ShiloBrats Guestbook

Submitted by
Name: Kathie Cole
From: Callander, ON
E-mail: takmot@yahoo.ca

Comments:
For Bill Gillespie - That was a very heartwarming post on the website and Soooo true!

I am an army brat (now 54 yr) and lived in Shilo 3 different times. I see you live in Airdrie, AB. My daughter and family (3 grandchildren = 9 yrs/2yrs/4yrs (she will be 5 tomorrow and my daughter who will be 36 yrs Dec 24)relocated to Cold Lake, AB in April 2006 from London, ON. I used to drive from Callander, which is in Northeastern Ontario near North Bay every 3 months (a 6 hour drive) so this will be my first year without spending Christmas with them. I too wish I was 6 yrs old and it is obvious why!

Added: December 16, 2006

Submitted by
Name: Brenda Douglas (LeBlanc)
From: Manitoba
E-mail: shilo07reunion@yahoo.ca

Comments:
Hi Tammy, The 2007 reunion will be held Aug 3 - 5, 2007. If you would like a registration form, please email shilo07reunion@yahoo.ca and we will send you one....Brenda

Added: December 15, 2006

Submitted by
Name: Tammy Milne
From: Brandon
E-mail: cmilne@westman.wave.ca

Comments:
I am sure it is here somewhere, but I have missed the exact dates of the 2007 reunion. Anyone help!! Thanks

Added: December 15, 2006

Submitted by
Name: Bill Gillespie
From: Airdrie, AB
E-mail: bgillespie@shaw.ca

Comments:
OFFICIAL RESIGNATION: I am hereby tendering my resignation as an adult in order to accept the responsibilities of a 6 year old.

The tax base is lower. I want to be 6 again. I want to go to McDonalds and think it's best place in the world to eat.I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and and make waves with rocks.I want to play stick ball at recess and stay up on Christmas eve waiting to hear Santa & Rudolph on the roof.I long for the days when life was simple.

I want to be happy because I don't know what should make me upset.I want to think the world is fair and everyone in it is honest and good.I want to believe that anything is possible.Sometimes while I was maturing, I learned too much. I learned of nuclear weapons, prejudice, starving and abused kids, lies, unhappy marriages, illness, pain and mortality. I want to be 6 again.

I want to be oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by the little things again.I want to live knowing that the little things I find exciting will always make me happy as when I first learned them...I want to be 6 again.

I want to walk down the beach and think only of the sand beneath my feet and the possibility of finding that blue piece of sea glass I'm looking for.I want to spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bike, letting the grownups worry about time, the dentist and how to find money to fix the car.

I want to be 6 again, especially now, as Christmas approaches. I want to expect nothing except presents & goodies.No terrorism, no fears, no worries.No aching joints or blurred vision, just the joy of Christmas and meeting with all my friends to share what we got.

I want to be 6 again.

Added: December 15, 2006

Submitted by
Name: Otterkins

Comments:
I hope the upcomming season is a truly wonderful and spiritual one for all of you. May 2007 bring you hope, financial success and new wonders to experience. As you celebrate with your family, please take the time to remember that there are those less fortunate than you. When you drop that $300 on groceries, please give a little of it to the local food bank. Love to all of you!

Added: December 12, 2006

Submitted by
Name: Steven Graham
From: Kingston, Ontario
E-mail: ssgraham@cogeco.ca

Comments:
Just want to thank Lynn for posting this beautiful poem and to let her know I will forward it on to many of my friends, who I know will also enjoy it.

Best of the season to all.

Added: December 7, 2006

Submitted by
Name: Jinks
From: Courtenay BC Vancouver Island
E-mail: jinks.60@hotmail.ca

Comments:
Don't laugh, it's worth looking forward to!

Added: December 6, 2006

Submitted by
Name: Connie Gagnon
From: Chemainus, BC
E-mail: mbuckner@shaw.ca

Comments:
I have just spent an hour visiting this website and can't quit laughing at how old everybody else is!!!!

Added: December 6, 2006

Submitted by
Name: Pat & Alexia Dolan
From: Martensville, SK
E-mail: pmdolan@sasktel.net

Comments:
We are a bit late for the remembrance day comments, but haven't been home since before.

My father, Cpl. Kenneth Edward Dolan was a munitions worker who couldn't sign up for most of WWII. When he finally sprung loose, he contracted pneumonia in basic and spent the last months of the war as a POW guard - which gave him many friends to visit in Germany on two postings. Alexia's Dad, Cpl. George Newton Forke served in Korea, and it was no picnic.

Our children are quite aware of their military heritage, and on Dec. 22, our eldest, Johanna Marlene will marry Lt. Brendan Clancy. They will have a military reception at the armories where Brendan has worked as a reservist for many years. Brendan was the youngest Canadian officer to serve in Afganistan and returned home safely in September. Jodi is the social butterfly/convenor of the regiment, it seems.

I am sure that everyone who visits this site appreciates the sacrifices and risks of others who make it possible for us to enjoy the peace, properity and freedom in our lives.

Added: December 6, 2006

Submitted by
Name: Lynn Jeffrey (nee Mills)
From: East Sussex, England
E-mail: Amaryllis53@hotmail.com

Comments:
A Special thought for the Christmas Season! Please read this poem.

T' WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE, IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE, MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY, WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE, AND TO SEE JUST WHO,IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT , A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE, NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND, ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES, OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS, A SOBER THOUGHT, CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY, I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLIDER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE, CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR, IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER, NOT HOW I PICTURED, A CANADIAN SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO, OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?. CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALISED THE FAMILIES, THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT, OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS, WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT, SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY, AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE, A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM, EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER, HOW MANY LAY ALONE, ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE, IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT, A TEAR TO MY EYE, I DROPPED TO MY KNEES, AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED, AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE, "SANTA, DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE.

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE, MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP, I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL, AND WE BOTH SHIVERED, FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE, ON THAT COLD, DARK NIGHT, THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR, SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE, SOFT AND PURE,WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT, "MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

This poem was written by a peace keeping soldier stationed overseas. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.
"PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as you can." Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our Canadian Service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

Added: December 5, 2006