1930-1975

My grandmother was born at the very tail-end of 1930, the third eldest to a total of 8 children.

She lost her mother when she was 13. She lost her father from the long-lasting effects of World War 1 when she was only 16. She had 5 siblings younger than her own tender sweet year, and acres upon acres of farmland to keep them afloat. But her two older sisters had been off and married, with their own children to keep healthy in a small immigrant town where even at the end of the 1990's still used horse and buggy as transportation. The young boy down the street, three years younger and more nuisance then anything would appear day in and day out to help her out, and though she would never admit it, it was exactly what she needed.

She did it. Goddamnit, she raised and protected and saved those 5 orphaned children, and herself.

When my grandmother came upon her late 20's once she was sure all her siblings and their family estate would stand strong, decided to move after her sisters convinced her, once her anxious fiddling with immigration papers became too much. The plane from her home country landed with a jolt on Canadian soil, and not once did she let go of the passport containing a photo that reflected generations of strife in a tight-lipped grimace and downturn of brows.

The first photo of anyone in her family.

Her younger brother, by only 2 years, had decided it was high time his friend down the street find a wife, and had offered each of his legal sisters, including the photo of my grandmother she had sent once settled in her new country.

My grandfather, the sweet boy down the street,, immigrated within two months. Married the woman he loved all his life. Gave her two beautiful daughters with his features and her strength.

Thank you Alipio, for loving her for the short time life granted you to give her the kindest children and most loving grand children possible.