Recollections

Mary And Chester Rustad

Hi again, I'm almost positive it was # 217 that Mr. Kipp was looking after, but we lived in others, one down on Pine Street, I think the number there was 3 something. That was a small cabin with the kitchen separate and the rest all one room. The flush toilet was an afterthought, closed in out on the big back step. Our landlords there were the Hunts, also grand folks. This story telling is bringing back memories.

Chester and I are trying to recall the name of some folks who lived next to us on the 200 street. He was a cook at the base, had a lot of nights on duty, they had a little boy called Ross, the same age as our daughter and the two got along great and played together every day. One morning the little guy came over to play and announced that there was a man in bed with his Mom. That raised the eyebrows but we knew her quite well and thought there must be some explanation. Sure enough Dad had some time off.

Another day, this nice man went down to the store to get groceries, we, his neighbors were there too. He paid for his groceries then went over to the Post Office in the corner, leaving his groceries on the counter. The temptation was too much for Chester; he picked up those groceries and delivered them to the wife. Some time later after trying to find his property the poor fellow came home very upset because he did not have enough money to replace what he had bought. We all had a good laugh at his expense and he took it with his usual good nature.

They lived in Orillia, Ont after the war, but the family name just isn't going to come to us, at least not right now.

Chester is not doing great, the memory has been a problem for about five years, not Alzheimer’s thank God but still a problem. He doesn't drive any more these last few years. He had a heart attack in September but the doctors have him on medication that helps him keep going. He would spend all his time in bed if I didn't have a big whip. Anyway we are company for each other so can't complain.

I thought of another of those chaps who was one of the boys at Camp Chilliwack. His name is Ralph Lunden, he was living in Edgerton, Alberta, the last time we visited him. He had lost his wife a few years before that and was not his old self.

Good morning, I found the address and phone number where Jim and Ev Zajic were living at the time of the anniversary. Jim had a sister, I think they called her Bea, seems to me she married a sergeant in the R.C.E. Jim would know about that if you can locate him. You probably know John and Muriel Ward, they lived right in Sardis at the time we met them. Archie and Edith Barr also in Sardis. Fred & Ruby Johnson – Burnaby.

These are all folks that we met at the anniversary at the base, we had thoughts of keeping in touch or possibly meeting again but sometimes life has other plans. I have found a few more of these old address and will send them if you feel it is worthwhile. There will be many changes in their lives too.

I had started a list of everyone who attended the various activities on the base at the time of the 50th. Some one asked to have it to keep a record for the organizers of the event (I understood). I never saw my record again, I wonder if there is a record some place?

Mary

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