LEST WE FORGET 127 AWAR BRIDE IN BETHUNE – 1946 (continued) Meeting Uncle Mack, Aunt Jen, Grandma Read, the Holland family. (Unforgettable people). The 1st of July, sitting in a car watching the horse races at the finish line. One ended up on the hood of the car, “that one was wild”, (They were all wild, and the heat was getting to me). Moving into our new home, new furniture, painting, wallpapering, etc. (The wallpaper did not want to stay on the wall). Picking Saskatoon’s chokecherries. (They eat wild berries?) The trip to Watrous with the Bill McLennan and Ogg families, mother Thea and Rea. (I thought it was going to be a picnic in a basket, no, they worked hard at frying chicken, potato salad, homemade ice cream, strawberries, etc.) Harvest time, and those hot winds. (Everybody is talking harvest, crops, etc., all Dutch to me), canning in the heat, and those dill pickles. The first snow, storm windows. (A terrible closed in feeling). Hallowe’en, (Guy Fawkes Day? No that is November 5th). Remembrance Day, November 11th. (people are moving at the two minutes silence). Men in overalls and carrying guns. (Deer hunting? – Wild Deer?) Trying to adjust to, Prairie Chicken, Wild Duck, Deer steaks, etc. “Just enough for you and me”. (It was mostly M.O. and thee). Seeing my first coyote. (Don’t tell me they eat those too?) Wondering why people were carrying Corn Brooms. (Curling?) Been told I had better purchase over-stockings. (Me, NEVER, but I did). My first Xmas, everything plentiful, making Xmas cake with Mother Thea, real Holly from the T.M. Eddy’s – so many cards. Popcorn for the tree, opening gifts on Xmas Eve. (Tradition: Ethel and Allen made it across the valley, the togetherness of this family, my family had not been together through all the war years). The New Year’s Eve dance at the hall. (Auld Lang Syne being played again). Watching Merle play in the Bonspiel. (I am so cold just watching). My first sleigh ride, everybody dressed me up so warmly. (So they thought, I am sure I came close to being frozen, period! Then it seemed in half an hour, it was time to start back again, my first and last sleigh ride). Mother Thea’s cold remedy, “take this liniment in hot water, and a cold pack around your neck”. (Tasted like horse liniment, please help me Lord). Wishing the snow would go away, but can I take all the heat again? These are a few of my “Recollections”, but one does not adjust to them alone. A caring Frederick family, wonderful neighbours, especially the Oggs and the community of Bethune, this one War Bride tried very hard to adjust.
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