Wolfgang Hampel, Betty MacDonald and great news

Wolfgang Hampel - and Betty MacDonald fan club fans,

Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter team and Martine, Lisa, Greta, Mats, Pieter and other members are very busy at the current time.

They are working very hard on Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter March.

We have great news.

A very interesting and fascinating letter by Betty MacDonald is waiting for you.

Betty MacDonald describes in detail her sister Mary.  

It was a very special relationship.

We already mentioned new photos for example of Betty MacDonald's unique grandmother Gammy.

March will be very exciting because of several Betty MacDonald fan club contests.

The most important one is Betty MacDonald fan club birthday card contest. 

Send a birthday with your thoughts of Betty MacDonald and her books to us and might be our Betty MacDonald fan club contest winner.

Deadline:   March 15, 2016

You can win a first edition of Betty MacDonald's golden egg with a very cute dedication for one of her fans.

Very rare and really a wonderful copy!

Don't miss it, please.

We are going to celebrate 70th anniversary of Betty MacDonald's golden The Egg and I in Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter March.

We asked  in which languages The Egg and I has been translated?

That's your chance. Don't miss it, please.

You can win our new Betty MacDonald documentary.

The Egg and I belongs to the most successful books ever.

First published by the J. B. Lippincott Company on October 3, 1945, The Egg and I received laudatory reviews and soon appeared on the best-seller list. 

The book was a blockbuster success as a novel, being reprinted on a nearly monthly basis for the next two years.

On September 12, 1946, the specially-bound one-millionth copy of the book was presented to MacDonald by Washington Governor Monrad Wallgren at a luncheon in Seattle.

Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter March includes the names of our former Betty MacDonald fan club contest winners, the correct answers and many more info.

Anita, I'm one of your many fans. 

Many greetings to Eartha Kitt II. You are a dream team. Thank you so much for sharing the photo of you and Eartha in your living-room. It's so cute.

I admire your Betty MacDonald Fan Club story about Betty MacDonald, Robert Heskett, Donald MacDonald, Darsie Bard, Sydney Bard, Gammy, Mary Bard Jensen, Clyde R. Jensen, Sydney Cleveland Bard, Mary Alice Bard, Dorothea Darsie Bard Goldsmith, Alison Bard Burnett, Jerry Keil, Joan MacDonald Keil, Madge Baldwin, Don Woodfin, Perry Woodfin, Mike Gordon, Ma and Pa Kettle, Nancy and Plum, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Ma and Pa Kettle and many others.
It's the best Betty MacDonald fan club story ever beside Wolfgang Hampel's Betty MacDonald and Ma and Pa Kettle biography and his magical Betty MacDonald Interviews.

Björn: I have a surprise. My parents visited the Northwest in the sixties. Both are huge Betty MacDonald Fans and they went to Vashon of course and they met ........
Mary Bard Jensen, Clyde Reynolds Jensen, Cleve Bard and Mary Alice Bard. We have many photos of the family and my father filmed them with his camera. So you can see and hear the Bard family. I'm going to present this at the next Betty MacDonald Fan Club Meeting. 

Mary Bard Jensen is very funny, indeed but you'll enjoy Clyde Jensen, Cleve and Mary Alice Bard as well. A wonderful family!

Björn, we can't wait to see the Mary Bard Jensen, Clyde R. Jensen, Cleve Bard and Mary Alice Bard interviews filmed by your father. Did Mary Bard Jensen share any info about the story of Sandra, which Betty MacDonald mentioned in her book Anybody can do anything?

We would like to learn more about Mary Bard's book published in the thirties. We know so much more about it after reading Anita's Top Betty MacDonald Fan Club story. Anita also tells the exciting story of Dorita Hess. Betty MacDonald describes this rather strange lady in Anybody can do anything. Did Mary Bard Jensen, Clyde R. Jensen, Cleve Bard and Mary Alice Bard mention her in the interviews?

Björn, excuse my many questions, please but it's so great to have the opportunity to see all the members of the Bard family. I'm overwhelmed. It's such a great feeling.
I hope we'll be able to see these interviews and the filmed Betty MacDonald interview at the next Betty MacDonald Fan Club meeting.

Jens: Wolfgang Hampel's Betty MacDonald and Ma and Pa Kettle biography and Betty MacDonald interviews have fans in 40 countries. I bet there will be many more fans in the future.
Isn' t this amazing? Wolfgang Hampel and Alison Bard Burnett are born humorists. Both delight their fans from all over the world.

I'd love to have a Wolfgang Hampel CD and DVD with his very funny poems and stories. What about a book? We adore Wolfgang Hampel's high humor and wit in Betty MacDonald and Ma and Pa Kettle biography and his wonderful Betty MacDonald interviews.

Jens, it doesn't amaze me at all. 

As you wrote Alison Bard Burnett and Wolfgang Hampel are born humorists. I heard many more Alison Bard Burnett interviews by Wolfgang Hampel will be published in the future. Come on, please. Do it! This couple is so funny. I can listen to them a million times without getting tired. Pure Bard and Hampel magic.

Wonderful story tellers, world painters, great entertainers. Alison Bard Burnett and Wolfgang Hampel share it with Betty MacDonald Fans from all over the world. 

By the way I don't like poems so much but Wolfgang Hampel's satirical poems are as witty and charming as his Betty MacDonald and Ma and Pa Kettle biography and Betty MacDonald Interviews. Wolfgang Hampel's very funny stories about everyday life make us laugh aloud.

I heard one of the next Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter stories are about our beloved Betty MacDonald fan club honor members.

My family and I are crazy about Mr. Tigerli - our unique trouble shooter!

Our unique Betty MacDonald fan club honor members are outstanding artists and writers. 

Let's go to the bookstore and enjoy a new breakfast with Brad and Nick.

I'm crazy about Jamie-Lee and her outstanding song 'Ghost'.

Yours,

Michael & David 

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 - Monica Sone - Wikipedia ( English )

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

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

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 

 

Betty MacDonald fan club fans, 

let's talk about great writers and poets Letizia Mancino, Hilde Domin and Betty MacDonald.

Betty MacDonald fan Club honor member, artist and writer Letizia Mancino shares her delightful story THE SECOND PARADISE. 

Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mary Holmes did such a great job in translating THE SECOND PARADISE.

Thanks a million dearest Mary.

We are really very grateful.
 
I'm one of Letizia Maninco's many devoted fans.

Letizia Mancino sent this connecting piece to " The Second Paradise".

DEFIANT AS A COCK

Copyright 2011/2015 by Letizia Mancino
translated by Mary Holmes 

All rights reserved

That was how my friend Hilde Domin was, dear Betty! You would have liked her so much. She had also been in America. At that time you were a famous author but she was still unknown.

-Did she love cats like you do?

-Yes Betty, she sure did!! Otherwise how do you think she could have been a friend of mine?

-Oh Letizia, don’t boast! Hilde was famous!

-It’s all the same to me, Betty, whether a person is famous or not but that person must love animals

-Why was she as defiant as a cock?

-Well Betty, she was simply so!

-Like a pregnant woman in my “Egg and I”?

-No not so! Betty, Hilde was a whole farm!

- A farm, how was that?

- No Betty, Hilde was more! Almost a zoo! Even more. She was all the animals in the world!

-You loved her very much.

-As I love all animals. 

You Betty, if I had known you, I would have loved you exactly so because you loved animals.

-But as defiant as a cock from my Bob-farm!

-Yes and no! (Hilde really loved this double form of answer). Listen Betty , I’ll tell you a story about how Hilde was. You would certainly have loved her.
I’ll call my story “The Second Paradise”.

THE SECOND PARADISE

Copyright 2011/2015 by Letizia Mancino
translated by Mary Holmes
 
All rights reserved


The Lord God, one day, met Adam in Paradise and saw him lying under a palm.

And God spoke to him: Adam, my son, are you happy, are you content with Paradise ?

Adam answered: Oh Lord, it is wonderful!

And God said: But I will create a second Paradise and give you a wife.

Adam answered: Oh Lord, that is wonderful!

And God said: I will create the wife according to your wishes.

And Adam stood under the palm and thought hard.

And God said: Adam, are you ready?

Adam answered: My wife should be as lively as a bird but she should not fly. She should swim like a goldfish but not be a fish….. She should be as playful as a cat but not catch mice….. She should be as busy as an ant but not so small.

And God said: So shall she be: Like a bird, a goldfish, a cat, an ant…

Adam answered: Oh Lord, that is wonderful, but she should be as faithful as a dog.

And God asked: Adam, have you finished?

Oh Lord, cried Adam. She should also be as delightful and gentle as a lamb and as defiant as a cock!

….She should be as curious as a monkey and as pampered as a lapdog.

And God said: So shall she be.

And Adam said: My wife should be as courageous as a lion and as headstrong as a goat…

And God said: So, like a bird, a goldfish, a cat, an ant, a dog, a lamb, a cock, a monkey, a lapdog, a lion, a goat… and slowly and surely he wished to begin creating…

But Adam stretched himself under the palm and called:

Lord, Lord, she should be as adaptable as a chameleon but not creep on four feet.

She should have sparkling eyes like, like… real diamonds. She should be as fiery as a volcano

But … she should have crystal-clear thoughts like a mountain spring.

God, the Almighty, was speechless…

And Adam spoke: Also she should be as quick as lightening…

And God said: Man, have you finished????

No, said Adam! She should be as strong as a horse, as long living as an elephant but as light as a butterfly!

God found Adam’s thoughts were good and said: So, bird, goldfish, cat, ant, dog, lamb, cock, monkey, lapdog, lion, goat, chameleon, genuine diamonds, volcano, mountain spring, lightening, horse, elephant…. butterfly…

God wished at last to begin creating her…

Lord, called Adam… she should be as stable as steel, but as sweet as three graceful women in one…

And God asked: Should she also be a poet?

Yes, called Adam from under the palm…

And God said: Adam have you finished?

Lord, I wish that, in the second Paradise I shall be one and doubled:

So God according to Adams last words created:

HILDE PALM DOMIN
 
Very best wishes


Letizia Mancino 

Merkel faces key test of refugee policies in German regional elections

‘Super Sunday’ elections could see CDU lose votes to anti-immigrant AfD, but chancellor may still increase grip on power

As Angela Merkel complained to a packed town hall in rural Swabia about Germans “who forever see the risks and not the opportunities”, her party faithful did not quite know whether to applaud or jeer.
Notionally, the German chancellor had flown in to deepest Baden-Württemberg in order to support the local conservative candidate ahead of Sunday’s regional election.
But half a year after Germany opened its doors to the thousands of refugees stranded at Budapest station, the political landscape in the country has been turned so dramatically upside down that it was hard to tell if she was attacking the Christian Democrats’ political opponents in the region – the Social Democrats and the Greens – or reprimanding her own party.

Turkey and EU agree outline of 'one in, one out' deal over Syria refugee crisis

“Many people around the country are unhappy and may think now is the time to teach the government a lesson,” Merkel said, pointing at the audience. “But this is about you and your choices.” This week’s “Super Sunday” elections in three German states present 12 million voters with a first chance to cast their verdict on Merkel’s management of the refugee crisis. In Baden-Württemberg, where the chancellor’s CDU still polled at 40% in September, her party faces a catastrophic drubbing: for the first time since the second world war the conservatives look set to lose their status as the biggest party in the region.
A humiliating defeat in its former stronghold, paired with a sceptical domestic reaction to Monday’s migrant deal with Turkey, could galvanise the critics inside Merkel’s party to topple their leader, some commentators speculate.
Anti-refugee party Alternative für Deutschland, meanwhile, is polling at double digits in all three states – a historic achievement for a party that was only founded three years ago and looked close to collapse when its founder left last July.

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“We’ll lose 8-10% of our votes to the AfD”, said Hans-Günther Knaupp, a lawyer and CDU member, at Tuesday night’s rally. “Her course on the refugee crisis is the right one for the world, but it’s the wrong one for her party here in Baden-Württemberg”. If he had the chance, Knaupp said, he would like to ask Merkel why she couldn’t take a step towards her critics on the right.
Over the last seven months, Merkel has repeatedly resisted calls for caps on immigration, insisting on a quota system for distributing refugees that has been widely snubbed by most other EU member states. “It’s a complete catastrophe,” said another party member, who preferred to remain anonymous.
Yet the topsy-turvy logic of the current political situation in Germany is such that a defeat for Merkel’s party could also be interpreted as a sign of support for her leadership. Winfried Kretschmann, the incumbent Green party state premier of Baden-Württemberg who is expected be Sunday’s big winner, has been such a vocal supporter of the chancellor’s open-border stance that conservatives have labelled him her “stalker”.

Tory MEPs distance themselves from German rightwing party

CDU candidate Guido Wolf, meanwhile, has repeatedly distanced himself from Merkel’s refugee policy, refusing on Tuesday to support her description of the Turkey deal as a “breakthrough”. Outside the rally in Nürtingen on Tuesday, a group of about 30 Left party and Green party supporters who had gathered to protest against the TTIP trade deal between the EU and the US admitted that they were torn in their feelings towards Germany’s leader.
“She has made so many mistakes in the past,” said Peter Meisel, a pensioner carrying a placard recycled from the height of the Greek debt crisis, “but last summer she was right. Merkel is the only woman who understood that the right for asylum is a fundamental right.”

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Far from being certain to unseat the German chancellor, Sunday’s election could easily end up tightening her grip on power. There are likely to be big losses for the Social Democrats in Saxony-Anhalt – and stunning gains for the AfD of up to 19% – but Merkel’s party looks certain to remain the biggest in the eastern German state.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, the incumbent Social Democrat state premier is head-to-head in the polls with CDU candidate Julia Klöckner, who has been touted as a potential successor to Merkel in the event of a party coup. A narrow win would register as a gain for Merkel’s party, while a narrow loss would clip the potential rebel leader’s wings.
While Merkel’s course during the refugee crisis has lost her many traditional supporters on the right, it has also gained her new admirers in the centre and on the left. “Merkel is growing out of being a workaday politician,” eulogised Heribert Prantl in centre-left daily Süddeutsche Zeitung. “She comes across as statesmanlike; she is becoming Germany’s first stateswoman.”
In a Forsa poll published on Wednesday, the chancellor’s approval ratings have soared to 50%, their highest this year..
Not everyone agrees that the chancellor has deserted her pragmatism of old. “The secret to Merkel’s success is still that she is incredibly flexible,” said Hajo Schumacher, a journalist who a decade ago wrote his PhD on her party management. “She is able to operate on a wide scale of political methodologies, from brutal and principled revenge to chequebook diplomacy, as we are seeing it in her treatment of Turkey at the moment, or in her dealings with David Cameron last month – it’s unimaginable that she would have made concessions like that to someone in her own party.”
With her latest management of the refugee crisis, the German chancellor had already performed a U-turn on her open-borders stance from last summer, Schumacher said. “She is a master of timing, especially in times of crisis. She tends to turn when the polls turn, but not a minute before.”