Heading off to what used to be home
It’s been so long since I lived in the Niagara Peninsula that I can’t really call it home any more, but it is where I grew up, and the rest of my immediate family still lives in the area, so it seems odd both to call it home and to not call it home. I rarely go there - there didn’t seem to be much once my mother disowned me the second time (long story), but now her cancer is winning, and I feel the right thing to do is to visit. No matter what her feelings toward me, I’ve never held a grudge against her, and now isn’t the time to try to prove any points about family dynamics.
I offered to take whichever grandchildren with me who wanted to meet their greatgrandparents while they cuold still avail themselves of the opportunity. Only one grandchild was able to make it, so my 13-year-old grandson and I are leaving on an overnight flight to Toronto. We then drive to an area so economically depressed that, much to my grandson’s dismay, the nearest Starbucks is in Niagara Falls. Yep, it’s Tim country, with a Tim Horton’s doughnut shop every few blocks - well, the blocks are pretty long in the rural areas.
I bought a digital photo frame, packed it up with whatever photos of the grandkids I could find, and am hoping that the peace offering will help things go smoothly. We’ll have a family visit, then spend a day in Niagara Falls, then have another visit - not overwhelming her but spending bits of time interspersed with some sightseeing opportunities for my grandson. This will be an interesting meeting of cultures, for sure.