Dear Downhome, <br /> Before i get into the story of Mom's chair, I wish to thank Downhome for the huge surprise I got when picking up four issues of your special edition magazine celebrating your 25th year of production. I purchased them for Christmas gifts for friends as far away as Germany, but without any knowledge that I would find my own story, &quot;Mystery Friends,&quot; which was written in an earlier edition of Downhome on page 196. I consider it a true honour to have been selected for such an important occasion, considering all the articles written over those years from so many contributors. Thank you so much for, first, publishing the story again and finding the people from that beautiful photograph. <br /> <br /> Now, to the story of &quot;Mom's Chair.&quot; My mother Mildred Tulk of Fortune passed away almost 10 years ago. After all was settled and time to disburse her things to the family. Her chair was given to my sister Verna as she had given the chair to Mom at 16. She later gave the chair to her oldest daughter Michelle. Most of us worked at the fish plant to help Mom and Dad and always passed the cheque over to Mom to buy things they needed. Our father, Harvey Tulk, worked there as well but encouraged us to move on. My older sister Daphne left Fortune to do a nursing assistance course at the Old General Hospital and, one year later, I did the same. Verna remained in Fortune for a couple of years and worked at the fish plant. She later married Lloyd Bixby from Stag Harbour, Fogo Island and left Fortune. She was visiting me last week so we did a reflection of &quot;Mom's Chair.&quot; I heard some things I was not aware of and thought it would make a nice story. <br /> <br /> After my father passed away and prior to Mom's illness, Mom visited Ed and I many times over the years for special occasions like Mother's Day, Easter, etc. All family living in this area at the time ended up here with the big meals cooked up for as many mouths that showed up. I will never forget the day, being Mother's Day, Verna's daughter Michelle getting out of the car with her two small children and Mom's Chair! I had no idea what was happening. She came in with the chair and said, &quot;Uncle Ed, would you be able to fix the arm on Nan's chair as it is loose?&quot; Of course, there was no problem. But, when he took the chair downstairs to be fixed, Michelle said, &quot;Aunt Dora, if you would like to have Nan's chair you can have it.&quot; I said, &quot;What?&quot; I could not believe that she was giving the chair to me as she felt it meant more to me and her space was limited at her house. Well, the chair was fixed and came up from downstairs within hours. I was so overwhelmed with this very special gift and will cherish it forever. As all my brothers and sisters visit from time to time they are all certain to head to Mom's Chair. <br /> <br /> Verna tells me she bought a box of floor tiles from her first cheque and from her second pay day, she purchased the chair at Lake and Lakes store in Fortune. We can both recall an old brown rocking chair that Mom had when we lived in Point aux Gaul that just fell apart. So, she well deserved a new chair indeed. We can both recall all the times visiting Fortune when our children were small, heading to Mom's Chair and putting our feet up on the hot oven, as we called it, being a wood and coal stove at the time that later changed to oil. Yes, beautiful memories of a chair, and if only it could talk! So much laughter, jokes and tears were shared as we rocked back and forth taking great care not to have to get up for any reason as for sure, someone would make a dive to get to Mom's Chair before anyone could take a blink. And, if politics was a topic, it was hard to stay put I can assure you. <br /> <br /> The picture is of my sister Verna Bixby sitting and me behind. Oh yes, a Mother's love is a blessing. It was a beautiful week together and seemed wherever we went something reminded us of Mom that made us laugh out loud recalling all the memories which is all we have now. But Mom's Chair will have many more years of rocking. Thanks again Michelle for giving me a gift to cherish forever.   Submitted By: NULL