Chapter 28
Keeping In Touch

During the last seven years I have traveled to the west coast to visit with sisters and their families. Pearl has lived at White Rock, BC since 1934, and Nellie has lived at Tacoma, Washington since 1950. I have invariably stopped at Pearl's a few days enroute both ways and then went on to Tacoma to visit with Nellie and her husband, sometimes seeing some of their families also.

During the 1930's we all nearly lost contact with family members for a few years. I guess the main reason was how extremely difficult the economic situation was. One would almost say that we could hardly afford writing paper and postage. Mabel had gone to Debden to teach school and married Charlie Herdman. It was over 400 miles from Halbrite. At that time we didn't know if we would ever get that far from home. However, brother John had a Chevrolet touring car, the one he and I went to Nipawin in 1932. Mama, Earl, Pearl and Margaret went up to visit the Herdmans in the Fall of 1932. Earl stayed to do the chores for them. Charlie Herdman had lost his right hand in the war of 1914-1918. So I was more or less stuck with the chores that winter at home. It was difficult in November, lots of snow and cold. Then before Christmas it turned nice and was much nicer weather most of the winter.

Charlie and Mabel had two children born in the early 1930's, one reason they didn't travel much. Two more children were born after 1940 which kept them at home a few more years. Even though Charlie Herdman was receiving a pension, people weren't traveling those days like we do now, so we didn't see them very often. I did do chores for them part of two winters in 1935-36 and 1936-37. In the fall of 1953 Carl, Margaret and I drove up there to Hilma's wedding. We stayed only a few days. Then in May, 1954, Charlie Herdman passed away suddenly due to a heart attack. Margaret and I drove up to Naicam and picked up sister Lillian and brother John, and drove on to Debden to attend the funeral. We experienced rain and heavy roads coming home - it was rain and mud all the way. The highways were graveled but it was very difficult traveling.

Since 1978, when I sold out of cattle, it has been much easier to get away. I have tried to visit Mabel and her family once a year, however last year I was unable to make the annual visit.

John and Nellie Campbell made an extensive automobile tour in the fall of 1979. That following winter I traveled out there by bus, probably late January or early February. Sometime in 1980 John's legs were beginning to give him trouble and it wasn't long until he was obliged to use a wheelchair. He had quit barbering. He equipped their car with hand controls and continued to drive for two more years. In January 1982 we received word that John had passed away very suddenly. He had been in the hospital at Christmas time with pneumonia and seemed well enough to go home. However, his condition worsened at home and he was back in hospital. On hearing of his death, I packed and started out hoping to reach Tacoma in three days. It was unfortunate to learn that mountain roads were blocked west of Calgary and I was held up 12 hours. When I arrived at Tacoma all the company who attended a memorial service had left for home. I stayed there for three weeks, even doing a little work in Nellie's garden thinning raspberries, planting strawberries, etc. It seemed like another world to leave home with snow and cold weather and arrive out there and walk around on green grass.