A Canadian Story:
This is a Canadian story about a Canadian family. I do appreciate Steve Pailkin show on TVO showing interviews on Chinese economic meltdowns, and interviews on politics of our own country, and then TVO showing documentaries on the elderly in China, and how they are left in communities on their own to survive. I appreciate that knowledge. Thank you Steve, for all you do to educate us, and I listen with intensity. I want you to read my story of a Canadian story.
This following story is a French, English, Métis, and Black history story. It is about my Grandmother who stood 4′ 11″ inches, brown eyes, and when her eyes teared, this little girl took my entire grandmother’s sorrow as something so important, so life crushing that it caused fear in a child’s heart. “Why are you crying Grandma?”
When you are loved as much as I was by my Grandmother, whose arms of Love I still at 74 aches for that security, however, when my grandmother cried, this tiny child pays attention with intensity.
My Grandmother brought up 14 children basically on her own. She washed floors, cleaned rooms, cooked in a dining area for men, just so her 14 kids could eat. Her feet were permanently swollen when I came along, her hands shook when she held tea, but she had her “rosary,” to say anytime that her emotions were misunderstood as her hurt was thwarted because she wasn’t allowed to be a human with dignity. She never said a word.
She would say, “Oh Magdalene,” and grab her rosary and start “Hail Mary full of Grace” etc……whenever she was pushed to her limit. She would rock in her rocking chair, squeezing me as if I were precious and I felt as a child, her clinging to life through me. She loved her husband who was a wanderer, a flirt, and liked to spend time with other women, however, she clung to her duty as a wife. “Look at him, all dressed up. I wonder who he is going to see today.”
I could never understand the extent of her feelings until I was older. She had a deep, deep, disciplined focus and concentration of right and wrong through belief system. Her dedication to her family and the strength, courage, and generosity, of Love and care was seen every day I got to spend with her. Her arms of Love and value for others have yet in my lifetime, to ever be repeated. She taught me huge lessons about life.
She lived through the 1st world war, the 2nd world war, the 1930’s depression, the sadness, and deep worry because of many sons off to war for democracy. And the daughters she birthed, who loved her so, could not console her. Instruments, music, and the French jig, plus purity of intent, were deep lessons of value today for me as her grand-daughter.
I don’t agree today with religion or how the Priest treated my Grandmother over purgatory issues, but I do respect my Grandmother and her courage. Her never ending faith was valued by this grand- daughter. Her devotion and strength to Mary, to Mary’s son Jesus, and the Father of Jesus, Joseph was valued by her grand- daughter as something so special. However, most importantly her deepest dedication to her family. She gave that to her grandchild, whom she loved more than life itself. Sometimes the largest lessons in life are in doing what is best for your children, even when you don’t know the outcome. Her conviction was sacrificial, even her burial sacrificial, all for money. The lesson is, when you are a woman, you are damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. It is a wonderful story of sacrifice, and a deep held love for family. My grandmother will always have my deepest held respect and place of honour in my life. You cannot take that away as a Canadian Story, under the Canadian Flag.
Carolyn D Hogarth
October 8th 2018