Sailing far across the sea...

A menu from Queen Mary I appeared in my father's belongings. I wondered what meals were like on such a beaut ship. Interestingly, I located a diary of a British soldier who traveled on the Queen, too. Here's his impression of some meals on board...

Up 6.5am, hot salt bath. Breakfast porridge — hard boiled egg, queue for it about 70 mins.

8.45am Breakfast fried bacon and boiled egg (porridge first) decide not to eat boiled egg as I think last one contributed to my sickness. Spend morning on Main Deck aft. Xmas dinner — pork chop, mashed potatoes, peas; plum duff (not Xmas pudd) & custard.

Xmas tea, tinned salmon, bread, butter & jam. One orange per man was supposed to have been issued but I was unlucky. After tea up to Prom deck, terrifically crowded -—RAF dance band in operation — very hot with everywhere blacked out. Unable to get drink anywhere so toasted my Darling Renee at 9pm in water.

Truly, "the construction of the Queen Mary represented the zenith of passenger ship building for Cunard. But war unsettles everything and she was outfitted with heavier caliber guns and anti-aircraft cannons. Likewise, with luxury furnishings soon removed, tiers of bunks and hammocks replaced them. Queen Mary I, though refitted with weaponry, found greatest protection in speed.

My father boarded the Queen in Sydney and eventually traveled to Egypt, where ANZAC troops joined the British 8th Army.

@ Robyn O. McMaster

What I Learned from a Government Deportation Notice

Now is the hour, when we must say goodbye.
Soon you'll be sailing far across the sea.
While you're away, oh, then, remember me.
When you return, you'll find me waiting here. Maori Song

One winter day, a plain white envelope, with a return address, "U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service service, appeared in my parent's post office box. When my mother's eyes took in that address, anxiety must have gripped like a fever reaching the boiling point. The Department of Justice sent notice to my mother informing her that Robyn Josephine Ottley resided illegally in the United States of America because she does not have a "valid immigration visa."

Mother gave up everything to come to the United States to marry my step-father [Dad], but she brought me along with her. Truly a dilemma when the notice arrived! But, in time, help arrived... not in the form of Superman, but rather a caring congressman from our district.

James W. Wadsworth,Jr., acted more as a "servant" of his constituents. Wadsworth's keen abilities enabled me to stay in the U.S. as an "alien," rather than to find myself on the next ship to Sydney, Australia.

Congressional Representatives can act as servants of their constituents when they go out of their way to help, as James Wadsworth did. Thankfully, there are women and men in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who do work on behalf of constituents' individual needs in tangible ways.

To change the laws for immigrants with children, Wadsworth shone through two of his strong intelligences - intrapersonal and interpersonal:

Intrapersonal He had a high level of empathy. Researcher Lidewij Niezink contends that "altruism is a choice." Clearly Wadswoth cultivated altruism and once he knew the plight of our family, he took action and tapped into his power of office.

Interpersonal He showed a high level of interpersonal skills. He had built these as a New York State Senator when he fought to oppose prohibition. He made 131 speeches across the United States which aided in repeal. As he worked to assist my parents, he built on his skills for political acumen and contacts in congress. High social smarts made the difference!

From this experience I've learned that our congressional representatives can be there for us and touch our lives in very significant ways. My mother and I could live together freely in the U.S. And, Now is the hour was a happy memory of times together, rather than pangs of separation.

God moves in a mysterious way
his wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
and rides upon the storm. William Cowper

Memoirs of Robyn McMaster

Snapshots of events and people that fashioned me...

I've opened the door to a true writing challenge - to write about some of the most emotional parts of my life without emotion. Interestingly, I find that as I weave history into the threads of my life, I'm able to remain fairly objective.

Each section of life will open with a song that takes me back to that era... starting with Now is the Hour, a Maori Love song. Mother sang this from the time I was a child as she rocked me to sleep.

Chapters...

Now is the Hour 1942 - 1947