My family and I lived on Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, at Stephenville, Newfoundland, from 1959 to 1963. We loved living there those four years, and became close friends with three Newfoundland families. We did not return for 43 years, but kept in touch. Most of them are now deceased.

My two daughters began attending rug-hooking workshops in NL in 2005, and have returned for six years. I went to Stephenville with them in 2006 to visit our long-time friend, Trixie Hines and her family. My daughters did not attend the workshops the past two years, but took their husbands and have toured most of the Island, including St. John's. They got to see icebergs in June. My son-in-law emailed me about 1,200 pictures of their island tour, and I felt as if I was seeing all of the beautiful sights they were seeing. It brought back many memories, so I wrote this poem.

Our friend, Trixie Hines, will be 97 years old on July 12, and she toured with them several days; they ate out at many different restaurants, and had a lobster feast at one of her son's cabins in St. George's. While they were there, they could look out across the bay and see the island, Sandy Point, where they lived until about 1970.

I can't say enough about the friendly people and the island; wish I still lived there. I might consider moving there again, but I have five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren here, whom I wouldn't see often enough. I'll be 81 years old 31 July, so I may be too old to move. LOL.

My friend here shares his monthly copy of Downhome with me. I surely enjoy reading it from cover to cover. I'm enclosing my poem to ask if you can publish it in Downhome.

Most sincerely,

Fran Trice

From Clarksville to Stephenville

Although I'm still here
I'm there in memory
Of people, friends, loved ones
Of places, Montana Dr. and Valley Rd.
Port Harmon, Stephenville,
The Crossing, St. George's

Bingo with Patty and Freddie
Singing, "I'se the b'y that builds the boat
I'se the b'y that sails 'her,'"
"Waltzing Matilda," "Jack was every inch a sailor"
In the boat, hauling the nets
Knitting the nets

Favourite things - eating at Amy's
Homemade bread and lemon squares
Fish and brewis on Sunday mornings
The salt cod in the barrel
Picking blueberries in the bog
Making blueberry pies

Catching salmon and cod
Baking a five-pound salmon
Pulling up lobster pots
The lobster feasts
Catching caplin
Freezing them in milk cartons

The garden in the backyard
Growing rutabaga
Carrots and green pees
Turnip greens
Rhubarb
Potatoes

The snow
Ice skating
Riding the sled downhill
Ice hockey games
Building snow people
Getting stuck in the snow

Hiking in the woods
Hunting moose
And caribou
Walking along the beach
Picking up rocks
And sea urchin shells

The knitting of gloves
For hauling in the nets
The knitting of sweaters
With skaters and moose on the back
The birthday parties
The 13 birthday cakes each year

Visits to Sandy Point
Going up into the lighthouse
Crossing on the frozen bay
By horse and sleigh
With robes for warmth
And bells like Santa

Trips to Corner Brook
To the Bowater paper mill
Logs floating down the rivers
To be crushed into pulp
On to York Harbour to see Captain Bob
Relative of the Messerveys

Revisit in 2006 after 43 years
More paved highways
Some remaining friends
Loved ones, especially Trixie at 91
Cabins on the bay, fishing boats
Grown older and much wiser.


Tribute to Trixie Messervey Hines, who is 97 this year, and her family.
To Fred Seaward and his family, Stephenville.

In memory of Frank Hines, Sandy Point, Freddie and Amy Messervey, Sandy Point and Stephenville, Charlie and Josie Messervey, Barachois Brook, Newfoundland, Canada.

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