Tag Archives: family

happiness

Teepees and First Nations Celebrations (FGK-34)

I feel like anything I could say would ruin the perfect beauty of this letter. I am simply going to make the statement, as I do every time this terminology comes up, that I think Aunt Gertie would want to use culturally sensitive words, and this was the language they had at the time. There has always been a lot of respect for our First Nations neighbours to the west of us (and elsewhere).

Cochrane, Alberta

July 23, 1953

Dear Margie:-

Well Margie Sumer is certainly well underway. Haying is in full swing. Last night we had a lot of fun setting up the teepee for the Indians crew in our yard. The children helped us make the wickets and pickets and set up the poles. Afterwards they ramped through the doorway and had pillow fights on the beds. You could hear the giggles everywhere I thought I never would get them in the house to go to bed.

We surely enjoyed the Indian Day celebration at Banff. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. It was held on the grounds of the Banff Springs Hotel. The enclosure was made to resemble a theatre stage and the walls were made of small pine trees set close together. Three gaily painted teepees and a microphone were the main stage feathers. The Indians wandered in leisurely and squatted in groups around the tents. Their beautifully beaded costumes and headdresses lent the whole scene a gay colourful note. The announcer was the best I’ve ever heard. He was from New York and had been made a blood brother ie his wrists had been slashed and his blood mixed with Indian blood. Not many white people have had this honour. He was so witty and interesting that he held us all spellbound.

I wish you could have seen their dancing: the elk dance, the deer dance, chicken dance etc. Each Indian is doing something different and yet all are keeping perfect time. Even the little children join in. Two were only about 3 years old and they were so comical. They kept pulling their gum in and out of their mouths watching the crowds with big brown eyes and keeping the step perfectly. One little boy of the “Ear Family” was only 4 1/2 years old and he was a wonderful dancer. He spun hoops on his arm and both thighs all the time he danced. The crowd kept cheering and he came back three or four times to give solo dances.

I saw the famous dancer “Saddleback”. He is supposed to be the best Indian dancer in Alberta and I can well believe it. You just couldn’t help but notice him. He had a beautiful powder blue suit with rose heading and more snow white fox skins at his waist and one he held over one arm like a muff. He put his feet down so carefully and lightly and they were never still a moment. The many bells on his ankles tinkled merrily. You could almost imagine the deer’s movement as he danced. He also danced with hoops whisking on both arms and legs. One thing I noticed particularly in the Indian dance it is the play of the muscles in the shoulders. It was a steady rhythm and must take quite a while to learn.

Eddie “One Spot” sang some cowboy songs. Another “One Spot” boy played the guitar and sang. Music takes on an added charm in the mountains as it seems to almost echo back. I was sorry we hadn’t taken all the children as they would have enjoyed it so much.

At one point in the program the announcer asked which people thought they had come from the longest distance. Some were from South America, Switzerland, Sweden, England, Germany etc. One girl called “Karen” came from Sweden. Another gentleman was from Switzerland. These were considered to have come from furthest away. As a keepsake of their visit to Canada each was given a beautifully beaded pair of moccasins. They surely were pleased.

Last week my aunt Mina and uncle Ed and 3 cousins were here from Toronto, Ontario. They were motoring through northern USA and back through Canada. They seemed to enjoy western Canada albeit uncle Ed was sure fed up with mountains. He was so funny describing his driving on mountain roads.

I guess Shirley is leaving me in another couple of weeks. She is going to get her old job back as secretary. She can earn a lot more money that way. I’ll miss her as she has sure been a good worker and i really need the help with a hay crew. Alvin is going to try and get a job with the oil wells as it pays well. It’s too bad young folks can’t learn to wait to marry till they have a bit of money saved up. They seem to have to learn the hard way.

My peonies have been just grand this year. I’ll still have bouquets of them for another week I think .The garden looks so nice since we used our new rototiller.

I’ve been busy canning fruit and making jam. It’s nice to get the shelves filled again.

We all send best wishes

Lovingly

Aunt Gertie

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Skipping Assembly, New Shoes, School Stress (FGK 33)

I was quite a ways into this letter before I realized who it was from. Before I throw my aunt too far under the bus, I’d like to say that compared to some of the teenage naughty school behaviour, hers is really pretty innocent. For example, the year my parents made me go to boarding school on Vancouver Island they had a Terry Fox Run and I think we had to go at least 10k. We were to run up the Malahat (seems super safe right?) turn around, and come back. I was with a group of kids who thought it was total BS and had no desire to run. We made it to the turn around spot and spent the entire time back to the school trying to hitch a ride. Fortunately no one actually stopped to pick us up or goodness knows where we’d be now! I never told my parents that story, so if there are sudden rumbles of thunder and lightening tearing across the sky today, it’s just them reading my blog in heaven!!

I miss my aunt a lot, reading these letters reminds me of how when I was younger and went away to both the boarding school and University of Lethbridge she consistently sent me letters to remind me I was loved. The letters I received were not nearly as hilarious as the ones she sent mom, but I suppose then she was an adult, I would send much different letters to my niece than to my sister. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for her because of that, and reading these letters to mom is like reading a letter she would have sent to a good friend of hers. It makes my heart smile. This is also the closest I have ever heard her use “bad” language. It’s nothing like my “bad” language, but that’s like comparing apples to pineapples.

Assembly period Tues

Dear Marg

I have just gotten into trouble I think. Five of us girls, Sheila Stephen, Evelyn Heinrich, Rita Holms, Pat Mrstik(?), and myself were sneaking up the stairs with the intentions of skipping assembly, and guess who was talking on the phone at the top of the stairs, that’s right Mrs Stevie. We kept right on going. Wonder what’s going to happen.

Yesterday Barbara and I went into the library to study during assembly and guess who walked in but mr Schula. He never said anything.

5:40

Well Mrs Stevie hasn’t said anything yet. I was just in her room buying stamps and it wasn’t mentioned.

I bought a pair of shoes today, black suede shoes. They haven’t got the toe out so I hope Marsh is satisfied.

Two of the girls from the college ran for the Teen Queen for Calgary. There as one from every high school. Anyways, one of the girls that lives in the dorm (Irene Stowell) won and the other girl from MRC got second, so we feel pretty happy. Irene got a real Hudson Bay coat and then tomorrow she’s going to Edmonton to compete against Queens from all over the Province.

I saw Aunt Irene, Heather Scott, Gina (?) McDougall, Mrs armstand, and Mrs Charlie Robinson. Aunt Irene is getting another baby! Honestly!

Must get ready for supper

Love Sheila C

Wed

Dear Marg

Went to assembly this morning for a change. Bored silly.

I have to read a take the minutes at the Council meeting today. Marilyn’s Modeling at a fashion show.

Love Sheila

8:15

Mum came in after 4 and went into speak to Mr. Collette. Wonder what they talked about. Then she took Marsh and Wayne downtown and they had supper out. Doggone that meeting anyways!!

Talked Marsh into going to the dance at Glendale so I’ll be able to wear my new shoes.

I sent in a request on Hospital Hour for you so you’d better listen. Don’t know whether you’d like it or not. You’ll have to hear it to appreciate it.

Must get to work.

Saw Anne Monday. She might come out during the latter part of the Easter Holidays.

Thurs 12:20

Dear Marg

Boy am I ever mad!!! I was under the impression that all the biographies for the yearbook were in and even written out, now I just found out that only half of them were in and some lost them. Gad. What a mess!!

Sure have a lot of studying to do. Exams next week you know!! Where does time ever go!

Marilyn and Peggy are eating ice cream. Slurp Slurp

4:10

Dear Marg.

I have just disgraced myself. In French this afternoon I was reading a part out loud and I couldn’t say ‘monsieur’ finally I got the giggles and I couldn’t say anything. I felt like crawling through the nearest window. Another girl had to finish. The teacher just laughed and thought it was a great joke thank goodness. Still haven’t got those GD Biographies.

Must get to work

Love

Sheila C

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How to Kill a Skunk and Other Animal Stories (FGK 32)

There are many things I love about this letter. Mom was in a wheelchair and able to be out of bed!! She’d been in hospital almost 2 years by this time. I bet she loved the freedom of being able to move herself around! The young boy they had staying with them would have been the same age as mom, and I don’t know where he was from or who he was, but how kind of Aunt Annie to stop whatever she was doing and play with him in order to make him feel more comfortable. Small acts of kindness go a long ways.

When I was a kid, mom used to read Old Mother West Wind to my sister and I, as I did with my own kids when they were little. Aunt Annie gives a more graphic “from the farmer’s view” version of stories much similar to those. I can imagine Mr. Skunk had quite a time gorging on eggs before he finally met his demise. Out here there’s a man who can’t smell the stink of a skunk and he’s been called by various community members to help deal with a skunk who has made himself at home where he shouldn’t. Unfortunately, this man’s wife CAN smell skunk, so I’d imagine he’s not too popular when he returns home!!

RR No 1, De Winston, Alta,

4th July, 1953

My dear Margie,

I thought I would just sit down tonight and drop you a few lines. I was so pleased to get your nice card and to know that you enjoyed the box of what nots that I sent in.

Your mother had told me about you manipulating the wheelchair around. good for you. I bet you will have lots of fun getting about in that. Can you go visiting the other patients? I guess you would have lots of places to go in that beautiful big building.

We have been having a terrible year of it. We didn’t get very much of our crop in and what we have in is just being hailed.

July 5 – I had a little interruption while writing your letter. We have a young boy, thirteen years old, staying with us now. He seemed rather lost so I suggested a game of rummy. so we had a game and he beat me too.

As I was saying earlier in my letter, we got considerable hail last night. It smashed my poor flowers down most pitifully. However, I am still hoping I’ll be able to take you some Dahlias later on. It’s been so wet and cold that everything down here looks as if it’s a whole month behind schedule. I don’t suppose the snow when it comes will be “behind schedule”.

Our poor old duck has laid all spring and sat twice. Each time she sat the old skunk came along and helped himself to the eggs. I don’t know whether she’ll try again as it’s getting rather late. She had fifteen eggs in the first nest. I didn’t find the second nest but the skunk did as she is up and about again. However this morning Uncle Ed had Mr. Skunk in a trap. We had a lot of fun over him. Uncle Ed said he could kill him without him leaving any smell. I didn’t believe it possible. He said he would put a wire on a long pole and slip it over his head and choke him. Well everything went fine until the wire broke. However he finished off the sunk by drowning him and he didn’t smell very much either so I guess we had to admit that he knew the best way to kill off a skunk. Tippy took good care not to get too close as he had tangled one time earlier in the year. He surely did look disgusted. He came and sat by me and left Uncle Ed to hunt the skunks by himself. I didn’t appreciate him sitting by me very much either.

We have two pea-hens sitting this year. I was surely glad the skunk didn’t find their nests. They come every day to the door to be fed bread. They make quite a clatter too just to make sure i know they are all there. I have three that we raised last year and they surely are all in the dog house. They went to the garden one day and ate up the cabbage and cauliflower. It’s the first time they ever did anything like that. I think they found time on their hands and just decided to get into mischief and they did. I was really muttering to myself and out loud too when I saw what they had done.

Clarence has been sick again last week but he is better today. He is running around all over the place now. He followed his Dad down the road the other day. I saw him disappearing around the corner and had to chase after him. Tippy was with him but he wasn’t trying to bring him home at all, but just going away with him.

Well Margie, my dear, I guess I had better stop my chatter and close for this time. You’ll be hearing from me again soon.

Love from us all

Aunt Annie

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A Day in the Life at the JR Red Cross Hospital (FGK-31)

This letter was written by four of mom’s friends in Ward 13 at the Jr. Red Cross Hospital. Mom must have been home for a visit – by this time she’d have been in the hospital for a little over a year. This letter makes me both happy and sad. I’m happy that these kids seemed to have a genuine friendship with each other which must have helped immensely, I’m sad because there were so many children in that hospital isolated from their friends and family.

I appreciate this letter immensely because I feel like it provides me with better insight as to what mom’s daily life was like in those years. As I’ve been studying for my Masters in Counselling Psychology the last year and a half or so, I have a much better understanding of the effects of trauma and it must have been incredibly difficult for these children, as well as their families. The constant outpouring of love Mom received from her family and community surely must have helped balance out some of the trauma, but with no psychological help available it was a lot to overcome.

My mom’s inner strength and will to live continues to amaze and impress me. The same goes for these other children.

Jr. RC Hospital

Nov 18,/52

Dear Margie

We promised we’d write to you so here goes. There hasn’t been anything very exciting happening around here to tell you the truth.

I got my packs discontinued at night a week ago (about time eh!) at eleven and from tonight on I get them off at nine. I have also been walking at the tank of course. Miss Mason says I’m still to weak to walk all the time. Boy it sure felt good to have your feet on the floor once again.

How are you getting along? Fine I sure hope, we sure miss you here but I’ll bet you’re having a good time at home. We sure get into trouble, the other day we just couldn’t wake up in the morning and Mrs. Hope came in and said if we couldn’t wake up for our breakfast we couldn’t have a nurse in the wards, baths, or anything so we all stayed wake this morning.

The boys have sure been bad lately, they were throwing hard boiled eggs around last night. Alfred broke the Polio power jar, by throwing it at the wall. They are sure good to us, they send us candy quite often etc.

Clifford got his packs discontinued, it shouldn’t be too long before he can go home.

Laurie also got her shoulder pack off.

Gwen has a new Physio now, Miss Olson. Mis Evoy is finished. Gwen said to tell you she sure likes it by the window.

Rose goes to the schoolroom in the wheelchair now, she’s sure proud of herself. She and Dale fight over the wheelchair.

Mrs. Smith the night nurse is sick with Polio. Poor old Mrs Boyce was on along for three nights. (Boo!hoo!)

Remember Miss Fairly, we had her bring us milkshakes on Sunday, were they ever good.

They showed us a picture last night about the Post Office, concerning the guides, Scouts etc.

Miss Durand just came in to say “good-bye” – she’s leaving to get married on Sat.

Gerald Nickle went home since you left.

Dorthy Fawkes is getting along real well, she’s out of the respiration for good. Gwen thinks she may be coming over here, she’s not sure.

We are all looking forward to Christmas, seeing we are going to spend it in here. Do you think you will be home for Christmas?

We sure have a lot of fun but Mrs. Baker is sure getting strict.

We have a promise for this ward, ‘Be Prepared For Anything” How true, eh?

Gwen said to say that Mrs Boyce is still as noisy as ever.

Mrs Baker, Mrs Haworth, Mrs Moulton, and Miss Steiner are all on 3-1/right now.

Right now Rose is in the boys room as usual, talking to Willard and Alfred.

The blind fell down again, only this time it fell on me, my leg is sure sore today.

Well, I guess we’d better close for now as it is about time to go to bed, and we want to send this with Mrs Moulton.

Love and Best Wishes

Marguerite Robinson

Rose Lamothe

Gwen Fawkes

Laurie Snyder

PS (with an arrow drawn upon to Rose being in the boy’s ward) Don’t believe her Marg. Rose

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Coronation, creek crossings, and branding (FGK-30)

Mrs. Barkley is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers. I really wish I’d known her, and not just because of her wonderful handwriting (she and Lawrence have among the prettiest and easiest to read). She tells stories so well, and just sounds like she’d be a really nice person to be around.

I have questions about this letter, and a few thoughts. First off, I never really considered the fact that mom was in there without TV. I mean, it makes sense, and it explains why she knew the number of dots on the tiles of her ceiling. How did my uncle get out of exams? This is a trick I would have liked to have known. Why did she take off (and from where) and leave Grandma and Winnie behind? And I want to hear more about the creek crossing episodes. I hope for her family she wrote some of her history- like I said, I love reading her stories.

30 days of letters and I’m not even 1/4 of the way through the letters. I am loving every minute of this, the best part of my day is reaching my hand in the bin and seeing what letter I’ll pull out for the day. I’m so thankful these letters found their way to me.

June 22, 1953

Dear Margie,

Now, I’m not really so optimistic as I was the first of the month. Quite resigned to the fact, it can rain anytime! Not happy about it and the cold air isn’t a bit funny.

Did you listen to all of the Coronation on the radio? Certainly a number of solemn oaths for one individual to make, don’t you think? I wonder if she maybe felt a little depressed? It must have been an unforgettable sight to see. It will be wonderful when you can have television in there. I really think one would be wise to wait now until they sell the coloured sets.

We hope to go to Percy Copithorne’s tomorrow to brand. I suppose that makes you feel like birking the blankets from here to there. Bernard was telling us when they were riding the wagon across the creek today the riders were up close and of course the horses were splashing water on them so Louis picked up a pail off the wagon, reached down and filled it with water and threw it back on the riders.

She writes birking, and that’s not a word – it’s running at the edges of my brain, but won’t let me access it. Probably what happened to her too lol. Anyway, the meaning is clear. Mom would have wanted to be home branding instead of in the hospital.

Up at Bragg Creek, Bruce’s (?) horse fell in the creek so he got properly soaked, Clarence C’s horse fell but Clarence missed getting wet.

The bridge from Midnapore is to be moved this winter to the Elbow up south of Barnes or thereabouts so if this Monsoon season is not on again next year we’ll be having a picnic. We done that one other year and it happened to be a lovely day. Irene and Kay were along that time. I suppose your Mother told you I just drove off without her and Winnie last Thursday.

Are you doing school work yet? Do you find your school work any easier since you have done so much reading?

Wasn’t Marshall a smart one to get home without writing exams?

I hear my men coming in so guess they have the tractor all bedded down for the nite.

Best Wishes

the Barkleys

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Christmas Party Drama (FGK-29)

I recall hearing stories from community members of Mom’s generation about what a big deal their Christmas Concert was. If I remember correctly, there was a lot of excitement a couple of weeks before they were set to put it on as they all got to go to the Hall to practice instead of having to do school work. As a child, I loved having to go and “preform for my present” at the Hall Christmas party (especially the year I played Mary and just had to sit there rocking the baby Jesus while my cousins had to sing and do all the work), and it’s been revived in recent years by the Hall board (which I am fortunate enough to be on, but take no responsibility for being the brain child of) as a potluck and Christmas Carol party with Santa as the Grande Finale.

Box 58

Cochrane, Alberta

Nov 14, 1953

Dear Margie,

Well, I suppose it’s about time I returned your letter! Gosh I just don’t get around to writing letters!

I have quite a bit of news that won’t make you overjoyed. The usual Jumping Pound Christmas Show will be a thing of the past. A little school party will take its place. Darn! That’s where we really miss you, Margie. The main reason is that there aren’t enough large pupils to carry on a real show. A thing we have always done in yesteryear. However I believe that one big reason is that Mr. O’Brien is tired of putting on such a big show. He claims that he will do all in his power for a concert if people want it, but I notice he has tried with success to kill the spirit. I guess it’s best though because if we put on a poor job this year from lack of talent it would sure wreck our reputation.

How is your school work? I’m finding that I’ve really got my hands full. I have finished my first unit in Science and am finishing up my Social unit now but I am badly behind in Math and I am on about page 110. I’m behind in that too!

We have some baby kittens at our place. They arrived a few weeks ago. Dave and Mary say that they are big enough to purr. However I have not heard them.

Gee! It’s about winter isn’t it? There isn’t any snow or ice around here yet. I guess it won’t be long before there is though and it will be time for toboggans and skates.

I’m running a little low on news. Reckon I’ll have to go.

Wishin’ you health and wealth

Lawrence

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A Hospital Friend and a Family Friend (FGK-27)

I have never, ever heard my mom referred to as either Mag or Maggie. Only rarely did I hear people call her Margaret, and it was usually people who didn’t know her well. This first letter seems to be from a friend mom made while she was in the hospital. The second must be a family friend- I’m not sure who (anyone?) there was no last name on the card.

Theres was a very brief time in my childhood when Dad decided it would be a good thing for me to take Cod Liver Oil. All I remember is hiding at under the kitchen table as far away from him as I could get and crying because I didn’t want to take it. I can still taste the disgusting memory of it in the back of my throat.

Markerville, Alberta

Sept 16/54

Gug a dud

Dear Mag

Well here I am at last. I thought it as time to drop you old bags a line. Gosh do I ever miss you. Honestly. I wished I could have shown you the lovely cushion Miss Reid gave me. I’ll draw a picture of it.

Her drawing
So many of mom’s letters have been sealed with a kiss so to speak. This one has the kisses on the back of the letter, but lots of envelopes are covered in big red kiss marks.

Here is all the colours of the rainbow on the ribbon, there’s three rows of white ribbon.

She called me into her office and gave it to me.

Do you know something? I have to take cod liver oil.

Well here it is another nite, Sept. 17. I’m listening to the fight. I’ve got $2.00 bet that Rocky will win.

It has looked like it was going to snow all day. Sure hope it doesn’t.

Bay Calgary sure did well on Monday nite. I guess Miss Olsen will be back on Monday. I sent for a grey wool dress. Kind of cute.

How’s school? I find many things different form the hospital. I keep thinking about what you guys are doing. How is fish eyes?

We are going to have roasted duck tomorrow nite. I wish you could be here.

Well Maggie, I guess I will sign off for now. Say hi to everyone for me. Tell Olsen I’ll be written to her.

Good Night sweetheart, it’s time to go

Love Helen

Ps How’s ______’s back?

Say hi to your family from me.

974 Alfred Ave

Wpg-Man

April 8/54

Dear Margie

Well here I am again, I am driving days now so am able to sit down tonight and drop you a line.

I received a letter from your mom and dad, sure pleased to hear from them. Our weather is sure staying cold, it’s been below zero the last few days. there was quite a blizzard last night.

I saw Len yesterday, he pulled up beside me while we were driving down the street, and said he was on the way home, he had been to Kenora Ontario.

How is your leg, the one you had fractured? Sure hope it’s ok again, and that you are able to finish with your Physio. do you still have water therapy? I guess it keeps you busy with school work, and all your exercises and Physio.

Ken is in Calgary now, he would like to come in and visit you, but I was telling him that he would not be able to get in. He will try and see Marshall while he is there. He plans to come home at Easter, he gets 5 days leave them. He has a car which he intends to take back to Calgary with him.

Say hello to all for me.

Bye for now

As ever, Stan

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Worms, Parties, Well Wishes (FGK-25)

Mom always talked about how much she loved Aunt Annie who lived in the old house (so basically next door) until she got married. Auntie Gertie was another bright light in the world, I remember her as a kind woman who always had a smile on her face.

I’m not sure in Aunt Annie’s letter if mom had some sort of relapse, and if she was in the hospital or not. Her card didn’t have an envelope, but it’s a really cute card, as is Auntie Gertie’s.

Oct 3rd 1953

RR No1, De Winston

Dear Margie,

At last I have found my pen so here is a wee letter with your birthday card.

I was so glad to hear from you and to know that you are well and happy and just getting along fine. I know you’ll lick that thing and that you’ll not be too long about it now that you are over the hump.

Clarence is growing and changing a lot. You aren’t going to know your little cousin when you see him again. He is seeing all sorts of strange things himself. He was shouting and calling the other day so I went out to see what all the excitement was about. He was down and his hands and knees with his little face right down on the ground, and pointing to something. I had to get down too, to see what it was. I surely laughed I discovered it was a big __ worm. So if you hear about anybody looking under a worm’s tummy you’ll know it can be done.

We are going up to the Birthday Party for the Buckley boys, we will all miss you Margie, but we’ll really throw a party when you are able to be up and about again and can join in the fun. I hope you’ll be able to read this as I am rushing so that I wouldn’t be surprised if you had some difficulty. Clarence is asleep and I have my dinner dishes yet to do.

So I’ll close for this time and you’ll be hearing from me again.

With heaps of love and kisses

Aunt Annie xxxooo

This is a small card from Auntie Gertie – there was no date on it so I’m not sure exactly when it was sent. It’s a beautiful card, makes me feel like I’m home (which of course I am).

Dear Margie,

I’m still thinking of you. It’s wonderful to hear you’re improving. Keep up the good work. I’ll try to send you a letter next week.

Love from Aunt Gertie

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Have Some Compassion (FGK-23)

I’m really glad we’ve had some lovely letters to share that are full of love and good wishes from mom’s family and the community. Today’s letter reminds me of some of the challenges that mom and my grandparents faced while mom was in the hospital – loneliness being up there with her physical condition.

In our home using the word “crippled” was akin to any of the racially charged words that are out there, or the worst of the degrading terms that could be used regarding another person. It is a word that makes me visibly cringe when I hear or read it, and I can truly see why mom refused to let that word into her life.

Now, I am not saying that the staff wasn’t doing their best, but their best and the future that Grandma envisioned for her youngest daughter I think were quite different. I am so impressed by Grandma’s tenacity – she never gave up believing that mom was going to surpass what was expected of her physically, and she clearly cared about her emotional well being as well.

This letter made me really sad, it’s taken me a bit to write out because my eyes kept leaking. And I really wanted to balance it out with a happy letter, but that seemed wrong. I don’t want to take away from what this letter is saying. And I wonder if this is around the time that Grandpa started building that Physio table for mom – letters show she was in the hospital for several months after this, but I’m not sure exactly when she came home yet.

Grandma for me was always “Grandma”. I knew she could be strong and stubborn (this can be a good thing when used properly) sometimes but I’m seeing strength, faith, and determination like I never imagined. I am so impressed at how she stood up for mom and advocated for her care all the way through. It was a powerful lesson because I watched how Grandma’s children cared for her once the dementia took over and loved her all the way until God took over. Watching my parents, aunts and uncles care for Grandma like that was what taught me how to care for my parents as they were preparing to return to God as well.

I’ll attach the letter at the end, but I wrote it out so that it would be easier to read.

State Services for Crippled Children

State University of Iowa

Iowa city, Iowa

Office of the Director

January 12, 1953

Mrs Percy Copithorne,

RR2 Calgary

Alberta, Canada

Dear Mrs. Copithorne

We have your letter of December 29th in which you told about your daughter’s loneliness in the hospital where she was being treated for polio. you asked for the book on the Care of Infantile paralysis in the Home. We are glad to send it to you.

Our doctors here would quite agree with you feeling, that your daughter should be receiving medical care. They would not agree with you, however, in humouring her to the degree that you allow her to decide on what is best for her. If there is anything to be done for her, it should be done now and continue as long as her doctor recommends it. She will be grateful to you in the years to come.

We have inquired about medical resources in Calgary, and have been advised that there is nothing better from there to the coast. However, your family doctor is in a better position to know about resources in that area.

We are truly sorry about your child’s crippling condition. But we should strongly advise that you not allow your compassion for her to take precedence over your better judgement, regarding what is best for her.

Very truly yours,

R.R Rembolt M.D., Director

State Services for Crippled Children

(Mrs.) Cecilia H. Robert

Supervising Medical Social Consultant

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Driver’s License, Concussions, and Fire (FGK-22)

I’ve always loved hearing my uncle tell stories – he has a way of telling them that makes me picture the events in my head quite clearly like I was a fly on the wall.

A couple of weeks ago we had a fire just west of us, and the ranch brought out their fire brigade to help bring the flames back under control. The ability of the people who live out here to fight fires has always impressed and humbled me. I remember Grandma telling of the time when a huge fire came from Jumping Pound Mountain area (is this right?) and was headed their way. She was pregnant with my uncle and my aunt would have been a toddler. She escaped with the car while others stayed behind to fight the fire. I think that one did end up going all the way to Bowness.

There are only a couple of letters that were written on a typewriter, and this is one of them. Given my dependence on autocorrect, I was quite impressed by how few words got scratched out. (Seriously, I just retyped that sentence three times – if I was on a typewriter there’d be no paper left)

Mount Royal College

Calgary, Alberta

April 9, 1953

Dear Margie:

Well I guess that it is about time I wrote you a letter isn’t it? I had one all wrote out last week but I forgot to post it. What do you think of my typing? I am bringing this letter up with THUNDERHEAD and GREEN GRASS OF WYOMING. I am sorry that I did not get them up to you last week.

I am sure scared about the Easter exams coming up next week. My math is something terrific. Sure has been bad weather lately hasn’t it? This will be bad for the little calves that come at night won’t it? I sure miss being out there every night to ride through the cows and claves.

What did the Easter Bunny bring you? I didn’t get a dog goned thing. I guess I must be on the outs with him.

Reese and Betty have quit and George and Mary are going over there in their place.

We have a better chance of getting a ball team this year because Ken and I have been lining out some players that we think would play. There still isn’t much chance of getting a team up though. I think they are going to play inter-house baseball here this year instead of touch rugby. The other years the boys played rugby while the girls played softball but I think they are going to play baseball for boys this year. I sure hope so because baseball’s as good a game as was ever played.

Today Fred Kelly and I were fooling around in his room, I was pretending I was dead and he picked me up in the fireman’s hold and tried to pack me out o f the room when he fell over to one side knocking my head against a light switch which broke both my head and the light switch, but it was my lucky day that it hit my head because I might have gotten hurt if it hurt me any other place. Well, my head’s kind of got a sore lump on it now but I guess I’ll live.

Last Friday, while we were deworming, mom came out to the yards to tell us that there was a fire over near the tweed hayfield. We haven’t used any of the hay over there and Dad was kind of worried about the hay, so we rushed over to Brushy Ridge to find the fire. When we got there the Brushy Ridge guys had it out. The fire started behind Curly Rown’s garage and luckily there was an east wind which blew it against the road and put itself out. Just as the fire went out the wind changed to the west. Dad said that if the wind had changed when the fire was going it would have gone clear down to Bowness.

Buckles is in his glory now because I kicked him and the other colts out to 21 to finish up the sheaves left in the crop field. I guess he figures he’s out in the wilds again. He sure is going to be a big hunk of horse flesh in a few years.

I got my driver’s license yesterday with mom and when we went to go downtown she asked me if I wanted to drive but I said no because I didn’t feel like it. Ever since I was ten I have dreamed of the day when I would get a driver’s license and when I finally get it I don’t want to drive. I think that mum pretty near fell over with surprise.

Well, that’s all I have to tell you now.

Dearest Love

Marshall

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