Betty MacDonald, Monica Sone and Wolfgang Hampel

 



Betty MacDonald's sister Alison Bard Burnett



Betty MacDonald's mother Sydney with grandchild Alison Beck

Dear Betty MacDonald Fan Club Fans, 

Betty MacDonald Fan Club Honour Member Monica Sone passed away 5 years ago.

Monica Sone is the author of Nisei Daughter. Monica Sone and her family had run a hotel in Seattle before Executive Order 9066 sent all West Coast Japanese Americans into exile.

With charm, humor, and deep understanding, a Japanese American woman tells how it was to grow up on Seattle's waterfront in the 1930s and to be subjected to "relocation" dring World War II. Along with some 120,000 other persons of Japanese ancestry-77,000 of whom were U.S. citizens-she and her family were uprooted from their home and imprisoned in a camp. In this book, first published in 1953, she provides a unique personal account of these experiences.

"Monica Sone's account of life in the relocation camps is both fair and unsparing. It is also deeply touching, and occasionally hilarious."-New York Herald Tribune

"The deepest impression that this unaffected, honest little story made on me was of smiling courage."-San Francisco Chronicle

Wolfgang Hampel, Monica Sone's friend, author of Betty MacDonald biography, winner of first Betty MacDonald Memorial Award sent this message to Monica in 2010:

Copyright 2010 by Wolfgang Hampel


Dearest Monica,

I was rereading your book Nisei Daughter and I have to tell you that I agree with your many international fans. I wished I could read many more books written by great author and unique personality Monica Sone.

I also agree with the New York Herald Tribune review of Nisei Daughter: Monica Sone's account of life in the relocation camps is both fair and unsparing. It is also deeply touching, and occasionally hilarious.

Yes, that's it! Deeply touching, also occassionally hilarious! When I'm reading your great book ( Nisei Daughter belong to the VERY few books I'm reading over and over again ) I'm really deeply touched. I'm with you and your great family. I adore your outstanding book and even much more I adore your unique personality. You are a genius but very human and warm with a deep understanding and a golden heart.

The first time I heard your very warm voice I was lost. To me it's the most beautiful voice in the whole world. Voice and personality fit together in just a perfect way.

2010 was a very successful year for Monica Sone and Betty MacDonald Fan Club.

Linde Lund and her Betty MacDonald Fan Club Event Team organized the Monica Sone and Betty MacDonald Fan Club Royal Wedding Event in Stockholm with many Monica Sone and Betty MacDonald fans from five continents.

They saw the swedish royal wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling.

Victoria is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, and belongs to the Royal House of Bernadotte. 

Born as a Princess of Sweden, she was designated Crown Princess in 1979 ahead of her younger brother.

Monica Sone and Betty MacDonald Fan Club sent a wedding present, books written by unique Monica Sone, Betty MacDonald and some Betty MacDonald Interviews by me, Wolfgang Hampel. 

I hope Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling will enjoy it very much.

Thanks A Million for your friendship.

Although we are far away you and your family are always in our thoughts.

Many hugs and greetings especially from Master Peter to great Lady Monica.

Darling Peter said to me: Monica seems to get younger and younger and you are getting older and older. Before you look like an ooooolllllddd Wolf and act like a grandpa you should better ask Monica, what her secret is. Perhaps she might be able to help you. So Monica help me please, will you? It's really urgent. I'm awaiting your instructions.

We have a Royal Wedding Weather today with lots of sunshine. The sky is so blue and there are no clouds in the sky.


All our love

Wolfgang, Angelika and Peter -
your old Wolf and your many fans worldwide

Let's praise first unique Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Monica Sone, author of Nisei Daughter and described as Kimi in Betty MacDonald's book The Plague and I.

Monica Sone passed away in 2011 shortly after her 92th birthday.

To me it's quiete a shock to learn the depressing facts of internment of Japanse, Japanese Americans, European and European Americans in a democratic society.

Over 31.000 people were kept interned until July 1948 - more than three years after the war in Europe had ended.

I hope we can learn from the past and we are willing to.

Betty MacDonald Fan Club honor member Monica Sone was furious at the blatant disregard of her civil rights.

Monica Sone said to Betty MacDonald Memorial Award winner Wolfgang Hampel: 

I didn't move from Seattle - they moved me away and I never came back.
( only for family visits )

Of course everybody can understand Monica Sone's feelings.
A democratic society has to protect the civil rights of their people. Otherwise it's no longer a democratic society. 

A simple fact.

In the camps, internees were seen more as prisoners of war than as civilians. 

To name such camps for example Camp Harmony is simply awful.

Just imagine the loss of property, the personal insults, the barbed wire, armed guards, the dust storms, horrible food, unfinished barracks, barren land, shared huts, inadequate washing and toilet facilities, green uniforms, military work details, snapping to attention at an officer's approach.

Therefore Monica Sone's Nisei Daughter is a very important book.

Betty MacDonald Fan Club founder, author, poet and Monica Sone's good friend Wolfgang Hampel told us that Nisei Daughter belonged to the very few books he was rereading. I know many of us do the very same.

Betty MacDonald encouraged her friend Monica Sone in publishing her book 'Nisei Daughter'.

Betty MacDonald said: 

'Nisei Daughter ' is a very remarkable book, humorous and delightfully readable, that takes you into the heart of a Japanese-American family and into the mind of the sensitive, perceptive eldest daughter.

The internment of the American born Japanese during World War II is handled with honesty and rare dispassion. 

It is certainly to Monica Sone's credit that she she still sings God bless America. 
 
Betty MacDonald was right. Having Monica Sone's experiences I'm not sure I would.

I agree with John Heitman "In a world where there are lots of smoke screens and J. Edgar Hoovers, an individual can really be hurt."

Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Monica Sone and other Betty MacDonald fan club honor members will be included in Wolfgang Hampel's new project 'Vita Magica'. 

 
Wolfgang Hampel's stories and satirical poems will be published in Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter September and future newsletters.

We adore Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli.

The new adventure is so funny!

How is Mr. Tigerli doing in China?

We can imagine how very busy our darling is because of many very important politicial problems all over the world.
 
Don't miss new breakfast with Brad and Nick, please.

Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Thomas Bödigheimer did a great job.

His voice and music are outstanding! 

Thank you so much dearest Thomas! 

Don't miss fascinating Vita Magica program August - December 2016, please. 

Vita Magica was celebrating its 1st anniversary.   

Jamie-Lee with Ghost got over 8 million views and more than 67.000 people like the song.

This is our Betty MacDonald fan club ESC 2016 TOP 5 according to Betty MacDonald fan club ESC fans in 40 countries.

 

This video of Mount Rainier National Park is really magical. 

Take care,

Lasse & Ulla

Betty MacDonald Quotes

       

• 
  There’s nothing as cozy as a piece of candy and a book.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Book, Cozy, Pieces

  save quote report
• The coffee was so strong it snarled as it lurched out of the pot.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Strong, Coffee, Pot

  save quote report
• I am neither Christian enough nor charitable enough to like anybody just because he is alive and breathing. I want people to interest or amuse me. I want them fascinating and witty or so dul as to be different. I want them either intellectually stimulating or wonderfully corny; perfectly charming or hundred percent stinker. I like my chosen companions to be distinguishable from the undulating masses and I don't care how.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Christian, Witty, Breathing

  save quote report
• Her magic formula for dealing with children is ignoring all faults and accenting tiny virtues. She says, "Instead of telling Tommy day in and day out that he is the naughtiest boy in the United States of America, which could very well be true, take an aspirin and comment on his neatly tied shoes. Almost anybody would rather be known for expert shoe-tying than for kicking the cat." She always tells whiners how charming they are--bullies how brave--bad sports how good--sneaks how honest!
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Sports, Children, Cat

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• In the country Sunday is the day on which you do exactly as much work as you do on other days but feel guilty all the time you are doing it because Sunday is a day of rest.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Country, Sunday, Guilty

  save quote report
• I'll do it because I want to but not because you tell me to!
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Want

  save quote report
• In the country, weather is as important as food and sometimes means the difference between life and death.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Country, Mean, Weather

  save quote report
• Our little room was morbidly quiet and sorrow was heaped in my corner like dirty snow.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Dirty, Snow, Sorrow

  save quote report
• a grudge will soon rot the pocket you carry it in.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Bitterness, Pockets, Resentment

  save quote report
• Gammy used to say, 'Too much scrubbing takes the life right out of things.'
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Too Much, Used

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• Dare we face the question of just how much of the darkness around us is of our own making?
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Darkness, Faces, Trouble

  save quote report

 

Don't miss this very special book, please.

Vita Magica 

Betty MacDonald fan club

Betty MacDonald forum  

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) - The Egg and I 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( German )
Wolfgang Hampel - Memim ( English )
Vashon Island - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - Monica Sone - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( French ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle - Wikipedia ( English)

Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University 

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD

Betty MacDonald fan club items 

Betty MacDonald fan club items  - comments

Betty MacDonald fan club - The Stove and I  

Betty MacDonald fan club groups 

Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund    

 

Rita Knobel Ulrich - Islam in Germany - a very interesting ZDF  ( 2nd German Television ) documentary with English subtitles 

Linde Lund shared Pictures of Heidelberg's photo.

22 hrs ·

Dear Aashish Bernd Rudi Friedrich Pascale Heiderose Nunzia Pieter Michail Waseem Ursula Thomas Tatjana Theresia Franziska Nicole Ernst Wolf, Michael Sabine Winfried Schwab Immo Sascha Karl Angela Ulrich Wellhöfer Perkeo Thomas Barth Kirsten Birthe Andre Horst Dawid Dr. Karl A. Lamers Europäischer Hof Heidelberg and all our other friends don't miss Vita Magica on Tuesday 28 th, 2016 please. The subject is magical Heidelberg with Rudi Lerche and other surprising guests. http://wolfvitamagica.blogspot.de/…/vita-magica-juni-2016-m…

10 You, Marvin Maus, Peter Müller and 7 others

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Dawid Brueckner It´s a beautiful reconstruction. Thank you Linde .

Unlike · Reply · 2 · 21 hrs

Bernd Kunze we will be there, one year vita magica, congratulations Wolfgang Hampel and Rita Kocher.

Linde Lund Dearst Rita Kocher und Wolfgang Hampel Congratulations!!!! Happy Birthday Vita Magica and all the best for the future! All our love and best wishes from Linde, Astrid and Lund family

Like · Reply · 1 · 21 hrs

Thomas Bödigheimer i am there Linde

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 20 hrs

Rita Knobel Ulrich - Islam in Germany - a very interesting ZDF  ( 2nd German Television ) documentary with English subtitles.  

 


 

Mr. Tigerli in China
Copyright 2016 by Letizia Mancino translation by Mary Holmes All rights reserved  

Yes Betty, either or it seems he wanted to fly only with Singapore Airways.

Boeing or Airbus, it’s just the same isn’t it? Aren’t they both just fat birds with 500 passengers?

Yes, but Singapore Airlines has the most beautiful airhostesses: delicate, fine, graceful…  Mr. Tigerli had looked forward to the flight so much!

So the little man was disappointed?

You just can’t imagine how disappointed he was.

 But thank God one of the hostesses was a pretty Chinese girl. Mr. Tigerli purred loudly but she didn’t hear him because the purring of the Airbus 380 was even louder.

The poor cat!

You’ve said it Betty. Mr. Tigerli was in a very bad mood and asked me for a loud speaker.

I’m sure you can get one in 1^st Class.

“”Russian Girl” had even heard you over the roar of the Niagara Falls” I said to Mr. Tigerli. “You are a very unfaithful cat. You wanted to get to know Asiatic girls. That’s how it is when one leaves one’s first love”.

And what did he say to that?

“Men are hunters” was his answer.

Yes, my dear cat, a mouse hunter. And what else did he say?

Not another word. He behaved as if he hadn’t heard me.

The Airbus is very loud.

I told him shortly “Don’t trouble yourself about “Chinese Girl”. There will be enough even prettier girls in China. Wait till we land in Guilin”.

Did he understand you?

Naturally Mr. Tigerli understood me immediately. Yes, sweetheart, don’t worry. They will find you something sweet to eat.

And he?

He was so happy.

No problem going through the immigration control?

Naturally!  Lots of problems. How could I explain to customs that the cat had come as a tourist to China to buy shoes?

Fur in exchange for shoes…

Don’t be so cynical Betty!

Cat meat in exchange for shoes?

I said to the officials. He isn’t a cat, he is Casanova.

“Erotica Felina”

He came through the pass control with no trouble!

Is this Mr. Tigerli?

     
          

Linde Lund

August 1 at 12:57 pm

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Betty MacDonald's Vashon Island is a paradise.
info to: Sandra Lorinda Traci Petr Dana Jana Michaela Rebekah Swiss Charrd Tru John Darsie Darsie Toby Jeanine Carol Justin Lila Daniel Mo Nika Steve Neal Jitka Jitka Tami Pete Laurie Maia Nancy Kelly Pam Mary Jan and all our other friends
www.bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/

Finding Island Time: Vashon from Seattle

Take an illustrated day trip through Washington state’s largest city with artist Candace Rose Rardon.

gadventures.com

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30You, Pam Ingalls, Aça Alanguva and 27 others

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Linda White yes,if my health allows.I have a few problems but is something I have always wanted to do,especially as I reread her books.

Unlike · Reply · 1 · August 1 at 6:37pm

Linde Lund Dear Linda I'll keep you posted.

Like · Reply · 1 · August 1 at 6:42pm

Bella Dillon · Friends with Darsie Beck

I still read Mrs Piggle Wiggle books to this day. I love her farm on vashon.

Unlike · Reply · 1 · August 1 at 10:32pm

Linda White replied · 1 Reply

Lila Taylor Good morning...Linde Lund

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 18 hrs