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Mitchell Family Newsletter

"Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set." Proverbs 22:28

Newsletter Editors:

 

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Hi there! This morning I am sitting at my desk looking out on yet another snowstorm which we are hoping will melt quickly and SOON. We certainly enjoy getting messages from, for example, George Mitchell6 (Alexander3, Samuel2) in Qualicum Beach, B.C. saying "went golfing this afternoon - ha ha ha!!" Ken starts on Spring Break this weekend and it would be lovely to have some nice weather so that we can enjoy some outings, perhaps to the cottage, but I think the snow will be with us for awhile yet.

 

As you can see from the heading of the newsletter. Our editorial staff has grown - it has practically doubled! We welcome Debbie Mitchell - anyone in the Toronto area who has news, please send it along to her. The other exciting news is that the Newsletter is now available on the Internet - thanks to our "web genius" Grant Ackney and his patience walking Karyn and I through all the steps. Grant has written us an article all about it, so, read on for details of our entry into the high-tech world. If you have an e-mail address - let us know.

 

At the time of our last Newsletter I was writing about looking after my Dad. As a number of you know, Dad passed away in November after a very long battle with cancer. Christmas was a tough one this year - he loved all the festivities so much and I missed him doing ornaments with me. Ken and I have had a tradition in our family going back some 25+ years - every year I make a Christmas tree ornament - a new design each year, only one but I make lots of them. Everywhere we go throughout December and whoever comes to our home is given an ornament for their tree. For the last number of years Dad has worked with me on them - it was such fun and I miss our special times together. I do thank you all for your patience when I was late getting the newsletter out.

 

Once again we can talk about our experiences with Up With People. At the time of our last writing we had a student, Rebecca Glascock, from Georgia staying with us as a member of their advance team. When the cast arrived for their tour here we hosted two more - Katie Smithson from Illinois and Catarina Rocha Ferreira from Portugal. During their stay they experience our own Canadian culture but we also learn about theirs. The tours usually come through Ottawa every two years but it had been three since the last visit. At the moment this cast is touring in Europe.

 

We were very pleased to learn that another cast is coming through Ottawa to perform at our Tulip Festival in May. Once again we are going to host a member of the advance team and at least one more of the cast when they arrive. Friends of ours are also hosting so it should be fun as we can do things together. Five casts are on the road at any one time each with approximately 150 students, ages ranging from 18-25. They travel the world for a year and perform everywhere they go - their main focus though is learning and experiencing the culture of each country they visit through living with families, community service and educational sessions.

 

The Tulip Festival is a lovely time of year in Ottawa. The story behind the tulips dates back to the second World War when Princess Juliana, heir to the Dutch throne, took refuge in Ottawa. During that time a princess was born in our Ottawa Civic Hospital. The Canadian government temporarily ceded the maternity room to the Netherlands so that the new baby, Princess Margriet, could be born a Dutch citizen on Dutch soil. Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Bernhard made the dangerous trip to Canada to attend the baptism of Princess Margriet. The princess’ godparents included Queen Mary of England, President Roosevelt of the United States, and Lord Athlone, the Governor-General of Canada. As a special thank you to Ottawa the Royal Family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs and every year since then we have been the recipients of shipments of tulip bulbs from the Netherlands. Now there is over 3 million tulips blooming in the month of May - a spectacular sight to behold. The tulips have become an important symbol of international peace and the beauty of spring. The festival runs for a week which is chock full of festivities, one of which is the flotilla on the Rideau Canal - approximately 90 boats of all shapes and sizes are decorated and paraded from Dow’s Lake to the National Arts Centre (where we skate in the winter on the longest skating rink in the world). Our beautiful Rideau Canal is enjoyed all year round.

 

It is with the backdrop of these beautiful tulips that Up With People will perform two outdoor shows. We are really looking forward to it.

 

Better close this off now and make room for others to write something too! Please keep us up-to-date on all the special activities going on in your family. We love to hear from you.

 

Pam (Jones) Mitchell Nepean, Ontario

(Kenneth H.R.6, William Noble3, Samuel2)

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OUR NEWSLETTER IS ON THE INTERNET!!!

Our Mitchell Family Newsletter is now available on the Internet **** E-Mail ****.

We are going to start putting the newsletter out via the Internet so that we can reach more relatives with the news. You will be able to receive your letter via E-mail or you can get the Website address so you can view photos and retrieve it from there anytime you wish.We hope to:

 

*Reduce the cost of publishing and mailing.

*Get the news out faster.

*Have more relatives on our list (the young ones too!).

*Make it easier to submit information - and more of it (pictures), etc.

*Plus many more advantages.

 

Don’t worry - the regular printed newsletter will still be available. We are just trying to improve on what we have. If you don’t have E-mail now, I am sure you have a family member or a friend who can receive it for you and print it from their computer --- Just think about it--- We’re all excited about this direction for the Newsletter. "It’s a Natural" ... what we would like all subscribers to do is submit your E-mail address that is available to you ... PLUS ... the E-mail addresses for any family members who are not getting the newsletter at this time. We will then be able to send the news to more and more folks. After you receive your first E-mail you can decide for yourself which way you would like to get the Newsletter. It’s easy, just send us an E-mail to this address:

 

Mitchellnews@writeme.com

 

and we will put you on the list. Please include your name and what Program you use to receive your E-mail with, and in the Subject Title just put "add me". Simple as that! (Hey ... you could even submit some news at the same time!) Do it yourself or get a family member or friend to send it in ... or, if it is easier, just send us a letter with

your E-mail address submissions on it. Let’s really get in touch. Sign up today! Let me know what you think and try the News E-mail. If you have any questions send me an E-mail.

 

Cheers,

 

           Grant Ackney6  Nelson, B.C.

             E-mail: Mitchellnews@writeme.com   

(Alexander3, William2)

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Welcome to 2000

It will soon be 20 years since we began getting together to celebrate our large family; and when next we meet we will have entered the New Millenium.

So many things have happened in the last 100 years that, before they happened, one could never have imagined them.

Remember the days of doing the "weekly wash"? Fill the large copper boiler with water and soak the clothes overnight in strong soap; next day using the scrub board, and with back-breaking efficiency scrub them clean ... and then wring them out by hand with 2 rinsings to follow. Blankets, sheets, long underwear and all manner of clothing. I remember my Aunt Susan Colbert had a most wonderful invention; a corrugated tub with a mechanism on the side that as you pushed the handle, gears would mesh and the tub would go round and round, sloshing the clothes to cleanliness. She was considered a fortunate woman because as well, she had a clothes wringer that you fed the wet clothes and turned the handle, and presto, they were ready to hang.

Then of course was the invention of electricity which brought many wonderful conveniences.

I remember the transistor radio; a small box about 3 inches by 5 inches, no wires - just turn a button and you could hear music, news, plays - events from other countries. To this day, I claim it as my memorable miracle.

We have moved from making toast in a mesh frame over coals on a wood stove, to your choice of toast or bagel on the most elegant, automated contraption.

From a big nickel kettle on the back of the stove to the plug-in type that shuts off automatically when it has boiled.

Remember the days when you went to the chicken coop to choose your dinner, and now you can buy them stuffed and ready for the oven with a button in its belly to tell you its done!

I’m sure a great many of you grew up with the "outdoor privy", while just as many have no idea what that was, because they have bathrooms today that are sanctuaries of delight - you name it and you can find it in your bathroom.

Fifty to sixty years ago you planned your garden to ensure that you had a sufficient supply of vegetables and fruits, jams and preserves, pickles and canned meats. Between all the junk food restaurants and wonderful freezers from which we can make a nutritious meal in twenty minutes - we have spanned a millenium.

When I was a child I remembered getting my tongue frozen to a pump we had in the school yard, where the single cup hung on a chain.

There were no Kindergarten or Junior K’s or daycare nurseries. Families kept their children at home until they were 6 years of age and then started at Grade I. Today the child leaves home almost as soon as they leave the womb. There have been many debates, back and forth, about the benefits of mothers staying home or having a career. I believe that the CONCERN for child rearing, not necessarily the physical work, is very important; keeping a close eye on their friends, and friends’ families, the influence of other people on your children. How many times have you heard the saying "I need eyes in the back of my head", or "how did you know that, Mom?" after you’ve faced your child with something that they had done wrong? Everything a child says or does is monitored by the parent on duty - the antennae goes up and Mom or Dad goes into action. Every waking moment you are on the alert for what they say, who they chum with, what they do, where they go and for how long, etc. etc. etc.

I so well remember my life as a young mother, trying always to be fair, but knowing the times I had to be so firm that at times my children hated me. I learned you have to risk the hate to earn their respect and love.

I wouldn’t want to be raising children today, really there are very, very short years when a little one is truly an innocent child today.

I remember when a car was a thing to dream of, and then you had to crank it to get it started and strap on removable shades when it rained. Today there are few driveways without 2 cars and they almost tell you how to drive. If a child has been raised never having used public transportation, it’s a whole new experience. And some never do it. They go into debt and by a car!

Remember the lovely love song "Fly Me to the Moon"? - Well - now you can!

This article may leave you with the impression I live in the past. Absolutely NOT! I enjoy my car, my TV, VCR, microwave oven, toaster oven and, believe it or not, the ABM machine at the bank and the Interac card at the stores.

I love to go back to the smells and the feel of yesteryear - but only for a little while.

I’m looking forward to the new Millenium and all the things that will come with it.

See you in 2001 - wherever??? 

Love

H. Eileen (Mitchell) MacMillan5

Nepean, Ontario

(William Noble3, Samuel2)

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Hey Everyone:

Well how is everyone doing this fine spring? Things are going pretty fair out here in Alberta. Once again I am holding up the printing of the newsletter. I always say I am going to do it early, then one thing after another comes up and it is always late, or as it is this time around, I almost didn’t write one at all. Oh well, I’ll attempt to write something that may have some sort of value to it.

Well where do I start? Let’s see what have I been doing since last letter. Well, I’m not sure if I told you all that I was going to be playing indoor soccer. Yeah, I’m old but they have what they call a Classic Ladies League. How sad, they consider us classics. I thought that was for old cars that they quit making. Anyway it is a ladies league for thirty-five and over. Well our team was a whole new time. Some players had never played in their lives, and some of us hadn’t played since elementary school. Well we had a blast. We ended up 11th out of 15. Doesn’t sound that great, but we had fun. We really came on strong in the last 4 or 5 games. Poor time to become strong but if the season lasted another 4 or so months we might have been a force to be reckoned with. Jay also played indoor soccer this past fall and was very good at it. Indoor soccer is much faster than outdoor and rules are different but is enjoyable. Jay, Devin and myself will be registering for outdoor right away. This will be Devin’s first team sport, my first year at outdoor, and Jay, well this will be his fourth year. Len, well I’m sure you can all guess what he will be doing with his summer. Yes, baseball season is upon us. He started practicing in the gym awhile back. I cannot complain as he sat quietly with the boys every Friday night while I was out doing the soccer thing. Of course amongst all that soccer and baseball, we will be doing our camping thing, fishing and whatever else tickles our fancy in this so short of a season called summer.

The second weekend of March I had the opportunity to go to Vancouver for a Special Education Conference. It was my first trip to Vancouver. I don’t know how people that live there can stand the rain! How depressing, however, one afternoon I did get to walk around Stanley Park without getting too wet. I rode a sea bus and visited the Lonsdale area. I also looked around Granville Island. We stayed at the Westin Bayshore. I said to the gals I was with, we are in a concrete jungle. The only thing I saw green was growing on the side of a building. It was nice to visit and see, I can say I’ve been there now. Oh well, I guess the farm girl in me will always be there.

Speaking of farm girl, I was just thinking this the last few days. We just had a neighbour of ours pass away. They used to live about a mile from our farm. It felt like part of my extended family had passed away. I got to thinking, I am really getting to be middle aged. I felt, what I’m sure everyone my age and older has all experienced, everything I knew as a child is vanishing before my eyes. My folks moved off the farm, Darryl moved off the farm, all our neighbours moved from their farms. Then our house was torn down, the grass has grown wild. Now if that isn’t bad enough, one by one our neighbours are passing away. Now I realize that is the so-called circle of life, but it stinks! It’s like my childhood has been slowly chipped away. Nothing left, only the present and whatever future we have left. Oh my, I’m starting to scare myself. I almost sound deep. I think it just hit me that I’m not a young person like a felt I was. Reality has hit like a lead balloon.

Well, with that cheery note, I’ll end with - cherish absolutely everything you’ve got, because it could be gone in a heartbeat.

Love to all,

Karyn (Andrews) Kondro6   St. Albert, Alberta

   (Alexander3, William2)

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Grant Ackney6 (Alexander3, William2) of Nelson, B.C.

has submitted the following "funny" - hope I can type it properly!!!

EURO ENGLISH

SUMMARY OF EU DISCUSSION PAPER NO. MCXXIV 

The European Union Commissioners have announced that agreement has been reached to adopt English as the preferred language for European communications, rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty’s Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a five year phased plan for what will be known as "Euro English".

In the first year, "S" will be used instead of the soft "C". Sertainly, sivil servants will resieve this news with joy. Also, the hard "C" will be replased with "K". Not only will this klear up konfusion, but typewriters kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome "PH" will be replased by "F". This will make words like "fotograf" 20% shorter.

In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkorage the removal of double letters, which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of silent "E"’s in the language is disgrasful, so they would go.

By the fourth year, peopl wil be reseptive to steps such as replasing "TH" by "Z" and "W" with "V".

During ze fifz year, ze unesesary "O" kan be droped from vords kontaining "OU", and similar changes vud ofkors be aplid to ozer kombinations of leters.

After ze fifz yer, ve wil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer wil be no mor trubls or dificultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech ozer.

Ze drem vil finali kum tri. Heil ze nu Europ! 

WHEW!!! THIS WAS NOT AN EASY TASK FOR A TOUCH TYPIST WHO PRIDES HERSELF IN BEING PRETTY ACCURATE!!!

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STAN MITCHELL

MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

PONTIAC   GOLF     CLUB

Wednesday July 14th 10:00A.M.

 After our Mitchell Family Reunion last year and the wonderful golf tournament, organized by John Bond and Donna Mitchell6 (William Noble3, Samuel2) of Mississauga, Ontario, that was held at that time, the West End Duffers (Dad’s golfing group) offered to keep the tournament going as an annual event. They are hosting the tournament this year and we hope as many family members and friends as possible will be able to play in it.

The tournament will be taking place Wednesday, July 14, 1999 at the Pontiac Golf Club at East Aldfield, Quebec, which was Dad’s favourite golf course in the area, known for its beauty and down-home hospitality. Tee-off time will be 10:00 a.m. and will be followed by a lunch. Fees for the golf will be $20.00. Lunch will be "Dutch Treat".

We do hope at least some of you will be able to join us for a great day in the Gatineau Hills. Please let us know by June 9th if you will be able to play in the tournament. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Send your registration fees to:

Ken Mitchell

174 Oakridge Blvd.

Nepean, ON, K2G 2V2