Friday, March 31, 2023
Beryle lived in BC and Lucille lived in Manitoba but the rest of the siblings lived in and around Veteran and Coronation. It was 150 miles from Vegreville and we would drive to Grandmas every summer. I was a "town" kid, unaccustomed to chores and the responsibilities of living on a farm, but I believe I learned a lot of "common sense" from my aunts and cousins (and especially from Grandpa) on these trips. I was the oldest of the cousins so I had some authority and I regret that I used it to regularly get all of us in trouble. It turns out that there are plenty of ways to get into trouble on a farm.
I remember Aunt Edith as being probably the strictest of the aunts. I remember the "Look" and we all wanted to avoid her wrath. She was not to be triffled with and did not suffer fools gladly. I was often in her bad books and I apologize now, too late, but sincerely for the trouble I caused.
Aunt Edythe was the last of the Douglases and so passes a generation and a way of life that was a model for me. Industry, hard work, honesty, well thought-out and correct. Clean and clear lines of behaviour and expectations. We could use more of that now.
