artist Constance Smith

During my growing-up years I lived near Toronto, Ontario.  I went to College to be an EMCA i.e. an Emergency Medical Care Assistant.  I worked in that capacity for a number of months in Northern Ontario.  After that I attended University, where I obtained degrees in Chemistry and Education.  My teaching career was short-lived, however, because classroom discipline proved to be a problem.  I moved to west to Manitoba.  There I worked as a driver for a warehouse and as an election official for the province.  Manitoba was my home for approximately 11 years.  "Our parents weren't getting any younger", my brother chided me; therefore I moved back to southern Ontario.

If I was aksed "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I doubt that I would have answered, "A songwriter."  My mother was a homemaker; perhaps I would have chosen to be like her. I am delighted that I had an uncle who was quite musical.  My late uncle was an evangelist to children and a very gifted musician.  He played the musical saw and waterglasses, among many  other instruments.  He had a set of triple octave chimes; I believe his was one of only three in North America.
For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed music.  While still a child I enjoyed classical guitar and piano lessons. While growing up I had opportunity to play for our church youth group.
One Tuesday afternoon (in 1999) I was enjoying a cup of coffee with the gang at the outreach where I volunteered.  I wrote my name on the styrofoam coffee cup - a necessary precaution against drink mix-ups and a good step in resource conservation.  Sometime that past week I had written a song - not a common thing for me in those days.  So, just on the spur of the moment, I added "songwriter" after my name.  The outreach director was walking past our table. I touched his arm and showed him my coffee cup.  He looked at me, smiled broadly and said, "Amen, may it be so."
The Lord listened and is answering that prayer.