Hi Sue: Thanks for asking. I like a little excitement in my life but the prospects of Hurricane Charley was a little too much excitement for me. I like living. I made arrangements to be in Tampa when the storm hit. So, I am fine. In regard to the aftermath: My nights of sitting in the dark without any lights, TV, radio, telephone, cell phone, are over. Power is back on - camne back on today. Now I can charge my cell phone. Home telephone also back on. But still no TV so I don't know what is happening in the world. No damage to my home here in GULF HARBOUR - thank GOD. We were supposed to get an 18 foot surge of water along with 145 mile an hour wind but got no water - only wind - but something less than 145 miles an hour. Fort Myers Beach (five miles South of here) and the Barrier Islands (Sanibel and Captiva on the other side of the river from Fort Myers) got it all. Captiva took a direct hit and Hurricane Charley then wiped out Pine Island and slammed into Port Charlotte, went inland and across the state to Orlando. Only lost one building on my numerous rental properties but the amount of trees that were knocked down is unbelievable. Will take me forever to cut them up. They let people living on Fort Myers Beach back on the island today. There is no beach anymore. It's all gone and I mean ALL. For example, the Gulf of Mexico now comes up to the Pier Restraurant. there is no beach. As for the bridge that connects Sanibel Island to Captiva, it now goes over sand. Hurricane Charley joined the two islands. It did just the opposite to Upper Captiva Island - it split it in two. I understand there are now two islands there instead of one. You probably have seen on national TV and already know about Port Charolette and Punta Gorda - more than I know sitting here without TV. Is this Sue from up around Perrysville Avenue? Bob Kircher, Fort Myers In a message dated 8/19/2004 2:50:37 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Bob, How are you doing down there, after the hurricane? Sue* -----Original Message----- The Pennsylvaina Dutch are not Dutch. They are of German heritage. Click here to get the scoop: _http://www.kerchner.com/padutch.htm_ (http://www.kerchner.com/padutch.htm) Be sure to give the music time to load. Bob Kircher, Fort Myers, Florida (Formerly of Pittsburgh's North Side) [email protected] The KIRCHER Family Archives Adminstrator of the [email protected] website The KIRCHER DNA Project [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- ---------------- In a message dated 8/19/2004 12:29:27 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: My great-great grandfather was a German immigrant who considered himself as, PA Dutch. The explanation that he passed down was that upon immigration when asked what his country of origin was, he replied, Deutschland. The records keepers typically wrote down, Dutch-land, not knowing that Deutschland was Germany. My German ancestors settled in Northumberland and Snyder Counties in eastern PA. Sue* -----Original Message----- There is a difference between the Amish and the Pennsylvania Dutch -- and even after I share with you, others will disagree with me. But here goes . . . I live in York County, PA which borders Lancaster County, PA on the west (the Susquehanna River divides the 2 counties). Lancaster County is in south-central PA. At one time it was part of Mongtomery County, PA. As settlers moved west, more and more counties were created out of the original counties where Philadelphia and other cities began in PA.. The Amish are different from the Pennsylvania Dutch. Since William Penn opened Penns Woods for settlement by _anyone,_ there has always been a mix of traditions/peoples. The Amish are just one group of people who settled here. They have tried to remain separate from the rest of us "English" and that is why they can still be picked out from the rest of us. Their clothing, schooling, work, and religious practices are unique to them. They do not attend public school. They do not have churches - worship in private homes. Their activities are dictated by the farm calendar and what the church bishops permit. Weddings are held in the late fall. Courtships are brief. Clothing is plain with no adornment (no buttons, no designs - all material used is plain). They do purchase some things in modern stores (Wal-Mart), such as diapers, cereal. There were large groups of people from Germany, Palatine, Scotland, Ireland, who settled in Pennsylvania. The Scots, Irish, and English shared a langauge so they "melted" together quicker and more easily. The Germans and Amish spoke German, and we "English" over the years, have combined them in our thinking as both groups as Pennsylvania Dutch. They may have come from the same general geographic area and used the same native tongue, but they have remained separate over the centuries. They shared a language but even now the Amish have their own "Dutch" they speak, changed and localized over the centuries. Want to know more? Bekah Mellnger Wrightsville, PA

Bob, A friend of mine lives in Ft Myers and the things she's been telling me have been horrific. They just got their power back on a couple of hours ago but they were fortunate enough to have a generator to keep necessary appliances running and a light or two. Surprisingly, her internet service didn't go down and she was able to send me a couple quick emails to let me know that she was ok. My step-mother lives in Springhill and I had a heck of a time getting through to her on the phone because of the busy circuits. She said that the piles of debris along the roads was so high on both sides that it was like going through a tunnel. It was wise of you to go up to Tampa to weather out the hurricane and I'm happy to hear that your house didn't sustain any damages other than the fallen trees. I'm sure it's going to take a very long time with the clean up efforts and an ordeal that won't soon be forgotten. No, I'm not that Sue, I'm the 'other one,' LOL. Take care, Sue* -----Original Message----- Hi Sue: Thanks for asking. I like a little excitement in my life but the prospects of Hurricane Charley was a little too much excitement for me. I like living. I made arrangements to be in Tampa when the storm hit. So, I am fine. In regard to the aftermath: My nights of sitting in the dark without any lights, TV, radio, telephone, cell phone, are over. Power is back on - camne back on today. Now I can charge my cell phone. Home telephone also back on. But still no TV so I don't know what is happening in the world. No damage to my home here in GULF HARBOUR - thank GOD. We were supposed to get an 18 foot surge of water along with 145 mile an hour wind but got no water - only wind - but something less than 145 miles an hour. Fort Myers Beach (five miles South of here) and the Barrier Islands (Sanibel and Captiva on the other side of the river from Fort Myers) got it all. Captiva took a direct hit and Hurricane Charley then wiped out Pine Island and slammed into Port Charlotte, went inland and across the state to Orlando. Only lost one building on my numerous rental properties but the amount of trees that were knocked down is unbelievable. Will take me forever to cut them up. They let people living on Fort Myers Beach back on the island today. There is no beach anymore. It's all gone and I mean ALL. For example, the Gulf of Mexico now comes up to the Pier Restraurant. there is no beach. As for the bridge that connects Sanibel Island to Captiva, it now goes over sand. Hurricane Charley joined the two islands. It did just the opposite to Upper Captiva Island - it split it in two. I understand there are now two islands there instead of one. You probably have seen on national TV and already know about Port Charolette and Punta Gorda - more than I know sitting here without TV. Is this Sue from up around Perrysville Avenue? Bob Kircher, Fort Myers In a message dated 8/19/2004 2:50:37 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Bob, How are you doing down there, after the hurricane? Sue* --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.693 / Virus Database: 454 - Release Date: 5/31/2004