Tuesday, January 28, 2020
I just hugged my sweet Uncle Gerald on January 3rd. It was so very nice to see him. It was on the occasion of my beloved Mother’s goodbye. My mother, so practical in life, chose the simplest of send-offs. I don’t even know how Uncle Gerald heard, but he did and there he was at the Funeral Home. My niece Kellie, whispered to me: “ look at his ears...they’re the same as Pipi,s”. And they were. Her Pipi, was my dear Father; gone now for over 5 years. And there they were, his very distinctive ears. Uncle Gerald was my dad’s older brother. At this meeting we reminisced about a long ago road trip he and my dad took. Together, they took turns driving his little red two-seat convertible from Windsor, Ontario to PEI and back. Even though it was a sad day, the images he created for me were warming, uplifting; even funny. A story about being behind a big truck on a steep, narrow mountain road with a tricky stick shift was especially enjoyable. I can picture the two brothers laughing about it afterward. I am so happy that they made that trip together. Uncle Gerald was a good brother to my father who was sick and house-bound for a long time before he died. He came to the house for regular visits and often sat at the kitchen table with my mom when my dad no longer joined in. In true Lamoureux fashion, his voice was loud and tone effusive. He also visited my mom in her retirement home after my dad died. I am thinking about My cousins, Mark, Julie and Arther of whom I also have special memories. I am also thinking about my Aunt Laurette, the baby of Emile and Yvonne’s three children. And of course, Kazuko. Goodbye sweet Uncle. I am grateful for you. Joan Lamoureux London, Ontario.
