Hello Ron, Before I go any further, I must say thank-you to you and your staff for the wonderful magazine you put out. Friends from home have given me the subscription. It seals the connection with anything pertaining to home for all of us homesick patriots; and letting other readers know who and where we came from. I'm a transplanted St. John's girl, living here in Dryden, northwestern Ontario. I relocated for family reasons and am living in a nursing home here. Living home for 62 years, then moving here a year and a bit. What a culture shock!! Needless to say, I'm homesick for anything relating to home and "The Rock." Thank goodness for Downhome, Republic of Doyle (scenery just great), Rex Murphy on CBC, our many comedians on TV and the Newfoundland government tourist ads!! I've included a poem that was written for me as a recent birthday gift from a new friend here in Dryden. Just from conversing and me going on about home, she wrote the poem. It brought tears to my eyes and captured the way I've been feeling. I'd like you to put it in the magazine so other Newfs living away can appreciate it as I have. While I'm writing - my maiden name is Caines. My late grandfather Robert Caines had Caines Grocery & Ice Cream Parlour on Duckworth St. - near the once-East End Fire Station and the Newfoundland Hotel. I grew up on York Street, in the best neighbourhood. I have fond memories of the area and people. A lot of people remember the store; especially the ice cream parlour. It was a ritual for everyone to stop in after church on Sundays. The store is still there (without the ice cream parlour), same name - the old clock in the right side window, but under new owners. It's been a fixture on Duckworth St. since 1938. Thank-you for your time. I look forward to seeing the poem printed, and if there'll be any comment on it or if anyone remembers the store and neighbourhood. Keep up the good work with the Downhome. It's a tonic for homesick Newfoundlanders. Sincerely, Marilyn Caines Burt My Heart, My Home Karen Sourtzis They knew 'twas not I from these parts For at the Isle I left my heart The mainland, well,... They said, "In time,... Not for the lack of trying Home travel ads, a seagull's cry Each time they left me crying Spent a generation there Fishing, working, cooking When 'ere you see my head turned east Its t'ward the isle I'm looking That rugged walk, the ocean's call The smell of salt, I crave it all And in the recess of my mind The fog, the storms, the winds, each time They quench my thirst And cleanse my soul Reclaim the stories, long ago That make me what I am today So come on in We'll share some tea I'll spin some yarns with you mainlander For soon enough, you'll come to learn The ways of a Newfoundlander Karen Soutzis February 22, 2011 In honour of Marilyn Burt on the day of her birthday. I'm just learning the ways!   Submitted By: NULL