TO MY GRANDCHILDREN

It was a warm evening in California, and I was sitting by the pool with my grandson Nicholas , our legs dangling in the water. He looked at me and said, “Look at you grandpa, you’re all white,and I am all brown. Why grandpa? I thought for a moment, and replied “That’s the way God made us NickY”. “Ok,” he said, But where did we come from?” I thought again, and told him that I could only tell him the story that was told to me by those that came before me. Get ready for this! The Sound of Music looked tame compared to the adventure that you are about to hear. It all began in Canada, where my Grandparents were married. John Kerns and Margaret Nolan, were sons and daughters of Irish immigrants, who came to Canada along with their relatives. The Brady’s, Tierney’s, Ryan’s and Stayner. Grandpa Kerns, was a prosperous business man, who owned a slaughter house. This was like a big butcher shop that prepared cattle for the super markets. My grandmother told me stories of how the cattle would be placed in narrow pens and forced forward. A man with a large sledge hammer would hit them in the forehead killing them instantly. He did not hurt them. John and Margaret eventually had seven children: Nelle, Joe, Ross , Isabelle, Marie, Catherine, and Jack . Grandpa was an ambitious person. When the opportunity presented itself to go to Africa, as an overseer in the diamond mines, he jumped at the opportunity. He had to sell his slaughter house and his horses. He was a great horseman and had bred horses. He moved his family, which now included Nellie, Joe, Ross and Isabelle. Upon their arrival in Johannesburg, South Africa, they set-up housing among the Dutch. The Dutch were the majority of the population at that time. Their stay in Africa was both marvelous and sad. My uncle told me about his rides on elephants, and the beautiful animals that he had seen. He had a pet monkey and parrot. On one occasion, my grandmother exclaimed “Oh, here comes that damm Dutch woman again!” When she opened the door, sure enough the parrot screamed “Here comes that damm Dutch woman!” Times were getting bad as the Dutch were trying to wrestle control of Africa from the English. The Dutch began an embargo of the ports. Grandpa knew it was time to go, but how? To make things worse, Nelle his oldest daughter fell sick with a fever and died. She was buried in Africa. Grandpa gathered his family and told them they must leave. To his credit, or discredit, he filled his pockets, and his children’s pockets, with diamonds. As he said “No way am I going to leave them with the Dutch.” He dressed his family in long johns (winter underwear) and headed into the jungle. It was his goal to travel far enough away from the Dutch embargo, and get out of Africa before the war started. The underwear was hot, but it saved them from many mosquito bites that could have been deadly. In about two weeks, they arrive at a port city that was embargo free. Grandpa with his new found wealth, found a sea captain who would take them to Spain. After arriving in Spain, he caught a ship to England. When they arrived in London, the English Government notified him that they wanted to speak with him. In his meeting with the prime minister, he stated that he was a catholic, loyal to the crown. Upon hearing this Queen Victoria invited my grandparents to be presented at court. They were quite interested to hear what the Dutch were up to in Africa. Queen Victoria was not noted for her generosity, she presented my Grandmother with a tin can of candies. She used this can in later life to store her jewelry. Grandpa was listed in their history books saying,”John Kerns escaped Africa to warn the English.” Needless to say the Boar War began. The Pope, heard from Queen Victoria about this catholic, John Kearns, that had escaped from Africa. The Pope sent for him and with his family traveled to Rome. Upon their arrival in Rome, they were granted a private audience with the Pope. As a reminder of their visit with him they were given a rosary. The rosary included a splinter, which was thought to be from Jesus’ cross . It had a very special blessing. Upon my Grandmother’s death, a special blessing was sent by the Pope. The cross was buried with her. From Rome, they went to Canada to begin a new life. While this was going on, my dad’s parents Charlie and Grandma Mason ( I don’t remember her first name as I was not as close to them) were living in York, England. Charlie was a plummer. England was in a depression, so they decided to migrate to Canada. About the same time, all my grandparents were returning to Canada. Upon their arrival in Canada, my mother’s parents added Marie, Catherine, and Jack to their family. My father was born In Winnipeg, and he had one sister. Troubled times were coming to families. My mother’s parents decided to invest their diamond fortune in hotels. He bought large hotels in Peterborough, and various suburbs of Toronto. My dad’s parents left Canada and moved to Ohio, USA. The economy hit the skids! John Kerns lost everything! Hotels were worthless. The Government took over the properties, and left them without a cent. Dad’s parents didn’t do any better. Tragedy had struck them also. Let’s return to the Kerns family. They were alone in Toronto although they had family. They knew they must do something. Grandma had a small inheritance, which they were able to buy a house 82 Monarch Park. Grandpa decided to return to South Africa, as the war had long been over. He said goodbye, and set off for Africa promising to return with a fortune. This was the beginning of the worst of time for my Grandmother. She was left along with six children, and the money from her inheritance was running out. Years passed, without any word from her husband, and she was forced to provide for a family of seven. Her oldest son, Joe, tried his best to provide for the family. He decided to quit school and get a job. My grandmother did the only thing a woman could do, she took in a border. Life continued to be hard for them, as they barely got by. At the same time, my father’s parents were having problems in Ohio. His father disappeared, leaving my father Gordon, his sister and mother alone. After a while, they returned to Canada with my father. He was fourteen at the time. He quit school and got a job to support them. About four years later, my grandfather showed up. It seemed he had been hit on the head, at a work site, and suffered amnesia. He was able to remember some things, and could satisfactorily explain his absence to my grandmother. They reconciled. It was too late for my dad’s sister, as she fell in love with a man who later was listed on the most wanted list of criminals in Canada. We never heard from her again, even though my grandmother tried to contact her several times. This was the setting in which Gordon and Catherine met. I know they loved each other dearly. If their ever was a perfect marriage, this was the one. My only criticism of my dad was that he put his job ahead of his family, too many times. But seeing his experiences, I understand. Gordon and Catherine Mason had three children: Jim, Peter, and one that died at birth. Catherine was pregnant with Jim while living in Detroit, but her mother was burned in a fire in Toronto, she returned to Toronto to care for her. Jim was born in Toronto in 1936, and at that time the second world war was beginning. Dad was forced to return to Toronto to support his family. We lived at 82 Monarch Park with my Grandma. It was here, that all the wonderful stories of the past were told to me. These years were very happy for me, as with the contact I had with my relatives. Uncle Ross, my Aunt Marian, and other aunts enriched my life. Life had been harsh for my Uncle Joe. He developed T.B., and died after many years in the hospital. Uncle Jack had gone to war in Italy, as a motorcycle messenger. He survived, and was able to return home after sending his paycheck every month to support his mother. The stories he told would fill a book. My Grandfather was discovered in Montreal, he had been wandering around for years there. It seems, he also had a head injury, and just remembered who he was. He returned home to live in Monarch Park, but never completely reconciled with my grandmother. Peter was born, and my Grandpa died the same year. Grandma died too, and at her death the pope sent a special blessing. The blessing was nice and it helped. Dad decided it was time to return to the United States. So in 1952, we returned to Detroit. Motor City and Mo-town was a fun time in my life-maybe too much fun! Jim Mason met Barbara Mannle at Redford High School, and their love grew. The best way to describe our romance is to ask you to see the movie Grease. Jim was surely Danny, and Barbara was the goody, goody Sandy. This picture depicted us so closely from the convertible, leather jacket, hair, and poodle skirts. It was a fun time, and we watch this old movie frequently when we want to bring back memories. Barbara and Jim had five children. All the children were born in the same hospital and delivered by the same doctor. Their children’s name are Bob, Tim, Gordie, Ronnie, and Danny. Our time spent in Detroit was great, but it was time to move on. Jim, who had joined General Motors as an engineer, was transferred to Fremont California. He worked there until the plant closed in l982. He was required to return to Pontiac Michigan to finish up. It was difficult time, as he was required to come alone, as his family stayed in California. His dad died during this time. Jim returned to California in 1985 to enjoy watching his sons marry and have children.. THE REST OF THIS STORY IS TO BE FINISHED BY YOU NICHOLAS!!