Generating Generations - Five of The Orginal Seven

Fall is upon us, and Harvest Time is here! New Mussallem descendants abound, especially those of Wadeai (Aunt "Dee") Trotter.

Welcome to April Christine Trotter, from April, 2010, and her cousin Micah Jia-Sing Trotter, who arrived 26th August, 2010. (The first Micah, - in our times - is the grandson of Jack Mussallem Senior, shown in this photograph with four of his 6 sisters, in the home of Uncle Gordon D. Bryant and Catherine called Cleo in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, circa 1942-ish).

Thank you to Cousin Dr. Lauri Costello of Spokane, Washington, daughter of Uncle Craig Costello, and Dear Late Aunt Freda Costello (nee Mussallem), for submitting this photograph.

Recollections by Susila of Salon Saturday With Lily Harper (nee Mussallem)

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Yesterday was a Gift from God.

I promised to write you about it, although we are all still basking in the benefits of being together to have Lily acknowledged at the Salon Saturday enhanced performance.

I collected Lily and her lovely daughter Janis at 11:50 Saturday Morning, 15 May, 2010. I printed off your kind tribute at the Tapesty at the O'Keefe, and Janis put it in her purse. We went to the car, "Ramona", my "Grand Dame" Dueck Buick, and drove like princesses downtown to Cambie Street, via Pacific Boulevard. We parked effortlessly, took up the framed orginal poster of the Totem Theatre's 1950 November 3rd Run ot J.B. Priestley's "Dangerous Corner", starring "Lily Harper" from the car (carefully carried by Janis Harper), went up the lift to the street level and walked to the will call for our tickets.

Once inside, we worked our way over to the Salon Room off the Lobby, and found excellent seats 3 rows from the front. We were in good time to be seated well, and to enjoy the Silver Tray Chocolates on offer by Playhouse Host, John McHenry. (Marketing John McHenry, Communications Manager ext. 231 jmchenry@vancouverplayhouse.com) John works with Katie Nichols, knichols@vancouverplayhouse.com my first contact when the idea held me. It was Katie who kindly offered the complimentary tickets for Lily and I, and recommended me to ring Stasa Andric,http://Stasa Andric, Sales Manager ext. 240 sandric@vancouverplayhouse.com Sales Manager, to sort out a reduced rate for friends and family tickets!

Originally, Director of the current production of "Dangerous Corner", Bill Dow, was to have been the speaker. Shortly before Saturday, it was arranged that Vancouver Sun Theatre Critic Peter Birnie ( Peter Birnie's Review Link ) would replace Bill as Salon Saturday Speaker. Much to our delight, John had prepped Peter to mention Lily's presence just at the right moment. He asked her to stand, and what a memorable moment for us all. Lily's grace, poise, and joy was expressed throughout her acknowledgement, and was sustained throughout the afternoon. At the end of Peter's excellent talk, he asked for questions of the Salon Saturday attendees. I asked the last one, which was; "Is there anyone present here today who would have attended the original Totem Theatre production in which Lily starred in 1950?" He asked the Salon audience, but indeed, there was no one.

Janis, on entering, had carefully placed the framed poster up on the bar counter, against a faux post, and it was in excellent view. As people passed through on their way to the lobby and play at 2:00 P.M., they slowed and took at look at it and chatted about it. They then later, one by one, at random, asked Lily in the Lobby and the play's interval, about some bit of her experience as an actor back in the day.

I must say, the light excitement that has carried me through this endeavour is still there to be felt, when I reflect on yesterday's happening. And, dear Diane, when we left the Theatre, went back to the car, after taking the framed poster back from Coat Check wherein Janis had placed it for the performance itself, we happily drove back to Lily's place. Ramona stopped quietly in front of the Tapestry @ The O'Keefe. Janis gave me the printout of your tribute, and I read it aloud to Lily. She was entirely moved to hear your sentiments, and I had to pace the reading, as tissues were required.

A wonderful time was had by all. (Janis and I found ourselves making eye contact during the performance sharing Lily's focus on the unfolding drama, and sharing her interest in the present production.)

This is a brief remembrance of our day, yesterday, but well worth experiencing, and sharing with those who love Lily.

Love and Best Wishes, Fondly From Susila

http://fromkarountokelownamussallemfamilynow.blogspot.com/

P.S. Many thanks To Katie Nicols, John McHenry, Stasa Andric, and all the Playhouse Theatre Staff. S.B.

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Letters Around Lily on The Occasion of The Saturday Salon & Dangerous Corner, May 15, 2010.

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The Letters: Before and After: Dangerous Corner by J.B. Priestley. Lily A. Harper Totem Theatre. PlayhouseTheatre Invitations. S. Bryant. May 2010

Message from bandstandcommunications@gmail.com:

Here are some email letters between family members about the occasion.  S.B.

Letter from the Daughter, (Diane Agle of Lake Placid. N.Y.), of Lily’s Cousin Marie.

From: Diane Agle

To: susila bryant ; Susila Ditmars

Sent: Sat, May 15, 2010 8:15:26 AM

Subject: For my beautiful Aunt Lily!

Dear Aunt Lily,

If you only knew how much sunshine you have brought into my life and the lives of others, you would be puffed up like a balloon! My visit with you in February was the highlight of my trip to Vancouver. I don't think you even realize how extraordinary you are, but you are. I truthfully have never met anyone as vivacious, beautiful, affectionate and funny. You are one in a million. I just wish I had been able to know you more my first 14 years,

but I am more than happy and grateful to be able to bask in the sunshine you have created for me in the last 10 years!

Congratulations on being honored to-day for all your accomplishments. Nobody deserves it more and I wish i could be there. I would be the first to give you a standing ovation. I have never been with you that I didn't feel happier, more confident and alive after. You build us all up and make us feel better. What a gift.

I love you, Aunt Lily,

Diane [Frith-Smith Agle] Marie's daughter.

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Letter of Reply from (Susila) Bryant, Daughter of Marie’s Sister Cleo, Lily’s Cousins.

Sent: May 15, 2010 10:50 AM

To: Diane Agle

Cc: Lynette and Bruce Finlayson Harper; Janis Harper; Lily Harper

Subject: Fw: For my beautiful Aunt Lily! From Diane Agle in Lake Placid.

Dear Diane:

Peace to you!

Just prepping to go and collect Lily and Janis to head down to the Playhouse Theatre.

I recall when we were in the loving midst of our Moms, Marie, Cleo and their brother and sisters, the word "Auntie" was used so affectionately for the daughters of their Mom Masadi's brother Sol.

What a lovely tribute.

I will copy to Lily's lovely daughters Lynette & Janis, but have not a working printer at home. Perhaps when I get to the Tapestry at the O'Keefe I will print off your message and give it to Lily later this afternoon, Ins Allah.

Lots of Love Dear Cousin Diane

Cordially Yours,

Susilawati (Susila) Bryant

_____________________________________________________________________________

This e-mail maybe privileged and/or confidential, and the sender does not waive any related rights and obligations. Any distribution, use or copying of this e-mail or the information it contains by other than an intended recipient is unauthorized. If you received this e-mail in error, please advise me (by return e-mail or otherwise) immediately.

_____________________________________________________________________________.

Reply From Lily’s Daughter Lynette Harper Commenting on Letter by Diane to Lily.

From: Lynette Harper

To: Susila Bryant

Sent: Sat, May 15, 2010 2:24:19 PM

Subject: RE: For my beautiful Aunt Lily! From Diane Agle in Lake Placid.

Omigosh how beautiful, thank you for sharing this Susila! I am looking forward to hearing every detail about this afternoon’s event. I cannot thank you enough for organizing this.

Your cousin Lyn

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Reply to Diane Agle From Susila Bryant At The End of a Successful Acknowleging Day.

To: Dear Cousins

Sent: Sat, May 15, 2010 10:47:32 PM

Subject: Fw: For my beautiful Aunt Lily! From Diane Agle in Lake Placid.

Dear Diane:

Very tired tonight, but grateful, after a completely full day.

I will write it all out for you (the events of the day) and let you know how very much appreciated your email was by Lily and Janis as well.

Cordially Yours,

Susilawati (Susila) Bryant

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To Susila Bryant From Janis Harper (We Share a Great-grandmother, Sarah Mussallem).

Wonderful recollections, Susila--thank you! I'll send those pictures soon.

Thank you again for organizing such a beautiful tribute and afternoon.

With love,

Janis

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Google Docs makes it easy to create, store and share online documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

Salon Saturday At The Vancouver Playhouse, May 15rh, 2010. Niece of Najeeb & Masadi Mussallem Appears at "Dangerous Corner".

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This is the initial invitation that was sent to Lily's friends and family.

Cordially Yours,

Susilawati (Susila) Bryant

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This e-mail maybe privileged and/or confidential, and the sender does not waive any related rights and obligations. Any distribution, use or copying of this e-mail or the information it contains by other than an intended recipient is unauthorized. If you received this e-mail in error, please advise me (by return e-mail or otherwise) immediately.

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The Invitation: Lily Harper Attending Salon Saturday. "Dangerous Corner" May 15, 2010. Invitation.

Message from bandstandcommunications@gmail.com:

Here is the initial invitation that went out to family and friends of Lily Harper by email prior to the 15th May, 2010, Salon Saturday. S.B.

BandstandCommunications.Vancouver,Phone:604.263.1164.

Email:BandstandCommunications@gmail.com

Subject: Join Us On Salon Saturday, 15 May, 2010, At The Playhouse Theatre Company, Vancouver. 12:45 PM.

Dear Friends and Family:

Greetings to you for a very happy Spring, 2010!

Re: Lily Harper at Salon Saturday For J.B. Priestley's Dangerous Corner @ Playhouse

In Vancouver, in the 1950's, my Mother Cleo's Cousin, Lily Harper (nee Mussallem) played a number of leading lady roles with Totem Theatre, the city's first professional theatre company in which actors were paid. One of those roles, in the 1950's, was as Olwen in J.B. Priestley's "Dangerous Corner". Bill Dow is now directing the Playhouse Theatre Company's production of Dangerous Corner. (See highlighted link to the Play and the Playhouse below,) http://www.vancouverplayhouse.com/box-office/enhanced-performances.php

When I saw this opportunity, I was able to integrate the rich history of dear Lily's dramatic contributions to the development of theatre in Vancouver, to her students when she taught school and adjudicated, and with those to the CBC audiences as below.

There are 88 keys on the piano,and this coming October, 2010, Lily will see that number, Ins Allah, as her parents would say. (God Willing). The Salon Saturday event is prior to the play. It takes place in a welcoming room off the Playhouse Lobby at 1:00 P.M. Lily's living memory of the 1950's Production of Dangerous Corner's details will be shared in the Saturday Salon. Peter Birnie , of The Vancouver Sun, will give a talk, and Lily will have an opportunity to share, should she feel comfortable. I am quite looking forward to seeing her expression as she shares in this setting.

The more of you who could attend, the greater the sense of acknowledgment could be achieved on this upcoming Saturday afternoon. This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity, I feel. I invited you to share this email with others whom you feel may be interested in attending.

Following the Salon, we will go into the Theatre to witness the present day production. There will be a no-host bar open in the lobby .

This little Bio is from the Vancouver Broadcasting History Page online.

*	Lily Harper - Worked in drama with CBC Radio & TV Vancouver mainly between 1950 & 1965; one of actors of the Vancouver Little Theatre circa 1950; actor in productions with Totem Theatre circa mid 1950s; voice-overs for radio commercials; school teacher Vancouver; adjudicator for Community Programs Branch of B.C. Provincial Government for festivals throughout B.C. and Northwest Territories; music and drama educator; speech & voice production private tutor; retired circa 1970; residing in Vancouver currently.

http://www.vancouverplayhouse.com/current-season/2010/dangerous-corner.php

Hi! You are very welcome to arrange to attend at a discounted rate, theSaturday Salon, 12:45 P.M. Saturday, 15th May, 2010, at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre.

Simply call "Stasa" (pronounced Stasha but spelled without the "H") on604.637.3094 no later that Noon the day before, Friday, 14th May, 2010 and say you are in "Lily's Party" to receive your discounted group rate ticket.

Normally, we need 10 extra people to form a discounted "group", but because of this extraordinary moment in Lily's time, you can follow the above procedure and even though we may be fewer than 10, you will get your discounted rate when you buy your ticket.

Here are the rates we've been quoted by Stasa.

Age 65 and up: $27.00 Zone B./ $32.00 Zone A. minimum of 10.

Under 65 $32.00 Zone B and $37.00 Zone A.

Students $17.00

Contact: 604.637.3094 by Noon 14th May, 2010.

"Guests" of Lily Harper

Arrival: 12:45 P.M. Salon Saturday: 1:00 P.M. Performance: 2:00 P.M.

NB: Waiver: All ticket purchases are the personal responsibility of each attendee.

I have negotiated with the Playhouse Theatre Company to least have the tickets

purchased be transferable, should Lily become unavailable at the last moment & postpone.

Should that happen, I will only communicate with the box office on Saturday Morning. Meanwhile, Lily is resting up in happy anticipation of the Saturday Salon! Cheers! S.B.

Cordially Yours,

Susilawati (Susila) Bryant

Great-Niece of Solomon MussallemBandstandCommunications.Vancouver,B.C. Phone:604.263.1164.Email:BandstandCommunications@gmail.com

Our "Aunt Dee" and "Uncle Bill" Trotter's Family Continues to Grow.

Great Grandma Trotter known as our "Aunt Dee" (short for Wadeai) is on the far right in this photo taken at her store in George Street, Prince George, B.C. Aunt Dee and Uncle Bill lived for a time in Tenth Avenue, not far from Uncle Gordon and Aunt Cleo Bryant. To connect the dots, in the Descendants of Mussallems lineage, Wadeai was the first born of Najeeb and Masadi Mussallem, born in Winnipeg Manitoba. She is pictured as a baby on the right hand side of a photo of the Family, three posts below, sitting on the knee of her Father Najeeb.
Today I had the pleasure of meeting briefly in my neighbourhood, just between home and work, with Wadeai & Uncle Bill's beautiful Great Granddaughter, Chloe Jia-Wen Trotter. Having been raised with my Mother Catherine called Cleo, Bryant (nee Mussallem) and my father your "Uncle Gordon" in B.C.'s Northern Interior, I was close to The Trotter Family there. As an only child, I held my cousin Bill, Chloe's Grandfather, to be like an older brother to me. Winters in Prince George, both away to boarding schools in the south, and Summers in Kelowna.
The connection with Bill's Mom Wadeai is a lifelong one for me, as she was always present in the formative years of my life. Hence, my grateful joy to be in the presence of her Great-Granddaughter Chloe, and her soon to be announced cousin, first born of John Trotter and Marie Morrison.

Thanks be to the One Almighty God. S.B.

Where Cousin Bill Skated as a Boy/ where Cousin Susila Skated as a girl, Prince George Arena. It's roof collapsed under the weight of snow one winter, not long after Cousin Bill left the Rink!

Subsequent Photos As Mentioned Below: Commerce in Prince Rupert, Sport in Prince George.

Our Grandpa Najeeb Mussallem, with his wife, our Grandmother Masadi Mussallem, raised their family from the fruits of their labour in this store. For finite details and fact-checking, consult the Mayor of Prince Rupert, His Honour Mayor Jack Mussallem.

Mussallem Family History: Some Canadian Camera Shots

Herewith posted are some Canadian Camera Shots of the Mussallem Family in Canada. Great Grandmother, Sarah Mussallem, Mother to Solomon and Masadi, are pictured here with their family and friends.

In addition, there is a photo of the Prince George Arena, wherein cousins Bill and Susila skated as youngsters.

The store of Najeeb Mussallem, later purchased and relocated by Susila's Dad, Uncle Gordon Bryant, in Prince Rupert, where Aunt Catherine called Cleo and Susila were born, is also pictured here. Gordon and Cleo moved with baby Susila (nee Gail) to Prince George, in 1945.

Cousin Susila Tangles With Teleprompter at CTV News Star Street Booth, 27 Feb. Vancouver 2010!

Dear Cousins:

Peace to you.

Sharing a fun day out and a link to a different kind of Olympics race!

At time of typing, Canada is now at 13 Gold Medals, a record breaker for an Olympics Host Country. The atmosphere everywhere downtown has been very pleasant each time I have managed to go there.

May you succeed in your own endeavours. ( Goals, in my world, are dreams with deadlines)

Click on this link from CTV and see for yourself!!
CTV News Star Susila B, Vancouver.flv (2954KB)

Hockey Night In Canada

Mussallem Family Mini-Reunion, 24 February, 2010.

Dear Cousins & Families:

Peace to you! From time to time I have sent out news from my little corner of the world, to do with descendants of Najeeb and Masadi Mussallem, our grandparents, and comings and goings about which I happen to hear.

I would like to introduce you to this private family weblog (Blog), and I will invite you to make contributions, post photographs, and keep each of us up with your news. There will be a time when I am not available to manage mini-newsletters, so I feel it's a good solution to keeping connected virtually.

In any case, I welcome your feedback and participation, and will start with last Wednesday's Potluck Meal and Karen and Geoffrey Trotter's, with jogging warmups by Miss Chloe, and Olympic Figures Coaching by Star Skater & Teacher Diane Agle, whose presence in Vancouver 2010 brought some of us together. (N.B.: J.W.T. is a very quick study and by photo time was demonstrating Coach Diane's lesson results admirably in the living room usually used for Chloe's warm-ups!)

And, our meal & visit was held on the Birthday of Cousin Mike Costello!

Diane is wending her way home to the snow we don't have at Whistler, but it was great to have been with her, and especially fine that the Trotters were able to put her up in the house at 2141. (If Bill and Shirley's Grandkids keep coming at such a rate, Trotters will not need to travel to have a reunion.)

Above right is the one picture I have of everyone on or near a sofa, including Karen Trotter, bottom left, beside Shirley Trotter bottom front right. At the top, From left to right, are John William Trotter (with hand on baby to be of Marie Morrison (Mrs. John William Trotter), Diane Agle, Geoffrey Trotter (our photographer on a timer. (Chloe had retired by photo time). Middle Row: Left to right, Marie Mother-to-be, Bill Trotter, and Susila Bryant.

We hung out, watched Olympic Hockey, had a great meal, got to watch Chloe, shared some stories, and missed everyone who couldn't be there. Some of us are in Olympic colours, as the Party in Vancouver has been quite something to experience. "How 'ya gonna get 'em back on the Farm, after they've seen B.C.?"
At point of writing Canada has 10 medals!

God Bless You and Keep You 'Til We Meet Again! S.B.