Original SPOL Comment Series
February 2002 through July 2004
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Maria Knight
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Oct 20, 2002
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R
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(id:484)
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| (Editor's note: A portion of the transcript was lost due to a system failure in 2002. If at some future date we recover the data we will post it.) |
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Siannon Birch
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Feb 22, 2003
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Seattle
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retired
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| I have wondered all my reading life
whatever happened to everybody, so thank you very much for this
information. I feel like they were family I read of them so much and
with such delight (id:814)
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Jacquie
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Mar 21, 2003
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Canada
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teacher assistant
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| 30 years ago, I read "best friends"
by mary bard...it was the best book I've ever read. I'm sure I read it
50 times and wish I could find a copy now to share with my 8 & 10
year old daughters!! This article was wonderful and it was nice to get
to know the author and her family in such depth. (id:921)
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Linde
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Apr 06, 2003
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thank you so much for this wonderful article.
There is a Betty MacDonald Fan Club and Society and they published the most interesting biographical stories and tapes.
(id:997)
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John Hughes
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Apr 11, 2003
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Norwich, UK
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Graphic Designer
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| Thanks for filling-in some blank
spaces. I'm putting together an account of my mother's life. She died
exactly a year ago, and although she had no connection with Betty
MacDonald she was of the same generation and felt an affinity. Betty
MacDonald's stories where at the top of our familily's reading list
thanks to mom, and I'm only now realising why she considered these
books to be not only very funny, but beautifully written. I'll be
passing them on to mine which is what my mother would have expected.
(id:1019)
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carol
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Apr 22, 2003
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annandale, virginia
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housewife/mother
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| I read a Readers Digest version of
Onions In The Stew when I was 12 (I'm 48) & never forgot it. I've
now read all but Nancy & Plum; I love Betty & feel like I know
her family - this article was such a treat! Now I'm itching to read
"Best Friends" by Mary...Betty MacDonald is such a gem!! (id:1057)
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carol
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Apr 22, 2003
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annandale, virginia
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housewife/mother
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| I read a Readers Digest version of
Onions In The Stew when I was 12 (I'm 48) & never forgot it. I've
now read all but Nancy & Plum; I love Betty & feel like I know
her family - this article was such a treat! Now I'm itching to read
"Best Friends" by Mary...Betty MacDonald is such a gem!! (id:1058)
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kay
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May 23, 2003
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gold country, northern ca
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garage sale-er
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| Does anyone know what happened to
Betty's daughters, Joan and Anne? How did they turn out and are they
still living? Any leads welcome. Thanks! (id:1202)
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Kathy
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Jun 30, 2003
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London, UK
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journalist
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| I'm a huge Betty MacDonald Fan.
Thank you so much for this very interesting article.
Did you read the bios THE KETTLES' MILLION DOLLAR EGG & THE EGG AND
BETTY - the first two parts of Betty's bio? Very interesting stories
published by Betty MacDonald Society.
For more info macdonaldsociety@aol.com.
I' d die to visit Seattle and Vashon Island. (id:1338)
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Martine
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Jul 02, 2003
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Paris, France
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author
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| Great article! Thanks a lot for
this!
I'm delighted to receive more info on my beloved writer.
Are there any people in Seattle or in the region who knew Betty
MacDonald and her family? I would be happy to meet them. Write a mail
to: pigglewigglefans@aol.com please.
I adore the stories and tapes of Betty's life published by Betty
MacDonald Society. Betty is a brilliant writer and I wished I could
write as well. She was unique! (id:1347)
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MIkki
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Jul 14, 2003
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Port Orchard, WA
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artist
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| My Mom introduced me to "The Egg and
I" many years ago. I fell in love with Betty's writing then. I've read
most of her books and lived on Vashon Island and have been to Chimacum.
I live a ferry ride from vashon now. So, glad to have found this site.
And, to be able to share the enjoyment of Betty's stories. There is
nothing like them. Bless her heart. (id:1381)
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gisela gala
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Aug 29, 2003
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port angeles,wa
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mother
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| i received her book,nancy and plum
as a young girl.now i live in her great nortwest-a far stretch from
germany. i have actually met some people here who are related to her
and the Kettle family. i am quite awed to be where they have been and
get goosebumps of joy to now be at least close to their past.i love
them both. thankyou (id:1545)
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Martine
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Sep 23, 2003
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Paris, France
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author
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| hi dear gisela gala,
i just read you know betty's family and the kettles.
i'd die to know more. could you send me a mail to
pigglewigglefans@aol.com please. betty was a gifted writer. i adore her
books and the very interesting biographies and tapes. she had a
wonderful laugh. (id:1622)
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Gisela
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Sep 25, 2003
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Hamburg/GERMANY
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teacher
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Hi Gisela from Port Angeles,
I'm Gisela from Hamburg.
Did you meet the real Kettles and the Bards?
Es w?re nett von Ihnen zu h?ren!
Betty's Fan Club is great and so are the items!
(id:1629)
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vera smith
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Dec 04, 2003
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houston, texas
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computer tech
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| Great site with plenty of
information. I have been a fan for a long time, thought I was the only
one. I have the four books, bought them from the library because I
liked them so much. I think Betty could have a lot of new fans if her
books could be sold in major book stores again. She wrote with such joy
and ou could just really get into her life. I found the the The Plague
and I interesting in the treatment of tuberculosis back then. The Egg
and I was so funny, the Kettle family so down the earth. I enjoyed her
stories of the Grandmother, such a character, and her childhood. I read
the books every year and they are so enjoyable each and everytime. I
see some of the books are out in paperback this is good. Maybe a new
generation of readers will discover Betty and her family. Remember the
funny old store Betty and her sister discovered one night with people's
clothes that seemed to have been just lived in. Also that creepy
coworker Marilee? I just found the four books so enjoyable and I keep
them on my bookcase in a place of honor along with a few other of my
favorite books. (id:1918)
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Lorinda
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Dec 19, 2003
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Seattle
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| To Kay from Gold Country, Northern
CA....Betty's daughters Joan and Anne are both getting up in years.
Joan has Alzheimers and lives in an assisted living center in a suburb
of Seattle. The other daughter Anne has been an artist for many years
and lives in Northern California, although I'm not sure where. Joan's
daughter Heidi attends the same church I do. The family values their
privacy and I don't think either of the daughters uses the Internet.
Thank you for this website with the photos and information. It is
fascinating to look up the places in Betty's stories. I had found some
of these photos (and others) on various searches in the King County
archives and I've visited many of the places including the Egg & I
Road and the former Firland Sanitorium (now a private college). The
only place I haven't been to is the site of Fred Hildebrandt's Shoe
Repair. I was interested to hear about Mary Bard's books and where to
find them. I just noticed that the Vashon Island General Store will be
offering a new reprint of "The Doctor Wears Three Faces" in January
(their website is
http://www.countrystoreandgardens.com/BettyMacDonald/threefaces.html).
Thank you. (id:1971)
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Peter
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Dec 26, 2003
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Bern, Switzerland
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Teacher
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Very interesting detail information.
I'm looking for radio and tv appearances of Betty MacDonald.
Thanks for your advice! (id:1987)
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Emilie Garcia
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Dec 28, 2003
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Port Orchard, WA
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Retired
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| I recently read an article in the
local newspaper about Betty MacDonald Farm on Vashon Island. As a child
I had heard about The Egg and I, but never saw the movie. I did see
movies about Ma and Pa Kettle. I wonder what the Kettles thought about
what she wrote about them. I wonder what the Native Americans think of
what she wrtoe about them. As a Native myself, I feel hurt about how
she viewed her Indian neighbors, but despair and alcoholism is a sad
fact of life for some of us. We had no alcohol for thousands of years
until...... I moved with my husband from California when we retired in
1997 to the Kitsap Peninsula, and only recently discovered that the
author of The Egg and I was writing about this area that I have come to
love. I can relate very well to her tales of fighting the native
vegetation and marauding critters, and am glad I live in an era where I
can enjoy the beauty of this wilderness, but with all the modern
conveniences. I am anxious to read all of her books. She was a great
descriptive and insightful writer. (id:1991)
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Peter
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Dec 28, 2003
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Bern, Switzerland
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Teacher
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| To Emilie Garcia from Port Orchard,
You should read the MacDonald Society stories
Regarding the Native Americans I can understand your feelings very well
but you should know the reason why she described them this way. I was
kind of horrified to learn reality. Did anyone ever see Betty MacDonald
on televison?
Any advice? (id:1994)
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Deborah Long
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Feb 29, 2004
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Encinitas Calif
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Caregiver
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| As a caregiver I was saddened to
learn that Joan has Alzheimer's. Is Kimi living? Any of Mary's children
or Cleve's? Is the public market still there? (id:2297)
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Susanne
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Mar 03, 2004
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Vienna, Austria
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retired
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To Deborah from California:
Kimi was Betty MacDonald's best friend and she is living.
I've read some Betty MacDonald Society items and Kimi wrote the most wonderful stories. Her comments are excellent.
It's true the way Betty described her in THE PlAGUE.
She is such an intelligent, warmhearted and charming lady with a very good sense for humor. (id:2309)
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Deborah
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Mar 05, 2004
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Southern California
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Caregiver
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| Susanne, Thank you for your
response. I wonder if anyone has met,in person, any of Betty's family?
What happened to the first husband, Bob Heskett? (id:2321)
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Deborah
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Mar 05, 2004
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Southern California
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Caregiver
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Susanne, I apologize for my preceeding typos - I was typing
in a rush as always! I am very curious about the death of
Betty MacDonald's first husband. Do you or anyone else have
that information? I wonder if any of Betty's family sees our
messages? Has anyone met any family members? (id:2323)
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Susanne
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Mar 08, 2004
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Vienna, Austria
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retired
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| Deborah,
There is a story published by Betty MacDonald Society
entitled The tragic end of Betty's first husband.
It's a rather sad and depressing story but very well researched with
all the details. There are audio interviews with Betty and her sister
Alison. Both are very funny.
I can highly recommend them. I listened to them a million times. My
husband gets crazy but they are wonderful. Real treasures. I love the
net. It's so wonderful to be so close with all the Betty Fans.
(id:2331)
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Jane
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Mar 16, 2004
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Canada
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| I suggest going to the "A Common
Reader" website. You will be able to read an interesting 1998 interview
with Anne Canham and Joan MacDonald Keil. Search for Betty's book THE
EGG & I, and once there you will find (and be able to click on)"An
interview with Betty MacDonald's daughters" on the top right side of
the screen.
I also recommend Monica Sone's book, NISEI DAUGHTER. I purchased it
after reading somewhere that Monica Sone was the "Kimi" Betty wrote
about in THE PLAQUE & I. She writes about her time as a patient at
"North Pines" sanitarium and of her fascinating friend "Chris."
(id:2356)
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Deborah
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Mar 17, 2004
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Southern California
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Caregiver
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Jane, thanks so much for your tip about the Common Reader
website !! Why is the death of Betty's first husband such a
secret? I wish someone would be kind enough to tell me. (id:2365)
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Jane
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Mar 17, 2004
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Canada
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| You're welcome, Deborah.
With regard to the secret of Bob's death: Perhaps to wet our appetites?
The people who know the story of Bob would have purchased Betty's bio
from the Betty MacDonald Society and probably don't feel that they are
at liberty to share the information.
I have always hoped to support the Society, myself, but the costs have
been a factor. Hence, for now I do my own research. (id:2367)
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Deborah
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Mar 18, 2004
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Southern California
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Caregiver
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Jane, I enjoyed your response. Have you looked at the website " HistoryLink Database Output, A Magic Lantern
Tour..." There is a great website ! And pictures !! (id:2375)
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Deborah
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Mar 21, 2004
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Southern California
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Caregiver
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Jane, my mistake - the website with several photos is
called History Link Galleries. It is listed just below the
Database Output. Or have you already seen it? (id:2387)
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Jane
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Mar 22, 2004
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Canada
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| Thanks Deborah. I was familiar with
the article ("Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard: A Guide to their King
County Homes.") It's a wonderful find, isn't it? A great big thank-you
to Paula Becker and Pricilla Long! After reading it once again, I see
that this must be where I first heard about Monica Sone and her book.
(id:2390)
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Deborah
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Mar 26, 2004
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Southern California
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Caregiver
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Jane,
Have you tried the website "HistoryLink Database Output" ?
Then go Biographies, then scroll down to MacDonald.
A great website, best pictures !!
(id:2416)
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Sylvia
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Apr 15, 2004
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Oregon
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none if I can help it
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| Does anyone know how to access Betty
MacDonald's radio drama scripts and/or audio archives of those
broadcasts? I think they were mentioned in Anybody Can Do Anything,
though it may have been in Mary Bard's book. Thanks for any information
you may have. (id:2501)
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Susanne
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Apr 18, 2004
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Vienna, Austria
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retired
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| Hi Sylvia,
Betty MacDonald Society offers several tapes with Betty and her family.
The tapes are really very interesting and funny. (id:2509)
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Lorinda
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Jul 08, 2004
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Seattle
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| To Deborah in California,
Yes, the "Market" that Betty describes in her books is still very much
in business here in Seattle. It's called the Pike Place Market. It's a
well-known tourist spot in the city. I work downtown and walk there
often. I love it. Fortunately, the city leaders made the effort to save
it from demolition some 20 years ago and today it is thriving. It is a
wonderful place to find every type of foodstuff - everything from fresh
flowers and seafood to gorgeous produce and gourmet items. There are
jewelry, craft, and clothing vendors and several restaurants with
panoramic views of Puget Sound and its islands. You'll also find
antique vendors, an herbal apothecary and palm reader, bakeries,
newsagents, honey, etc. You name it and it will probably be there.
In fact, I may even go for a walk there today on my lunch hour!
(id:2751)
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Sue
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Jul 09, 2004
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Pacific Northwest
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retired
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| Deborah, my understanding is that
Bob Heskett was murdered in Oakland, California, while trying to
protect a woman from an abusive husband/boyfriend. I've also read that
he suffered from terrible night terrors as a result of his war
experiences, and that this made life with him very difficult for Betty.
I don't believe he had any contact with Betty, Anne,or Joan after the
divorce. I don't think what happened to him is a secret, but the family
probably doesn't want to dwell on it. Several postings in this forum
(generally the European ones) are from individuals who have done some
research into Betty's history and have it available for sale. That's
why they haven't answered your question and have directed you to the
Betty MacDonald Fan Club website. And, although their postings in this
respect are a little misleading, they do have Betty MacDonald
information for sale and you might be interested in contacting them.
Just be aware that they sometimes post on MacDonald forums as being
strictly fans when they do have a monetary interest. In the meantime,
read all of Betty's books. She was a fine writer and her early death
was a loss not only to her family and friends, but to the book world as
well. (id:2754)
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Sarah
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Jul 10, 2004
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California
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I wonder if anyone has met,in person, any of Betty's family? (id:2755)
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Susanne
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Jul 10, 2004
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Vienna, Austria
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retired
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| I'm only an usual Betty Fan and
don't have a monetary interest although I'm from Europe. I believe
Betty was an unique writer. Therefore I was so glad to find out more
about our beloved writer and was delighted to read the very interesting
and detailed Fan Club Stuff. I was so amazed and surprised after
finding out that there is a lot of very interesting and important stuff
you won't find in Betty's books. Having the opportunity to hear Betty's
wonderful voice and laugh makes me happy indeed. To me it's another
dimension to know the way she spoke and acted. I only wished I could
see her on television. Is there anything like this? One of my favorites
is Betty's sister Alison. Boy how much I would have loved to meet Betty
and the whole Bard family in person. That's the way many of her fans
think I guess. I'm an elder lady now ( 67 ) but my sisters, children,
many grandchildren ( I have 5 daughters ) love Betty as much as I do. I
know several fans especially in the Czech Republic where Betty is a
houshold name in these days.
Betty will live on and on in her witty and wise classics and will
continue to delight further generations all over the world. She was a
big sharer said her sister Alison an (id:2756)
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Susanne
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Jul 10, 2004
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Vienna, Austria
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retired
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| I'm only an usual Betty Fan and
don't have a monetary interest although I'm from Europe. I believe
Betty was an unique writer. Therefore I was so glad to find out more
about our beloved writer and was delighted to read the very interesting
and detailed Fan Club Stuff. I was so amazed and surprised after
finding out that there is a lot of very interesting and important stuff
you won't find in Betty's books. Having the opportunity to hear Betty's
wonderful voice and laugh makes me happy indeed. To me it's another
dimension to know the way she spoke and acted. I only wished I could
see her on television. Is there anything like this? One of my favorites
is Betty's sister Alison. Boy how much I would have loved to meet Betty
and the whole Bard family in person. That's the way many of her fans
think I guess. I'm an elder lady now ( 67 ) but my sisters, children,
many grandchildren ( I have 5 daughters ) love Betty as much as I do. I
know several fans especially in the Czech Republic where Betty is a
houshold name in these days.
Betty will live on and on in her witty and wise classics and will
continue to delight further generations all over the world. She was a
big sharer said her sister Alison and Betty still is. With her work
Betty makes the world a bit better because she brings golden laughter
and wisdom to her readers. However it's no stuff for saddos! I hope
that many so called adults and children have the opportunity to read
her magical books and learn more about her background. To me reading
her books and knowing more about her background is one of the most
fascinating experiences in my life. No exaggeration!
Lorinda, for those you live so far away perhaps you could tell us more
about the country Betty lived and Betty's daughters and relatives. One
of my dreams is visiting your beautiful State of Washington but I'm
very afraid of flying. Therefore I'm not shure this ever will come
true. Thank you! (id:2757)
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Lorinda
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Jul 19, 2004
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Seattle
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| Susanne, I would be happy to give
you a little description of the area near the egg farm. My own family
(grandmother, mother, aunts and uncles) lived in the area about the
same time that Betty and Bob did. I visited there last spring and for
years listened to my relatives tell stories about ìwhen we lived at the
Blackmanís Lake placeî.
The Egg & I Road is not really near any large town. It's on the
left "arm" of Washington State, in Jefferson County, not far from the
Olympic National Forest. It's really almost the foothills of the
Olympics. The nearest villages are Port Ludlow and Chimacum, and both
are very small. It is a beautiful area with rolling hills, tall
evergreen trees, clean blue water, quiet coves and beaches rich with
clams, geoduck, shrimp, and other fish. Itís a beautiful place to visit
but there is very little employment nearby, so itís sparsely populated
by retirees, few farmers, and locals who commute to Port Townsend, Port
Angeles, or maybe Everett or Seattle.
It is not the easiest place to get to from Seattle - it takes both a
ferryboat ride and a car drive, unless you want to drive north over
Deception Pass or south via the Kitsap Peninsula. The "Egg & I"
Road (it's for real) is very quiet and upon entering it from Beaver
Valley Road, you cross a wide valley where contented cows graze. The
road climbs a hill and near the top is a large thick forest of
evergreen trees. If you stop the car and get out, the smell of pine is
intense and the woods are filled with birdsong. It's very quiet and
peaceful. Nearby are some of the Kettle descendents' farms. The houses
are a mixture of old-fashioned farmhouses and prefab mobile homes. It
would be an inspiring place to be a writer if you liked spending lots
of time alone. But it would be too lonely and quiet for a lot of
people.
The Olympic Mountains are quite close and they cause their own weather
systems. That is why Betty spoke of the terrible nearness of the
mountains. Wintertime storms can come up suddenly and blanket the area
in clouds and fog for days at a time. When the weather is good, the
place is absolutely stunning. Mule deer come up and eat out of your
hands at Olympic National Park.
The Egg & I Road is quite long and the spot where Bettyís farm used
to be is not marked, so we had to guess. Some houses are still standing
that were undoubtedly there when Betty lived there. About midway
through the The Egg & I Road, you cross another highway and
Chimacum Creek. The houses are set far apart and some are at the end of
long, hidden driveways. Most are on acreage and have some animals.
These are people who value their privacy. We followed one side road
that went straight up the side of a hill. One area at the top of a hill
is recovering from a forest fire that looked like it had happened
within the last 5 years. Some of those hills look like they would be
easy targets for lightening strikes. The volunteer fire chief lived
conveniently at the bottom of the hill.
I think the area is beautiful but could be extremely isolated and
chilly (damp) during the winters. There really isnít much to do up
there when the weather is bad. No city life, movie theaters, or even
supermarkets close by. Summertime is the best time to visit. (id:2782)
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Susanne
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Jul 25, 2004
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Vienna, Austria
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retired
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| Lorinda, are you a professional
writer?
How we ( my family and I ) enjoyed your description
of Egg and I Road!
Really lovely! Congratulations! Do you know the house Betty lived with
her mother and sisters in the University District? I could read it's
still there. Betty's wonderful sister Alison tells a lot about this. It
must have been a magical place for the Bards and their many friends
during the Depression. Do you know the tape where Alison tells the
stories about Sydney and their many guests?
Again - my compliments for your outstanding writing - (id:2797)
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Peter
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Jul 27, 2004
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Bern, Switzerland
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Teacher
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| Lorinda,
Thanks a lot for your very well written report of Egg and I Road. After
reading THE KETTLES' MILLION DOLLAR EGG I have a question: Are there
people like the Kettle Family in your state? Still today? (id:2801)
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Continues...
August 2004
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Lorinda
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Jul 29, 2004
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Seattle
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| Thanks for the compliments - I'm a
banker during the day but my college degree is journalism and I have
written a few things, mostly for my own enjoyment. To answer Susanne: I
have seen the house in the University District where Betty and her
family lived during the Depression - along with several other houses
they lived in. That little house is now nearly hidden behind trees. The
street is on has been widened and is quite busy; in fact, there is a
bus stop right in front of the house. The front porch is still there
but it's hard to see much because the trees have grown so large. To
answer Peter, yes, there are still "modern day" Kettles in Washington.
But there are a lot of other people, too. All sorts, in fact. (id:2807)
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Sara
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Aug 06, 2004
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Prague/Czech Republic
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| Hi, i¥m 18 years old student from
Czech Republic. I red my first Betty's book in 13. Betty's books are
really great, i red it million times. I'm very interested in Betty's
life, family, daughters etc. This is good site with good informations.
Thanks :) (id:2819)
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Peter
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Aug 07, 2004
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Bern, Switzerland
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Teacher
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| Hi Sara,
Welcome here.
So nice to meet you.
Is Betty very popular in your country and did you ever hear from
Betty's Fan Club? Another Betty fan told me that they had several czech
members. How came that you are a Betty Fan? (id:2822)
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Sara
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Aug 09, 2004
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Prague/Czech Republic
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| When i was 13 my mother gave me
Anybody can do anything and then the others books. In our country is a
lot of women readin' Betty. She is really very popular, but just a few
of them searchin' on sites like this to know more informations... If
there are some mens readin' Betty, don't know, i know just two - my
father and my geography teacher. Girls in my age don't read Betty so
much, so the Betty fans are mainly women in age 30 - 70.
I just heard about Betty's Fan Club, just a few things, so i don't know
a lot of about it... (id:2823)
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Yolonda
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Aug 09, 2004
|
Chimacum, WA
|
Medical Assistant
|
| I just finished The Egg and I. What
a wonderful book! I heard about it through my husband who's family has
run a Dairy Farm that borders The Egg and I road since 1871. After I
finished the book I had him show me where all the old farms were. We
drove by the old "Kettle" Farm and a large White Farmhouse is still
occupied there. We also drove by Bettys farm although you cannot see it
from the road.
I must admit I am fascinated with the book and her life. I just moved
to Chimacum 2 weeks ago with my husband, and although I have
electricity and running water, I feel I have a few things in common
with Betty. Life out here is definatley something to get used to. Its a
town where everyone knows pretty much everything about everyone!! I
think our house is about 3 miles from the farm of Betty & Bobs. My
husbands grandfather remembers the cougar that Bob shot, he hauled down
to their farm by truck to "show it off"
I found it amusing when asking my husbands family about the book that
they said whatever you do don't mention the book to your neighbors. The
"Kettle" ancestors are still in the area and apparently after over half
a century they are still pretty sore about how their family was
depicted.I can't wait to ask my in-laws more!!! (id:2825)
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Susanne
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Aug 10, 2004
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Vienna, Austria
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retired
|
| Lorinda,
I've read your story so many times. You did a great job!
Did you visit the coffee store Betty mentions in Anybody can do
anything?
Sara, Thank you so much for the info. If you are interested in learning
more about the background especially I suggest you to read the Betty
Fan Club stories.
Very interesting. And I adore the tapes with Betty and darling sister
Alison. Yolanda,
it's fascinating that you live so close by Betty and the Kettles. I'm
so interested in receiving more info after reading the Fan Club story
The Kettles' Million Dollar Egg.
Did you read this story? (id:2829)
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Peter
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Aug 11, 2004
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Bern, Switzerland
|
Teacher
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| To Sara:
I'd like to write a newspaper report about Betty's fans especially from
your country. What's the reason why Betty is so popular? Do you have
any idea how I might get in contact with some fans from your country.
To Yolanda:
I'm so curious to learn more about Chimacum. How many inhabitants and
how many farms are there? Has it changed a lot since Betty lived there?
Do you have the feeling that some families hate Betty because she
described them in THE EGG. Did you ever hear which family the Hicks
were and the crazy lady ( I can't remember her name right now ) with
the drunken indian husband and her five idiotic children.
TO Lorinda: Do you know Chimacum and the other places where Betty
lived? (id:2834)
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Deborah
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Aug 11, 2004
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Southern California
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Caregiver
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| Dear Lorinda and S. Thompson,
I haven't been to this site in awhile and so I haven't seen your
messages/responses until now. Thank you both so much for the
information ! S. Thompson, I'm curious - what woman, and what was the
circumstance in which Bob would have been trying to prevent domestic
violence? (id:2836)
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Sue
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Aug 13, 2004
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Pacific Northwest
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retired
|
| Deborah, I don't know the exact
circumstances, or who the woman was. I know he died on July 22, 1951.
He was stabbed to death by a man named Blake. He's buried in Golden
Gate National Cemetary, plot M 937. His niece has posted obituary
requests on line and has given that much info. She is looking for more
information, a newspaper clipping, etc. I was glad to read Lorinda's
postings, as I didn't know what had become of Anne and Joan. I'm sorry
to hear that Joan is not well. When I was teaching elementary school, I
read Nancy and Plum to every class I had over a 22 year period, and it
was always a hit. One class wrote to Joan to tell her how much they
enjoyed the book. Joan's husband was kind enough to respond to them and
thank them. I think he has since passed away. I kept the letter and
have it tucked away in my old copy of Nancy and Plum. It's a link to
Betty and I treasure it. (id:2838)
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Deborah
|
Aug 13, 2004
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Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| Dear S. Thompson,
Thanks for the information. What a terrible story ! I should have said
that I read all of Betty's books and Mary Bard's as well, in the
1970's. I also owned them all, but lost them during a move. I loved
"Onions" best. Any way of contacting Kimi of the "Plague" book? Her
name is Monica Somes, I think, and she is still living according to
what I have read. (id:2840)
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Jane
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Aug 13, 2004
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Canada
|
|
| Hi Deborah! I'm also back and have
enjoyed all of the new postings. Monica Sone was born in 1919, and she
would be close to 85 years old by now. According to my copy of NISEI
DAUGHTER (Twelfth printing, 2002), Monica Sone lived in Canton, Ohio,
where she was a clinical psychologist. (id:2841)
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Kim
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Aug 15, 2004
|
Sacramento California
|
|
| Hello, all. I'm just back from a few
days on the Olympic Peninsula where I drove Egg and I Road and tried to
envision where Betty lived. Wish I had discovered this site first! So
much information and SO NICE to think that people still seek out and
read Betty's books--and, especially to think that she's world-known. I
visited her farm on Vashon Island last summer. The barn and acres have
been converted to a bed and breakfast--it's really beautiful, peaceful
and charming. My regret was that we couldn't visit her house. You can
glimpse it (adjoining property) but it's a privately owned home.
(id:2842)
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Deborah
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Aug 16, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
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| Hi Jane,
Nice to see you again. :) I wonder still why Bob would have been
involved in a physical dispute? I'm wondering if he was a boyfriend or
a concerned neighbor, or what? Probably old newpaper articles would
provide more details. I wish Bob's niece, metioned here by S. Thompson,
would also post. Also, Mr. Thompson, how great to have a letter from
Joan's husband ! What fun ! (id:2845)
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Deborah
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Aug 16, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| Jane, I forgot to thank you for the
info on Kimi ! Thanks !
Just read my own post and darn it, there's a typo ! I meant to say
"mentioned" here. I'm mixed up on the time frame. Would Kimi/Monica
have been in the war camp before or after the "plague"? (id:2846)
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Martine
|
Aug 17, 2004
|
Paris - France
|
author
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| Kim, Betty's house was a magical
place. One of my relatives was Betty's agent here and had lots of
stories to tell and I saw several pictures. By the way Betty's Fan Club
offers a story entitled Bob's tragic end. You can find all the info
even letters where Betty described her feelings toward Bob. Good stuff!
(id:2847)
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Jane
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Aug 17, 2004
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Canada
|
|
| Deborah, Monica Sone was a patient
at the sanitarium before living in a relocation camp. Later, she
married Geary Sone and became a mother to four children: Philip Geary,
Susan Mari, Peter Seiji, and John Kenzo.
I recommend her book, NISEI DAUGHTER, which is both humorous and
touching. It was eye-opening to learn what it was like to be a
Japanese-American growing up on Seattle's waterfront in the 1920s &
30s, then being subjected to relocation during WWII. However, I really
keyed in on the comments she made about her friend "Chris" who was
obviously Betty MacDonald. Also on the cover of my paperback there is a
photo of Monica and her younger sister taken in 1932! (id:2848)
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Deborah
|
Aug 17, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| Jane, thanks for the info. Do you
remember that you told me about the interviews with Anne and Joan found
in the Common Reader website? The Common Reader is still there but the
interviews are not, or am I not in the right one? I remember that I did
go to it before, and saw the interviews. I wanted to go back and make a
file of them. Any suggestions? (id:2853)
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Jane
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Aug 18, 2004
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Canada
|
|
| Deborah, I just checked, and it is
still there. This is what I did: I went to www.commonreader.com, then I
searched for Betty MacDonald under "search go." I clicked on THE EGG
& I. Then on the top righthand side, second from the top, clicked
on "An interview with Betty MacDonald's daughters." This will take you
to the 1998 interview with Anne Canham and Joan MacDonald Keil.
(id:2854)
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Deborah
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Aug 18, 2004
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Southern California
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Caregiver
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| Jane, thank you ! I went right to it
and have made a file.
The way I found the interview before was by going to one of the Common
Reader sites, it worked then but not now, maybe someone there has
revised their website. At any rate, thanks ! I e-mailed the staff at
Common Reader to ask who did the interview and if it is possible to get
a letter or an e-mail to Anne or Joan. (id:2855)
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Cheryll
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Aug 19, 2004
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Maryland
|
artist
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| What a joy to discover all of you! I
had never heard of Betty MacDonal until two weeks ago when I bought
'The Egg and I' at a flea market for no reason other than I liked the
author's picture on the cover! I have never bought a book for such a
superficial reason in my life but the photo which seemed to beckon
me--such a smile! I read the book with increasing wonder at it's
excellence, which I know you are all aware of. And then I could not
stop wondering about Betty MacDonald and I positively ached to know
more.
As some have pointed out, the 'Fan Club' web site is not very
user-friendly; I guessed that money was the motive behind the
elusiveness of the site, and I was suspicious of the integrity, but now
that some of you have confirmed the Fan Club's basic decency, I will
break down and stick my toes in a bit deeper. I wish to thank all of
you for sharing your love for Betty MacDonald, and your knowledge of
her life! I immediately developed a bond with Ms. MacDonald, and I now
feel a warm and delightful connection to all of you--indeed, you all
seem to be part of an incredible family, the extended MacDonald family.
I am deeply grateful to touch base with you, each and every one! Now I
must dash, I am searching out a copy of 'Anyone Can Do Anything', which
I must find before I will have peace of mind. . . I know you
understand. . . til later, best regards always! (id:2857)
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Susanne
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Aug 19, 2004
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Vienna, Austria
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retired
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|
Cheryll,
I hope you are successful in ordering Betty's book.
If this is not the case let me know please.
You should read all of Betty's books. You'll love them as much as we do!
(id:2859)
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Susanne
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Aug 20, 2004
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Vienna, Austria
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retired
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| Cheryll,
I forgot to tell you a funny story. My poor hubby is not happy I
ordered the tapes with Betty and Alison because I'm addicted and can
listen to them a million times.
I enjoy their very funny memories told with wonderful voices and laughs
so many times that he's getting mad because of this. My children are so
happy as I am because they are huge Betty admirers but poor old hubby
isn't. That's life. I can't tell you how much I would love to see
Sydney's house in the University District. It must have been a heaven
during the Depression and Alison is such a great story teller. She
should have been a writer too. What a family with so many talents. I
wonder if Alison is still with us. Does anybody know this? (id:2860)
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Kim
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Aug 20, 2004
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Sacramento California
|
|
| Hi again. Thanks for the comments on
Betty's house. I forgot to add that when we visited her farm, the owner
of the B'n'B had a wonderful collection of clippings, photos, letters
Betty had written, etc. It was wonderful to sit for a couple of hours
and just pour through stuff! I really like a letter she sent to a woman
who had written her in response to reading Egg & I. The woman lived
on an egg ranch in the midwest, I think, and was sharing her thoughts
and woes on the life. Betty's response was warm, funny and very
personal--much as you might have expected. She named Port Townsend as
the "town" she always refered to in the book and shared anecdotes about
the ranch. It was a delight to read and confirmed that she was
genuinely personable and funny--just like her books. Can you imagine
writing her and getting a personal response? And, such a long, friendly
one? (id:2861)
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Lorinda
|
Aug 20, 2004
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Seattle
|
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| It's so interesting to read the
discussions. I am so amazed that so many Europeans are very interested
in Betty's books. What is it about her stories and/or style that you
like best? Is it her way of finding humor in adversity? Betty is known
by librarians and a few people interested in history around here, but I
think she is definitely more popular in Europe. Tell me what it is that
draws you to her books. I am a suburban person who works in the city,
although I grew up in the country in Oregon. I visited Chimicum just
last summer and we had lunch at the little Chimicum Cafe. The area is
beautiful, but I would not choose to move there because small-town life
would be too confining for me. When you live in an area that gets a lot
of rain, you need the diversions a city can offer, such as an airport
to get away to someplace sunny! (id:2863)
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Sally
|
Aug 20, 2004
|
Greensboro, NC
|
law office administrator
|
| I was sorry to learn that Betty died
so young. According to what I've read, she and Don had moved to Carmel,
California but after she developed cancer she returned to Seattle so
that Mary's husband could oversee her treatment. Does anyone have other
details? Why did they decide to leave Vashon for Carmel? What type of
cancer was it, and how long did she live after the diagnosis? (id:2864)
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Deborah
|
Aug 20, 2004
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Southern California
|
Caregiver
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| Cheryll, we're all glad to have you
! Come on in ! :)
I hope you'll read Onions in the Stew, it's my favorite !
I practically have it memorized ! You seem very astute to me, I had
some doubts about the fan club/society too, and the woman who runs the
B & B told me that their information is not accurate and that she
would not recommend paying for their info. Keep collecting Betty !!
(id:2865)
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Deborah
|
Aug 20, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| I'm curious about Betty's recorded
voice being on the fan club/society's tapes. In the Common Reader
interview that Jane so kindly led me to, Betty's daughter says that the
only recording of Betty's voice is when Betty accepted an award in
1947. Is this the recording the society offers for sale? (id:2866)
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Sue
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Aug 21, 2004
|
Pacific Northwest
|
retired
|
| Some of you may be interested in the
article I found about Betty's support for maintaining cemeteries for
WWII American soldiers who were buried in Holland. She donated the
proceeds of the Dutch sale of The Egg and I for this purpose. You can
Google it by typing Opijnen + Betty MacDonald into the search bar. I
think this gesture may be one reason she is popular in The Netherlands.
As far as the Betty MacDonald Fan Club goes, I'm with Deborah and
Cheryll. I see the same few names on this site as I've seen on others,
and I suspect there's one person posing as several "fans" in order to
promote the sale of the Club's materials. This person usually posts
using two or three different names, but the grammar, syntax, and
content of the various messages are a tip-off that it's one individual.
As far as the recordings go, they may have the single Betty recording,
but I think Betty's sister Allison may have done a recorded interview
later in her life, because you'll note the constant references to that
one. And Deborah, I'm Mrs. Thompson, not Mr. Thompson, but I know you
couldn't tell that from the little bit of info I gave you, so it's
o.k.! And I love Onions in the Stew as well----I can never decide which
of Betty's books I like the best, although Onions and Anybody Can Do
Anything are real favorites. When I was a little girl, the librarians
made me quit taking Nancy and Plum out of the children's library for a
month so somebody else would have a chance to read it, so to calm me
down, my mom let me go with her to the adult section to check out The
Egg and I, and that started me on all of Betty's books for adults.
Jane, I have tried for ages to get a copy of Monica Sone's book. I
found a hardback copy several years ago, with a foreward by Betty
MacDonald, but it was far too expensive. I just found a used paperback
copy this week in a bookstore in Portland. I'm so looking forward to
getting into this book! Also, and I admit I'm bragging here, a year ago
I found a copy of The Egg and I with a handwritten full-page dedication
by Betty to the friend she'd been staying with, and on the next page,
another handwritten, full-page dedication to the same friend by Mary
Bard Jensen, Betty's sister. Apparently they spent several days with
this lady and thanked her in this way. If my house ever catches fire
and I have time to save something, my Betty books are going out the
door first! My husband says he recognizes this fact and will attempt to
save himself. If people who see this website will continue to share
information that they may come across, we'll all get our questions
answered, so thanks to those who have contributed. (id:2867)
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Deborah
|
Aug 21, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| Dear Mrs. Thompson, I'm so sorry!
Another one of my infamous typos! I am really enjoying your latest
post! I too thought that something seemed "suspicious" about some of
the posts here. That some of the posts seem to have the same "feel".
They read very much like the e-mail I used to receive form the
society/fan club. I suspected then that although "two" women were
writing, that they were possibly only one. I blocked the mail, and
they/she merely used another address to get through. This does not
sound like a fan to me, but a salesperson. In my opinion, it qualified
as spam more than anything else. You do realize you'll have us all
drooling with envy over the two books you mention! I don't think you're
bragging at all. You're sharing the joy of discovery with us! What a
wonderful find! (id:2868)
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Deborah
|
Aug 21, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
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| Sally, I always wondered if Don and
Betty left Vashon for Carmel because perhaps it was getting
increasingly difficult to maintain privacy, as so many fans were coming
to Vashon. Or maybe for a change in the weather? Either way, Betty and
the family would have been too kind to say so. Mrs. Thompson, what
wonderful finds, would you be willing to type out what Betty and Mary
wrote in the dedication pages? Or would that be too much to ask of you?
(id:2870)
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Susanne
|
Aug 21, 2004
|
Vienna, Austria
|
retired
|
| When I purchased the Betty MacDonald
Collection a copy of Seattle P.I article was included. This paper
reports about the fan club activities and interviews with Betty's
family and friends. A very interesting article with photos. Perhaps
somebody here is familiar about this. I'll have a look for it - can't
find it right now. Yes you are right - too much things stored as my
hubby is complaing all the time. Poor man!
As I already told you I'm only a Fan and I have no monetary interest.
I'm what I am - old Betty admirer Susanne from Vienna til the rest of
my life. It's so nice to meet all of you. Hope you can forgive my
mistakes in your language. It's interesting what the owner of B & B
farm said about the fan club material. I don't agree at all. I
tremendously enjoy the stories and Betty's and Alison's audio
interviews. Not to forget Kimi's very shap comments. Her contributions
are so important and funny especially in the story Betty's most
wonderful man. I wonder if I am the only one here who has read the
stories and listened the tapes? I can't imagine. It'll be interesting
to hear some opinions from fans who are really familiar with them. I
don't want to make this lady down. I don't know her but a Chech Fan
told me she heard that Betty's family and friends especially Betty's
friend Blanche whom she personally met are not crazy about this lady.
Not at all!
Lorinda, you asked the reason why so many european readers love Betty's
stories. I only can speak for myself but my daughters and friends say
the same: Betty was a word painter. Reading her stories you can smell
the sea, the nature, the garden - everything. You have the feeling she
shares everything with you even her illness. I can read her books again
and again and it's such an amazing feeling to find something new in
every rereading. I only have this feeling with Betty and I was reading
many books. Another very important aspect: Betty never gave up. It's so
important to be an optimist but also a realist. Betty was. Lorinda how
can I thank you for sharing your info. How do you Americans say: You
made my day. I would say: You made my life. My daughter Doris told me I
should offer you to order the Betty and Alison Tape for you because my
whole family likes your info. We printed it out for our family and many
friends. It's true - you are famous now. We had the feeling we visited
your beautiful State of Washington and very charming egg and i road. My
daughters says we all should do this next year but i'm so afraid of
flying. Are you interested? We'd be very happy to order them as a gift
from all of us.
Love from Vienna
Susanne (id:2871)
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Peter
|
Aug 21, 2004
|
Bern, Switzerland
|
Teacher
|
| To S. Thompson:
S. sounds so mysterious!
I have a kind advice - no offence: Instead of comparing our syntax (
perhaps it's similiar because we are Europeans ) you should look for
the books at the right place. I had no hard time to find them. It was
very easy. I'm a 30 year old swiss guy who plans a vacation in the
Northwest next summer. What about a meeting? Susanne: Don't be afraid
of using an airplane. Nothing will happen. We should meet each other
next summer. excuse me i misplaced the p.i. copy but it's true what you
wrote. Alison is even funnier than her famous sister. The Betty Fam
owner has obviously no idea what she is talking about.
Funny: I heard the same rumours that she wasn't the most loved person.
Lorinda: It's simple. Betty is the funniest writer ever. Her best book
is not The egg. It's only the best story.
Betty's masterpiece is The plague. Writing such a warmhearted, witty,
very funny book about such circumstances no other writer could do this
- only Betty.
Somebody wrote Betty was a stone age Erma. I don't think so.
Your thoughts? (id:2872)
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Deborah
|
Aug 21, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| I feel that, if anything, Mrs. S.
Thompson has told us all more about herself than the rest of us. She is
to be applauded, in my opinion. I have read all of the posts more
carefully, and I see that the Piggle Wiggle Fan e-mail address posted
by a "Martine" is the second address sending me constant offers after I
blocked the primary address! (id:2873)
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Jane
|
Aug 21, 2004
|
Canada
|
|
| Dear S. Thompson, I'm so glad that
you found a copy of NISEI DAUGHTER and hope that you will enjoy the
book. I always have a long "wish list" of books I'd like to buy, so
understand how important timing and affordable pricing can be.
(id:2874)
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Martine
|
Aug 21, 2004
|
Paris
|
writer
|
| Deborah,
If you are not interested in receiving mails you only have to say this
and you won't receive any. By the way I didn't write you and I won't
ever do this. I promise. Tell them not to write you and they won't. The
Piggle-Fanclub address is a contact address for Fans and you can send a
mail to them mentioning a fan's name and they'll forward it. Therefore
I mentioned this address in one of my postings. I feel you belong to
these people who want everything for free You can find these people
around the world. As I already told one of my relatives was Betty's
agent. I was so interested in receiving more info. That's why I
purchased a lot of things even letters and other documents from
collectors around the world and had to pay a lot of money. (id:2875)
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|
Deborah
|
Aug 21, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| I checked my list of blocked senders
before I made my post.
I have indeed received numerous unwanted mailings from the fan club AND
from the Piggle Wiggle address even after asking to be removed from the
mailing lists. This is a forum, not a war. Your insults are unfounded
as well as asinine. (id:2876)
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Sally
|
Aug 22, 2004
|
Greensboro, NC
|
law office administrator
|
| I wonder if Kimi/Monica Sone's book
is available at libraries? I would like to read it, if only for the
part where she had TB and met Betty. I understand that there is a book
called "Much Laughter, A Few Tears" by Blanche Caffiere, who I believe
went to high school with Betty, that offers us some more glimpses into
her life, and I will be looking for that one as well as Mary's three.
If I have any luck and read anything especially interesting and
wonderful I will share it with the group! I agree with all of you who
have mentioned the special connection they feel to Betty. (id:2878)
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Sue
|
Aug 22, 2004
|
Pacific Northwest
|
retired
|
| Hi All, Just a note to say that I am
on vacation, but when I return I'll post the inscriptions Betty and her
sister Mary wrote in the copy of The Egg and I. Also, there's a good
article on a website called Suite101.com. Just type Betty MacDonald
into the "Search Within Suite101" search bar once you get to the
website. Be sure to read all the discussion comments, starting with the
first one, because Bob Heskett's niece posted a comment, and there are
also some references to some of the issues we've discussed in this
forum, regarding suspicious postings. Deborah, thanks for your
restraint. I think we should all just ignore the nasty folks and
continue to share info on Betty. Anybody wanting to make a buck off
sharing info won't have anything interesting to say anyway. Sally,
Blanche Caffiere's book is available from a store on Vashon Island. I
think it's called the Vashon Country Store, but I'm not positive. A
friend bought me a copy there. You can Google it and contact them. I
did buy a paperback copy of Nancy and Plum from them once and they were
completely trustworthy and shipped quickly. I've also heard really nice
things about the lady who runs the Betty MacDonald B&B out of
Betty's old property on Vashon. Everybody I've spoken to who has been
there has commented on how gracious she is and how willing she is to
share pictures, photos, etc. I'd like to take a trip there one day.
(id:2880)
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Deborah
|
Aug 22, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| Bravo, Mrs. Thompson! Have a safe
and happy vacation and we look forward to your sharing the inscriptions
with us! And many thanks for providing the forum with another website!
(id:2881)
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Sally
|
Aug 22, 2004
|
Greensboro, NC
|
law office administrator
|
| I just went to the website Mrs.
Thompson told us about and read some of the comments --- particularly
the thread started by Bob's niece. In my opinion, Betty was careful in
"The Egg and I" not to write anything that would be overly defamatory
to Bob. For example, she points out from the beginning that she had
been raised to embrace whatever her husband chose to do with his life.
Although Bob was an insurance salesman when they met, when he shared
his dream of the chicken ranch, she gave him her support. However, you
can certainly read between the lines as the marriage deteriorated ---
such as the time he kissed her and she was as surprised as if an old
boss had rewarded her that way for a good typing job, and the time she
mentioned that by then she knew she and Bob were miles apart as far as
some things were concerned. She was only 18 when they married and he
was much older. It took a lot of courage back then for a woman with two
small children and no money of her own to walk out on a marriage. It
sounds as though she tried to make it work as long as she could, and I
imagine he thought he had tried too. Does anyone know how she and Don
met? (id:2882)
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Jane
|
Aug 22, 2004
|
Canada
|
|
| Sally, If the public library in your
city does not have the books you are interested in, you can request an
interlibrary loan. This is how I was able to find Mary Bard's books. I
purchased MUCH LAUGHTER, A FEW TEARS by Blanche Caffiere, used, some
years ago through Amazon.com. In the book, Blanche Caffiere mentions an
article that Betty wrote for the July 1949 issue of the READER'S DIGEST
called "The Most Unforgettable Character I've Met." This was the story
of a rather eccentric boyfriend Betty dated after she returned home
from the sanitarium. I wonder whether anyone has read that article? At
any rate, Blanche Caffiere devotes a short chapter to "Mike - A Swell
Guy." (id:2883)
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Deborah
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Aug 22, 2004
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Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| Jane, you beat me to it! I was going
to suggest that Sally
try an inter-library loan as well ! Two great minds thinking alike ...
Good to see you here again ! Isn't the site Mrs.Thompson shared with us
great? How's your research coming along? (id:2884)
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Sue
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Aug 22, 2004
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Pacific Northwest
|
retired
|
| I guess I'd better say here and now
that S. stands for Sue, because being called Mrs. Thompson all the time
makes me feel like I still have chalk dust in my hair and a red pen
stuck behind my ear. Jane, thanks for the reminder about the Reader's
Digest article. I'm going to try and track that one down. (id:2885)
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Deborah
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Aug 22, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
|
LOL, Sue ! That red pen did bring back some very unpleasant memories...
(id:2886)
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Peter
|
Aug 23, 2004
|
Bern, Switzerland
|
Teacher
|
| To Fans who have some special
information:
I'm interested in Betty MacDonald's tv appearances because I'm working
on a documentary for schools. My goal is to introduce Betty's
outstanding work to our pupils and students. For this we will visit the
Betty MacDonald Foundation in the Netherlands. If anybody can support
me in finding this I will share the collection of my own incl. Betty's
beautiful Xmas Cards which she mentioned in her books, the real story
of mysterious Dorita Hess from Anybody can do anything. I would order
all the Fan Club items for you including the interviews with Betty and
her sister Alison. Not to forget a very interesting interview with
sister Mary. (id:2889)
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Patti
|
Aug 23, 2004
|
USA
|
avid reader
|
| I've been a Betty MacDonald fan for
a really long time. I was delighted to discover this site because I
haven't had much luck finding freely available information on the 'net
about Ms. MacDonald and her books. I thought it might be nice to have a
central location for Betty's fans to share thoughts and facts about her
life and works so I've started a message board with that in mind. I
hope you all will visit and participate there. The board is brand new
and I'm still putting the finishing touches in place. You'll need to
register with EZboard to post, but that's free and simple. No
advertising will be allowed there and accounts will be limited to one
per person. I hope the board will be a fun place for the free exchange
of thoughts and information. Please come help me get the new board off
to a good start! You can find the Betty MacDonald Fan Farm board at
this address: http://p214.ezboard.com/bbettymacdonaldfanfarm . See you
there! :-) (id:2890)
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Lorinda
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Aug 24, 2004
|
Seattle
|
|
| I like the cultural exchange that
comes with being interested in Betty MacDonald and her books. So to
Susanne: it's very kind of you to offer to buy me the Betty tape, but
my thanks is the very fact that I was able to share a little more about
the area where Betty lived. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. That is thanks
enough. From time to time, I go dig something out of the library or
take photos of things for the MacDonald Society -- their thank you to
me is sharing a lot of their information. So I've actually got a copy
of Betty's tape. She has a lovely voice and just listening to her makes
me know I would've loved to meet her. Her granddaughter who I know a
little from church is a high school art teacher and possesses a gentle,
nurturing personality much like I think her grandmother would have had.
Her photo, by the way, is in the back of some editions of "Nancy and
Plum". Betty's daughter and her husband were members at the church for
years, and he passed away rather suddenly a few years ago. Many people
have very positive memories of him. Betty's daughter Joan lives in an
assisted living center in the area (she has Alzheimers). I believe a
new historical museum is being planned for Vashon Island and many of
Joan's papers, letters, and photos may end up there. Joan's daughter
told me earlier that they cleaned out her mother's attic and put that
stuff in storage when Joan went to the assisted living facility. It
would be so exciting to have these things available for people to see.
(id:2898)
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Jane
|
Aug 25, 2004
|
Canada
|
|
| Hi back, Deborah! At present, I seem
to be finding much of interest right at this site. Lorinda, it is
always lovely to read your contributions. Thank you for sharing about
Joan and her family. How sad that Joan's disease progressed so quickly
- at least it feels like it did when I refer back to her 1998 interview
with A Common Reader and notice how bright she still seemed. How
fitting it would be for her papers and photos to be displayed in a
Washington museum. Let's hope that this comes to be! (id:2900)
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Susanne
|
Aug 28, 2004
|
Vienna, Austria
|
retired
|
| Lorinda, You can understand me why I
love the tape with Betty and Alison so much. What a lovely surprise
that Betty's Society
has such a great friend in Seattle. My family can't thank you enough
for sharing all this with us. You are such a very kind and lovely
person. We are so sad to hear that Joan suffers from Alzheimers.
Lorinda, did you see Joan? My family knows very well what this dignose
means to a family. My father had Alzheimer for years and it was so
tragic and sad that he had no memory at all. Did I tell you that I
wrote to Betty's publisher in the nineties and they forwarded my letter
to Joan. Her husband wrote such a very, very kind letter. I was looking
for a copy of Betty's Nancy and Plum and he was so nice to send me a
copy as a gift with a dedication from Joan and him. He wrote that Joan
has the same talent as writer as Betty and she is in the process of
writing sequels of Nancy and Plum. Do you know did this ever happened?
Joan's husband was such a very friendly and giving personality and he
wrote that his wife and he had been married nearly 50 years and they
had a great life and were still in love. They obviously had a great
marriage and he wrote that Betty was the most wonderful lady in the
whole world - always funny and generous and loved her family so much.
He was so proud of his children and mentioned Joan's daughter who is a
art teacher. He included some photos and to all of us this very special
copy of Nancy and Plum and these photos of Joan, him and the family
mean so much to us.
It's very sad he passed away because it's very hard to lose a partner
after a marriage of over fifty years. Poor Joan but it's good to know
she has her children and grandchildren around. Lorinda if you see Joan
or her daughter the next time please send her our greetings from all of
us and that we won't ever forget their generous gift. We all are
delighted until today! We only wished we could do something for you.
Thank you again for sharing this with us. You make us so happy!
(id:2907)
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Sue
|
Aug 31, 2004
|
Pacific Northwest
|
retired
|
| Hi All. I promised I'd tell you
about the inscription on the copy of The Egg and I which Betty and Mary
both signed. Betty's inscription is as follows: "For Kay, Who is cute
and sweet and didn't complain when Mary and I held her down and told
her the story of our lives for hours and hours and hours. Love, Betty
MacDonald." Mary's inscription reads: "To Kay, who wanted to hear the
story of MY life, too. At least, she acted like it! Love, Mary." Aren't
those great inscriptions? On another note, we drove to Port Townsend on
our vacation and drove through the Chimacum Valley. My husband spotted
The Egg and I Road, and we drove part of the way up it. I wanted to
explore it more thoroughly, but we had an appointment and couldn't take
all the time we needed. Still, using Betty's descriptions as well as
Lorinda's and Yolonda's, we found what I think was the Bishop farm.
Yolonda, we may have driven right past your house! I thought about you
while we were driving around up there. Next time we go back, we'll
spend more time and see the whole road. From the main highway The Egg
and I Road winds gently up into the trees and I thought about all the
trips Betty and Bob made down that road when it wasn't paved and was
hemmed in by the woods and mountains, and how many times she must have
stayed by herself on the farm while Bob drove into Port Townsend for
supplies. It was a longer trip then and their old truck wasn't the most
comfortable form of transportation, I'm sure, but I'll bet she grabbed
any opportunity to get off that farm and down into the life of "Town".
As we drove through Port Townsend I wondered which of those beautiful
old buildings housed the candy shop where she bought the sticky
caramels, and the lending library with the pitiful book selection. Most
of the buildings date from the late 1800's, and have been very well
maintained, as have the old Victorian houses. The whole Chimacum Valley
looked idyllic, although I'm sure Yolonda and Lorinda can attest to the
fact that, like anyplace else, it's got its good and bad points. At any
rate, it was a great little jaunt and one we'll repeat soon. (id:2911)
|
September through October 2004
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|
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Sue
|
Sep 01, 2004
|
Pacific Northwest
|
retired
|
| As promised, I posted a message
giving the inscriptions Betty and Mary wrote in my copy of The Egg and
I, but somehow it ended up stuck in the middle of the 2003 postings
instead of in chronological order at the end, so if you all want to
read those inscriptions, you'll have to scroll most of the way back up
the page and look for the Aug. 31, 2004 date. The joys of
technology................... (id:2913)
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|
|
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Deborah
|
Sep 04, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| Sue, that's so sweet of you to share
the inscriptions ! It sounds like you had a great trip and thanks for
sharing that as well. :) (id:2918)
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Kim
|
Sep 14, 2004
|
Virginia
|
mom
|
| Thank you so much for sharing the
info on Betty. I feel like she's an old friend. We "met" about 14 years
ago when my family was taking a trip to the Pacific Northwest and I
picked up "The Egg and I" on a book table of local authors. I was
captivated and read all her others. I hope to get to know you all more
as time allows. In the meantime, thanks for the "warning" about the
Betty MacDonald Fan Club. I had suspected as much when I was bombarded
with emails requesting me to purchase tapes, etc. upon my inquiries.
Kim in VA (id:2940)
|
|
|
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gitte
|
Sep 20, 2004
|
denmark
|
mother
|
|
Hi all,
recently saw a television about betty.
i learned that betty had many japanese fans.
i was very surprised to hear this.
great to meet you all.
i love the betty & alison fan club audios as much as lorinda, peter and susanne. cause i'm a mummy of 4 kids
i asked them not to send any offers for a while and they did. really appreciate their work so much.
lorinda if i can save some money in the future i'd visit betty's land. wished i could write as well as you can.
you have the pure gift for writing. (id:2948)
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|
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gitte
|
Sep 20, 2004
|
Denmark
|
mother
|
| i'm stupid. forgot to tell you i
know a relative of mary's husband. he came from denmark. love her books
too. (id:2949)
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Allie
|
Sep 20, 2004
|
Washington state
|
teacher
|
|
Sad news: According to the Vashon
Beachcomber newspaper:
Keil, MacDonald, Joan
Wednesday, 28 Jul 2004 Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Vashon-Maury
Island, WA, Joan passed away:
JOAN MACDONALD KEIL July 14, 1929 - July 18, 2004 Joan Macdonald Keil
was born on July 14, 1929 in Port Townsend, Washington and passed away
July 18, 2004 at the age of 75, in Bellevue, WA at the Gardens at Town
Square. Joan graduated from Garfield High School and worked at Littlers
in Seattle. Joan married Girard (Jerry) Keil on Jan. 21, 1949 in
Seattle. Joan was the daughter of Betty MacDonald, who wrote The Egg
and I, Onions in the Stew and the Miss Piggle Wiggle stories. Joan and
Jerry lived in Enatai and Medina with their four children, Heidi,
Rebecca, Timothy, and Toby. Joan sang in variety shows to help raise
money for Overlake Hospital. Joan was very creative; she loved to
paint, garden, cook and create drive flower arrangements. Joanís sense
of humor always made people laugh. Joan is survived by her daughter,
Heidi Keil Richards and husband Kim Richards, and their daughters,
Heather and Devin; son, Tim Keil and his wife Mary Jo, and their
daughters Kallyn, Jerrica, Angie, and son Michael; and her son, Toby
Keil and his wife Sally, and children Rachel and Griffin. Memorial
services will be Saturday, July 31 at 11 a.m. at First Congregational
Church in Bellevue. I met Joan at a booksigning about 16 years ago. She
was a lovely woman. Allie
(id:2951)
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|
|
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Kim
|
Sep 20, 2004
|
Virginia
|
mom
|
| Allie,
Thanks for sharing the obit on Joan. I haven't gone back to reread the
earlier posts. Was Joan the one suffering from Alzheimer's? I hope her
passing was gentle.
Thanks,
Kim ><> (id:2953)
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Susanne
|
Sep 20, 2004
|
Vienna, Austria
|
retired
|
| I had to cry when I was reading of
Joan's passing. It's too sad. She was really very creative and a great
artist.
Her husband has send us some copies of her artwork. Masterpieces.
I framed them and everybody who visits us asks me who this outstanding
artist is. Joan had Betty's talent to make people laugh and she did a
lot of good things. I have a photo of Joan and Jerry in their garden.
it looks like a wonderful park with all the beautiful flowers. Jerry
told us Joan could write the same way Betty did. I hope her writings
will be published to delight us. And she was so beautiful. I guess when
her husband died it broke her heart. (id:2954)
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|
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Sally
|
Sep 21, 2004
|
Greensboro, NC
|
law office administrator
|
| I noticed that Joan's obituary
mentioned she had a fourth child, Rebecca. She must have preceded Joan
in death. I am sorry to hear of this... It would be wonderful to see
the photo of Joan and her husband in their garden. (id:2955)
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Sue
|
Sep 21, 2004
|
Pacific Northwest
|
retired
|
| Allie, thanks so much for posting
Joan's obit. I wasn't aware that she'd passed away. In Onions in the
Stew, Betty wrote about the photographer and writer from Life magazine
who visited her family on Vashon Island, and did a feature story on
them. I have a copy of that magazine, and Joan looks so young, healthy,
and pretty. I'll always think of her that way. My heart goes out to her
family. (id:2957)
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Susanne
|
Sep 22, 2004
|
Vienna, Austria
|
retired
|
| It's so sad and my daughters and I
feel very depressed. Rebecca was a very talented artist. It was so
tragic when she died in the nineties. It was such a loss. Jerry wrote
this in his letter.
Sally, I'd like to share the photos with all fans. So beautiful photos
with Joan and Jerry and the whole family. Joan was a great writer,
artist and a master gardener. I'll ask my family how to share it.
Perhaps they can create a website to share the photos. You all should
see them. (id:2959)
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gitte
|
Sep 22, 2004
|
denmark
|
mother
|
|
it's so sad. what a loss! thanks for sharing this.
i'll tell it mary's relatives.
i'd like to see joans's photos. thank you susanne!
(id:2960)
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john sankey
|
Sep 22, 2004
|
manchester uk.
|
retired accountant
|
| reading this article has brought
back all the memories of all these books and how I loved
them.Travelling to work on the bus in winter in rain and gloom,on the
upper deck,cloaked in cigarette smoke,like a cosy unhealthy bar, I read
"anybody can do anything "with extreme pleasure.remember the bit where
the woman got on the bus wearing a fur collar like a "wet collie.? My
surprise was enormous when I reached Seattle and the library had none
of her books.Lovely woman,God bless her.!and God bless
Seattle................ (id:2964)
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Cathy
|
Sep 24, 2004
|
Crown Point, Indiana
|
Sales manager
|
| I found your web sight while doing
some research on the book "Best Friends" By Betty Bard. I have just
listed one on Ebay for sale. I have heard this is a very rare book. It
is the first edition from 1955. Any information would be greatly
appreciated. Thank You! (id:2976)
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Sue
|
Sep 25, 2004
|
Pacific Northwest
|
retired
|
| Cathy, Betty MacDonald's sister Mary
Bard Jensen wrote the Best Friends series. Betty wrote books for
children as well, but the Best Friends series was Mary's work. The two
I'm familiar with are Best Friends and Best Friends in Summer, but
there may have been a third one as well. They are fairly hard to come
by unless you happen across them at garage sales or library sales.
You'll probably do pretty well on the one you've listed on eBay. Good
luck! (id:2978)
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Cathy
|
Sep 25, 2004
|
Crown Point, Indiana
|
Sales Manager
|
| Hello Sue,
I listed our book last night and already have a few people bidding on
it. I also saw Best Friends In Summer on another used bookstores web
sight and they want over $200.00, and it was not a first edition. Thank
you so much for the information! (id:2979)
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Suzanne Stapleton
|
Sep 25, 2004
|
Michigan
|
Mother
|
| I was so very saddened to read of
Joan's passing. I've been a fan of Betty's for many years. I loved
Blanche's book and wish that someone would publish Betty's biography.
I'm so glad there is a place that those of us who love her books can
talk! (id:2980)
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Deborah
|
Sep 27, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| I loved the book, Best Friends, so
much that in the 1970's I xeroxed the entire book from a library copy !
I first wrote the publisher requesting permission to copy. I'm sure
they thought I was crazy ! (id:2984)
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Jane
|
Sep 29, 2004
|
Canada
|
|
|
Deborah, could you describe the book? (id:2990)
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Deborah
|
Sep 29, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| Sure, Jane, the book was about two
girls whose parents marry in the end of the story. A little French girl
moves next door to one child, the new neighbor's long vacant house is
refurbished, the girls become best friends. I remember mostly bits and
pieces of the book now, I xeroxed it in its entirety more than 30 years
ago ! I seem to recall that a swimming pool was reopened, and something
about the girls drying their freshly washed hair in the sunshine. I
don't remember the characters' names, was one of them Suzi? (id:2991)
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Sue
|
Sep 30, 2004
|
Pacific Northwest
|
retired
|
| Deborah, you remember well! The
American girl was Suzie and the little French girl who moved into the
house next door was CoCo. Best Friends is one of those books I loved as
a little girl, because the ending was not only happy, it was
over-the-top happy. Even then I knew it was not in the realm of
possibility that ALL those fantastic things would really happen to two
little girls, but it was generous of Mary Bard to write it that way,
anyway. I've read all of Mary's books for adults as well, but I think
that, of the two sisters, Betty had far more skill as a writer. Mary's
talents lay more in the realm of civic leadership. I found a first
edition copy of Best Friends at a garage sale and paid fifty cents for
it, then went to the car and did the joy-joy dance for a couple of
minutes. It's fun to have, and I wouldn't sell it, but I am going to
check eBay and see how Cathy did with hers. I'm also trying to find out
what happened to Betty's brother Cleve. I've run across some hints that
he had a sad end to his life. If I get any more info, I'll post it
here. (id:2996)
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Deborah
|
Oct 01, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| LOL,Sue,I can just see your dance of
joy! I agree that Betty was the better writer, although I did like
Mary's books as well. I too have been curious about Cleve. I'd
appreciate whatever information you may uncover being posted here.
(id:2999)
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|
|
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Sue
|
Oct 02, 2004
|
Pacific Northwest
|
retired
|
| I found that Cleve's burial site is
in the Vashon Island Cemetery. The burial records state that his
birthdate was Nov. 29,1908, and his date of death was Nov. 21, 1980.
However, Betty was born in 1908 and Cleve (Sydney Cleveland Bard) was
the third child, so I think the 1908 birthdate for him must be an
error. I wonder why he was buried on Vashon, if he lived there before
Betty and Don moved away, and if he continued to live there for
twenty-two years after her death, or just what the situation was.
That's all I've discovered so far, but will post more if I come across
anything interesting. (id:3004)
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|
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Sally
|
Oct 02, 2004
|
Greensboro, NC
|
law office administrator
|
| I seem to remember that in "Onions
in the Stew" Betty wrote that when the family came to visit them on
Vashon, they liked it so much that Alison bought a house within easy
commuting distance if you happened to be a goat, and Cleve bought a
house within easy commuting distance if you happened to be a goat with
a car (or maybe it was the other way around). Cleve was only a year
younger than Betty --- do you suppose 1908 was right, but she was born
in January or February and he came along in November? (their poor mom)
(id:3005)
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|
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Deborah
|
Oct 02, 2004
|
Southern California
|
Caregiver
|
| Sue, thanks for your info. I'm
curious too ! Sally, that's impressive that you remembered about Alison
and Cleve moving to Vashon. And in the days before reliable birth
control, who WASN'T a "stairstep" child? Sue, do you agree that Sally's
point has merit? This is all so great of you both, I wish I had
something to add too ! :) (id:3006)
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Jane
|
Oct 02, 2004
|
Canada
|
|
| Hello all! I just stopped back to
thank Deborah and Sue for their response to my question about the book
BEST FRIENDS. Sue (I'm still getting used to you not being "S.
Thompson" here anymore), thanks as well for sharing about your
interesting drive through Port Townsend and the Chimacum Valley - I'd
like to do that someday. I'm probably not alone in sharing your joy
over the treasures you have collected and somehow feel that YOU were
"meant" to find them! Your postings are always appreciated, and even as
S. Thompson, I never once envisioned "chalk dust in your hair" or the
red pen behind your ear! (id:3007)
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|
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Sue
|
Oct 02, 2004
|
Pacific Northwest
|
retired
|
| Deborah, Sally, and Jane---Great to
see your postings! Sally, you're so right about Alison and Cleve buying
property on Vashon, and I had totally forgotten that. I shouldn't have,
either, because that "goat with a car" line still makes me laugh. Betty
was born on March 26, 1908, so I guess it's just possible that Cleve
could have been born in late November of the same year, if he wasn't a
full-term baby, but if that's the case, those Bards sure worked fast! I
know Betty was born in Boulder, Colorado and Cleve after the family
moved to Placerville, Idaho, but I'm not clear on the time frame. If
somebody from Vashon sees this, they might be able to visit the
cemetery and check out the dates on the headstone, if there is one. And
Jane, thanks for your note---that red pen had to go. It clashed with my
earrings! (id:3009)
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Kathy
|
Oct 03, 2004
|
Orlando
|
Oldest Living Ph.D. Student
|
| As a kid in 1960 I picked up Mrs.
Piggle-Wiggle in the book section of Cox's furniture store in Ft.
Worth, Texas, and have been hooked ever since. Betty shaped my sense of
humor (for which I'm eternally grateful) and view of the world. I hand
out Eggs right and left (I find I really like people who like Betty -
they tend to be delightful persons) and have converted all three of my
daughters to Betty-fandom. One of them's reading Nancy & Plum to
her daughter. A few years ago I had the idea of setting up the first
Betty-Fest in Seattle, with Monica Sone speaking, tours to Betty's
homes and farms, lunch in the Market, etc. etc. I went so far as to
talk to potential host hotels, but it was just a bit much to manage
from across the country. Still, wouldn't it be fun? Good to read all
the terrific information here! (id:3012)
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Kathy
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Oct 03, 2004
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Orlando
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Oldest Living Ph.D. Student
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| Forgot what I originally meant to
share (!): I found a copy of "Much Laughter, A Few Tears" inscribed by
the author Blanche Caffiere: "To Dede: hope you enjoy reading about you
all." And at the back, on Alison's epilogue, is an inscription by
Allison: "From your PRETTY sister." Somehow in the course of netsurfing
I hooked up with Dede's granddaughter, and ended up sending her the
book so it could be back in the family -- she said her dad, Dede's son,
was very happy to have it. She said she'd send me some information
about and writing by Sydney, Betty's mother, but hasn't gotten around
to it. And re: Mary's "Best Friends" series: there are three: Best
Friends, Best Friends at School, and Best Friends in Summer. I've read
them all via interlibrary loan and managed to acquire the last - they
go for $200 + because they are so rare (I paid $20 for mine. They are
entertaining but Mary was not the author Betty was. Of her books I
recommend "The Doctor Wears Three Faces" and "Forty-Odd" which both
have some hilarious moments, but again, not Betty's magic. (id:3013)
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Kathy
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Oct 03, 2004
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Orlando
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Oldest Living Ph.D. Student
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| And finally, then I'll shut up --
you can find Much Laughter and Nisei Daughter and all of Betty's and
Mary's books online at abebooks.com. I'm sure there are other places as
well.
This is a cool website about "The Pines" - Firlands Sanitorium, with
pictures of the wards and rooms as Betty would have seen them, and the
children running around in shoes, shorts and hats as fellow patient
Evalee described them.
http://www.historylink.org/_output.CFM?file_ID=3928
I believe a missionary group now owns the the land and buildings.
That's another site I'd have to visit if I made a Betty - pilgrimage .
. . (id:3014)
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Kathy
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Oct 03, 2004
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Orlando
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Oldest Living Ph.D. Student
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| And finally, then I'll shut up --
you can find Much Laughter and Nisei Daughter and all of Betty's and
Mary's books online at abebooks.com. I'm sure there are other places as
well.
This is a cool website about "The Pines" - Firlands Sanitorium, with
pictures of the wards and rooms as Betty would have seen them, and the
children running around in shoes, shorts and hats as fellow patient
Evalee described them.
http://www.historylink.org/_output.CFM?file_ID=3928
I believe a missionary group now owns the the land and buildings.
That's another site I'd have to visit if I made a Betty - pilgrimage .
. . (id:3015)
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Sally
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Oct 03, 2004
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Greensboro, NC
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law office administrator
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| I'm back on the Betty and Cleve age
discrepancy thread again... If Betty was born on |
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