Anne Marie
Since I am inserting your note
Anne Marie, I as well wish all a Happy Easter. Very
busy here in Victoria, hard to believe it will soon be two years since
my relocation back from the east. (No more moves for me, 18
was enough!) I guess as the years have gone by the Gill Net has
visited a few along with me.
Mother is doing great while she visits Kingston and vacationing Will
down in Florida. She is home around mid-month and I hear Aunt
Bernadette and Aunt Patty are flying in around her birthday near the
end of the month. That would be around black salmon time and
would love to fly in myself and do a little fishing on top! The
Kingston re-union takes precedence however and from what I hear it is
going to be one great time!
Hoping your Easter was great!
John
April 14, 2005
Hi
everyone,
Less
than 4 months to the Kingston Reunion. Hard to believe how fast
it is approaching. I have a suggestion for you of an event during
or before the reunion. I want to first tell you a story.
One of my fondest recollections of Grandmother is how her home was open
to everyone. I heard stories from her and others of her getting
up in the morning and a stranger might be asleep on the couch
downstairs , "Some mother's son" is what she would say.
To
commemorate Grandmother's as well as Grandfather's
willingness to open their house to strangers in need, I was wondering
if we as members of their family, would like to donate money to pay for
one step to go into the Youth House on King George Highway. This
house is set up for youth who are in need of a temporary roof over
their head and to get them back on track. There are 100 steps
for sale and I am not 100% sure about the cost, but I it is
relatively cheap. Sister Chisholm is the key
fundraiser. I would love for us to have one step in memory
of Lillian and Samuel. I think it would be a terrific tribute to
our roots. We could do an unveiling around the time of the
reunion. Let me know what you think and I will coordinate on our
behalf if there is interest.
ME
Hi John:
I think that's a great tribute, John and if it is relatively cheap, it
would
be great to do more than one. As is often the case, our memory is
selective
when people die and we accentuate the good things but Grandmother
really was
a bit of a saint, you know.....I can't remember anything about her that
wasn't good. She was just so kind and so interested in
everyone....she loved
to make you a good meal, she never judged, she always talked about the
good
in people....and I remember stories that suggest she really wanted to
believe in the goodness of everyone, perhaps even to the point of
gullabilility.
It seems to me that she bought chain saws for a couple of
workers who then sold them for what they could get.....but perhaps this
is
just a memory and not true......I remember her very tart lemon
pies.....made
from scratch....they were exquisite....I remember the dresses she made
for
we girls with the crocheted edges on the sleeves and pockets....and how
she
so looked forward to everyone's visit. It would be interesting to hear
some
of the older (me being the oldest granddaughter) grandchildren's
memories of
her...
Cheers and love to all,
Brenda
(ME=Mary Ellen above and yes, I agree, it is
great. JV)
Hey John, I think the step
sounds wonderful. On a less cheerful note...I think Dad has
already contacted Aunt Eleanor Kingston but if you are not already
aware, Joey's daughter Veronica (age 36) had a heart attack
yesterday. The Cardiologist believe that it was caused from
a blood clot. She is to have a angiogram on
Monday to confirm this. She is at the New Market
hospital and I have full confidence with the staff
there...after all Micheal Sullivan is a Doc there.
Thanks Bonnie
Our thoughts and prayers are with
your sister Bonnie and hope everything turns for the better. John
Hi ME
The step for
the Youth House is a wonderful idea. I am in , let me know what I
owe.
AM
Each step costs $100 each -- pretty cheap. ME
Hi Everyone,
Veronica has had angioplasty done yesterday. One of main
arteries was 90% blocked. She should be coming home today and the
doc's said she should make a full recovery. Bonnie
HELLO, up date
on Veronica, she had 90% blockage on main artery, they put a Stent in,
all o.k.. going home today Monday.
Brenda, I remember mom sewing for me, she made my skirts, but put a
cotton top on them mainly to keep me warm. Do you remember the
young lad she sent to school - Bernadette and I and mom were up very
late putting name tages on all his new clothes, plus skates and so
on. He stayed in school about two weeks after finding out he
couldn't smoke there.
Mom(grandmother) was a GIVER. Bernadette and I are off to N.B.
April 29. Hope to see you then Mary Ellen to get up date on
reunion. Aunt Patty
APR 20th...There seems to be some interest for
the step, so I am going to go ahead and buy one before they are
gone. This would mean, if each of the children's families paid
$10 (eg Aloysius and gang $10, George & gang $10), this would pay
for it. I'll pass a hat at the reunion. All the best...ME
