In
the distance I hear the haunting
mellow call of a loon The afternoon sun shines down on the lake
surface. The world seems to shine in her rays. The canoe drifts slowly.
There is nowhere one has to be. No appointments , just a slow dip and swing
of the paddle in the deep blue water.
As
I look up I see him sitting relaxed and comfortable.
"Well
Grandpa, I know I could never handle this canoe like you. I heard many
a times that no one could keep up to you when it came to the ways of the
bush."
"Oh
Mon Ti Chou, it's not keeping up with others that's important in life.
We all beat our own drum, we all paddle our own canoes."
"You
spoke of my darling daughter, Clem. She was a dear child. She loved a good
joke. Always so patient. I never saw her raise her fist in anger. Those
boys gave her such a rough time, but oh how they protected her like a mother
bear protects her cubs.. They so loved her.
I thought
for a while that she would never marry. I used to worry about her future.
You had it right on, she knew who she loved and wanted to marry and eventually
she and Earle did get married and had a wonderful family.
"Grandpa,
I'm still finding interesting things about the family. I have discovered
a Napoleon Dupont in Champlain NY that could be your papa. He had a brother
Charles, who was married to a Pichette. That is the same last name as the
husbands of your two sisters. Do you think this is just a coincidence?"
"Remember
once I told you the story of how I was to name your papa 'Andrew Bruno
Charles', well, nothing in life is a coincidence. Everything is a clue,
if you look in the right places."
"You
are a good prospector Mon Ti Chou- you keep on digging until you find the
mother lode."
"The
only difference between you and me, is the types and the way we mine for
the treasures we are looking for, but always remember my dear 'Louigie'
both are very precious and forgive the pun, but they are both worth their
weight in gold."
" Your
Grandma , your mother and father and the rest of the earthly departed family,
say to tell you to keep digging Mon Ti Chou. Oh, yes little one we are
all together again in this place and Melvina is happy to have many
of her brood together again."
I sat
for a moment and reflected on the 'Louigie' name. I had not been called
that for many years. My middle name is Louise, no doubt named after Gus's
mother Louise Vanasse. My dad had years ago changed it to a pet name. When
I looked up to tell him the story I realized he had left me once again
but this time it was okay as I knew from then on that life might have moments
when I am alone but I know I will never be lonely again because I will
always have a guardian angle watching over me but I also know now that
I have a whole family of them.
That
is what life is all about. The good things in life. One can't ask for anything
more.
I was
once asked: If you could invite four people to dinner, who would I invite?
At the time, I answered Pope John Paul, John Kennedy, Jesus Christ and
Queen Elizabeth II. I now have grown older and realize that their lives
are none of my concern... except what they cared to share with me and the
public.
Now
that I know much more about my family and my heritage I know there would
be a few very special people sitting at the table. My own ancestry and
I would be so honoured to serve them with love, affection and laughter.
Hoping
they would share the knowledge of our family history with me. This would
be like finding the most valuable treasure of all.
I know
I have a fierce sense of pride in my family. When I mention I have a brother,
Garry and a cousin, Butch in the RCMP, you can not imagine the pride
I feel. I come from a generous and caring family, as demonstrated by Noah
Timmins, the same traits I see in my brother, Tom. When I watch my own
children, nieces and nephews grow into good kind people, I am overjoyed.
I have
had the wonderful opportunity to meet Henri Minor.
When
I looked into this magnificent man's eyes I could only thank God for having
blessed me with such a good family.
I long
ago recall my father taking us as young children to Pipestone Bay. He wanted
to show us his home were he spent much of his childhood. We climbed a huge
cliff and at the top we found what was left of a cabin, worn and weathered
by mother nature for so many years...
Dad...
said "Here is where my bed would have been." I looked to see a gigantic
tree which had grown on the spot. I glanced at my father and saw a tear.
This place must have held many fond memories that had passed by long ago...
I could
imagine a small family holding on to each other, finding laughter and riches
in the depth of the Boreal forest. So isolated and yet not lonely for long
because they had each other for strength and company.
I have
learnt in life that to love someone and to loose that special person is
so very sad but to never have known love is the saddest thing of all. When
you are born a Dupont, you are born into love.
A log
cabin in the wilderness can weather and rot. A gold mine can run out of
gold, but I realize that a loving family like a gigantic oak tree, as long
as it has deep roots, it has HISTORY.
Reminance of Log Cabin at
Pipestone Bay
Thank
You for visiting my web site and I hope you enjoyed the story about my
Ancestors.
Donelda Louise
Dupont
