We moved a great deal. I didn’t know or care why, at the time. It meant changing schools most times. The first school years were lucky. I got to do kindergarten, grade one and part of grade two all at Machray School. You make friends. I still remember mine. Bobby Cowie, who burnt his feet … Continue reading Selkirk Avenue

I met her only once, in person. It was during the summer of 1965. The Gimli Trip, which I will tell you about later. Steinunn Sigurðardóttir She was born Steinunn Sigurðardóttir, June 20th, 1867 at Budarholshjaleig, Kross, Rangarvalla, Iceland, to Sigurður Sigurðsson and Sigríður Pétursdóttir. She had 4 older siblings and 3 younger. They worked … Continue reading Steinunn’s Saga

They came in 1924. As almost all immigrants, they searched for the better life. They came on the promise that it was here, in Canada, a promise from my Great Grand Uncle, Gunnar Jonsson. He paid their way, their passage, on the S.S. Mont Laurier and then the train fare to Manitoba. The spring thaw … Continue reading Amma and Afi

That’s him. I’m sitting on his lap. Actually, I rushed in and jumped on his lap just before the picture was taken because I thought it would be fun. Or maybe funny. It wouldn’t have been, of course, but what do kids know. You can see that he and his then wife, Elsie, appear to … Continue reading Ediola Manzkenstein

It is unbelievable how many birthday parties the Evil Sister got, while I had none, or very few that I remember. And though I scoured the collection of old family photos for even one picture of the celebration of my coming into the world; there were none. Another Sister Party Is it because I had … Continue reading Another Sister Birthday, Are You Kidding