The last 10 years of my
life have been shaped by my Dad's WWII experiences in Newfoundland. He was stationed
at the USAAC base at Gander, NL for 3 years.
The base was at a remote, but strategic location on the North Atlantic and provided planes to
fly to Europe for the war
effort. The weather conditions were dreadful but over 100 planes left Gander every day to supply the
European front. Dad's stories about Gander always centered on the
spirit of the Newfoundlanders, who worked at the base. They were
generous, kind, and hardworking. They had unique life stories and
profound hardships. I think Dad felt a closeness due to his own
experiences growing up in a coal mining community. I promised Dad that I would
take him back to Newfoundland, but it wasn't to
be...leaving the war behind and making a life 'back home' was the focus of Dad
and most veterans.
In 2006, after my husband, Lee, and I retired,
we were looking for a summer location to escape the heat of Texas. We traveled
through the western states and New England. We considered
coastal locations. We finally traveled to Newfoundland to see for ourselves
what Dad had so loved. It was August and the weather was awful! It
was bitter cold and windy, it rained horizontally, and the ocean as black and
angry with swells. But...we loved the unspoiled beauty and the genuine
people. We had to return! Over the winter we purchased (on the
Internet...were we crazy!?!) an old church in a community of 200. A
neighbor across the cove called us and offered to renovate..."what I do's
I do's right." That was 10 years ago and we have never regretted our
summer move. We live overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and all its
glory...icebergs, whales, puffins, cod, and more. It is 'candy for the
soul'!
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| Claudia and Lee's summer home in Newfoundland |
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| View from Claudia and Lee's front window |
Dad's memories from Newfoundland line our walls...his
paintings, photos and Grenfell hooked mats. His memories introduced us to
a paradise like we couldn't imagine. And most of all...the
Newfoundlanders are wonderful folks!
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| Claudia with grandson and husband Lee |
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| Claudia and Lee with son, grandson and daughter-in-law |
