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“Misty Hollow
Carving” was launched in
October 2008
Misty Hollow Digital Images were
launched on September 26, 2012.
“Crop Circles’ Web Site” where all
my images are available.
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Anda Rourke, Alida Lincoln, Marion Nellie, Murray Lincoln and Dana Lincoln
Celebrating Marion Nellie Kirkpatrick Lincoln’s 92nd
Birthday
On a very cold January day in 1921, west of Truax
in southern Saskatchewan, a sturdy farm wife lay in her bed with the sharp
labour pains that most women suffer. It
had been a long 9 months waiting for this baby to come.
Her two older children Robert and Dale were
growing.
Robert had been the biggest challenge the
young couple had in their marriage so far. He had been born with brain damage
that left him crippled in some form.
Dale the second baby was a strong youngster.
Now on this day, in her own bed, 60 miles
from the nearest hospital in the City of Regina, Emma Kirkpatrick was in labour
again.
92 years ago today Marion Nellie Kirkpatrick
arrived kicking and screaming. It was
Charlie and Emma’s first girl. And she
was perfect in every way.
I can only imagine the way that Emma felt at
that moment when “Nellie” arrived. Her in-laws
and her family were not far away and the congratulations together with support
flowed out to this young couple. Aunties and Grandparents were there to help
with Robert and Dale.
Although this small family didn’t have much
they had each other and the love of their extended families around them. They worked hard for what they had and they
were blessed. The price of grain was not
high but they were able to pull through.
Emma and Charlie would continue to have more
children right up until 1934 when their last son, Phillip was born. Over those 16 years Emma had given birth to Robert,
Dale, ‘Nellie’, Neal, Louise, Peg, Marg, Ben and Phil. Louise died when just a baby, Nellie
remembered that well in that she had cared for her siblings as the oldest
daughter. In fact all the kids born
after her, as well as her two older siblings all knew ‘Nell’ as a special
person in their lives… kind of a second mother I suppose.
In about 1940, when ‘Nell’ fell in love with
Clifford, it was not easy for Emma and Charlie.
This was the first daughter that they were about to lose. It was also a
possibility that their ‘chief household’ assistant would be leaving her mother
and the other little ones to be looked after by the other kids.
Everyone started feeling the pinch with ‘Nell’
possibly leaving the farm and her responsibilities with everything that she
did.
To make it worse for the new young couple, ‘Clifford
and Nell’, Emma led the attack against Clifford from her family. To say she acted out would be putting it
lightly! Emma was likely in a very nasty
change of life where almost everything and everyone had watch out for the way
she felt. And this new ‘Clifford’ was as
good as any target to lash out at.
Clifford was not the big strong farm hand
that could work long hours on the family farm.
He was a guy with a brain that would not stop. He was very smart – but not
strong like Nell’s brothers and her cousins.
He had health problems that kept him out of the War so he was also a
second class citizen that way. The
skinny, moustached, eye glass wearing, slip of a man was trying to woo their
daughter ‘Nell’ away from their family!
In 1941 the family finally gave in and
Clifford married their ‘Marion Nellie Kirkpatrick’. By that time Clifford was working as a Hired
Hand for a very well off farm family that worked land south of Lang and
Milestone, Saskatchewan.
‘Nell’ had her own home to look after. It was
a rented place, perhaps part of the Pritchard farmstead, that was now empty and perfect for the young
couple to live in. Clifford worked
during the long days for the Pritchards. Nell was all alone in an almost empty farm
house on the southern prairies of Saskatchewan. There were no brothers and sisters
around her. Her description of the hours
of loneliness were real. There was no
busy work of a large family to keep her attention… no barn duties of milking
and cattle to look after in that barn.
She was alone… very alone. But all young wives that left their homes for
the new marriage and new life with their new man suffered the same.
It was in 1943, the month of September that
she discovered she was pregnant. And in
April 1944 a skinny little baby was born to ‘Clifford and Nellie’. It happened
in a Nursing Home in Ceylon, Saskatchewan with a Mid Wife in attendance (I think
Doctor was there as well). ‘Clifford’
held a flash light for the delivery crew.
The baby was very blue in colour and had struggled for his life on the
way out of ‘Nell’ – the cord was wrapped around his neck several times… but
fortunately the baby lived.
‘Clifford’ left the delivery room and went
outside to vomit. New, young dads in
1944 never had to stand watch that close and feel that much tension as well as
fear – for their first born! It never
happened in those days.
Within a few hours of that birth of his son, ‘Clifford’
climbed on a Bus for Regina to begin his new job in the ‘Industries’. The ‘Industries’
was the transformed GMC car factory in Regina that was now making guns for the
War effort. Canada had joined the War in Europe and that effort needed supplies
and equipment.
At the ‘Industries’ Clifford trained as a
Machinist. He was very smart and caught
on quickly. The six day weeks flew by as
he picked up his trade well.
On weekends he came home to his ‘Nellie’ and
their new son ‘Murray Ross Lincoln’. Yep
that was ME.
I tell you this story today on my Mom’s 92 Birthday. She now lives with my wife and I in our home
in Peterborough, Ontario. She needs help with bathing, sometimes with dressing
and all times with medications. She still
shuffles along slowly pushing her walker… but that is slowing as well. It may
be this year that the feet will stop providing the mobility that is needed –
and the wheel chair assist will come into action.
Karen Alida Jones married Murray Ross Lincoln
in 1967. She had just graduated from her RN studies and was now a full-fledged
Registered Nurse. Today she is Marion
Nellie’s private nurse.
Today Alida and I are now grandparents to six
wonderful grandkids.
Last night our small but growing family met
together in a favorite Chinese Buffet for the 92nd Birthday party
for Marion Nellie Kirkpatrick Lincoln. Together with Marion Nellie her two
great grandkids, Emma and Thomas also celebrated their 13th and 15th
Birthdays as well. What a party.
As I sit here this morning mulling over the
story that I can tell of Marion Nellie Kirkpatrick Lincoln and Clifford Leslie
Lincoln – I am deeply moved by who my Mom is and what she has done to make it
possible for me personally – but also for my siblings... Pat, Glen and Karen.
I think a book could come from the mulling
over… so much has happened in 92 years.
Thanks Mom… we are what we are because of who
you were and are today. Happy 92nd Birthday!
~ Murray Lincoln ~
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Photos from the 92nd Birthday Party
Thomas Rourke and Emma Lindsay with their Great Grandma Marion Nellie Lincoln
Marion Nellie Lincoln 92 years young - Happy Birthday Mom!!!!
Marion Nellie Lincoln's 92nd Birthday - Part 2 - at "The Landing 27 Bistro" at the Peterborough Air Terminal
The Photo is of the Peterborough Airport
Yep - a BIG PLATE full of Crepes that were filed with fruit
Did she eat it all??? See below... at 92 years old she has not lost her appetite!!!
All gone!!!!!!
The great Staff of The Landing 27 Bistro - presented Mom with a small Birthday Cake....
A Big Hug from "Candy" - the owner of the Bistro
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