Searching for Roots in Tweed

Today we decided to go on a little (funky) adventure! My mom was originally born in Ontario but when she was still young, her and her Dad (my Grandpa) moved to BC. I didn't really know any of my relatives back in Ontario except for my Great Grandma Langevin who visited us often and whom I remember visiting once when I was little. My Grandma lived in a small town

called Tweed, which is about an hour away from us. I remember small things about our visit to Tweed (which was between 15-20 years ago) like my grandmas's house, her sister in law next door (Aunt Joanie - I think maybe my great great Aunt?), the school across the street, etc. I really wanted to visit Tweed to find her house and visit the grave where she was buried 10 years ago. So after getting some info from my mom about the area and getting Aunt Joanie's phone number, we were on our way! It just so happened that we had to pass through another small town called Napanee and anyone who is a fan of Avril Lavigne like I am, would know that Napanee is her home town! As we drove through the winding roads of Napanee, I wondered "did Avril drive down this street?", "Is that the house she grew up in?", "Does that guy know have Avril?". What a thrill - hehe!

We carried on to Tweed in search of my grandma's house and a graveyard! We found the graveyard first and located the site where my Great Grandpa Joe was buried (who I never met), my Great Grandma Jessie and their two children, a son who I believe was stillborn and their daughter Marlene, who is my mom's mother and who died the day after my mom was born. It was pretty neat to visit the grave. Ever since my great grandma passed I'd wanted to visit her grave but didn't know that one day I actually would. I wish she was still around...She was an amazing lady and even though I didn't get to see her that often, every visit with her was special and I miss her! I wish I could have met my grandma Marlene - I often wonder how alike my mom is to her and what qualities I might possess that came from her. But there they were, four people in my family, buried together, an immediate family reunited again in heaven, somewhere where I will someday meet them all! We continued on and found the little house that I remember visiting my Grandma in, looking just the same way I remember it. Somewhere there is a picture of me and my brothers and my grandma sitting on the steps outside this house when we were little.

Our last stop was Aunt Joani's! I called her up and she immediatly had us over for ice cream and coffee! For a ninety year old lady she sure is sharp! She remembered me and my brothers names and was telling us about her children, grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren! She talked a bit about my Grandma who was her sister in law (my great grandma married her brother) , her neighbor and a very dear friend. Carl and I already feel at home with Aunt Joanie and her friend Fred. Joanie called us later on today and Fred has offered to give us his T.V so we plan to go back out to Tweed next weekend and maybe play some cards with them when we pick the T.V up! Joanie has also mentioned that all her children will be in the area for Thanksgiving and that we should come out too! I used to be pen pals with Joanie's granddaughter Renee, so it might be nice to catch up after so long :)

Aunt Joanie, me and Fred