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Today’s Blog Post
I have been given the wonderful opportunity to volunteer at Lang Pioneer Village. I am the 1856 Carpenter in the Hastie Carpenter Shop.
In the month of June the grade 3 students come from all over the area for their special school trip to Lang Pioneer Village. It kind of rounds out the study they have been doing on Pioneers and also helps to get out of the hot and humid school class room in June.
They come through the doors of my shop in packs of 4 to 10 kids. At times two or three packs come into the shop at the same time.
Yesterday was again a “Snap Shot Day”. If I would have had my camera I might have recorded the happening in front of me. Actually you would have needed a tape recorder to catch it… but then that wouldn’t likely have saved the moment… because it all happened so fast.
Now before I tell you more.. you have to know that Grade 3 students are about 8 years old. They are beautiful – both boys and girls. Their faces shine and their eyes twinkle. And if you can catch their minds at that same moment, they come alive and usually express it with a long, slow, meaningful… “Oh WOW!” And that WOW is from the heart.
At 8 years old things that are different still impress you. At 8 years old you still hold most everything with awe and there is always a curiosity. If the whole world remained 8 years old it would be amazing!
I know why teachers love teaching this age group. They are well… WOW!
At one point two groups walked into the carpenter’s shop at the same time. Along with them were some adult guests.
I introduced myself and welcomed them all to my shop.
I asked the question, “So where do you come from?” intending to know which school they came from. Up to that point there had been three different schools represented.
One boy said, “Waverly!” Another happily stated “Port Hope!” Another said, “Brighton!” Answers were coming quickly.
One adult at the back shouted out, “Edmonton!” Still another stated clearly with his strong accent, “Britain!”
I was about to say… “Wow!” when a small voice in the front row said loudly with great pride… “I’m from Newfoundland! At least my parents are… so I think I am too!” Her 8 year old face was so beautiful. Her eyes sparkled and she looked at me intently for approval. Other people giggled at her statement… and then everyone laughed.
“I am from Newfoundland!” As I thought of her simple pride I realized that few others in the group could say the same… even the guy from Britain. They had never left their home land area and traveled such a long ways to such a long away place – so different from home.
It was shortly after that Mr. Hastie stood off to the corner of the shop watching the dozens upon dozens of kids pour through his shop door. He was grinning too… at least I think he was. Not the real Mr. Hastie of 1856… but rather his spirit. He was watching over the kids and me…. and delighted in what he saw.
In 1856 he had traveled with his small family to the rich backwoods of Ontario to carve out a place for them to grow and succeed. With time passing they did succeed and do fairly well.
When his kids were asked, “Where do you come from?” In their heavy Scottish accent they would proudly say, “Scotland! At least my parents are… so I think I am too!”
No I didn’t see Mr. Hastie. I have a rich imagination and only think I see guys like him. Sorry about that!
I point to the little girl in the front row and her homeland because she represents a whole generation that has moved somewhere to find work. And I appreciate them so much.
I have had the wonderful opportunity to see all of Newfoundland. I have been to places that some Newfoundlanders have never been to. I was adopted by these dear folk as they came into my life.
Today I am sorting through the emotions of being a Pioneer Carpenter with 2010 people being inspired by the tools, words and stories.
My reply to the 8 year old that proudly stated her roots was to say to the guy from Edmonton, “I’m from Saskatchewan. I’ve been to Edmonton and then I looked at the young girl and told her… “I have been to Newfoundland – many times! WOW!”
Later as I spoke with some one from the USA that was visiting, I shared that my grandparents came from Illinois, Iowa, and Texas – to Saskatchewan… where I was born. Now I am acting like a Scot in an Ontario Pioneer Village. Oh WOW!
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Below I am with my friend Sherwood
1 comment:
This is a beautiful, touching write-up of your experience with the kids in the school programs. They are lucky to experience the Carpenter's Shop through you.
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