In praise of friendly Canadians

A few months ago I posted to a community genealogy board asking if someone lived nearby who could photograph my great-great grandmother's grave in Canada near Niagara Falls. I've received thick letters full of census information from two different people & multiple photographs of her tombstone in late summer and early winter shrouded in fog & fallen pine needles. The latter came with the description of "When I got there, I couldn't see the cemetery as it was hidden by a bank of fog... very spooky... but I'm glad I persisted. It was like an enchanted forest that I had to myself."

My great-great grandma, the eternal Canadian goth. I love it.

I am also amazed at how both people went out of their way to photocopy census records & did additional research to share with me. One even went to a different cemetery to photograph a family tombstone that may be related, even though I don't have any definite links yet. Both commented on how sad it was that the partially blank tombstone was clearly meant to include my great-great grandfather, but for some unknown reason he & his two daughters packed up and moved to California. I still haven't been able to find where (or if) he's buried, just an odd note that he was cremated in Berkeley.

I'd like to hope that he was returned to Canada, buried with his wife and nobody finished carving the tombstone. Maybe someday I can figure this one out & stop by to thank these two great people in person.

Finally, heat!

The heater repairs weren't under the August warranty, but the cost was less than a third of those repairs plus it'll be spread out in three payments with no interest just like the previous arrangement. The ignitor cracked and it's something that just happens, you can't really tell by looking when it'll go or replace it after X number of years. It's all worth it for a 90% efficiency heater, we really can't complain about our gas bill in the first place.

I was having major flashbacks to my grandparents' old house with the doors to every room closed with only one heated, in their case by fireplace. I know they had a furnace, but I can't remember them ever using it. The blast of cold air upon walking into one of the other rooms is both slightly alarming & refreshing, except for when it comes to sitting on a toilet seat or putting on a bra at room temperature.

The whole experience helped put things in perspective of how thankful I am to have heat to begin with compared to many who have to forgo it due to the cost of utilities or a lack of someplace inside to live in.