Day Thirty Seven
Memory lane, a word from Lori
I was born in Oshawa, and for a short time my family lived on a farm in Utica. The farm had many places for a young girl to explore, and create many memories. One memory in particular involved my cousins who would come visit. As kids will do, we dared each other to jump off beams in the barn into haystacks below, not knowing what could be lurking in them. I made friends with the dairy farmers kids living across the road where I learned to ride a bike. Reminiscing with my cousin on our first night of our arrival, I was pleased to learn that the farm was still there. Ken drew a map where to find it, and of course we had to go! Trees have grown in, but I could still see the window to the bedroom my sisters and I shared, which at that time, had pink curtains with daises on them. It was also the room where I first read Charlotte’s Web. Happy memories indeed!
Mid morning we began our journey to Lori’s old homestead. Along the way we encountered countless trees, and power lines damaged by the storm that passed through a few days ago. The farm was easy to find and has changed significantly from Lori’s memory, like all memory’s of childhood homes, they are not as big as you remember them.
From the farm, we headed towards Oshawa to meet Lori’s ninety six year old Aunt. Aunt Liz was living in a retirement home for seniors just north of the city. The place was a spectacular condo complex with well groomed lawns, great security, and plenty of parking. We arrived around noon and Lori headed off to visit her Aunt while I stayed with the pups in the truck. Lori’s arrival to her Aunts room was in perfect timing for the cafeteria to call the residence to lunch. A little mistaken identity, her Aunt Liz, informed Lori, that she was not ready for lunch and to come back later, Lori identified herself and they both had a good giggle over the mistake. Lori escorted Aunt Liz to the cafeteria for her lunch and was introduced to many of the residence as they passed by the table.
Lori said her farewells by mid afternoon and we headed off to the local barbershop for a quick haircut for myself, before we headed back to Ken and Brenda’s for the evening. Tomorrow we head east towards Kingston.
