Archive for July, 2011
There has never been a time when I did not know Jeaninne. Our mothers were sisters and they kept in close touch along with their other two sister and two brothers. As cousins we grew up together, meeting often for family reunions and special occasions.
My first memories of Jeaninne were at her parents’ home and store in Salmon Creek. I am several years younger but she always treated me with kindness, willing to spend time with a younger cousin. It was in those early days that I began to hear and to observe that Jeaninne had difficulty with one of her legs. She walked with a limp and showed me the long, deep scar on her leg. I was too young to remember when those surgeries took place, but I did hear about them and knew that she had suffered much pain and spent a great deal of time in recovery.
In spite of her pain, she always seemed happy when I was around her. I early realized that in her I had a friend as well as a cousin. Soon I matured enough for us to spend more time together. I was often a guest at their cottage on Grand Lake where we would sit around the fireplace and tell stories. A refreshing dip in the lake was always welcome, and a spin in Uncle Ken’s boat was great for a good scare as he spun the boat around for us.
As our friendship developed we even shared an apartment while I was a student at UNB. She was just as pleasant to live with as she was when I was a guest. We talked about everything, cooked meals together, and generally enjoyed the time we had to spend together. I soon moved closer to the University and someone else filled my place, but I’ve always been glad that we had that time together.
We each eventually married and her Peter was just turning one when my first son was born – another connection for us. We often visited for weekends and enjoyed picking berries, fishing, and again just talking, catching up on all the family news.
When we moved to Ontario in 1980, we did not meet as often as before, but when we were able to get together, the years slipped away and we picked up where we had left off. The ties of family and friendship were strong, never faltering or failing.
I saw her for the last time a year ago when I was visiting cousins in Fredericton and three of us visited her. It was one of her good days, I’m told, and she knew me. We enjoyed a rather unusual conversation, a mixture of memories and pictures that filled her mind. But we laughed together, four cousins who had shared so much over the years.
Jeaninne, I will miss being able to visit you, but the memories of our times together are strong and pleasant. I could not wish you back to suffer as you did. Farewell, my dear, we will meet again in Heaven.