My Life in a Blue Box

A light-hearted romp through Tom's personal, work and family life, he looks at life through the funny-bone lens. This book comprises short stories and anecdotes, many of which include lessons learned. Because Tom spent almost 20 years in the Department of Foreign Affairs, he pulls back the curtain on some truly silly and bizarre events that might fit better under the rubric of "political memoirs.'' Tom tries hard to disabuse people of the notion that Foreign Affairs is a staid and humourless department.

Tom questions the notion of "zero tolerance" and its impact on young people who will do dumb and stupid things and, unknowingly, trip over the fine line between non-criminal and criminal activities. Tom believes that most young people are basically good, and criminal prosecution should be avoided whenever possible and then used only as a final resort. Criminal records will follow kids for the rest of their lives and impact future travel and employment, all because they did something stupid when they were younger! Tom often wonders if the concept of "zero tolerance" had been common practice 60 years ago, would he have succeeded in life?