Roots

Hi!

I am J boy's niece Kaila, thought I'd write a bit about my fav uncle!

Have we ever told ya about J-boys mom and dad? Where this unique character obtained his uniqueness? Hmm?

{The courtin' days...circa 1970 somthin)

Let’s start at the beginning…way back when…

Dad (To me gramps) was born and raised in southern Manitoba … waaaaaay out in the country. Where the pine trees are tall, the menno accent thick, and the little river dances through the farm.

{dad with his lil swoop}

He was the oldest boy of 7 kids. Yep, that’s right…SEVEN kids…(God bless my great-granny’s pea-pickin’ heart)

Dad was the Farmyard king and mom (Granny) was (still is) famous for her homemade cinnamon rolls and good ole down-home cookin. See: http://mennonitegirlscancook.blogspot.com/

At every meal, she serves enough plates to feed the family, even back then. But back then – There was no air conditioning, and no video games…just wide open spaces, and ponds and creeks and cows and everything else a little boy needs to let his imagination run free.

It’s the place Jon loved to be more than anywhere…it’s where he learnt to flutter leaves. Where he sat and smelt the Hog barns and where he plumped his bum in the sand and played for hours.

Where he learned how to say HELLO…

Watch balloons drift off into the sky, and appreciate all of nature. 

He’s about family. Love. Good times. Being free. Loving life.

Mom (grandma) grew up the oldest girl, of five children. They were raised by a strong dad and a caring mom.

Food stamps, bargain shopping and thrift stores were a way of life and she developed a serious passion (borderline obsession) for the thrill of the hunt, bargain stores and recycling old into new. She would spend her winters in hockey arenas…and hang-out with a greaser about her age named John…..life was sweet and good. 

 John realized he only had eyes for his Menno sweetheart. He packed up his trucker hats and made like a cow patty…headin to her home like a renegade outlaw on the run, swept her off her feet, and the rest is history...

So they wed, became business partners, raised 2 daughters and 1 son - Jboy (whom, I would like to add, have never given mom a stress-filled, sleepless, night…ever)…and now find themselves on a series of crazy adventures as their stories continue….

So, off into the sunset they ride with their 2 daughters, 1 son,  4 grand kids, a son-in-law, a dog named Lato, a kitten named Ben, a truckload of junk, and no hopes for old-folks homes anytime soon….and we think, they couldn’t be happier.