Kakki, This is the story that I was trying to remember when I was researching my essay on THOSL. I couldn't remember who's story it was. It was Mrs. Anderson's. Now I need to add a paragraph to my project. Does anyone remember where I can find the _full text_ of Myrtle Anderson's cocktail party story about meeting the engineer, years later? I love that story 'cause it seems as though the engineer was fated to inspire our little Joan Anderson to grow to be strong and outgoing, in spite of everything. To aspire to travel and do Good Work. BTW, when Karen offered to put me in the Acknowledgments for giving her some coffeehouse dubs, I told her that I'm just a branch and that the one who deserved the honor was Simon, our community's Archivist. :) Thanks again, Simon. You are the Best! -- From: "Paul Castle" PS OK OK, I couldn't resist just one - something I could relate to from my own childhood "The family settled into their home at 214 Railway Avenue East; Bill put up a swing in the garden, but one of Joan's favourite pastimes required little more than a chair at the large window in the living-room, at the front of the house. The view across the road to the railway line was to give Joan a literal window on the world, a yearning for the wider universe beyond, symbolised by the rattle and hum of the daily steam train. The young child would perch at the window each day and wave to the driver as the train passed slowly. Years later, long after the family had left Maidstone, her parents met a man who once worked in the area for Canadian railways. When he found out where they'd lived, he recalled his only memory of the unaventful trip along the line through Maidstone - an exuberant tow- haired little girl who'd be waiting each day to exchange a wave." >From 'Joni Mitchell: Shadows and Light' by Karen O'Brien Published by Virgin Books Ltd - 4th October 2001
