on my ass. Pain shot up my spine….

About the Author

Neill McKee is a creative nonfiction writer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has written and published three books in this genre since 2015. His latest work is Kid on the Go! Memoir of My Childhood and Youth, a humorous and poignant account of his growing up in an industrially-polluted town in Ontario, Canada, and his university years. This memoir is a stand-alone prequel to his first travel memoir Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah (2019) on his first overseas adventures in Sabah, Malaysia (North Borneo), where he served as a Canadian volunteer teacher and program administrator during 1968-70 and 1973-74. This book won the 2019 New Mexico/Arizona Book Award for Biography–(other than a New Mexico/Arizona subject) and a Bronze Medal in the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards (Ippy Awards).

In late 2020, McKee also released Guns and Gods in my Genes: A 15,000-mile North American search through four centuries of history, to the Mayflower—an entertaining account of how he searched for his roots in Canada and the US, in which he employs vivid descriptions, dialog, poetic prose, analytical opinion, photos, and illustrations. In this work, McKee slowly uncovers his American grandmother’s lineage—ancestors who were involved in almost every major war on North American soil and others, including a passenger on the Mayflower, as well as heroes, villains, rascals, and ordinary godly folk. Through his search, McKee exposes myths and uncovers facts about the true founding of America.

McKee, who holds a B.A. Degree from the University of Calgary and a Masters in Communication from Florida State University, lived and worked in Asia, Africa, Russia and traveled to over 80 countries on assignments during his 45-year international career. He became an expert in communication and directed/produced a number of award-winning documentary films/videos, and wrote many articles and books in the field. McKee is now busy writing another travel memoir on his career. He does readings/book signings and presentations with or without photos. He prefers lively interactive sessions.

Website * Kid on the Go! book page * Author’s digital library

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